Power-saving hub messages in wireless body area networks

• US 9,119,185 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Rongsheng, Chu, Lichung, Shoda, Shigeyuki, Lee, Shinhaeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US13/854,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20140293976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 370/337, 370/346, 370/449, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A time division multiple access (TDMA) media access control (MAC) protocol is provided for wireless body area networks (BANs). In particular, in some embodiments the described network devices utilize a reservation-based power saving polling (RESP) MAC protocol for communication. The RESP MAC can be configured to provide methods for emergency event handling of both bursty data and streaming data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message; and

the hub device transmitting timing information in the polling request message,

wherein the timing information allows an unconnected device to determine a time until a next beacon message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the hub device transmitting the polling request message at a time after a scheduled start of the allocation slot.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the hub device transmitting a device address of the network device in the polling request message.

4. A method, comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message;

the hub device scheduling an unreserved communication period; and

the hub device transmitting a polling request broadcast message at the beginning of the unreserved communication period.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

during the unreserved communication period, after transmitting the polling request broadcast message, receiving a second message from a second network device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second message comprises a request to build a connection.

7. A method, comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message; and

the hub device transmitting a list of unconnected devices with pending downlink traffic.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the hub device scheduling an unreserved communication period; and

during the unreserved communication period, receiving a connection request from an unconnected device listed in the list of unconnected devices.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the hub device including an unconnected device on the list of unconnected devices until the unconnected device transmits a connection request.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the list is appended to an allocation schedule message.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the list allows an unconnected device to reenter a sleep state if it is not on the list.

12. A network device programed to perform a method, the method comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message; and

the hub device transmitting timing information in the polling request message,

wherein the timing information allows an unconnected device to determine a time until a next beacon message.

13. The network device of claim 12, the method further comprising:

the hub device transmitting the polling request message at a time after a scheduled start of the allocation slot.

14. The network device of claim 12, the method further comprising:

the hub device transmitting a device address of the network device in the polling request message.

15. A network device programed to perform a method, the method comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message;

the hub device scheduling an unreserved communication period; and

the hub device transmitting a polling request broadcast message at the beginning of the unreserved communication period.

16. The network device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

during the unreserved communication period, after transmitting the polling request broadcast message, receiving a second message from a second network device.

17. The network device of claim 16, wherein the second message comprises a request to build a connection.

18. A network device programed to perform a method, the method comprising:

a hub device scheduling an allocation slot for communications with a network device;

the hub device transmitting a polling request message at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the hub device receiving a message from the network device in response to the polling request message; and

the hub device transmitting a list of unconnected devices with pending downlink traffic.

19. The network device of claim 18, the method further comprising:

the hub device scheduling an unreserved communication period; and

during the unreserved communication period, receiving a connection request from an unconnected device listed in the list of unconnected devices.

20. The network device of claim 18, the method further comprising the hub device including an unconnected device on the list of unconnected devices until the unconnected device transmits a connection request.

21. The network device of claim 18, wherein the list is appended to an allocation schedule message.

22. The network device of claim 18, the method wherein the list allows an unconnected device to reenter a sleep state if it is not on the list.

23. A method, comprising:

a network device receiving a schedule for an allocation slot for communication with a hub device;

the network device receiving a polling request message from the hub device at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the network device transmitting a message to the hub device in response to the polling request message;

the network device entering a sleep state after receiving the schedule; and

the network device waking at a scheduled start time for the allocation slot.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

the network device using the end of the polling request message to determine when to transmit the message.

25. A network device programmed to perform a method, the method comprising:

the network device receiving a schedule for an allocation slot for communication with a hub device;

the network device receiving a polling request message from the hub device at the beginning of the allocation slot;

the network device transmitting a message to the hub device in response to the polling request message;

the network device entering a sleep state after receiving the schedule; and

the network device waking at a scheduled start time for the allocation slot.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the network device using the end of the polling request message to determine when to transmit the message.