Method and system for networking

• US 8,301,714 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Belgium BVBA (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Raymarine UK Limited (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Mark, Hodgson, Chris, Ekoue, Bertrand
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US12/724,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20110161455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709/209, 709217-227, 713/300
• US Class Current: 709/209
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method of wirelessly networking a system of at least first and second communication nodes includes obtaining a common power source for the at least first and second communication nodes, switching on the common power source, and establishing a power-up time. Each of the first and second communication nodes is capable of tracking the time since the power-up time. The method includes sending a start signal from one of the first and second communication nodes, wherein the start signal occurs after the power-up time and includes at least information of the elapsed time since the power up time. The method includes networking the other of the first and second communication nodes with the one of the first and second communication nodes sending the start signal, if the elapsed time of the other of the first and second communication nodes approximately matches the elapsed time provided in the start signal.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a first communication node;

a second communication node;

wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured to receive power from a first power supply at a power up time;

wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured to track first and second respective elapsed times since the power up time;

wherein the first communication node is configured to send a first signal to the second communication node including the first elapsed time;

wherein the second communication node is configured to receive the first signal and to compare the first elapsed time with the second elapsed time; and

wherein the second communication node is configured to communicate data with the first communication node if the first elapsed time matches the second elapsed time within a predetermined tolerance range.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined tolerance range is a time frame selected from approximately 300 μ

s to approximately 300 ms.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined tolerance range is within approximately 300 μ

s.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the second communication node is configured not to communicate data with the first communication node if the first elapsed time does not match the second elapsed time within the predetermined tolerance range.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4, wherein the second communication node is configured to store, receive or process data or information present in the first signal.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the power up time is a first power up time, the system further comprising a third communication node, wherein the third communication node is configured to receive power from a second power supply at a second power up time.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 6,

wherein the third communication node is configured to track a third elapsed time since the second power up time;

wherein the third communication node is configured to send a second signal to the first and second communication nodes including the third elapsed time;

wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured to receive the second signal and to compare the third elapsed time with the first and second elapsed times; and

wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured to communicate data with the third communication node if the third elapsed time matches the first and second elapsed times within the predetermined tolerance range.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 7, wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured not to communicate data with the third communication node if the third elapsed time does not match the first and second elapsed times within the predetermined tolerance range.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1,

wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured with different network addresses before the second communication node communicates data with the first communication node;

and

wherein the first and second communication nodes share a common network address after the second communication node communicates data with the first communication node.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication nodes each comprise at least one of a transceiver, a transmitter, or a receiver.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising the first power supply, wherein the first power supply is configured to selectively provide the power to the first and second communication nodes.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second communication nodes are configured to communicate additional data without requiring another comparison of the first and second elapsed times.