Control of reconfigurable SIS/MAC protocols used in wireless communication devices

• US 7,450,523 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Frank, Robert J., Robertson, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, WEI-PO ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/194,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/236, 370/241, 370/242, 370/243, 370/244, 370/245, 370/246, 370/252, 370/253, 370/401, 370/445, 370/448, 370/496
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method, a device, and a system for reconfiguring communication transmission characteristics in response to a changing communication environment is provided. An environment at a communication device is characterized to determine if a transmission parameter associated with processing of a communication signal at a physical layer or a network interface layer should change based on current conditions at the communication device. If a need is identified, a second transmission parameter is selected based on the environment monitoring. A request identifying the second transmission parameter is sent to a manager device using an existing communication link. A response from the manager device is received indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the second transmission parameter in communicating with a second communication device. If the response indicates acceptance of use of the second transmission parameter, the physical layer and/or the network interface layer are reconfigured based on the selected second transmission parameter.

Claims

1. A method of reconfiguring communication transmission characteristics in response to a changing communication environment, the method comprising:

receiving a communication signal from a first communication device at a second communication device, the communication signal processed based on a first transmission parameter, wherein the first transmission parameter is associated with processing of the communication signal by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer implemented at the second communication device;

monitoring an environment at the second communication device;

identifying if there is a need to change the first transmission parameter;

if a need is identified, selecting a second transmission parameter different from the first transmission parameter based on the environment monitoring;

sending a first request to a third communication device from the second communication device, wherein the first request includes an indication of the selected second transmission parameter, and further wherein the third communication device coordinates use of transmission parameters;

receiving a first response from the third communication device at the second communication device, the first response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

if the first response indicates acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter, sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network interface layer includes a media access control sub-layer, and further wherein the identified transmission parameter is associated with a transmission technology supported at the media access control sub-layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission parameter is selected from the group consisting of a frequency, a bandwidth, and a parameter associated with a transmission technology.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmission technology is selected from the group consisting of code division multiple access, frequency division multiple access, time division multiple access, global system for mobile communications, general packet radio services, carrier sense multiple access (CSMA), CSMA-collision detection, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, Aloha, slotted Aloha, spectrum portable management application, Bluetooth standard, IEEE 802.11 standard.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising reconfiguring at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer at the second communication device based on the selected second transmission parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the physical layer and the network interface layer are separately reconfigurable.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the physical layer can be reconfigured without reconfiguring the network interface layer.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the physical layer and the network interface layer are reconfigured as a pair.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a second communication signal from the second communication device to the first communication device, the second communication signal processed based on the selected second transmission parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the need is identified based on a bandwidth usage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the need is identified based on a spectral environment change.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the spectral environment change results from a geographic location change.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the spectral environment change results from a time change.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the spectral environment change results from an environment change.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the need is identified based on an operational environment change.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the operational environment change is a change in a relative velocity between the first communication device and the second communication device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the environment includes sampling of a frequency spectrum of a communication channel.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second transmission parameter uses a cognitive algorithm.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cognitive algorithm is selected from the group consisting of a neural network, a Bayesian network, a rule-based expert system, a search-based optimization, a schema-based scripting, a causal reasoning system, a pattern extrapolation system, a pattern matching system, a counterfactual reasoning system, a forward and backward chaining system, a game-theory optimization system, a logical unification system, a Markov process, a mathematical program, a quantitative simulation, and a genetic algorithm.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein an input to the cognitive algorithm includes an environment characterization datum associated with monitoring the environment.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the received first response in a memory.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising learning from the stored first response.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the third communication device is a media access control domain manager.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the third communication device in an automated process.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second request to the first communication device from the second communication device, wherein the second request includes the indication of the selected second transmission parameter; and

receiving a second response from the first communication device at the second communication device, the second response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer only if the first response and the second response indicate acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second request to the first communication device from the third communication device, wherein the second request includes the indication of the selected second transmission parameter; and

receiving a second response from the first communication device at the third communication device, the second response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sending the second response to the second communication device from the third communication device;

receiving the second response from the third communication device at the second communication device, the second response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer only if the first response and the second response indicate acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

sending the second response to the second communication device from the first communication device;

receiving the second response from the first communication device at the second communication device, the second response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer only if the first response and the second response indicate acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to reconfigure communication transmission characteristics in response to a changing communication environment, the instructions comprising:

characterizing an environment using environment data;

identifying if there is a need to change a first transmission parameter, wherein the first transmission parameter is associated with processing of a communication signal received from a communication device by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer;

if a need is identified, selecting a second transmission parameter different from the first transmission parameter based on the environment characterization;

sending a request to a manager device, wherein the request includes an indication of the selected second transmission parameter, and further wherein the manager device coordinates use of transmission parameters among communication devices;

receiving a response from the manager device, the response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

if the response indicates acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter, sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer.

30. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving a communication signal from a first communication device, the communication signal processed based on a first transmission parameter, wherein the first transmission parameter is associated with processing of the communication signal by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer, the physical layer and the network interface layer operatively connected with the receiver;

an environment monitor, wherein the environment monitor senses environment data;

a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising

characterizing an environment using the environment data received from the environment monitor;

identifying if there is a need to change the first transmission parameter;

if a need is identified, selecting a second transmission parameter different from the first transmission parameter based on the environment characterization;

sending a request to a manager device, wherein the request includes an indication of the selected second transmission parameter, and further wherein the manager device coordinates use of transmission parameters among communication devices;

receiving a response from the manager device, the response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

if the response indicates acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter, sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the computer-readable medium and configured to execute the instructions.

31. A communication device, the communication device comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving a request from a first communication device and sending a response to the first communication device, the request including a transmission parameter, wherein the transmission parameter is associated with processing of a communication signal received from a second communication device at the first communication device by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer at the first communication device;

a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising

determining if use of the transmission parameter for communicating between the first communication device and the second communication device is acceptable; and

preparing the response to the first communication device, wherein the response indicates acceptance or rejection of use of the transmission parameter; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the computer-readable medium and configured to execute the instructions.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the instructions further comprise sending a second response to the second communication device indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the transmission parameter.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the instructions further comprise sending a second response to a third communication device, the second response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the transmission parameter, the device communicating with the first communication device within a first media access control (MAC) domain and communicating with the third communication device within a second MAC domain.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein determining if the use is acceptable includes avoiding a network conflict associated with the second MAC domain.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the first MAC domain and the second MAC domain communicate using different MAC configurations, and further wherein the instructions further comprise reducing a number of communication devices communicating in the first MAC domain based on a network bandwidth.

36. The device of claim 31, wherein determining if the use is acceptable includes a consideration of behavioral characteristics of a current media access control environment.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the behavioral characteristics are selected from the group consisting of routing, quality of service, data rate, latency, MER, range, bandwidth capacity, network bandwidth capacity, network channel behavior, and channel behavior.

38. The device of claim 31, wherein determining if the use is acceptable includes a consideration of behavioral characteristics of an adjacent media access control region.

39. A communication system, the communication system comprising:

a first communication device, the first communication device including

a first receiver, the first receiver receiving a communication signal from a second communication device, the communication signal processed based on a first transmission parameter, wherein the first transmission parameter is associated with processing of the communication signal by at least one of a physical layer and a network interface layer, the physical layer and the network interface layer operatively connected with the receiver;

an environment monitor, wherein the environment monitor senses environment data;

a first computer-readable medium having first computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the first instructions comprising

characterizing an environment using the environment data received from the environment monitor;

identifying if there is a need to change the first transmission parameter;

if a need is identified, selecting a second transmission parameter different from the first transmission parameter based on the environment characterization;

sending a request to a manager device, wherein the request includes an indication of the selected second transmission parameter;

receiving a response from the manager device, the response indicating acceptance or rejection of use of the selected second transmission parameter; and

if the response indicates acceptance of use of the selected second transmission parameter, sending the indication of the selected second transmission parameter to at least one of the physical layer and the network interface layer; and

a first processor, the first processor coupled to the first computer-readable medium and configured to execute the first instructions; and

the manager device including

a second receiver, the second receiver receiving the request from the first communication device and sending the response to the first communication device;

a second computer-readable medium having second computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the second instructions comprising

determining if use of the second transmission parameter for communicating between the first communication device and the second communication device is acceptable; and

preparing the response to the first communication device, wherein the response indicates acceptance or rejection of use of the second transmission parameter; and

a second processor, the second processor coupled to the second computer-readable medium and configured to execute the second instructions.