Mini-slot communication protocol

• US 7,822,008 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Frei, Randy, Huston, James R., Gordon, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Anh-Vu
• Application Number:
  US10/641,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,629 Days
• Field of Search: 370/359, 370/345
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling

Abstract

Mesh communications based on a plurality of time-slots in which every time slot is associated with communications between a pair of nodes, in which at least one time-slot is associated with communications between a first node and a second node, and in which at least a second time-slot is associated with communications between the first node and a third node. The first node and the second node communicate during the at least one time-slot, while the third node awaits communications with the first node during the second time-slot. If the first node is still communicating with the second node during the second time-slot the first node does not communication with the third node.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between nodes comprising:

establishing a plurality of time-slots in a time frame;

associating every time-slot with communications between a pair of nodes, wherein at least one time-slot is associated with communications between a first node and a second node, and wherein a second time-slot is associated with communications between the first node and a third node;

having the first node and the second node communicate during at least one time-slot; and

having the third node await communications with the first node in the second time-slot;

wherein the first node does not communicate with the third node in the second time-slot if the first node continues to communicate with the second node beyond a time period defined by the at the least one time slot;

wherein while the third node awaits communications with the first node the third node receives signals from other nodes; and

wherein while the third node awaits communications with the first node the third node directs an antenna toward the first node.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first node communicates with the third node in the second time-slot if the first node has completed communicating with the second node.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein having the first node and the second node communicate includes having the first node send polling information during the at least one time-slot.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein having the first node and the second node communicate includes having the first node send an identification signal.

5. A method according to claim 1 further including having the first node communicate with the internet during a third time-slot.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein during the at least one time-slot the first node transmits data to the second node.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein during the at least one time-slot the first node receives data from the second node.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein establishing a plurality of time-slots in a time frame includes synchronizing the time.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein having the first node and the second node communicate during the at least one time-slot includes establishing wireless communications.

10. A method for providing a mesh communication protocol comprising:

having a master node poll a first slave node during a first time-slot of a plurality of first time-slots by sending a slave identification signal to the first slave node;

having the first slave node listen to the master node during each time-slot of the plurality of first time-slots;

having the first slave node respond after identifying its slave identification signal;

having a second slave node listen to the master node during each time-slot of a plurality of second time-slots;

having the second slave node not respond to the master node if the second slave node does not identify a slave identification signal meant for the second slave node during the plurality of second time slots;

having the first slave node and the master node exchange information during polling; and

allowing the second slave node to communicate with its own slave node during a first time-slot.

11. A method of communicating within a mesh network having nodes comprising:

establishing a plurality of first time slots and a plurality of second time slots in each time frame of a sequence of time frames;

having a node act as a master node by sending first polling information that includes a first slave identification signal during a first time slot of the plurality of first time slots;

having another node act as a first slave node by receiving the first polling information during the first time slot, wherein the first slave node responds to the first polling information after identifying the first slave identification signal; and

having yet another node act as a second slave node by receiving second polling information during the plurality of second time slots, wherein the second slave node does not respond to the master node if a second slave identification signal is not identified, wherein the second slave node communicates with still yet another node during the first time slot.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the master node and the first slave node negotiate a transfer of data during the first time slot.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the master node and the first slave node perform the negotiated transfer of data.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the master node points an antenna toward the first slave node during the first time slot.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the master node receives data from the first slave node during at least a first mini-slot of the plurality of first time slots.