Network communication system with an alignment signal to allow a controller to provide messages to nodes and transmission of the messages over four independent frequencies
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of operating a data communication system, the data communication system including at least a first communication controller and at least a first node, the method comprising:
- transmitting a random access connection request signal from the first node to the first communication controller in a first slot indicating that the first node can receive messages transmitted from the first communication controller;
receiving a connection request response signal from the first communication controller transmitted to the first node in response to the random access connection request signal, said connection request response signal providing information indicating that the first node can transmit a reserve access request signal in a second slot in order to subsequently transmit a message to the first communication controller;
receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal;
transmitting the reserve access request signal in the first slot in response to the connection request response signal from the first communication controller;
receiving a grant signal from the first communication controller subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said grant signal including information indicating resources have been allocated for transmission of message data packets to the first communication controller;
transmitting the message data packets from the first node in response to the grant signal;
wherein the message data packets comprise multiple data packets, wherein at least one the message data packets contain information related to a count value, wherein the final data packet from the multiple data packets contains terminal indication information indicating that termination of the message data packets has occurred;
wherein a subsequent reserve access request signal from a second node provided in a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the message data packets by the first node; and
wherein the aligning signal is received on first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the grant signal is received on a third frequency and the message data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal.
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Abstract
A communication system with at least one controller and a plurality of nodes provides a procedure to enable the controller to connect and send messages to individual nodes to establish and maintain a communication link. The controller further receives an indication from the node when termination of receipt of a message from the controller by the node has occurred. The controller transmits connection information to a node to establish a communication path over which the controller can transmit a message to the node when the controller has information to send. A communication message can be sent by the controller, for example, when a node wanders into its control area to enable a communication link to be established.
94 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method of operating a data communication system, the data communication system including at least a first communication controller and at least a first node, the method comprising:
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transmitting a random access connection request signal from the first node to the first communication controller in a first slot indicating that the first node can receive messages transmitted from the first communication controller; receiving a connection request response signal from the first communication controller transmitted to the first node in response to the random access connection request signal, said connection request response signal providing information indicating that the first node can transmit a reserve access request signal in a second slot in order to subsequently transmit a message to the first communication controller; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; transmitting the reserve access request signal in the first slot in response to the connection request response signal from the first communication controller; receiving a grant signal from the first communication controller subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said grant signal including information indicating resources have been allocated for transmission of message data packets to the first communication controller; transmitting the message data packets from the first node in response to the grant signal; wherein the message data packets comprise multiple data packets, wherein at least one the message data packets contain information related to a count value, wherein the final data packet from the multiple data packets contains terminal indication information indicating that termination of the message data packets has occurred; wherein a subsequent reserve access request signal from a second node provided in a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the message data packets by the first node; and wherein the aligning signal is received on first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the grant signal is received on a third frequency and the message data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal.
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2. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes including the first node, the first node comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the at least one processor; and an interface configured by the at least one processor to; transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot in response to the first grant signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information relating to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the data packets; transmit the data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein a subsequent request signal by a second node into a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the data packets by the first node; and wherein the aligning signal is received on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the second grant signal is received on a third frequency and the data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A controller in a network including a plurality of nodes, the controller comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the at least one processor; and at least one interface configured by the at least one processor to; receive a random access request signal transmitted by a first node in the plurality of nodes in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows the controller to determine that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; transmit a first grant signal subsequent to receipt of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; transmit an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; receive the reserve access request signal from the first node subsequent to transmission of the first grant signal; transmit a second grant signal subsequent to receipt of the reserve access request signal from the first node, said second grant signal including information related to an allocation of additional resources to the first node for transmitting the data packets; receiving the data packets from the first node subsequent to transmission of the second grant signal; wherein the aligning signal is transmitted on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is received on a second frequency, the second grant signal is transmitted on a third frequency and the data packets are received on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal; and wherein reception of a subsequent request signal from a second node is provided in a third slot is received during reception of the data packets from the first node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes, the first node comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the processor; and at least one interface configured by the processor to; transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot subsequent to receiving the first grant signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information relating to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the data packets; transmit the data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein the interface further transmits information relating to a count value, wherein the interface transmits terminal indication information indicating that the final data packet is a last data packet, wherein a subsequent reserve access request signal from a second node provided in a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the data packets by the first node; and wherein the aligning signal is received on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the second grant signal is received on a third frequency and the data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes including the first node, the first node comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the at least one processor; and an interface configured by the at least one processor to; transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot in response to the first grant signal; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information relating to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the data packets; and transmit the data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein the availability of said second slot to the first node recurs in repeated transmissions until a communication controller disables use of the second-slot by the first node, and wherein the aligning signal is received on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the second grant signal is received on a third frequency and the data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes including the first node, the first node comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the at least one processor; and an interface configured by the at least one processor to; transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot in response to the first grant signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information relating to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the data packets; transmit the data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein a subsequent request signal by a second node into a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the data packets by the first node; wherein the subsequent request signal by the second node is provided in the third slot on a differing frequency from the data packets transmitted by the first node; and wherein the aligning signal is received on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the second grant signal is received on a third frequency and the data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes, the first node comprising:
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at least one processor; a memory providing code to the processor; and at least one interface configured by the processor to; transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for subsequently transmitting data packets containing a message; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot subsequent to receiving the first grant signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information related to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the data packets; transmit the data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein the first grant signal returns randomly generated information to the first node to enable identification of the first node as a desired recipient of the first grant signal; wherein the interface further transmits information relating to a count value, wherein the interface further transmits terminal indication information indicating that a final data packet is a last data packet; and wherein the aligning signal is received on a first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the second grant signal is received on a third frequency and the data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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Specification