Automatic service activation
First Claim
1. A method of communicating data between airborne stations in a time division multiple access system, where the data is transmitted in time slots which are organized in frames of a repeating frame structure, a link address for transmission of data is associated with at least one time slot in each frame, the stations selecting link addresses for transmission of data according to a self-organizing transmission algorithm, the method comprising:
- broadcasting from each station a data message of a first type at a first repetition rate,receiving in each station data messages of the first type from other stations, wherein a service involving at least two stations being accomplished via an exchange of data messages of a second type that are transmitted at a second repetition rate which is higher than the first repetition rate,determining in each station, based on any received data messages of the first type or the second type, whether a service activation criterion is fulfilled with respect to at least one other station, and if sodetermining whether a free link address exists for transmission of data messages of the second type, and if sotransmitting the data messages of the second type in time slots associated with one of said free link addresses,wherein the data message of the second type comprising a current link address field and a previous link address field of the transmitting station, and provided that a station transmits data messages of the second type at a current link address the method for this station comprising;
listening for data messages of the second type at all link addresses allocated for transmission of data messages of the second type different from the current link address, and provided that the station has transmitted the data messages of the second type at the current link address during at least a minimum time period,interrupting the transmission of data messages of the second type at randomly selected time slots, and during each such time slotlistening for any data messages of the second type transmitted from other stations at the current link address, and if such a transmission is found,releasing the current link address, otherwisecontinuing to transmit data messages of the second type at the current link address until a service deactivation criterion is found be fulfilled.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wireless communication systems wherein services involving two or more stations in the system may be activated automatically. Data is communicated between airborne stations according to a TDMA protocol, where the data is transmitted in time slots organized in frames of a repeating frame structure. A link address is associated with at least one time slot. The stations select link addresses for transmission of data according to a self-organizing transmission algorithm. Each station broadcasts data messages of a first type at a first repetition rate and receives such corresponding messages from the other stations. At least based on the received data messages of the first type, each station determines whether a service activation criterion is fulfilled with respect to at least one other station. If the service activation criterion is fulfilled, the station starts to transmit data messages of a second type, which pertain to a service that involves the station itself and the at least one other station.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of communicating data between airborne stations in a time division multiple access system, where the data is transmitted in time slots which are organized in frames of a repeating frame structure, a link address for transmission of data is associated with at least one time slot in each frame, the stations selecting link addresses for transmission of data according to a self-organizing transmission algorithm, the method comprising:
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broadcasting from each station a data message of a first type at a first repetition rate, receiving in each station data messages of the first type from other stations, wherein a service involving at least two stations being accomplished via an exchange of data messages of a second type that are transmitted at a second repetition rate which is higher than the first repetition rate, determining in each station, based on any received data messages of the first type or the second type, whether a service activation criterion is fulfilled with respect to at least one other station, and if so determining whether a free link address exists for transmission of data messages of the second type, and if so transmitting the data messages of the second type in time slots associated with one of said free link addresses, wherein the data message of the second type comprising a current link address field and a previous link address field of the transmitting station, and provided that a station transmits data messages of the second type at a current link address the method for this station comprising; listening for data messages of the second type at all link addresses allocated for transmission of data messages of the second type different from the current link address, and provided that the station has transmitted the data messages of the second type at the current link address during at least a minimum time period, interrupting the transmission of data messages of the second type at randomly selected time slots, and during each such time slot listening for any data messages of the second type transmitted from other stations at the current link address, and if such a transmission is found, releasing the current link address, otherwise continuing to transmit data messages of the second type at the current link address until a service deactivation criterion is found be fulfilled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer readable medium; and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for carrying out a method for communicating data between airborne stations in a time division multiple access system, wherein the computer program instructions when executed cause the following steps; broadcasting from each station a data message of a first type at a first repetition rate, receiving in each station data messages of the first type from other stations, wherein a service involving at least two stations being accomplished via an exchange of data messages of a second type that are transmitted at a second repetition rate which is higher than the first repetition rate, determining in each station, based on any received data messages of the first type or the second type, whether a service activation criterion is fulfilled with respect to at least one other station, and if so determining whether a free link address exists for transmission of data messages of the second type, and if so transmitting the data messages of the second type in time slots associated with one of said free link addresses wherein the data message of the second type comprising a current link address field and a previous link address field of the transmitting station, and provided that a station transmits data messages of the second type at a current link address the method for this station comprising; listening for data messages of the second type at all link addresses allocated for transmission of data messages of the second type different from the current link address, and provided that the station has transmitted the data messages of the second type at the current link address during at least a minimum time period, interrupting the transmission of data messages of the second type at randomly selected time slots, and during each such time slot listening for any data messages of the second type transmitted from other stations at the current link address, and if such a transmission is found, releasing the current link address, otherwise continuing to transmit data messages of the second type at the current link address until a service deactivation criterion is found be fulfilled.
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11. A station for wirelessly communicating data with airborne stations in a time division multiple access system, where the data is transmitted in time slots which are organized in frames of a repeating frame structure, a link address for transmission of data is associated with at least one time slot in each frame, the stations selecting link addresses for transmission of data according to a self-organizing transmission algorithm, the station comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to broadcast data messages of a first type at a first repetition rate, and a receiver adapted to receive data messages of the first type from other stations, wherein a service involving at least two stations in the system is accomplishable via an exchange of data messages of a second type that are transmitted at a second repetition rate which is higher than the first repetition rate, the station comprises a processor adapted to determine, based on any received data messages of the first type or the second type, whether a service activation criterion is fulfilled with respect to at least one other station, and if so control the transmitter to transmit data messages of the second type at the second repetition rate to accomplish said service with respect to the station itself and the at least one other station, wherein the data message of the second type comprises a current link address field and a previous link address field of the station, and when station transmits data messages of the second type at a current link address, wherein the processor is adapted to; control the receiver to listen for data messages of the second type at all link addresses allocated for transmission of data messages of the second type different from the current link address, and provided that the station has transmitted the data messages of the second type at the current link address during at least a minimum time period, control the transmitter to interrupt the transmission of data messages of the second type at randomly selected time slots, and during each such time slot control the receiver to listen for any data messages of the second type transmitted from other stations at the current link address, and if such a transmission is found, release the current link address, otherwise control the transmitter to continue to transmit data messages of the second type at the current link address until a service deactivation criterion is found be fulfilled. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification