Message control protocol in a communications network having repeaters
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
- forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit;
wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device;
receiving said packet at said receiving device; and
performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits;
wherein said forming step includes;
identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device;
setting said message control bits based on said message type; and
formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and
wherein said setting step includes;
setting a survey bit when said message type is a survey message.
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Abstract
A wireless communications network which provides directed transmissions between components of the network is provided. The components within the wireless communications include a master apparatus, a plurality of remote devices, and a plurality of repeaters. The components within the wireless communications network communicate using messages which have a control field and at least one information field. Information within the control field is used by components to make determinations for retransmitting the message, or transmitting a predefined response to the message, such as a signal strength response. The components within the network use the messages to make a determination of a communications target, which may be used as a primary contact for transmitting information, automatically, and may repeat the determination at predetermined intervals. Thus, the wireless communications network is able to adapt over time to additional components added into the network, or changing environmental conditions in and around the network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting a survey bit when said message type is a survey message. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting a layer bit when said message type is a transport message. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting an address bit when said message type is a directed message. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting a trace bit when said message type is a routing trace message. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting a direction bit when said message type is an outbound message.
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11. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; wherein said forming step includes; identifying a message type for transmitting to said receiving device; setting said message control bits based on said message type; and formatting data for inclusion in said at least one of said information fields based on said message type; and wherein said setting step includes; setting a first and second remote type bit. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits; and wherein said performing step includes; retransmitting said packet to a second receiving device when said first control bit indicates that said packet is to be retransmitted.
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14. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits, wherein said performing step includes; formatting a response packet including information related to signal strength when one of said message control bits indicates that signal strength information is included in one of said information fields; and transmitting said response packet to said sending device.
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15. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits, wherein said performing step includes; determining that signal strength information is included in said packet; reading said signal strength information; comparing said signal strength information with existing signal strength information; and resetting a primary contact when said signal strength information indicates that said sending device has a stronger signal strength than an existing primary contact.
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16. A method for wireless communication between a sending device and a receiving device, comprising:
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forming a packet at said sending device, said packet having a plurality of message control bits and a plurality of information fields, wherein at least a first message control bit indicates routing information for said packet, and at least a second message control bit indicates whether data is included in at least one of said information fields which is associated with said second message control bit; wirelessly communicating said packet from said sending device to said receiving device; receiving said packet at said receiving device; and performing a task at said receiving device based on said message control bits, wherein; said sending device and said receiving device are part of a first communications network that includes a plurality of repeaters and said packet includes a message that is to be acted on by each of said plurality of repeaters. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification