Channel access methods and apparatus in low-power wireless communication systems
First Claim
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a central control station that broadcasts beacon messages on a communication channel; and
at least one remote terminal that accesses a communication channel based on the beacon messages;
wherein the beacon messages provide timing references for the at least one remote terminal, signal a remote terminal that data is waiting in the control station, enable a remote terminal to request access to the communication channel, and are configured such that access to the communication channel by a terminal is controlled according to a grouping of the terminal into a respective beacon group;
remote terminals of a beacon group are permitted to send channel access request messages during an access window following a beacon message corresponding to the beacon group;
the access window includes a plurality of consecutive time slots, and remote terminals are allocated to respective time slots and send channel access request messages during their allocated time slots; and
an allocated time slot, a remote terminal, and a data-pending indication in a beacon message correspond to one another.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access scheme in a communication system can deal with a mix of devices having different power constraints and different latency requirements and allow highly asymmetric latency behavior. Such a communication system may include a central control station that broadcasts beacon messages on a communication channel, such as a radio channel, and at least one remote terminal that accesses a communication channel based on the beacon messages. The beacon messages are configured such that individual access to the communication channel by each terminal is controlled according to a grouping of the terminals into respective beacon groups. Each beacon group may have a corresponding beacon message, and beacon messages corresponding to different beacon groups may be broadcast at staggered time intervals.
48 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A communication system, comprising:
-
a central control station that broadcasts beacon messages on a communication channel; and at least one remote terminal that accesses a communication channel based on the beacon messages; wherein the beacon messages provide timing references for the at least one remote terminal, signal a remote terminal that data is waiting in the control station, enable a remote terminal to request access to the communication channel, and are configured such that access to the communication channel by a terminal is controlled according to a grouping of the terminal into a respective beacon group;
remote terminals of a beacon group are permitted to send channel access request messages during an access window following a beacon message corresponding to the beacon group;
the access window includes a plurality of consecutive time slots, and remote terminals are allocated to respective time slots and send channel access request messages during their allocated time slots; and
an allocated time slot, a remote terminal, and a data-pending indication in a beacon message correspond to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A terminal for a communication system, comprising:
-
a transmitter that sends messages through a communication channel; a receiver that receives messages from the communication channel; and a controller that operates the transmitter and receiver in response to beacon messages on the communication channel; wherein the terminal uses beacon messages as a timing reference, as signals that messages are waiting to be received, and to enable the terminal to request access to the communication channel, and the terminal accesses the communication channel according to a grouping of the terminal into a respective beacon group;
the controller operates the transmitter to send a channel access request message during an access window following a beacon message corresponding to the beacon group;
the access window includes a plurality of consecutive time slots;
the terminal is allocated to a respective time slot and sends its channel access request message during its allocated time slot; and
an allocated time slot, the terminal and a data-pending indication in a beacon message correspond to one another. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A central control station for a communication system, comprising:
-
a transmitter configured to send messages through a communication channel; a receiver configured to receive messages from the communication channel; and a controller configured to cause the transmitter to broadcast beacon messages on the communication channel; wherein the beacon messages provide a timing reference, signal that data is waiting in the control station, enable requests for access to the communication channel, and are configured such that access to the communication channel is controlled according to beacon groups, requests for access corresponding to a beacon group are enabled during an access window following a beacon message corresponding to the beacon group;
the access window includes a plurality of consecutive time slots;
requests for access corresponding to the beacon group are allocated to respective time slots; and
a data-waiting indication in a beacon message, an allocated time slot, and an intended recipient of the data correspond to one another. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification