Redundant radio frequency network having a roaming terminal communication protocol
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of performing a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:
- waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, the predetermined time period being at least the maximum expected time span between transmissions from the destination device to a device communicating with the destination device;
after said detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device; and
if said attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, then;
transmitting, by the sending device, a series of packets to the destination device; and
after said transmitting, receiving a packet from the destination device, where said received packet indicates that the destination device successfully received the transmitted series of packets.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a redundant network and communication protocol at least including host computers, RF base stations, and roaming terminals. The network may utilize a polling communication protocol such that under heavy traffic conditions, a roaming terminal wishing to initiate communication may be required to determine whether the channel is clear by listening for an entire interpoll gap time. When a hidden terminal is communicating, the roaming terminal may conclude that the communication is taking place upon receiving a polling frame directed to the hidden terminal from the normally silent base station. Inherent redundancy techniques may be used with a spanning tree approach for determining the most efficient pathways from a source to a destination and ensuring that the network adapts to spatial changes or breakdowns within the network.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of performing a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:
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waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, the predetermined time period being at least the maximum expected time span between transmissions from the destination device to a device communicating with the destination device; after said detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device; and if said attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, then; transmitting, by the sending device, a series of packets to the destination device; and after said transmitting, receiving a packet from the destination device, where said received packet indicates that the destination device successfully received the transmitted series of packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of performing a data exchange over a wireless communication channel between a destination device and a sending device, the method comprising:
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waiting, by the sending device, a period of time that is at least as long as a first predetermined time period and detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time; after said detecting no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempting, by the sending device, to initiate communication with the destination device; and if said attempt to initiate communication with the destination device proves successful, then; communicating, between the sending device and the destination device, a series of packets, where said communicating comprises communicating at least one of the series of packets within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period; and after said communicating the series of packets, communicating, between the sending device and the destination device, a packet that indicates successful communication of the series of packets. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A wireless communication system comprising:
a first node that operates to, at least; wait a period of time that is at least as long as a predetermined time period and detect no communication on a wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, the predetermined time period being at least the maximum expected time span between transmissions from a second node to a node communicating with the second node; after operating to detect no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempt to initiate communication with the second node; and if said attempt to initiate communication with the second node proves successful, then; transmit a series of packets to the second node; and after operating to transmit the series of packets, receive a packet from the second node, where said received packet indicates that the second node successfully received the transmitted series of packets. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A wireless communication system comprising:
a first node that operates to, at least; wait a period of time that is at least as long as a first predetermined time period and detect no communication on a wireless communication channel throughout the period of time; after operating to detect no communication on the wireless communication channel throughout the period of time, attempt to initiate communication with a second node; and if said attempt to initiate communication with the second node proves successful, then; communicate a series of packets with the second node by, at least in part, operating to communicate at least one of the series of packets within a second predetermined time period that is less than the first predetermined time period; and after operating to communicate the series of packets, communicate, with the second node, a packet that indicates successful communication of the series of packets. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
Specification