Wireless network medium access control protocol
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for a device to communicate in one operational mode over a wireless network, the method comprising:
- transmitting a beacon according to a media access control protocol during a beacon interval of a beacon period, the beacon comprising scheduled data transmission information;
receiving one or more neighbor beacons transmitted by one or more neighbor devices according to the media access control protocol during the beacon interval of the beacon period, each neighbor beacon comprising neighbor scheduled data transmission information;
periodically transmitting scheduled data according to the scheduled data transmission information;
periodically listening for neighbor scheduled data according to the neighbor scheduled data transmission information; and
allowing the device to enter into a different operational mode;
wherein the scheduled data is periodically transmitted according to a scheduled data transmission period and wherein the beacon period and the scheduled data transmission period are independent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for a device to communicate in one operational mode over a wireless network uses any suitable media access control mechanism for periodically communicating scheduled data transmission information between nodes. Scheduled data is then periodically transmitted according to the scheduled data transmission information and neighbor scheduled data is periodically listened for according to the neighbor scheduled data transmission information. Finally, the device is otherwise allowed to enter in a different operational mode.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for a device to communicate in one operational mode over a wireless network, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a beacon according to a media access control protocol during a beacon interval of a beacon period, the beacon comprising scheduled data transmission information; receiving one or more neighbor beacons transmitted by one or more neighbor devices according to the media access control protocol during the beacon interval of the beacon period, each neighbor beacon comprising neighbor scheduled data transmission information; periodically transmitting scheduled data according to the scheduled data transmission information; periodically listening for neighbor scheduled data according to the neighbor scheduled data transmission information; and allowing the device to enter into a different operational mode; wherein the scheduled data is periodically transmitted according to a scheduled data transmission period and wherein the beacon period and the scheduled data transmission period are independent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device for communicating over a wireless network, the device comprising:
-
a transmitter; a receiver; and a processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver, the processor configured to, in one operational mode; cause the transmitter to transmit a beacon according to a media access control protocol during a beacon interval of a beacon period, the beacon comprising scheduled data transmission information; cause the receiver to receive one or more neighbor beacons transmitted by one or more neighbor devices according to the media access control protocol during the beacon interval of the beacon period, each neighbor beacon comprising neighbor scheduled data transmission information; cause the transmitter to periodically transmit scheduled data according to the scheduled data transmission information; cause the receiver to periodically listen for neighbor scheduled data according to the neighbor scheduled data transmission information; and allow the device to enter into a different operational mode; wherein the scheduled data is periodically transmitted according to a scheduled data transmission period and wherein the beacon period and the scheduled data transmission period are independent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification