Systems and methods for facilitating communications over a shared channel

• US 8,385,924 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rappaport, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US12/902,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20110026404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 4554521-4522, 455/500, 455/502, 455454-455, 455507-516, 455 68- 69, 455/561, 709230-236, 709238-244, 370235-238, 370/238.1, 370351-356
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0875 with assigned priorities based access

Abstract

A node may include a receiver configured to receive signals transmitted from a gateway and a logic device coupled to the receiver. The node may also include a memory configured to store label information identifying a data packet stored in the node. The logic device may be configured to receive a message from the gateway, where the message includes label information, and access the memory to identify a data packet based on the label information included in the message. The node may also include a transmitter configured to transmit the data packet to the gateway over a channel shared with a number of other nodes.

Claims

1. A node, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive signals transmitted from a gateway;

a memory configured to store label information identifying at least one data packet stored in the node;

at least one logic device coupled to the receiver, the at least one logic device being configured to;

receive a message from the gateway, the message including label information, and

access the memory to identify a first data packet based on the label information included in the message; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the first data packet to the gateway over a channel shared with a number of other nodes.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to assign an identification label to a data packet upon initial transmission of the data packet.

3. The node of claim 2, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to assign the identification label to the data packet based on information received from the gateway.

4. The node of claim 1, wherein the label information stored in the memory comprises a tree assignment designation used to resolve a collision involving the first data packet.

5. The node of claim 4, wherein the label information stored in the memory further comprises priority information associated with the first data packet.

6. The node of claim 1, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to:

receive information from the gateway indicating that a collision involving the first data packet occurred, and

generate new label information for the first data packet based on the received information, the new label information comprising priority information.

7. The node of claim 1, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to:

determine whether the label information in the received message matches label information stored in the memory.

8. The node of claim 7, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to:

direct the node to re-transmit the first data packet when the memory stores the matching information.

9. The node of claim 1, further comprising:

a counter configured to determine when a predetermined period of time expires.

10. The node of claim 9, wherein the predetermined period of time represents an approximate amount of time for a signal to be transmitted from the node to the gateway and back to the node.

11. The node of claim 10, wherein the predetermined period of time takes into account time associated with processing performed by the node.

12. The node of claim 1, further comprising:

a counter configured to count a predetermined number of frames.

13. The node of claim 1, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to:

determine that the first data packet was successfully received when a predetermined period of time expires and a negative acknowledgement has not been received from the gateway.

14. The node of claim 1, wherein the at least one logic device is further configured to:

determine whether the first data packet was successfully received at the gateway by examining at least one of an acknowledgement message or negative acknowledgment message received from the gateway, the acknowledgement message or negative acknowledgment message including label information identifying the first data packet.

15. The node of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first data packet over a wireless channel.

16. A method for transmitting data from one of a plurality of nodes in a network, wherein the plurality of nodes share a communication medium, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a network device, the message including first information identifying a tree structure and second information identifying a priority value;

determining whether information matching the first information and the second information is stored in the node; and

transmitting a data packet associated with the first information and the second information when the determining determines that matching information is stored in the node.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving collision information associated with the transmitted data packet; and

generating a new priority value for the transmitted data packet.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

re-transmitting the data packet in response to receipt of a message that includes the first information and information corresponding to the new priority value.