Method and device for establishing communication links and handling unbalanced traffic loads in a communication system

• US 7,304,972 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stingray IP Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cain, Joseph Bibb, Billhartz, Thomas Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US10/280,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 370/330, 370/337, 370/347, 370/442, 370/478, 370/329, 370/219, 370/334, 370/208, 370/336, 370/229, 370/338, 370/252, 370/339, 370/443, 370/328, 370/325, 370/326, 342/374, 455/435, 455/512, 455/450, 455/456, 455/550, 455/101, 455/132, 455/272
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2643 using time-division multiple access [TDMA] H04B7/2615, H04B7/2618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0041 Arrangements at the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/203 Details of error rate determination, e.g. BER, FER or WER
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/046 the resource being in the space domain, e.g. beams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless communication network includes a plurality of mobile nodes each including a transceiver, a directional antenna, such as a phased array antenna, connected to the transceiver, and a controller connected to the transceiver. The controller schedules a respective semi-permanent time slot for each time frame to establish a communication link with each neighboring mobile node and leaves at least one available time slot in each time frame. The controller also schedules the at least one available time slot to also serve the communication link with a neighboring mobile node based upon link communications demand. The directional antenna is aimed by the controller towards each neighboring mobile node during communication therewith. The controller also coordinates communication with each neighboring mobile node by allocating time slots based upon link communications demand.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of mobile nodes each comprising a transceiver, a directional antenna connected to said transceiver, and a controller connected to said transceiver and comprising

a first time slot unit to schedule a respective semi-permanent time slot for each time frame to establish a communication link with each neighboring mobile node and leaving at least one available time slot in each time frame,

a second time slot unit to schedule the at least one available time slot to also serve the communication link with a neighboring mobile node based upon link communications demand,

an antenna aiming unit to aim said directional antenna toward each neighboring mobile node during communication therewith, and

a traffic coordination unit to coordinate communication with each neighboring mobile node by allocating time slots to the first and second time slot units based upon link communications demand.

2. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein said traffic coordination unit allocates a bulk set of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

3. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein said traffic coordination unit requests a bulk set of time slots from neighboring mobile nodes based upon an increased link communications demand.

4. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein said traffic coordination unit increases a maximum number of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

5. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein said traffic coordination unit reallocates time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

6. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a bidirectional link defining two half time slots;

and wherein

said traffic coordination unit allocates half time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

7. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the first and second time slot units based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising streaming video.

8. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the first and second time slot units based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising high rate sensor data.

9. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of communication links are established within a scheduled semi-permanent time slot, with each communication link including a different pair of neighboring mobile nodes.

10. A wireless communication network according to claim 1, wherein said directional antenna comprises a phased array antenna.

11. A wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of mobile nodes each comprising a transceiver, a directional antenna connected to said transceiver, and a controller connected to said transceiver and comprising

a time slot scheduling unit to schedule time slots to establish a communication link with each neighboring mobile node,

an antenna aiming unit to aim said directional antenna toward each neighboring mobile node during communication therewith, and

a traffic coordination unit to coordinate communication with each neighboring mobile node by allocating time slots to the time slot unit based upon link communications demand,

said controller coordinating the scheduling of time slots based upon allocated time slots.

12. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein said traffic coordination unit allocates a bulk set of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

13. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein said traffic coordination unit requests a bulk set of time slots from neighboring mobile nodes based upon an increased link communications demand.

14. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein said traffic coordination unit increases a maximum number of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

15. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein said traffic coordination unit reallocates time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

16. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein the communication link comprises a bidirectional link defining two half time slots;

and wherein said traffic coordination unit allocates half time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

17. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising streaming video.

18. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising high rate sensor data.

19. A wireless communication network according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of communication links are established within a scheduled semi-permanent time slot, with each communication link including a different pair of neighboring mobile nodes.

20. A wireless communication network according to claim 12, wherein said directional antenna comprises a phased array antenna.

21. A mobile node for a wireless communication network, the mobile node comprising:

a transceiver;

a directional antenna connected to said transceiver; and

a controller connected to said transceiver and comprising

a time slot scheduling unit to schedule time slots to establish a communication link with neighboring mobile nodes,

an antenna aiming unit to aim said directional antenna toward each neighboring mobile node during communication therewith, and

a traffic coordination unit to coordinate communication with each neighboring mobile node by allocating time slots to the time slot scheduling unit based upon link communications demand,

said controller coordinating the scheduling of time slots based upon allocated time slots.

22. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein said traffic coordination unit allocates a bulk set of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

23. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein said traffic coordination unit requests a bulk set of time slots from neighboring mobile nodes based upon an increased link communications demand.

24. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein said traffic coordination unit increases a maximum number of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

25. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein said traffic coordination unit reallocates time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

26. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein the communication link comprises a bidirectional link defining two half time slots;

and wherein said traffic coordination unit allocates half time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

27. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising streaming video.

28. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein the traffic coordination unit allocates time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising high rate sensor data.

29. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of communication links are established within a scheduled semi-permanent time slot, with each communication link including a different pair of neighboring mobile nodes.

30. A mobile node according to claim 21, wherein said directional antenna comprises a phased array antenna.

31. A method for establishing communication links for a plurality of mobile nodes, each mobile node comprising a transceiver, a directional antenna connected to the transceiver, and a controller connected to the transceiver, the method comprising for each mobile node:

scheduling a respective semi-permanent time slot for each time frame to establish a communication link with a neighboring mobile node and leaving at least one available time slot in each time frame;

scheduling the at least one available time slot to also serve the communication link with a neighboring mobile node based upon link communications demand;

aiming the directional antenna toward each neighboring mobile node during communication therewith;

coordinating communication with each neighboring mobile node by allocating time slots for scheduling based upon link communications demand.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises allocating a bulk set of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises requesting a bulk set of time slots from neighboring mobile nodes based upon an increased link communications demand.

34. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises increasing a maximum number of time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

35. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises reallocating time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

36. A method according to claim 31, wherein the communication link comprises a bidirectional link defining two half time slots;

and wherein coordinating communication comprises allocating half time slots based upon an increased link communications demand.

37. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises allocating time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising streaming video.

38. A method according to claim 31, wherein coordinating communication comprises allocating time slots to the time slot unit based upon increased link communications demand, the increased link communications demand comprising high rate sensor data.

39. A method according to claim 31, wherein a plurality of communication links are established within a scheduled semi-permanent time slot, with each communication link including a different pair of neighboring mobile nodes.

40. A method according to claim 31, wherein said directional antenna comprises a phased array antenna.