Method and system for a scalable radio architecture

• US 8,018,831 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alereon Incorporated (PNG Telecommunications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alereon Incorporated (PNG Telecommunications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Short, Robert T., Lansford, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryman; Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JAE YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/051,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 370/208, 370/210
• US Class Current: 370/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26

Abstract

Systems and methods for a scalable architecture for radio device and systems are disclosed. This architecture employs a scalable bandwidth to deliver higher data rates and transmission ranges to devices that need them, while still delivering lower power solutions for devices which utilize a smaller bandwidth. These systems and methods may divide the available frequency spectrum into a set of fundamental sub-bands. Different devices may use various multiples of these sub-bands depending on their needs. Devices employing this architecture are also capable of interoperation with one another regardless of the bandwidth they utilize. A device may scan through each sub-band within which the device intends to operate, searching for a common beacon transmitted by other devices utilizing the sub-band. If a beacon is found the device can choose to interoperate with the other device or, alternatively, continue scanning the sub-bands until an unused sub-band is found.

Claims

1. A method for a scalable architecture for wireless devices, comprising:

selecting, by a first wireless device, a first channel on which to transmit, wherein the first channel is selected from a first set of channels, each channel having a first bandwidth, the first set of channels being one of a plurality of sets of channels and wherein the first channel is selected based on one or more factors present in an operating environment where the first wireless device resides, each set of channels comprising one or more channels of the same bandwidth, each of the one or more channels in a respective set of channels formed by aggregating a number of contiguous bandwidth sub-bands from a set of sub-bands, each sub-band of the set of sub-bands being of substantially equal and substantially orthogonal bandwidth compared to the other sub-bands in the set of sub-bands and wherein each channel in a set of channels corresponds to a bandwidth that is different from the bandwidth of each channel in each of the other sets of channels;

transmitting, by the first wireless device, on at least one sub-band, including a first sub-band, of the first channel;

selecting, by a second wireless device, a second channel on which to transmit, wherein the second channel is selected from a second set of channels of the plurality of sets of channels, wherein the second set of channels corresponds to a second bandwidth that is different from the first bandwidth, wherein the at least one sub-band of the first channel overlaps at least one sub-band of the second channel, wherein the overlap includes the first sub-band; and

transmitting, by the second wireless device, on the at least one sub-band, including the first sub-band, of the second channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the first wireless device, a first beacon on the first sub-band.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first beacon is transmitted at a regular interval.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first beacon is a pseudo random code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the length of the pseudo random code corresponds to a number of tones in the first sub-band.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pseudo random code comprises at least one Barker code, or concatenated Barker codes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a symbol of the pseudo random code is transmitted in every tone of the first sub-band.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting, by the second wireless device, the second channel on which to transmit comprises scanning one or more of the set of sub-bands of the second channel for the first beacon transmitted by the first wireless device transmitting on the first sub-band.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising deciding, by the second wireless device, whether to interoperate with the first wireless device if the first beacon is found.

10. A system for interoperable wireless devices, comprising

a first wireless device, comprising;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including;

selecting a first channel on which to transmit, wherein the first channel is selected from a first set of channels, each channel having a first bandwidth, the first set of channels being one of a plurality of sets of channels and wherein the first channel is selected based on one or more factors present in an operating environment where the first wireless device resides, each set of channels comprising one or more channels of same bandwidth, each of the one or more channels formed by aggregating a number of contiguous bandwidth sub-bands from a set of sub-bands, each sub-band of the set of sub-bands being of substantially equal and substantially orthogonal bandwidth compared to the other sub-bands in the set of sub-bands and wherein each channel in a set of channels corresponds to a bandwidth that is different from the bandwidth of each channel in each of the other sets of channels;

transmitting on at least one sub-band, including a first sub-band, of the first channel;

a second wireless device, comprising;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including;

selecting a second channel on which to transmit, wherein the second channel is selected from a second set of channels of the plurality of sets of channels, wherein the second set of channels corresponds to a second bandwidth that is different from the first bandwidth, wherein the at least one sub-band of the first channel overlaps at least one sub-band of the second channel, wherein the overlap includes the first sub-band; and

transmitting on the at least one sub-band, including the first sub-band, of the second channel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory of the first wireless device further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor of the first wireless device, cause the processor of the first wireless device to transmit a first beacon on the first sub-band.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory of the first wireless device further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor of the first wireless device, cause the processor of the first wireless device to transmit the first beacon at a regular interval.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first beacon is a pseudo random code.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the length of the pseudo random code corresponds to a number of tones in the first sub-band.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pseudo random code comprises at least one Barker code, or concatenated Barker codes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory of the first wireless device further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor of the first wireless device, cause the processor of the first wireless device to transmit a symbol of the pseudo random code in substantially every tone of the first sub-band.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the memory of the second wireless device further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor of the second wireless device, cause the processor of the second wireless device to scan one or more of the set of sub-bands of the second channel for the first beacon.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory of the second wireless device further storing instructions, which when executed by the processor of the second wireless device, cause the processor of the second wireless device to decide whether to interoperate with the first wireless device.

19. A system for interoperable wireless devices, comprising

a first wireless device, comprising;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including;

selecting a first channel from a first set of channels, each channel having a first bandwidth, the first set of channels being one of a plurality of sets of channels and wherein the first channel is selected based on one or more factors present in an operating environment where the first device resides, each set of channels comprising one or more channels of the same bandwidth, each of the one or more channels formed by aggregating a number of contiguous bandwidth sub-bands from a set of sub-bands, each sub-band of the set of sub-bands being of substantially equal and substantially orthogonal bandwidth compared to the other sub-bands in the set of sub-bands and wherein each channel in a set of channels corresponds to a bandwidth that is different from the bandwidth of each channel in each of the other sets of channels;

transmitting on at least one sub-band, including a first sub-band, of the first channel; and

transmitting a first beacon on the first sub-band at a regular interval;

a second wireless device, comprising;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including;

selecting a second channel on which to transmit, wherein the second channel is selected from a second set of channels of the plurality of sets of channels, wherein the second set of channels corresponds to a second bandwidth that is different from the first bandwidth, wherein the at least one sub-band of first channel overlaps at least one sub-band of the second channel, wherein the overlap includes the first sub-band; and

scanning one or more of the set of sub-bands of the second channel for the first beacon transmitted by the first wireless device on the first sub-band;

when the first beacon is detected, interoperating with the first wireless device over the sub-bands that overlap in the first channel and the second channel including the first sub-band; and

transmitting on the first sub-band of the second channel.