Method and apparatus for synchronizing and/or starting access points for adaptive time division multiplexing on a multi-channel wireline medium with colocated transceivers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An access point assembly, comprising:
- at least two access points, wherein each of the at least two access points comprise a transmitter and a receiver that are compliant to a wireless protocol for use with a wireline medium; and
a synchronizing circuit coupled with each of said the at least two access points to receive a synchronization ready signal and to generate a synchronization start signal sent to each of said the at least two access points wherein;
said synchronizing circuit configured to respond to an assertion of each of said synchronization ready signals by asserting said synchronization start signal;
the at least two access points configured to execute an adaptive Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol using said transmitter and said receiver in response to said assertion of said synchronization start signal, wherein execution of said adaptive TDMA protocol comprises directing said transmitter to send a beacon and a schedule on said wireline medium to initiate a time division multiple access sequence of uplink frames and downlink frames, signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a first determination that one of said uplink frames needs no upload and signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a second determination that one of said downlink frames needs no download.
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Abstract
Starting up and synchronizing multiple access points in a wireline communications circuit using transceivers compatible with a wireless communications protocol with an adaptive Time Division Multiple Access scheme for a multi-channel medium with colocated transceivers. Synchronization readiness is asserted and the access points wait for a synchronization start signal'"'"'s assertion. Methods of operating an access point, its implementation as a chip are further disclosed. An access point assembly including the access points and a synchronization circuit are also disclosed.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An access point assembly, comprising:
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at least two access points, wherein each of the at least two access points comprise a transmitter and a receiver that are compliant to a wireless protocol for use with a wireline medium; and a synchronizing circuit coupled with each of said the at least two access points to receive a synchronization ready signal and to generate a synchronization start signal sent to each of said the at least two access points wherein; said synchronizing circuit configured to respond to an assertion of each of said synchronization ready signals by asserting said synchronization start signal; the at least two access points configured to execute an adaptive Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol using said transmitter and said receiver in response to said assertion of said synchronization start signal, wherein execution of said adaptive TDMA protocol comprises directing said transmitter to send a beacon and a schedule on said wireline medium to initiate a time division multiple access sequence of uplink frames and downlink frames, signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a first determination that one of said uplink frames needs no upload and signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a second determination that one of said downlink frames needs no download. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising the step of operating a synchronizing circuit communicating with at least two access points including a transmitter and a receiver both that are compliant to a wireless protocol for use with a wireline medium, the method comprising:
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receiving a synchronization ready signal from each of said the at least two access points; asserting a synchronization start signal sent to each of said the at least two access points in response to said synchronizations ready signals being asserted, and triggering each of the at least two access points to execute an adaptive Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol using said transmitter and said receiver in response to said assertion of said synchronization start signal, wherein each of the at least two access points are collocated and wherein execution of said adaptive TDMA protocol comprises directing said transmitter to send a beacon and a schedule on said wireline medium to initiate a time division multiple access sequence of uplink frames and downlink frames, signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a first determination that one of said uplink frames needs no upload and signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a second determination that one of said downlink frames needs no download. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an access point including a transmitter and a receiver both compliant to a wireless protocol for use with a wireline medium, the method comprising:
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asserting a synchronization ready signal; sensing an assertion of a synchronization start signal by a synchronization circuit in response to receiving the asserted synchronization ready signal; and executing an adaptive Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol using the transmitter and receiver in response to said assertion of said synchronization start signal, wherein the executing comprises directing said transmitter to send a beacon and a schedule on said wireline medium to initiate a time division multiple access sequence of uplink frames and downlink frames, signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a first determination that one of said uplink frames needs no upload and signaling other access points and moving ahead said schedule in response to a second determination that one of said downlink frames needs no download. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A chip for operating an access point, comprising:
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a transmitter and a receiver both compliant to a wireless protocol for use with a wireline medium; and a processor coupled to said transmitter and to said receiver, wherein said processor configured to; assert a synchronization ready signal and sense an assertion of a synchronization start signal by a synchronization circuit in response to receiving the asserted synchronization ready signal; start and restart by asserting said synchronization ready signal; and direct said transmitter to send a beacon and a schedule on said wireline medium to initiate a time division multiple access sequence of uplink frames and downlink frames in response to said assertion of said synchronization start signal, wherein said processor is further configured to signal other access points and to move ahead said schedule in response to a first determination that one of said uplink frames needs no uploads and wherein said processor is further configured to signal other access points and to move ahead said schedule in response to a second determination that one of said downlink frames needs no download. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification