Techniques for dynamically switching between synchronous and asynchronous operation modes in body area networks
First Claim
1. A method for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN) upon receiving a switch mode command, comprising:
- setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command for switching from the synchronous mode to the asynchronous mode within the BAN;
upon expiration of the time period, tuning a device to a channel selected from a first set of channels in the BAN reserved for the asynchronous mode, wherein the first set of channels is different from a second set of channels that is reserved for the synchronous mode in the BAN; and
causing the device to operate in the asynchronous mode over the reserved channel, wherein the device is configured for asynchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for dynamically switching between synchronous and asynchronous operation modes in body area networks (BANs). One embodiment includes a method (400) for transitioning from an asynchronous mode to a synchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a BAN. A device receiving a switch mode command (S410) performs the acts comprising: setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command (S430); propagating the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN (S440); upon expiration of the time period, tuning to a channel selected from a set of channels reserved for the synchronous mode (S460); and initializing a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation (S470). Another embodiment includes a method (300) for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a MAC of a body area networks (BAN).
15 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN) upon receiving a switch mode command, comprising:
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setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command for switching from the synchronous mode to the asynchronous mode within the BAN; upon expiration of the time period, tuning a device to a channel selected from a first set of channels in the BAN reserved for the asynchronous mode, wherein the first set of channels is different from a second set of channels that is reserved for the synchronous mode in the BAN; and causing the device to operate in the asynchronous mode over the reserved channel, wherein the device is configured for asynchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable code, when executed, causing a computer or a processor to perform the process of transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN), comprising:
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setting a timer to a time period specified in a switch mode command for switching from the synchronous mode to the asynchronous mode within the BAN, upon receiving the switch mode command at a device; upon expiration of the time period, tuning the device to a channel selected from a first set of channels in the BAN reserved for the asynchronous mode, wherein the first set of channels is different from a second set of channels that is reserved for the synchronous mode in the BAN; and causing the device to operate in the asynchronous mode over the reserved channel, wherein the device is configured for asynchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times.
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8. A method for transitioning from an asynchronous mode to a synchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN) upon receiving a switch mode command, comprising:
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setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command for switching from the asynchronous mode to the synchronous mode within the BAN; propagating the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN; upon expiration of the time period, tuning to a channel selected from a second set of channels in the BAN reserved for the synchronous mode, wherein the second set of channels is different from a first set of channels that is reserved for the asynchronous mode in the BAN; and initializing a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation, wherein the device is configured for synchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer executable code, when executed, causing a computer or a processor to perform the process of transitioning from an asynchronous mode to a synchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN), comprising:
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setting a timer to a time period specified in a switch mode command for switching from the asynchronous mode to the synchronous mode within the BAN, upon receiving the switch mode command at a device; propagating the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN; upon expiration of the time period, tuning to a channel selected from a second set of channels in the BAN reserved for the synchronous mode, wherein the second set of channels is different from a first set of channels that is reserved for the asynchronous mode in the BAN; and initializing a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation, wherein the device is configured for synchronously duty cycling.
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16. A wireless device operable in a body area network, comprising:
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a radio transceiver configured to receive and transmit radio signals over a medium of the body area network; a processor; a memory for storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to; set a timer to a time period specified in a switch mode command for switching from the synchronous mode to the asynchronous mode within the BAN, upon receiving the switch mode command at the device; tune a device to a channel selected from a first set of channels in the BAN reserved for the asynchronous mode, upon expiration of the time period, wherein the first set of channels is different from a second set of channels that is reserved for the synchronous mode in the BAN; and cause the device to operate in the asynchronous mode over the reserved channel, wherein the device is configured for asynchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times.
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17. A wireless device operable in a body area network, comprising:
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a radio transceiver configured to receive and transmit radio signals over a medium of the body area network; a processor; a memory for storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to; set a timer to a time period specified in a switch mode command for switching from the asynchronous mode to the synchronous mode within the BAN, upon receiving the switch mode command at the device; propagate the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN; tune to a channel selected from a second set of channels in the BAN reserved for the synchronous mode, upon expiration of the time period, wherein the second set of channels is different from a first set of channels that is reserved for the asynchronous mode in the BAN; and initialize a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation, wherein the device is configured for synchronously duty cycling.
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Specification