Time-multiplexed, two tier wireless device and method therefor

• US 8,036,696 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hall, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson; Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/233,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/500, 455/517, 455/68, 455/69, 455/127.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/13.1, 455/12.1, 455/445, 455/254, 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/336, 370/345, 370/406
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Network devices are disclosed where transmission of information over a wireless channel by a device is prevented or allowed during a particular time period based upon a classification of the wireless electronic device, and whether the particular time period is associated with that classification.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining first information is to be transmitted over a first wireless channel, wherein the first information is to be transmitted at a first power level;

preventing transmission of the first information over the first wireless channel during a first time period, wherein during the first time period transmissions at the first power level are not authorized to be transmitted; and

allowing transmission of the first information over the first wireless channel during a second time period, wherein during the second time period transmissions at the first power level are authorized.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining second information is to be transmitted over a first wireless channel, wherein the second information is to be transmitted at a second power level;

preventing transmission of the second information over the first wireless channel during a second time period, wherein during the second time period transmissions at the second power level are not authorized to be transmitted; and

allowing transmission of the second information over the first wireless channel during the first time period, wherein during the first time period transmissions at the second power level are authorized.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first information and the second information are to be transmitted by a first device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first information is to be transmitted by a first device and the second information is to be transmitted by a second device.

5. The method of claim 2 comprising:

receiving the first information during the second time period; and

wherein

the second information is based upon the first information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a current time based upon time information received over a second wireless channel;

adjusting a time maintained by a first device based upon the current time; and

wherein

preventing transmission of the first information during the first time period comprises determining occurrence of the first time period based upon the time maintained by the first device after adjusting.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the timing information received over a second wireless channel is satellite transmitted.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a backoff time for the first information in response to determining the first information is to be transmitted;

wherein allowing transmission of the first information comprises allowing transmission of the first information during the second time period in response to the backoff time having elapsed.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

tolling the backoff time during the first time period, wherein the backoff time continues to elapse after the first time period.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

tolling the backoff time during the second period in response to other information being transmitted over the first wireless channel.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

tolling the backoff time during the second period in response to other information being transmitted over the first wireless channel; and

tolling the backoff time during the second period following the transmission of the other information in response to the first information being associated with a lower priority indicator than a desired priority indicator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information includes a Geocast destination.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information includes a unicast destination.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the unicast destination is based upon a transmission path of a received geocast transmission.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is a method of communicating over an ad hoc network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is a method of communicating over an ad hoc network.

17. A device comprising:

a memory to store information to be transmitted over a first wireless channel;

a transmit enable module coupled to the memory to determine first information at the memory is to be transmitted over a first wireless channel at a first power level, and to prevent transmission of the first information over the first wireless channel during a first time period, wherein during the first time period transmissions at the first power level are not authorized to be transmitted, and to allow transmission of the first information over the first wireless channel during a second time period, wherein during the second time period transmissions at the first power level are authorized.

18. The device of claim 17, where in the transmit enable module is to further determine second information is to be transmitted over the first wireless channel at a second power level, and to prevent transmission of the second information over the first wireless channel during a second time period, wherein during the second time period transmissions at the second power level are not authorized to be transmitted, and to allow transmission of the second information over the first wireless channel during the first time period, wherein during the first time period transmissions at the second power level are authorized.

19. The device of claim 17 further comprising:

a clock module coupled to the transmit enable module to determine a current time based upon timing information received over a second wireless channel; and

wherein

the transmit enable module prevents transmission of the first information during the first time period based upon the current time.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the timing information received over a second wireless channel is satellite transmitted.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the first information includes a Geocast destination.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the first information includes a unicast destination.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the unicast destination is based upon a transmission path of a received geocast transmission.

24. A method comprising:

setting the receive sensitivity of a device to a first sensitivity during a first time period, wherein during the first time period reception of signals transmitted in a first channel is permitted by the device using the first sensitivity level; and

setting the receive sensitivity of the device to a second sensitivity during a second time period, wherein during the second time period reception of signals transmitted in the first channel is permitted by the device using the second sensitivity level.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

determining a current time based upon timing information received over a second wireless channel;

adjusting a time maintained by a first device based upon the current time; and

wherein

determining the first time period and the second time period based the time maintained by the first device after adjusting.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the timing information received over a second wireless channel is satellite transmitted.