Method and apparatus for broadcasting messages in channel reservation communication systems

• US 6,349,210 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stingray IP Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Chris Cho-Pin
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/704,711
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/412, 455/434, 455/497, 455/450, 455/464, 455/466, 455/509, 455/511, 455/515, 455/452, 455/502, 455/503, 370/341, 370/329
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1868 Measures taken after transmission, e.g. acknowledgments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for broadcasting messages in accordance with the presentinvention transmits a broadcast message within a wireless communication system or network utilization of redundant Request-to-Send type or broadcast notice messages or packets BRTS). A source node repeatedly transmits a sequence of these messages over a system reservation channel with each message containing a sequence identifier. The sequence identifier of each succeeding message has a value immediately preceding the identifier of the previously transmitted broadcast notice message. A destination node receives the messages and determines the transmission time of the broadcast message based on each received message identifier. Subsequent transmission and reception of the final broadcast notice message in the sequence, the broadcast message is transmitted by the source node to the destination node over a data channel identified in the transmitted messages. The quantity of broadcast notice messages may be dynamically adjusted to maintain system performance at a desired level.

Claims

1. In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes;

a broadcast notification module to facilitate transmission of a sequence of plural broadcast notification messages to said at least one other communication unit prior to transmission of a pending broadcast message to notify said at least one other communication unit of said pending broadcast message, wherein said broadcast notification messages within said sequence include information enabling said at least one other communication unit to determine when transference of said pending broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit is to occur; and

a broadcast transmission module to facilitate transmission of said pending broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit subsequent to transmission of said sequence of plural broadcast notification messages.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein said information of each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating said position of that notification message within said sequence.

3. The unit of claim 2 wherein said broadcast notification module includes a transmission sequence module to facilitate transmission of each broadcast notification message at a particular time interval and in accordance with said position of that notification message within said sequence indicated by said identifier associated with that notification message.

4. The unit of claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmits said outgoing message in the form of radio signals.

5. The unit of claim 1 wherein said receiver receives said incoming message in the form of radio signals.

6. The unit of claim 2 wherein said processor further includes:

a notification reception module to facilitate reception of said broadcast notification messages and to determine a reception time for said pending broadcast message based on said identifier of each received broadcast notification message; and

a broadcast reception module to facilitate reception of said pending broadcast message by said determined reception time.

7. The unit of claim 2 wherein said network includes a reservation channel for conveyance of data channel reservation information and at least one data channel for conveyance of data, and wherein said communication unit transmits said broadcast notification messages over said reservation channel and transmits said pending broadcast message over a data channel indicated in said transmitted broadcast notification messages.

8. The unit of claim 1 wherein said processor further includes a transmission control module to store said pending broadcast message in a storage unit in response to said communication unit transmitting or receiving another broadcast message.

9. The unit of claim 1 wherein said processor further includes a message quantity module to dynamically determine a quantity of broadcast notification messages to transmit prior to transmission of said pending broadcast message based on network parameters.

10. In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes;

a broadcast notification module to facilitate transmission of a plurality of broadcast notification messages in a particular transmission sequence to said at least one other communication unit, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one other communication unit of a pending broadcast message, and wherein each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence;

a broadcast transmission module to facilitate transmission of said pending broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence; and

a message control module to prioritize transmission of said pending broadcast message with respect to other messages received from said network, said message control module including;

a broadcast notification handler to generate a corresponding processor task to process a broadcast notification message received from a new network source and to provide a broadcast notification message received from said network and associated with an existing processor task to that task to facilitate processing of said received broadcast notification message;

a network message handler to process a network message associated with a network message notification received from said network in response to determining that said associated network message can be processed within an interval prior to transmission of said pending broadcast message; and

a network message module to facilitate transmission of an acknowledgment in response to receiving said associated network message from said network.

11. In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes;

a broadcast notification module to facilitate transmission of a plurality of broadcast notification messages in a particular transmission sequence to said at least one other communication unit, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one other communication unit of a pending broadcast message, and wherein each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence;

a broadcast transmission module to facilitate transmission of said pending broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence; and

a message control module to prioritize reception of a first broadcast message with respect to processing of other messages, said message control module including;

a broadcast message handler to facilitate transmission of a second broadcast message and to store said second broadcast message in a storage unit for subsequent transmission in response to current processing for reception of said first broadcast message;

a broadcast notification handler to generate a corresponding processor task to process a broadcast notification message received from a new network source and to provide a broadcast notification message received from said network and associated with an existing processor task to that task for processing of said received broadcast notification message;

a network message handler to process a network message associated with a message notification received from said network in response to determining that said associated network message can be processed within an interval prior to reception of each broadcast message associated with a received broadcast notification message corresponding to an existing processor task; and

a network message module to facilitate transmission of an acknowledgment in response to receiving said associated network message from said network.

12. In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes;

a broadcast notification module to facilitate transmission of a plurality of broadcast notification messages in a particular transmission sequence to said at least one other communication unit, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one other communication unit of a pending broadcast message, and wherein each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence;

a broadcast transmission module to facilitate transmission of said pending broadcast message to said at least one other communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence;

a notification reception module to facilitate reception of said broadcast notification messages and to determine a reception time for said pending broadcast message based on said identifier of each received broadcast notification message, wherein said notification reception module includes a message control module to prioritize transmission and reception of broadcast messages, and wherein said message control module includes a transmission interrupt module to interrupt transmission of a first broadcast message and store said first broadcast message in a storage unit for subsequent transmission in response to determining that a second broadcast message associated with a broadcast notification message received from said network can be received within an interval prior to transmission of said first broadcast message; and

a broadcast reception module to facilitate reception of said pending broadcast message by said determined reception time.

13. In a communications network, a method of transmitting and receiving broadcast messages within said network comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a sequence of plural broadcast notification messages to at least one communication unit within said network prior to transmission of a pending broadcast message to notify said at least one communication unit of said pending broadcast message, wherein said broadcast notification messages within said sequence include information enabling said at least one communication unit to determine when a transference of said pending broadcast message to said at least one communication unit is to occur; and

(b) transmitting said pending broadcast message to said at least one communication unit subsequent to transmission of said sequence of plural broadcast notification messages.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said information of each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said sequence.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein step (a) further includes:

(a.1) transmitting each broadcast notification message at a particular time interval and in accordance with said position of that notification message within said sequence indicated by said identifier associated with that notification message.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said broadcast notification and broadcast messages are transmitted in the form of radio signals.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of:

(c) receiving said broadcast notification messages at said at least one communication unit and determining a reception time for said pending broadcast message based on said identifier of each received broadcast notification message; and

(d) receiving said pending broadcast message at said at least one communication unit by said determined reception time.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said broadcast notification and broadcast messages are received in the form of radio signals.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said network includes a reservation channel for conveyance of data channel reservation information and at least one data channel for conveyance of data, and wherein step (a) further includes:

(a.1) transmitting said broadcast notification messages over said reservation channel; and

step (b) further includes;

(b.1) transmitting said pending broadcast message over a data channel indicated in said transmitted broadcast notification messages.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) further includes:

(a.1) storing said pending broadcast message in a storage unit in response to transmitting or receiving another broadcast message.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein step (a) further includes:

(a.1) dynamically determining a quantity of broadcast notification messages to transmit prior to transmission of said pending broadcast message based on network parameters.

22. In a communications network, a method of transmitting and receiving broadcast messages within said network comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a plurality of broadcast notification messages in a particular transmission sequence to at least one communication unit within said network, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one communication unit of a pending broadcast message and each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence, and wherein step (a) further includes;

(a.1) prioritizing transmission of said pending broadcast message with respect to other messages received from said network, wherein step (a.1) further includes;

(a.1.1) generating a corresponding processor task to process a broadcast notification message received from a new network source and providing a broadcast notification message received from said network and associated with an existing processor task to that task to facilitate processing of said received broadcast notification message;

(a.1.2) processing a network message associated with a network message notification received from said network in response to determining that said associated network message can be processed within an interval prior to transmission of said pending broadcast message; and

(a.1.3) transmitting an acknowledgment in response to receiving said associated network message from said network; and

(b) transmitting said pending broadcast message to said at least one communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence.

23. In a communications network, a method of transmitting and receiving broadcast messages within said network comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a plurality of broadcast notification messages in a particular transmission sequence to at least one communication unit within said network, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one communication unit of a pending broadcast message, and wherein each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence;

(b) transmitting said pending broadcast message to said at least one communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence;

(c) receiving said broadcast notification messages at said at least one communication unit and determining a reception time for said pending broadcast message based on said identifier of each received broadcast notification message, wherein step (c) further includes;

(c.1) prioritizing reception of a first broadcast message with respect to processing of other messages, wherein step (c.1) further includes;

(c.1.1) facilitating transmission of a second broadcast message and storing said second broadcast message in a storage unit for subsequent transmission in response to current processing for reception of said first broadcast message;

(c.1.2) generating a corresponding processor task to process a broadcast notification message received from a new network source and providing a broadcast notification message received from said network and associated with an existing processor task to that task for processing of said received broadcast notification message;

(c.1.3) processing a network message associated with message notification received from said network in response to determining that said associated network message can be processed within an interval prior to reception of each broadcast message associated with a received broadcast notification message corresponding to an existing processor task; and

(c.1.4) transmitting an acknowledgment in response to receiving said associated network message from said network; and

(d) receiving said pending broadcast message at said at least one communication unit by said determined reception time.

24. In a communications network, a method of transmitting and receiving broadcast messages within said network comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a plurality of broadcast notification messages in particular transmission sequence to at least one communication unit within said network, wherein said broadcast notification messages notify said at least one communication unit of a pending broadcast message, and wherein each said broadcast notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said transmission sequence;

(b) transmitting said pending broadcast message to said at least one communication unit subsequent to transmission of said plurality of broadcast notification messages within said transmission sequence;

(c) receiving said broadcast notification messages at said at least one communication unit and determining a reception time for said pending broadcast message based on said identifier of each received broadcast notification message, wherein step (c) further includes;

(c.1) prioritizing transmission and reception of broadcast messages, wherein step (c.1) further includes;

(c.1.1) interrupting transmission of a first broadcast message and storing said first broadcast message in a storage unit for subsequent transmission in response to determining that a second broadcast message associated with a broadcast notification message received from said network can be received within an interval prior to transmission of said first broadcast message; and

(d) receiving said pending broadcast message at said at least one communication unit by said determined reception time.

25. In a communications network, a communication unit to transmit and receive messages within said network comprising:

a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to at least one other communication unit within said network;

a receiver to receive an incoming message from at least one other communication unit within said network; and

a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes;

a notification module to facilitate transmission of a sequence of plural notification messages to said at least one other communication unit prior to transmission of a pending message to notify said at least one other communication unit of said pending message, wherein said notification messages within said sequence include information enabling said at least one other communication unit to determine when transference of said pending message to said at least one other communication unit is to occur; and

a transmission module to facilitate transmission of said pending message to said at least one other communication unit subsequent to transmission of said sequence of plural notification messages.

26. The unit of claim 25 wherein said information of each said notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said sequence.

27. The unit of claim 25 wherein said pending message is a broadcast message.

28. The unit of claim 26 wherein said processor further includes:

a notification reception module to facilitate reception of said notification messages and to determine a reception time for said pending message based on said identifier of each received notification message; and

a reception module to facilitate reception of said pending message by said determined reception time.

29. In a communications network, a method of transmitting and receiving messages comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a sequence of plural notification messages to at least one communication unit within said network prior to transmission of a pending message to notify said at least one communication unit of said pending message, wherein said notification messages within said sequence include information enabling said at least one communication unit to determine when transference of said pending message to said at least one other communication unit is to occur; and

(b) transmitting said pending message to said at least one communication unit subsequent to transmission of said sequence of plural notification messages.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said information of each said notification message includes an identifier indicating a position of that notification message within said sequence.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said pending message is a broadcast message.

32. The method of claim 30 farther including the steps of:

(c) receiving said notification messages at said at least one communication unit and determining a reception time for said pending message based on said identifier of each received notification message; and

(d) receiving at said at least one communication unit said pending message by said determined reception time.