Synchronized UWB piconets for Simultaneously Operating Piconet performance

• US 7,433,697 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ojard, Eric J., Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Frank, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US10/873,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 375/354, 455/422.1, 455/458, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0652 Synchronisation among time division multiple access [TDMA] nodes, e.g. time triggered protocol [TTP] bus network with centralized control in which slots are of a TDMA packet structure H04L12/4035
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

Synchronized UWB piconets for SOP (Simultaneously Operating Piconet) performance. A common backbone (either wired or wireless) is employed that provides a common CLK (clock signal) to all of the various PNCs (piconet coordinators) of various piconets that may operate within a sufficiently close region such that interference could undesirably occur. By providing a very reliable CLK signal from a common backbone to all of the PNCs of the various piconets operating within a substantially close proximity to one another, very precise synchronization may be ensured for all of the communications performed therein. The various piconets may then even operate using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)—whose performance would be substantially compromised without effective synchronization. In addition, combined TFC (time frequency code) and TDMA may also be employed to support the communications therein thereby providing even another degree of orthogonality that provided by TDMA alone.

Claims

1. A WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) communication system, the system comprising:

a first piconet including a first PNC (piconet coordinator) and a first plurality of DEVs (user piconet devices);

wherein the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to a first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission slots;

a second piconet including a second PNC and a second plurality of DEVs;

wherein the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a second TDMA transmission slots;

a wired backbone that is communicatively coupled to the first PNC and the second PNC;

wherein a CLK (clock signal) is provided to each of the first PNC and the second PNC via the wired backbone; and

wherein the first PNC and the second PNC use the CLK to synchronize the first TDMA transmission slots and the second TDMA transmission slots.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using the first TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a first TFC (time frequency code).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using the second TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a second TFC (time frequency code).

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wired backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first piconet operates within a first region;

the second piconet operates within a second region; and

the first region and the second region occupy at least a portion of common space.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first piconet is a TV (television) piconet; and

the first plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless remote, a cable STB (Set Top Box), a satellite STB, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Recorder), and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first piconet is a computer piconet; and

the second plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless mouse, a wireless mouse keyboard, a printer, and an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first PNC facilitates p2p (peer to peer) communication between a first DEV and a second DEV of the first plurality of DEVs.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the UWB signals employed within the first piconet and the second piconet occupy a frequency spectrum that spans from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

the frequency spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).

11. A WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) communication system, the system comprising:

a first piconet including a first PNC (piconet coordinator) and a first plurality of DEVs (user piconet devices);

wherein the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to a first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission slots that is implemented according to a first TFC (time frequency code);

a second piconet including a second PNC and a second plurality of DEVs;

wherein the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a second TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a second TFC;

a wired backbone that is communicatively coupled to the first PNC and the second PNC;

wherein a CLK (clock signal) is provided to each of the first PNC and the second PNC via the wired backbone;

wherein the first PNC and the second PNC use the CLK to synchronize the first TDMA transmission slots and the second TDMA transmission slots;

wherein the first piconet operates within a first region;

wherein the second piconet operates within a second region; and

wherein the first region and the second region occupy at least a portion of common space.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wired backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first piconet is a TV (television) piconet; and

the first plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless remote, a cable STB (Set Top Box), a satellite STB, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Recorder), and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first piconet is a computer piconet; and

the second plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless mouse, a wireless mouse keyboard, a printer, and an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first PNC facilitates p2p (peer to peer) communication between a first DEV and a second DEV of the first plurality of DEVs.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the UWB signals employed within the first piconet and the second piconet occupy a frequency spectrum that spans from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

the frequency spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).

18. A WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) communication system, the system comprising:

a first piconet including a first PNC (piconet coordinator) and a first plurality of DEVs (user piconet devices);

wherein the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to a first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission slots;

a second piconet including a second PNC and a second plurality of DEVs;

wherein the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a second TDMA transmission slots;

a wireless backbone that is communicatively coupled to the first PNC and the second PNC;

wherein a CLK (clock signal) is provided to each of the first PNC and the second PNC via the wireless backbone; and

wherein the first PNC and the second PNC use the CLK to synchronize the first TDMA transmission slots and the second TDMA transmission slots.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using the first TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a first TFC (time frequency code).

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using the second TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a second TFC (time frequency code).

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wireless backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first piconet operates within a first region;

the second piconet operates within a second region; and

the first region and the second region occupy at least a portion of common space.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first piconet is a TV (television) piconet; and

the first plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless remote, a cable STB (Set Top Box), a satellite STB, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Recorder), and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first piconet is a computer piconet; and

the second plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless mouse, a wireless mouse keyboard, a printer, and an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first PNC facilitates p2p (peer to peer) communication between a first DEV and a second DEV of the first plurality of DEVs.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the UWB signals employed within the first piconet and the second piconet occupy a frequency spectrum that spans from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

the frequency spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).

28. A WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) communication system, the system comprising:

a first piconet including a first PNC (piconet coordinator) and a first plurality of DEVs (user piconet devices);

wherein the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to a first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission slots that is implemented according to a first TFC (time frequency code);

a second piconet including a second PNC and a second plurality of DEVs;

wherein the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a second TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a second TFC;

a wireless backbone that is communicatively coupled to the first PNC and the second PNC;

wherein a CLK (clock signal) is provided to each of the first PNC and the second PNC via the wireless backbone;

wherein the first PNC and the second PNC use the CLK to synchronize the first TDMA transmission slots and the second TDMA transmission slots;

wherein the first piconet operates within a first region;

wherein the second piconet operates within a second region; and

wherein the first region and the second region occupy at least a portion of common space.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wireless backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the first piconet is a TV (television) piconet; and

the first plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless remote, a cable STB (Set Top Box), a satellite STB, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Recorder), and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the first piconet is a computer piconet; and

the second plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless mouse, a wireless mouse keyboard, a printer, and an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the first PNC facilitates p2p (peer to peer) communication between a first DEV and a second DEV of the first plurality of DEVs.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein:

the UWB signals employed within the first piconet and the second piconet occupy a frequency spectrum that spans from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

the frequency spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).

35. A method for operating synchronized SOPs (Simultaneously Operating Piconets) within a WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network), the method comprising:

providing a CLK (clock signal) to a first PNC (piconet coordinator) of a first piconet and to a second PNC of a second piconet;

within the first piconet, supporting communication between the first PNC and a first plurality of DEVs (user piconet devices) using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to a first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) transmission slots;

within the second piconet, supporting communication between the second PNC and a second plurality of DEVs using UWB signals according to a second TDMA transmission slots;

using the CLK to synchronize the first TDMA transmission slots and the second TDMA transmission slots within each of the first PNC and the second PNC.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

within the first piconet, supporting communication between the first PNC and the first plurality of DEVs using UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals according to the first TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a first TFC (time frequency code).

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

within the second piconet, supporting communication between the second PNC and the second plurality of DEVs using UWB signals according to the second TDMA transmission slots that is implemented according to a second TFC (time frequency code).

38. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the CLK is provided to the first PNC and the second PNC via a wired backbone that communicatively couples to the first PNC and the second PNC.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wired backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the CLK is provided to the first PNC and the second PNC via a wireless backbone that communicatively couples to the first PNC and the second PNC.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

a third piconet including a third PNC and a third plurality of DEVs; and

wherein;

the CLK is provided to the third PNC via the wireless backbone that communicatively couples to the first PNC, the second PNC, and the third PNC;

the third PNC and the third plurality of DEVs are operable to communicate with each other using UWB signals according to a third TDMA transmission slots; and

the wireless backbone is also communicatively coupled to the third PNC.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein:

the first PNC is implemented within a first combination AP (Access Point)/PNC that supports communications within both the first piconet and a first WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network); and

the second PNC is implemented within a second combination AP/PNC that supports communications within both the second piconet and a second WLAN.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

operating the first piconet within a first region;

operating the second piconet within a second region; and

wherein the first region and the second region occupy at least a portion of common space.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first piconet is a TV (television) piconet; and

the first plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless remote, a cable STB (Set Top Box), a satellite STB, a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder), a DVD (Digital Versatile/Video Recorder), and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the first piconet is a computer piconet; and

the second plurality of DEVs includes at least one of a wireless mouse, a wireless mouse keyboard, a printer, and an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) that includes piconet operable communication functionality.

47. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

facilitating p2p (peer to peer) communication between a first DEV and a second DEV of the first plurality of DEVs using the first PNC.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein:

the UWB signals employed within the first piconet and the second piconet occupy a frequency spectrum that spans from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

the frequency spectrum is partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).