Approach for managing the use of communications channels based on performance

• US 9,883,520 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandspeed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bandspeed, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Skafidas, Efstratios, Treister, Bijan, Gan, Hongbing
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/194,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7136 Arrangements for generation of hop frequencies, e.g. using a bank of frequency sources, using continuous tuning or using a transform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/7154 with means for preventing interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/006 Quality of the received signal, e.g. BER, SNR, water filling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

An approach for selecting sets of communications channels involves determining the performance of communications channels. A set of channels is selected based on the results of performance testing and specified criteria. The participant generates data that identifies the selected set of channels and provides that data to other participants of the communications network. The participants communicate over the set of channels, such as by using a frequency hopping protocol. When a specified time expires or monitoring of the performance of the channel set identifies poor performance of the set of channels, the participant selects another set of channels for use in communications based on additional performance testing. By selecting channels based on the initial performance testing and performance monitoring, the communications network adaptively avoids channels with poor performance.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device configured to:

send packet data to another wireless communications device in a wireless communications network, the packet data specifying a subset of communications channels used for frequency hopping communications of a set of communications channels in a frequency band, the packet data further comprising timing information indicating when to begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

identify a communications channel from the set of communications channels;

use the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device at a time slot at or after the wireless communications device and the other wireless communications device begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications, if the identified communications channel is used for frequency hopping communications; and

use a communications channel in the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device at the time slot, if the identified communications channel is not used for frequency hopping communications.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the packet data comprises a plurality of bits, each bit of the plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in the subset of communications channels, each bit of the plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the timing information indicates a number of time slots to wait before beginning to use the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a register, and wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to:

load channel indices of the subset of communications channels into the register; and

apply an index to a channel index of the identified communications channel to identify, from the register, a channel index of a communications channel to use for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device at the time slot, if the identified communications channel is not used for frequency hopping communications.

5. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein at least one communications channels of the set of communications channels is not in the subset of communications channels.

6. The wireless communications device of claim 1, further configured to:

classify each communications channel in the subset of communications channels as used for frequency hopping communications based one or more performance measurements obtained for the communications channel.

7. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein each communications channel in the set of communications channels corresponds to a different frequency in a 2.4. Gigahertz (GHz) Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band.

8. A wireless communications device configured to:

receive a packet from another wireless communications device in a wireless communications network, the packet comprising a plurality of bits, each bit of the plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in a subset of communications channels of a set of communications channels in a frequency band, each bit of the plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications;

identify a communications channel from the set of communication channels;

use the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device, if the identified communications channel is in the subset of communications channels; and

use a communications channel in the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device instead of using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device, if the identified communications channel is not in the subset of communications channels.

9. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the other wireless communications device is a slave communications device in the wireless communications network;

and wherein the wireless communications device is as a master communications device in the wireless communications network.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the packet further comprises a time value indicating when to begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the time value indicates a number of time slots to wait before beginning to use the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 8, further configured to:

load channel indices of the subset of communications channels into a table of good channels; and

apply an index to a channel index of the identified communications channel to identify, from the table of good channels, a channel index of a communications channel to use for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications device instead of using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the other wireless communications, if the identified communications channel is not in the subset of communications channels.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein a plurality of communications channels of the set of communications channels is not in the subset of communications channels.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the set of communications channels comprises seventy-nine communications channels in the frequency band.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein the packet further comprises a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value;

and wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to;

perform a CRC check using the CRC value to verify accurate transmission of the packet; and

send a retransmission request to the other wireless communications device to resend the packet, if the CRC check fails.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 8, wherein each communications channel in the set of communications channels corresponds to a different frequency in a 2.4. Gigahertz (GHz) Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band.

17. A method comprising:

a first participant sending a packet to a second participant in a wireless communications network, the packet comprising a plurality of bits, each bit of the plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in a subset of communications channels of a set of communications channels in a frequency band, each bit of the plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications;

the first participant identifying a communications channel from the set of communication channels;

the first participant using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second participant, if the identified communications channel is in the subset of communications channels; and

the first participant using a communications channel in the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the second participant instead of using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second participant, if the identified communications channel is not in the subset of communications channels.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the packet further comprises a time value indicating when to begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the time value indicates a number of time slots to wait before beginning to use the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the first participant loading channel indices of the subset of communications channels into a table of good channels; and

the first participant applying an index to a channel index of the identified communications channel to identify, from the table of good channels, a channel index of a communications channel to use for frequency hopping communications with the second participant instead of using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second participant, if the identified communications channel is not in the subset of communications channels.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one communications channels of the set of communications channels is not in the subset of communications channels.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the first participant classifying each communications channel in the subset of communications channels as good based on one or more channel performance measurements obtained for the communications channel.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

the first participant classifying each communications channel in the subset of communications channels as used for frequency hopping communications based on one or more channel performance measurements obtained for the communications channel.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the set of communications channels comprises seventy-nine communications channels in the frequency band.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the packet is a first packet;

wherein the subset is a first subset;

wherein the identified communications channel is a first identified communications channel; and

wherein the method further comprises;

the first participant sending a second packet to the second participant in the wireless communications network, the second packet comprising a plurality of bits, each bit of the plurality of bits of the second packet corresponding to a different communications channel in a second subset of communications channels of the set of communications channels, each bit of the plurality of bits of the second packet having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the second subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications, the second subset of communications channels comprising at least one communications channel that is not in the first subset of communications channels, the second packet further comprising a time value indicating when to begin using the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

at a time slot at or after the first participant and the second participant begin using the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

the first participant identifying a second communications channel from the set of communication channels;

the first participant using the second identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second participant at the time slot, if the second identified communications channel is in the second subset of communications channels; and

the first participant using a communications channel in the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the second participant at the time slot, if the second identified communications channel is not in the second subset of communications channels.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein each communications channel in the set of communications channels corresponds to a different frequency in a 2.4. Gigahertz (GHz) Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band.

27. A method comprising:

a first communications device sending packet data to a second communications device in the wireless communications network, the packet data specifying a subset of communications channels used for frequency hopping communications of a set of communications channels in a frequency band, the packet data further comprising timing information indicating when to begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

at each of a plurality of time slots at or after the first communications device and the second communications device begin using the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

the first communications device identifying a communications channel from the set of communications channels;

the first communications device using the identified communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second communications device at the time slot, if the identified communications channel is used for frequency hopping communications; and

the first communications device using a communications channel in the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the second communications device at the time slot, if the identified communications channel is not used for frequency hopping communications.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the packet data comprises a plurality of bits, each bit of the plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in the subset of communications channels, each bit of the plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the timing information indicates a number of time slots to wait before beginning to use the subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the first communications device loading channel indices of the subset of communications channels into a table of good channels; and

at each of the plurality of time slots, the first communications device applying an index to a channel index of the identified communications channel to identify, from the table of good channels, a channel index of a communications channel to use for frequency hopping communications with the second participant at the time slot, if the identified communications channel is not used for frequency hopping communications.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one communications channels of the set of communications channels is not in the subset of communications channels.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the first communications device classifying each communications channel in the subset of communications channels as good based on one or more channel performance measurements obtained for the communications channel.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the first communications device classifying each communications channel in the subset of communications channels used for frequency hopping communications based on one or more channel performance measurements obtained for the communications channel.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the set of communications channels comprises seventy-nine communications channels in the frequency band.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the first communications device classifying each communications channel in the subset of communications channel as used for frequency hopping communications, and classifying at least one communications channel of the set of communications channels as not used for frequency hopping communications.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein each communications channel in the set of communications channels corresponds to a different frequency in a 2.4. Gigahertz (GHz) Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band.

37. A wireless communications device configured to:

send a first packet to a second wireless communications device in a wireless communications network, the first packet comprising a first plurality of bits, each bit of the first plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in a first subset of communications channels of a set of communications channels in a frequency band, each bit of the first plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the first subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications;

identify a first communications channel from the set of communication channels;

use the first communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device, if the first communications channel is in the first subset of communications channels; and

use a second communications channel in the first subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device instead of using the first communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device, if the first communications channel is not in the first subset of communications channels;

send a second packet to the second wireless communications device in the wireless communications network, the second packet comprising a second plurality of bits, each bit of the second plurality of bits corresponding to a different communications channel in a second subset of communications channels of the set of communications channels in the frequency band, each bit of the second plurality of bits having a value representing that the corresponding communications channel in the second subset of communications channels is used for frequency hopping communications, the second packet further comprising a time value indicating when to begin using the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications;

at or after the first wireless communications device and the second wireless communications device begin using the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications, identify a third communications channel from the set of communication channels;

use the third communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device, if the third communications channel is in the second subset of communications channels; and

use a fourth communications channel in the second subset of communications channels for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device instead of using the third communications channel for frequency hopping communications with the second wireless communications device, if the third communications channel is not in the second subset of communications channels.

38. The wireless communications device of claim 37, wherein the first subset of communications channels comprises at least one communications channel that is not included in the second subset.

39. The wireless communications device of claim 37, wherein the second subset of communications channels comprises at least one communications channel that is not included in the first subset.

40. The wireless communications device of claim 37, wherein each communications channel in the set of communications channels corresponds to a different frequency in a 2.4. Gigahertz (GHz) Industrial, Scientific, Medical (ISM) band.