Method and apparatus for low-power, long-range networking
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- one or more circuits operable to;
transmit and receive data wirelessly over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows, wherein;
a first window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; and
a second window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots;
receive assignment of a first timeslot for transmission when an alarm condition is not present, wherein said first timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said first window;
detect the presence of said alarm condition;
in response to said detection of said alarm condition, determine a second timeslot based on said first timeslot and a hash function, wherein said second timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said second window; and
transmit an alarm signal during said second timeslot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endpoint device may be operable to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows. A first window of the plurality of repeating windows may be time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots utilized for transmitting beacon signals. A second window of the plurality of repeating windows may be time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots utilized for transmitting alarm signals. The endpoint may be assigned one of the first timeslots and, when an alarm condition is present, select one of the second timeslots for transmitting an alarm signal based on the assigned first timeslot, and based on a hash function. The endpoint may then transmit an alarm signal during the second timeslot. The endpoint may be operable to synchronize its local clock by listening to beacons transmitted by other endpoints.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
one or more circuits operable to; transmit and receive data wirelessly over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows, wherein; a first window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; and a second window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; receive assignment of a first timeslot for transmission when an alarm condition is not present, wherein said first timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said first window; detect the presence of said alarm condition; in response to said detection of said alarm condition, determine a second timeslot based on said first timeslot and a hash function, wherein said second timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said second window; and transmit an alarm signal during said second timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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performing by one or more circuits operable to transmit and receive data wirelessly over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows, wherein; a first window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; and a second window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; receiving assignment of a first timeslot for transmission when an alarm condition is not present, wherein said first timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said first window; detecting the presence of said alarm condition; in response to said detection of said alarm condition, determining a second timeslot by applying a hash function to an identifier of said first timeslot, wherein said second timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said second window; and transmitting an alarm signal during said second timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communication system comprising:
one or more circuits comprising a clock, said one or more circuits being operable to; transmit and receive data via a wireless network; communicate over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; receive signals during one or more time intervals; characterize said signals received during said one or more time intervals, wherein said characterization comprises determining a ratio based on how many end-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols were received during the one or more time intervals and how many beginning-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols were received during the one or more time intervals; and adjust said clock based on said characterization of said signals received during said one or more time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification