Parasitic time synchronization for a centralized communications guardian
First Claim
1. A parasitic time synchronization network, the network comprising:
- a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is adapted to transmit and receive data;
one or more hubs, each hub having communication links with the plurality of nodes;
wherein each node is adapted to communicate with every other node through the one or more hubs;
wherein the communication links between any one hub and the plurality of nodes defines a communication channel; and
one or more guardians, wherein each guardian is associated with one communication channel;
wherein each node is assigned a time slot in which it is permitted to transmit data through an associated hub of the one or more hubs;
wherein a guardian of an associated channel blocks propagation of data transmissions between the plurality of nodes through the associated hub and allows only data transmissions from one of the plurality of nodes;
wherein the guardian periodically receives a cluster of beacons generated by a plurality of the plurality of nodes;
wherein the guardian is further adapted to observe receipt of a first beacon,wherein when the guardian observes receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t then the guardian concludes that the first beacon, the nth beacon, and any beacons received between the first and nth beacons comprise a cluster of beacons indicating the beginning of a time slot, wherein n is greater than or equal to two.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A parasitic time synchronization network is provided including a plurality of nodes, one or more hubs, each hub having communication links with the plurality of nodes and one or more guardians. Each node is adapted to transmit and receive data and communicate with every other node through the one or more hubs. The communication links between any one hub and the plurality of nodes defines a communication channel. Each guardian is associated with one communication channel. Each node is assigned a time slot in which it is permitted to transmit data through an associated hub of the one or more hubs. A guardian of an associated channel blocks propagation of data transmissions between the plurality of nodes through the associated hub allows only data transmissions from one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the guardian periodically receives a cluster of beacons generated by a plurality of the plurality of nodes.
8 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A parasitic time synchronization network, the network comprising:
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a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is adapted to transmit and receive data; one or more hubs, each hub having communication links with the plurality of nodes; wherein each node is adapted to communicate with every other node through the one or more hubs; wherein the communication links between any one hub and the plurality of nodes defines a communication channel; and one or more guardians, wherein each guardian is associated with one communication channel; wherein each node is assigned a time slot in which it is permitted to transmit data through an associated hub of the one or more hubs; wherein a guardian of an associated channel blocks propagation of data transmissions between the plurality of nodes through the associated hub and allows only data transmissions from one of the plurality of nodes; wherein the guardian periodically receives a cluster of beacons generated by a plurality of the plurality of nodes; wherein the guardian is further adapted to observe receipt of a first beacon, wherein when the guardian observes receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t then the guardian concludes that the first beacon, the nth beacon, and any beacons received between the first and nth beacons comprise a cluster of beacons indicating the beginning of a time slot, wherein n is greater than or equal to two. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network, comprising:
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one or more hubs; a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is adapted to communicate with every other node through the one or more hubs; a synchronization function enabled within network, including; a central guardian; and a plurality of clusters of beacons transmitted to the central guardian by a plurality of the plurality of nodes, wherein based on receipt of one of the plurality of clusters of beacons the central guardian opens a transmission window for one of the plurality of nodes and allows data transmissions from the one of the plurality of nodes to propagate to other nodes and blocks any transmissions from the others node during the transmission window; wherein the central guardian distinguishes between the one of the plurality of clusters of beacons and the one or more outlier beacons by observing receipt of a first beacon, and when the guardian observes receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t, then the guardian concludes that the first beacon, the nth beacon, and any beacons received between the first and nth beacons comprise one cluster of beacons, wherein n is greater than or equal to two. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for synchronizing a centralized guardian in a hub with a plurality of nodes of a network, the method comprising:
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observing, with the centralized guardian, receipt of a first beacon; observing, with the centralized guardian, receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t, wherein n is greater than or equal to two; concluding, with the centralized guardian, that the first beacon, the nth beacon and any beacons observed between the first and nth beacon comprises a cluster of beacons; and when the receipt of the nth beacon occurs within the predefined time interval t, defining, with the centralized guardian, the receipt of the nth beacon as the beginning of a time slot. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A parasitic time synchronization network, comprising:
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means for synchronizing a centralized guardian with a plurality of nodes of a network; means for observing receipt of a first beacon; means for observing receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t, wherein n is greater than or equal to two; means for concluding that the first beacon, the nth beacon and any beacons observed between the first and nth beacon comprises a cluster of beacons; and when the receipt of the nth beacon occurs within the predefined time interval t, defining the receipt the nth beacon as the beginning of a time slot. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of synchronizing a centralized guardian with a plurality of nodes of a network, the method comprising:
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observing receipt of a first beacon; observing receipt of an nth beacon within a predefined time interval t, wherein n is greater than or equal to two; concluding that the first beacon, the nth beacon and any beacons observed between the first and nth beacon comprises a cluster of beacons; and when the receipt of the nth beacon occurs within the predefined time interval t, defining the receipt of the nth beacon as the beginning of a time slot. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification