System, method and apparatus for selecting frequency hopping sequences

• US 8,385,384 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kidder, Kenneth, Nichols, Steven, Juntunen, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, TANMAY K
• Application Number:
  US12/253,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 375/132
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for selecting an appropriate frequency hopping sequence in a system of communicating devices. A random seed value is generated at the host device at its point of deployment. A frequency hopping sequence is generated using the random seed value. Other embodiments involve verifying whether the randomly generated seed value is indeed random in the operational vicinity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

entering a sequence generation mode by a host device at its point of operative deployment;

while in sequence generation mode, generating a random seed value at the host device;

generating a frequency hopping sequence using the random seed value; and

determining local uniqueness of the random seed value based on wirelessly transmitting a hail message in the wireless transmission range of the host device to ensure no other devices are utilizing the same random seed value to generate the frequency hopping sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more responses to the hail message, and in response generating a new random seed value for use in generating the frequency hopping sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeatedly transmitting the hail message and generating a new random seed value until there are no responses to the hail message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving no responses to the hail message, and retaining the generated random seed value for use in generating the frequency hopping sequence.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the random seed value to one or more other devices in the host device'"'"'s intended group of communicating devices for use by the one or more other devices in generating the same frequency hopping sequence.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein entering a sequence generation mode comprises entering the sequence generation mode in response to receiving an input at the host device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein entering a sequence generation mode comprises entering an enrollment mode during which one or more client devices can enroll for communication with the host device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising additionally using the random seed value as a group identifier to identify a group of communication devices in which the host device is associated.

8. A method comprising:

entering a sequence generation mode by a host device at its point of operative deployment;

while in sequence generation mode, generating a random seed value at the host device;

generating a frequency hopping sequence using the random seed value;

re-entering the enrollment mode after the random seed value has been generated;

determining that the random seed value was previously generated at the host device; and

bypassing generation of a new random seed value and frequency hopping sequence.

10. A method comprising:

generating a first random seed value from which a corresponding frequency hopping sequence may be derived;

hailing devices within a wireless communication range based on the first random seed value;

monitoring for any response to the hailing from the hailed devices; and

generating a second random seed value to replace the first random seed value if any response to the hailing is received from the hailed devices.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the first random seed value to generate a corresponding frequency hopping sequence if no response to the hailing is received from the hailed devices.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the first random seed value to one or more devices.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a frequency hopping sequence at the one or more devices based on the transmitted first random seed value.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the second random seed value to generate a corresponding frequency hopping sequence.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a first random seed value comprises generating the first random seed value in response to entering an enrollment mode during which one or more client devices can enroll for communication with the host device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring for any response to the hailing comprises monitoring for any response to the hailing during an established time duration, and wherein generating the second random seed value if any response is received comprises generating the second random seed value if any response is received before expiration of the established time duration.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

hailing the devices within the wireless communication range based on the second random seed value;

monitoring for any response to the hailing from the hailed devices in response to hailing the devices based on the second random seed value; and

generating a third random seed value to replace the second random seed value if any response to the hailing is received from the hailed devices.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the second random seed value to generate a corresponding hop set if no response message was received from the one or more neighboring systems based on the second random seed value.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a random seed generation module configured to generate a random seed value at a time of deployment of the apparatus;

a sequence calculation module configured to generate a frequency hopping sequence that is dependent on the generated random seed value;

a transmitter configured to transmit the generated random seed value; and

a response recognition module configured to determine whether the random seed value is unique in the relevant vicinity based on receiving responses to the transmitted generated random seed value, and to cause the random seed generation module to generate a new random seed value if the random seed value is not unique in the relevant vicinity.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a mode activation module configured to enter an enrollment mode, and wherein the random seed generation module is coupled to the mode activation module and configured to initiate the generation of the random seed value at the random seed generation module in response to operating in the enrollment mode.

21. A system of communicating devices comprising:

(a) at least one neighboring device comprising;

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive hail messages communications;

a transmitter; and

a processor configured to cause the transmitter to wirelessly transmit responses to the received hail message;

(b) a host device comprising;

a random seed generation module configured to generate a random seed value at a time of deployment of the host device;

a message generation module configured to create a hail message based on the generated random seed value;

a transmitter to wirelessly transmit the hail message;

a receiver to wirelessly receive any responses to the hail message;

a response recognition module configured to determine whether any responses to the hail message were received, and to direct the random seed generation module to generate a replacement random seed value if any responses to the hail message were received, wherein the host device creates a frequency hopping sequence based on the random seed or, if any responses to the hail message were received, the replacement random seed.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising one or more client devices, and wherein the transmitter in the host device is configured to wirelessly transmit the random seed or the replacement random seed to the one or more client devices, depending on whether any responses were received to the hail message.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the one or more client devices comprises a sequence generation module configured to create a like frequency hopping sequence based on the received random seed or replacement random seed.