Medium access control protocol for data communications

• US 6,879,579 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (Commonwealth Of Australia As Represented By Department Of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research And Tertiary Education), Macquarie University
• Original Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (Commonwealth Of Australia As Represented By Department Of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research And Tertiary Education)
• Inventors: Percival, Terence Michael Paul, Deane, John Fraser, Lam, Alex Chun Kit, Zhou, Sihui, Skellern, David James, Myles, Andrew Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOANG, THAI D
• Application Number:
  US09/508,758
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 370442-447, 370458-462, 370478-480, 370/340, 370/345, 370347-349, 370/329, 370/337, 455450-455, 455507-511
• US Class Current: 370/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access

Abstract

A method for controlling communication between a hub and a plurality of distributed stations over a medium is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of a method for controlling communications access between a hub (8) and a plurality of distributed stations (M1-M7) over a medium, the method comprising the steps of (a) allocating a plurality of channels for data communications between the station (M1-M7) and the hub (8), the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, (M1-M7) and each station owning at cast one channel, each channel being varyingly in one of an empty-, a reserved, or an owner-state, and whereby (i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station (M1-M7) can have access; (ii) the reserved-state provides a channel to which a station (M1-M7) having made a reservation with the hub (8), but not owning the channel, can have access; and (iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station (M1-M7) has access; and (b) allocating the respective state and/or the number of channels over time an the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

Claims

1. A method for controlling communications access between a hub and a plurality of distributed stations over a medium, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) the hub allocating a plurality of channels, for data communications between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and each station owning at least one channel, and wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access;

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand; and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access; and

(b) the hub re-allocating the respective state and/or the number of channels over time on the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data communication is over a medium having finite bandwidth.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are at least as many channels in the owner-state as there are stations.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of a station at any time requesting of the hub to be allocated one or more extra channels.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereby a channel further provides for management traffic between each station and the hub, and comprises the further step, as management traffic, of a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the owner-state.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further step of a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the reserved-state.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

9. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel and the hub responding thereto, whereby said station receives said indication by request and indication.

10. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel and the hub responding thereto, whereby said station receives said indication by broadcast.

11. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further step of a station requesting the hub to be deregistered to give-up allocated channels.

12. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the further step of a station requesting the hub to delay any data communication to the station for a period of time to be in a sleep mode.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of re-allocation includes temporarily ascribing use of reserved-state channel to a non-owning station.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, whereby said temporary use is rescinded following lapse of a time period of no use by the ascribed station.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said channel has a plurality of uplink and downlink slots, and comprising the further step of the number of slots within a channel being variable to account for each station'"'"'s data requirements.

16. A method for controlling communications access between a hub and a plurality of mobile stations via a plurality of channels providing data access therebetween, there being at least as many channels as mobile stations, and the channels is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein:

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access;

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand; and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access;

the method comprising the steps of the hub re-allocating the respective state and/or the number of channels over time on the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the data communication is over a medium having finite bandwidth.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, whereby a channel further provides for management traffic between each station and the hub, and comprises the further step, as management traffic, of a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the owner-state.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the medium is free space.

20. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further step of a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the reserved state.

21. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

22. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

23. A method as claimed in claim. 16, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

24. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further steps of a station requesting an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

25. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further step of a station requesting the hub to be deregistered to give-up allocated channels.

26. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising the further step of a station requesting the hub to delay any data communications to the station for a period of time to be in a step mode.

27. A method as claimed in claim 16, whereby the step of reallocation includes the step of temporarily ascribing use of reserved-state channel to a non-owning station.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, whereby said temporary use is rescinded following lapse of a time period of no use by the ascribed station.

29. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein each said channel has a plurality of uplink and downlink slots, and comprising the further step of the the hub varying the number of slots within a channel to account for each station'"'"'s data requirements.

30. A communications system having controlled data access to a medium, the system comprising:

a hub having transceiving means for communication via the medium and data processing means;

a plurality of distributed stations, each having transceiving means for communication with the hub via the medium and data processing means;

and wherein said data processing means of the hub allocates a plurality of channels for data communications between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and each station owning at least one channel, and wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access,

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand, and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access,

and co-operate to re-allocate the respective state and/or the number of channels over time on the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the stations are mobile and the medium is free space.

32. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the data communications is over a medium having finite bandwidth.

33. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein there are at least as many channels in the owner-state as there are stations.

34. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein a station data processing means, at any time, requests from the hub data processing means to be allocated one or more extra channels.

35. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the hub data processing means further provides for management traffic between each station and the hub, and the management traffic includes a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the owner-state.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means negotiates with the hub data processing means to be allocated a required number of channels in the reserved-state.

37. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

38. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

39. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

40. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

41. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests the hub data processing means to be deregistered to give-up allocated channels.

42. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein a station data processing means requests the hub data processing means to delay any data communication to the station for a period of time to be in a sleep mode.

43. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein re-allocation includes temporarily ascribing use of reserved-state channel to a non-owning station.

44. A system as claimed in claim 43, wherein said temporary use is rescinded following lapse of a time period of no use by the ascribed station.

45. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein each said channel has a plurality of uplink and downlink slots, and wherein the hub varies the number of slots within a channel to account for each station'"'"'s data requirements.

46. A hub for a communications system, operable to have controlled data access to a medium in co-operation with a plurality of distributed, stations, the hub comprising:

transceiving means for communications via the medium; and

data processing means coupled to the transceiving means;

and wherein said data processing means of the hub is operable to allocate a plurality of channels for data traffic between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access,

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand, and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access,

and further operable to re-allocate the respective state and/or the number of channels over time on the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

47. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein the stations are mobile and the medium is free space.

48. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein the data communications is over a medium having finite bandwidth.

49. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein there are at least as many channels in the owner state as there are stations.

50. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein a station data processing means, at any time, requires from the hub data processing means to be allocated one or more extra channels.

51. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein the hub data processing means further provides for management traffic between each station and the hub, and the management traffic includes a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the owner-state.

52. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

53. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

54. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

55. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

56. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requests the hub data processing means to be deregistered to give up allocated channels.

57. A hub as claimed in claim 51, wherein a station data processing means requires the hub data processing means to delay any data communication to the station for a period of time to be in a sleep mode.

58. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein a station processing means negotiates with the hub data processing means to be allocated a required number of channels in the reserved-state.

59. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein re-allocation includes a temporarily ascribing use of reserved-state channel to a non-owning station.

60. A hub as claimed in claim 59, wherein said temporary use is rescinded following lapse of a time period of no use by the ascribed station.

61. A hub as claimed in claim 46, wherein each said channel has a plurality of uplink and downlink slots, and wherein said data processing means varies the number of slots within a channel to account for each station'"'"'s data requirements.

62. A wireless local area network having a medium access protocol to control access, the network comprising:

a hub having transceiving means for communication via free space paths and data processing means;

a plurality of distributed stations, each having transceiving means for communication with the hub via free space paths and data processing means;

and wherein said data processing means of the hub allocates a plurality of channels for data traffic between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and each station owning at least one channel, and wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a- channel to which any station can have access,

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand, and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access,

and the hub re-allocates the respective state and/or the number of channels over time on the basis of each station'"'"'s data requirements.

63. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein the stations are mobile and the medium is free space.

64. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein the data communications is over a medium having finite bandwidth.

65. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein there are at least as many channels in the owner state as there are stations.

66. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein a station data processing means, at any time, requires from the hub data processing means to be allocated one or more extra channels.

67. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein the hub data processing means further provides for management traffic between each station and the hub, and the management traffic includes a station negotiating with the hub to be allocated a required number of channels in the owner-state.

68. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

69. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to register, and the hub data processing means responds thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

70. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by request and indication.

71. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requests an indication of the number of stations seeking to use a channel, and the hub responding thereto, and wherein said station receives said indication by broadcast.

72. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requests the hub data processing means to be deregistered to give up allocated channels.

73. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein a station data processing means requires the hub data processing means to delay any data communication to the station for a period of time to be in a sleep mode.

74. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 67, wherein re-allocation includes a temporarily ascribing use of reserved-state channel to a non-owning station.

75. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 74, wherein said temporary use is rescinded following laps of a time period of no use by the ascribed station.

76. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein a station processing means negotiates with the hub data processing means to be allocated a required number of channels in the reserved-state.

77. A wireless local area network as claimed in claim 62, wherein each said channel has a plurality of uplink and downlink slots, and wherein the hub varies the number of slots within a channel to account for each station'"'"'s data requirements.

78. A method for communications access between a hub and a plurality of distributed stations over a medium, comprising providing a plurality of channels for data communications between the stations and the hub, wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein:

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access;

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand; and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the number of channels is variable but at least equal to the number of stations.

80. A method for controlling communications access between a hub and a plurality of distributed stations over a medium supporting a plurality of channels for data communications between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and each station owning at least one channel, comprising:

the hub dynamically allocating the number of channels and the respective state, and wherein each channel is varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access;

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand; and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access.

81. A hub for a communications system, operable to have controlled data access to a medium in co-operation with a plurality of distributed stations, the hub comprising:

transceiving means for communications via the medium; and

data processing means coupled to the transceiving means, and operable to dynamically allocate a plurality of channels for data traffic between the stations and the hub, the number of channels being at least equal to the number of stations, and each channel being varyingly in a distinct one of an empty-, a reserved-, or an owner-state, and wherein;

(i) the empty-state provides a channel to which any station can have access,

(ii) the reserved-state provides a channel having an owner and to which a station having made a reservation with the hub, but not owning the channel, can have access if not being used by the owner, and further to which the owner can resume access on demand, and

(iii) the owner-state provides a channel to which only the owning station has access.