Use of energy bursts for wireless networks

• US 6,069,901 A
• Filed: 12/04/1996
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hulyalkar, Samir, Ngo, Chiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phunkulh, Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US08/767,101
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 370/335, 370/336, 370/345, 370/346, 370/347, 370/348, 370/349, 370/350, 370/509, 370/510, 370/503, 370/329, 370/330, 455/39, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 455/509
• US Class Current: 370/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating control signals via short energy bursts during a predetermined time interval. This method and apparatus is particularly well suited for wireless communication networks wherein the time intervals are assigned to each station on the network, and the presence of energy in that time interval signals a control signal to or from that station.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a set of control signals among communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each only having a first and second state, said method comprising:

allocating, relative to a time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices;

transmitting, via a first of said communication devices, a synchronizing signal to all other communication devices on said network;

receiving, by each of said other communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal from said first communication device;

determining in dependence upon said transmission and reception of said synchronizing signal, said time reference; and

,

transmitting, by any of said communication devices, a burst of energy during the time period associated with each of said devices, if said control signal associated with said each device is a particular one of said first and second state.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication devices communicate via radio frequency waves, and said burst of energy is a signal transmitted at a specified radio frequency.

3. A method for communicating a set of control signals among communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each having a first and second state, said method comprising:

allocating, relative to a time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices;

transmitting, via a first of said communication devices, a synchronizing signal to all other communication devices on said network;

receiving, by each of said other communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal from said first communication device;

determining in dependence upon said transmission and reception of said synchronizing signal, said time reference;

transmitting, by any of said communication devices, a burst of energy during the time period associated with each of said devices in dependence upon if said control signal associated with said each device is in one of said first and second state; and

transmitting a message from the communications device associated with the time interval within which said energy burst was transmitted.

4. A method for communicating a set of control signals among communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each having a first and second state, said method comprising:

allocating, relative to a time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices;

transmitting, via a first of said communication devices, a synchronizing signal to all other communication devices on said network;

receiving, by each of said other communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal from said first communication device;

determining in dependence upon said transmission and reception of said synchronizing signal, said time reference;

transmitting, by any of said communication devices, a burst of energy during the time period associated with each of said devices in dependence upon if said control signal associated with said each device is in one of said first and second state; and

transmitting a message to the communications device associated with the time interval within which said energy burst was transmitted.

5. A base station for communicating a set of control signals to communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each only having one of a first and second state,

said base station comprising:

means for transmitting a synchronizing signal to all of said communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal establishing a time reference common to all communication devices on said network,

means for delineating, relative to said time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices,

means for transmitting a burst of energy during the time interval associated with each of said communication devices in dependence upon whether said control signal associated with said each communication device is in a particular one of said first and second state.

6. A base station as in claim 5, wherein said means for transmitting a burst of energy comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

7. A base station for communicating a set of control signals to communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each having a first and second state,

said base station comprising:

means for transmitting a synchronizing signal to all of said communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal establishing a time reference common to all communication devices on said network,

means for delineating, relative to said time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices,

means for transmitting a burst of energy during the time interval associated with each of said communication devices in dependence upon if said control signal associated with said each communication device is in one of said first and second state, and

means for transmitting messages to each communication device in dependence on said transmission of said energy burst.

8. A base station for communicating a set of control signals to communication devices operating in a network, wherein each of said control signals within said set is associated with each of said communication devices, said control signals each having a first and second state,

said base station comprising:

means for transmitting a synchronizing signal to all of said communication devices on said network, said synchronizing signal establishing a time reference common to all communication devices on said network,

means for delineating, relative to said time reference, intervals of time associated with each of said communication devices,

means for transmitting a burst of energy during the time interval associated with each of said communication devices in dependence upon if said control signal associated with said each

communication device is in one of said first and second state, and

means for detecting a second burst of energy from each of said communication devices.

9. A base station as in claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a message from each communication device in dependence upon the detection of said second burst of energy.

10. A remote station for receiving a control signal from a base station operating in a network, wherein said control signal is associated with said remote station and said control signal only having one of a first and second state, said remote station comprising:

means for receiving a synchronizing signal from said base station,

means for delineating, relative to a synchronizing signal, an interval of time allocated to said remote station for reception of said control signal,

means for detecting a burst of energy during said allocated time interval,

means for determining if said control signal is in a particular one of said first and second state if said burst of energy was detected.

11. A remote station as in claim 10, wherein said burst of energy comprises a radio frequency signal of short duration.

12. A remote station for receiving a control signal from a base station operating in a network, wherein said control signal is associated with said remote station, said control signal having one of a first and second state,

said remote station comprising:

means for receiving a synchronizing signal from said base station,

means for delineating, relative to a synchronizing signal, an interval of time allocated to said remote station for reception of said control signal,

means for detecting a burst of energy during said allocated time interval,

means for determining if said control signal is in one of said first and second state if said burst of energy was detected, and

means to receive messages from said base station, in dependence upon the detection of said burst of energy.

13. A remote station as in claim 12, further comprising means for transmitting a second burst of energy.

14. A remote station as in claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting a message in dependence upon the transmission of said second burst of energy.

15. A communications device for communicating with one or more communication stations comprising:

means to delineate a set of time intervals following a known time reference, each of said time intervals within said set being associated with each of said communication stations,

means for receiving a synchronizing signal from a first communication device,

means for determining, by said reception of said synchronizing signal, said time reference, and,

means for transmitting a burst of energy during the time interval associated with a target communication station.

16. A communications device as in claim 15, wherein said means for receiving and transmitting are operative at a radio frequency, and said burst of energy comprises a signal transmitted at that frequency.

17. A communications device for communicating messages with one or more communication stations comprising:

means to delineate a first set of time intervals following a known time reference, each of said time intervals within said first set being associated with each of said communication stations,

means to delineate a second set of time intervals following said known time reference, each of said time intervals within said second set being associated with each of said communication stations,

means to transmit a first burst of energy during the time interval of the first set associated with a target communication station in dependence upon whether a first message is to be sent to said target communication station,

means to transmit said first message to said target communication station,

means to detect a second burst of energy from a source communication station during the time interval of the second set which is associated with said source communication station,

means to receive said second message from said source communication station in dependence upon whether said second burst of energy was detected.