Externally sourced synchronized beacon

• US 8,315,573 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wavestar Communications Systems LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sandwave Ip, LLC
• Inventors: Bishop, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US11/417,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/334
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2693 Centralised synchronisation, i.e. using external universal time reference, e.g. by using a global positioning system [GPS] or by distributing time reference over the wireline network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for communicating on a network having multiple radios by substantially simultaneously transmitting a beacon signal from the radios. A broadcast signal is received substantially simultaneously by all of the radios and used to coordinate subsequent beacon signals. The broadcast signal may be from another of the same radios, or may be a broadcast signal from a television broadcast, global positioning system broadcast, or any other broadcast designed to reach several radios substantially simultaneously. The radios may normally operate by detecting another transmission and refraining from transmitting until the transmission has ceased. However, while transmitting synchronized beacon signals, the radios may broadcast simultaneously.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a plurality of radio terminals, each of said plurality of radios being configured to establish at least one two-way data communication session, configured to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected, and configured to broadcast a beacon signal;

wherein each of said plurality of radios being configured to transmit said beacon signal simultaneously by the method of receiving a broadcast signal having a timing component, said broadcast signal being received over the air, said broadcast signal not being a beacon signal from another of said plurality of radios, said broadcast signal being an external signal, and transmitting a plurality of beacon signals using a beacon rhythm derived from at least a portion of said broadcast signal at the same time and on the same channel based on at least a portion of said broadcast signal.

2. The network of claim 1 wherein said plurality of radios are connected through a secondary communication path.

3. The network of claim 2 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, a twisted pair connection, a second wireless communications path, and an Ethernet connection.

4. The network of claim 2 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a cable television distribution network and a digital subscriber line distribution network.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using said timing component of said broadcast signal to determine said synchronized rhythm.

5. A radio comprising:

a transmitter; and

a receiver;

wherein said radio is configured to establish at least one two-way data communication session, configured to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected, configured to broadcast a beacon signal, configured to transmit said beacon signal at the same time and on the same channel as at least one other transmitter by the method of receiving a broadcast signal having a timing component, said broadcast signal not being a beacon signal from another of said plurality of radios, said broadcast signal being an external signal, said broadcast signal being received over the air, and transmitting a beacon signal using a beacon rhythm derived from at least a portion of said broadcast signal.

6. The radio of claim 5 wherein said at least one two-way communication session occurs within a first frequency band and said broadcast signal occurs within a second frequency band, said first frequency band and said second frequency band having at least some overlap.

7. The radio of claim 5 wherein said at least one two-way communication session occurs within a first frequency band and said broadcast signal occurs within a second frequency band, said first frequency band and said second frequency band having no overlap.

8. The radio of claim 5 wherein said broadcast signal is one from a group composed of:

a television broadcast signal, a GPS broadcast signal, and a dedicated synchronized beacon.

9. The radio of claim 5 further configured to receive and not transmit during a beacon interval to receive beacon signals from one or more other radio transmitters.

10. The radio of claim 5 further configured to receive a synchronize command, wherein said synchronization command initiates a sequence comprising:

disable transmission;

receive at least one timing component of said broadcast signal; and

enable two way communication.

11. The radio of claim 10 wherein said sequence further comprises using said timing component of said broadcast signal to determine the timing of said beacon signal.

12. The radio of claim 5 wherein having a secondary communication path.

13. The radio of claim 12 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, a twisted pair connection, a second wireless communications path, and an Ethernet connection.

14. The radio of claim 12 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a cable television distribution network and a digital subscriber line distribution network.

15. The radio of claim 5 further configured to operate in compliance with at least a portion of IEEE 802.11.

16. A method comprising:

identifying a broadcast signal having a timing component said broadcast signal being transmitted over the air, said broadcast signal not being a beacon signal from another of said plurality of radios, said broadcast signal being an external signal;

determining a synchronized rhythm for transmission of a beacon signal based on said broadcast signal;

establishing at least one two-way data communication session;

delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected; and

transmitting said beacon signal in accordance with said synchronized rhythm, said beacon signal being transmitted at the same time and on the same channel as another beacon signal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one two-way communication session occurs within a first frequency band and said broadcast signal occurs within a second frequency band, said first frequency band and said second frequency band having at least some overlap.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one two-way communication session occurs within a first frequency band and said broadcast signal occurs within a second frequency band, said first frequency band and said second frequency band having no overlap.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said broadcast signal is one from a group composed of:

a television broadcast signal, a GPS broadcast signal, and a dedicated synchronized beacon.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving a synchronize command, said synchronize command comprising:

disabling transmission;

receiving at least one timing component of said broadcast signal; and

enabling two way communication.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising communication through a secondary communication path.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, a twisted pair connection, a second wireless communications path, and an Ethernet connection.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of:

a cable television distribution network and a digital subscriber line distribution network.

25. The method of claim 16 further configured to operate in compliance with at least a portion of IEEE 802.11.