Synchronized UWB piconets for SOP (simultaneously operating piconet) performance

• US 8,170,484 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Ojard, Eric J., Frank, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US12/830,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 375/355, 370/335, 370/338, 370/347, 370/349, 370/350, 370/308, 370/503, 455/412, 455/458, 455/502, 455/560, 455/66.1, 340/502, 368/47
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0652 Synchronisation among time division multiple access [TDMA] nodes, e.g. time triggered protocol [TTP] bus network with centralized control in which slots are of a TDMA packet structure H04L12/4035
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

Synchronized UWB piconets for SOP (Simultaneously Operating Piconet) performance. A common backbone (either wired or wireless) is employed that provides a common CLK (clock signal) to all of the various PNCs (piconet coordinators) of various piconets that may operate within a sufficiently close region such that interference could undesirably occur. By providing a very reliable CLK signal from a common backbone to all of the PNCs of the various piconets operating within a substantially close proximity to one another, very precise synchronization may be ensured for all of the communications performed therein. The various piconets may then even operate using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)—whose performance would be substantially compromised without effective synchronization. In addition, combined TFC (time frequency code) and TDMA may also be employed to support the communications therein thereby providing even another degree of orthogonality that provided by TDMA alone.

Claims

1. A method performed by a synchronization backbone, the method comprising:

transmitting a clock signal from the synchronization backbone to a first wireless network controller of a first wireless network; and

transmitting the clock signal from the synchronization backbone to a second wireless network controller of a second wireless network, wherein, based on the clock signal transmitted to and received by each of the first wireless network controller and the second wireless network controller, first communications involving at least one of the first wireless network controller and a first wireless terminal within the first wireless network occur during first time slots and second communications involving at least one of the second wireless network controller and a second wireless terminal within the second wireless network occur during second time slots.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting the clock signal from the synchronization backbone to each of the first wireless network controller and to the second wireless network controller via a wired connection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the clock signal from the synchronization backbone to each of the first wireless network controller and to the second wireless network controller via a wired connection.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating a first piconet as the first wireless network;

operating a first piconet controller (PNC) as the first wireless network controller;

operating a second piconet as the second wireless network; and

operating a second PNC as the second wireless network controller.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating at least one of the first wireless network controller and the second wireless network controller using WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) functionality.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating at least one of the first wireless network controller and the second wireless network controller using both WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) functionality and piconet functionality.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supporting the first communications in accordance with a first TFC (Time Frequency Code); and

supporting the second communications in accordance with a second TFC.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first time slots being first TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) time slots; and

the second time slots being second TDMA time slots.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the first wireless network within a first region;

operating the second wireless network within a second region; and

wherein;

the first region and the second region occupying at least a portion of common space.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supporting at least one of the first communications and the second communications using the UWB (Ultra Wide Band) signals that occupy a frequency spectrum spanning from approximately 3.1 GHz (Giga-Hertz) to approximately 10.6 GHz; and

wherein;

the frequency spectrum being partitioned into a plurality of frequency bands each having a bandwidth of approximately 500 MHz (Mega-Hertz).

11. A method performed by a first wireless network controller, the method comprising:

within the first wireless network controller, receiving a clock signal transmitted from a synchronization backbone; and

based on the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone, operating the first wireless network controller for coordinating first communications involving at least one of the first wireless network controller and a first wireless terminal within a first wireless network to occur during first time slots such that second communications involving at least one of a second wireless network controller, that also receives the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone, and a second wireless terminal within a second wireless network occur during second time slots.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

within the first wireless network controller, wirelessly receiving the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

within the first wireless network controller, receiving the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone via a wired connection.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating a first piconet as the first wireless network;

operating a first piconet controller (PNC) as the first wireless network controller;

operating a second piconet as the second wireless network; and

operating a second PNC as the second wireless network controller.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating at least one of the first wireless network controller and the second wireless network controller using WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) functionality.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating at least one of the first wireless network controller and the second wireless network controller using both WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) functionality and piconet functionality.

17. A method performed by a first piconet controller (PNC), the method comprising:

operating the first PNC within a first piconet operating within a first region having at least a portion of common space with a second region in which a second PNC within a second piconet operates;

within the first PNC, receiving a clock signal transmitted from a synchronization backbone; and

based on the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone, operating the first PNC for coordinating first communications involving at least one of the first PNC and a first wireless terminal within a first wireless network to occur during first time TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) slots such that second communications involving at least one of a second PNC, that also receives the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone, and a second wireless terminal within a second wireless network occur during second TDMA time slots.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

within the first PNC, wirelessly receiving the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

within the first PNC, receiving the clock signal transmitted from the synchronization backbone via a wired connection.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

operating the first PNC using both WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) functionality.