Method and apparatus for controlling communication within a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for data communication in a wireless network including a server and a plurality of existing clients, the method includes a protocol for the wireless network comprising:
- organizing data transmission within the wireless network into a sequence of data frames wherein each frame includes;
a first portion having a plurality of forward time slots for transmission of data from the server to the plurality of existing clients;
a second portion having a plurality of reverse time slots for transmission of data from the plurality of existing clients to the server;
a turn-around portion selectively inserted between the first and second portions for selectively supporting half-duplex communications between the server and the plurality of existing clients; and
a dedicated quiet portion independent from the first and second portions during which neither the server nor the existing clients transmit;
wherein, one or more forward and reverse time slots are assigned to each client by the server, and the assignments remain in effect for succeeding data frames until changed by the server;
transmitting data from the server to the one of the plurality of existing clients over one or more of the assigned forward time slots; and
transmitting data from one of the plurality of existing clients to the server over one or more of the assigned reverse time slots.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication channel is controlled so as to dynamically accommodate network client requests for access thereto. The communication channel may be supported on a wireless link, such as a spread spectrum wireless link, and client requests for access thereto may be dynamically accommodated by allocating time slots for client transmissions on the wireless link. Providing a quiet time slot within which clients may request access to the communication channel may accommodate various client requests for access to the communication channel. These quiet slots may exist with other forward and reverse time slots which are superimposed on the communication channel, each forward and reverse time slot including one or more data frames. The forward and reverse time slots are preferably fixed, but negotiable, time periods. Each of the data frames may include a plurality of data packets, each of the data packets being variable in length. Preferably, each of the data packets includes error correction coding information as well as information which may be used to synchronize pseudo-random number generators of a transmitter and a receiver operating according to the communication protocol. Each of the data frames may further include link identification information that uniquely identifies a wireless link supporting the communication protocol.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for data communication in a wireless network including a server and a plurality of existing clients, the method includes a protocol for the wireless network comprising:
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organizing data transmission within the wireless network into a sequence of data frames wherein each frame includes; a first portion having a plurality of forward time slots for transmission of data from the server to the plurality of existing clients; a second portion having a plurality of reverse time slots for transmission of data from the plurality of existing clients to the server; a turn-around portion selectively inserted between the first and second portions for selectively supporting half-duplex communications between the server and the plurality of existing clients; and a dedicated quiet portion independent from the first and second portions during which neither the server nor the existing clients transmit; wherein, one or more forward and reverse time slots are assigned to each client by the server, and the assignments remain in effect for succeeding data frames until changed by the server; transmitting data from the server to the one of the plurality of existing clients over one or more of the assigned forward time slots; and transmitting data from one of the plurality of existing clients to the server over one or more of the assigned reverse time slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for efficiently utilizing bandwidth in a wireless network including a server and plurality of existing clients, by enabling a new client to join the network without the use of a separate reservation channel or period, the system comprising:
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the server, including a radio for transmitting and receiving data over the wireless network, wherein the sewer and radio cooperate to control data transmission on the network and to organize data transmission in the wireless network into frames, wherein each frame includes a plurality of time slots, each of which is assigned to an existing client for transmissions between that client and the server, and wherein the server and radio provide a dedicated quiet period independent of the plurality of time slots during which the server and the existing clients do not transmit; a plurality of clients, each including a radio for transmitting and receiving data over the wireless network, wherein each client receives data transmissions from the server during a first time slot assigned to that client, and transmits data to the server during a second time slot assigned to that client; and a new client, including a radio for transmitting and receiving data over the wireless network, the new client monitoring data transmissions on the wireless network to detect the dedicated quiet period and transmitting data to the server during the detected quiet period; wherein, a turn-around slot selectively inserted between the first and second time slots for selectively supporting half-duplex communications between the server and the plurality of existing clients. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification