Apparatus, and associated method, for allocating channel capacity in a wireless communication system
First Claim
1. In a radio communication system having at least a first set of communication stations forming at least a first network set operable to communicate upon a common set of channels according to a selected frequency hopping scheme, the first set having a master-device station, a first slave-device station, a second slave-device station and at least a third slave-device station defined therein, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating communication between the first and at least second slave-device stations, respectively, said apparatus comprising:
- a request detector coupled to receive indications of a request for allocation of channel capacity to permit the communications between the first and at least second slave-device stations; and
a channel allocator coupled to said request detector, said allocator for selectably allocating channel capacity for the communications between the first and second slave-device stations, allocations made by said channel allocator responsive, at least in part, upon other communications in the radio communication system, such that the other communications in the radio communication system are effectuable according to the selected frequency hopping scheme;
wherein the channel capacity allocated by said channel allocator providing for communications between the first and second slave-device stations includes an allocation of time periods that are nonoverlapping with time periods allocated for the other communications.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating inter-slave device communications in a radio communication system, such as a Bluetooth-compatible communication system. Channel allocations to permit the effectuation of the communications between the slave devices are controlled by a master device. Indications of the channel allocations are provided by the master device to the slave devices, and thereafter, a radio link is formed directly between the slave devices and communications therebetween are effectuated.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a radio communication system having at least a first set of communication stations forming at least a first network set operable to communicate upon a common set of channels according to a selected frequency hopping scheme, the first set having a master-device station, a first slave-device station, a second slave-device station and at least a third slave-device station defined therein, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating communication between the first and at least second slave-device stations, respectively, said apparatus comprising:
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a request detector coupled to receive indications of a request for allocation of channel capacity to permit the communications between the first and at least second slave-device stations; and
a channel allocator coupled to said request detector, said allocator for selectably allocating channel capacity for the communications between the first and second slave-device stations, allocations made by said channel allocator responsive, at least in part, upon other communications in the radio communication system, such that the other communications in the radio communication system are effectuable according to the selected frequency hopping scheme;
wherein the channel capacity allocated by said channel allocator providing for communications between the first and second slave-device stations includes an allocation of time periods that are nonoverlapping with time periods allocated for the other communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a method for communicating in a radio communication system having at least a first set of communication stations forming at least a first network set operable to communicate upon a common set of channels according to a selected frequency-hopping scheme, the first set having a master-device station, a first slave-device station, a second slave-device station and at least a third slave-device station, an improvement of a method for facilitating communication between the first and at least second slave-device stations, respectively, said method comprising:
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detecting a request for allocation of channel capacity to permit the communication between the first and at least second slave-device stations; and
selectably allocating channel capacity for the communication between the first and second slave-device stations, allocations made responsive, at least in part, upon other communications in the radio communication system, such that the other communications in the radio communication system are effectuable according to the selected frequency hopping scheme;
wherein the channel capacity selectably allocated providing for communications between the first and second slave-device stations includes an allocation of time periods that are nonoverlapping with time periods allocated for the other communications. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification