System and method for highly deterministic media access control
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- generating, at a server, a channel allocation schedule, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of network nodes, each channel corresponding to a particular frequency, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a first plurality of time slots for a first channel of the plurality of channels during a first time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a second plurality of time slots for a second channel of the plurality of channels during a second time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a third plurality of time slots for a third channel of the plurality of channels during the second time period, wherein the first plurality of time slots has a different number of time slots than the second plurality of time slots and a different number of time slots than the third plurality of time slots, wherein each time slot of the first plurality of time slots is associated with a first bandwidth capacity, wherein each time slot of the second plurality of time slots is associated with a second bandwidth capacity, and wherein each time slot of the third plurality of time slots is associated with a third bandwidth capacity;
receiving, at the server, a request for channel resources from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the request identifies a particular bandwidth amount;
updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a particular time slot of the first plurality of time slots, wherein the particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount and the first bandwidth capacity, and wherein the first bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount;
sending, from the server, a channel resource allocation message identifying the particular time slot; and
responsive to the server detecting erroneous conditions corresponding to the particular time slot, updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a second particular time slot of the third plurality of time slots, wherein the second particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount, the second bandwidth capacity, and the third bandwidth capacity, wherein the second bandwidth capacity is insufficient for the particular bandwidth amount, and wherein the third bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing media access control for networked nodes over a plurality of channels. Each channel is divided into a number of time slots per frame of data organized in a channel allocation schedule. The number of time slots is selected for each channel and is greater than or equal to one per second. Each time slot has a slot transfer rate equal to or less than the maximum channel transfer rate. A server receives a request for channel resources that includes a bandwidth requirement. At least one time slot in a channel corresponding to the bandwidth requirement over a frame time is identified and sent to the requesting node.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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generating, at a server, a channel allocation schedule, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of network nodes, each channel corresponding to a particular frequency, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a first plurality of time slots for a first channel of the plurality of channels during a first time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a second plurality of time slots for a second channel of the plurality of channels during a second time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a third plurality of time slots for a third channel of the plurality of channels during the second time period, wherein the first plurality of time slots has a different number of time slots than the second plurality of time slots and a different number of time slots than the third plurality of time slots, wherein each time slot of the first plurality of time slots is associated with a first bandwidth capacity, wherein each time slot of the second plurality of time slots is associated with a second bandwidth capacity, and wherein each time slot of the third plurality of time slots is associated with a third bandwidth capacity; receiving, at the server, a request for channel resources from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the request identifies a particular bandwidth amount; updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a particular time slot of the first plurality of time slots, wherein the particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount and the first bandwidth capacity, and wherein the first bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount; sending, from the server, a channel resource allocation message identifying the particular time slot; and responsive to the server detecting erroneous conditions corresponding to the particular time slot, updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a second particular time slot of the third plurality of time slots, wherein the second particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount, the second bandwidth capacity, and the third bandwidth capacity, wherein the second bandwidth capacity is insufficient for the particular bandwidth amount, and wherein the third bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a network interface configured to initiate exchange of data with a plurality of network nodes via a plurality of channels, each channel corresponding to a particular frequency; a media access controller configured to; generate a channel allocation schedule, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies the plurality of channels and a plurality of network nodes, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a first plurality of time slots for a first channel of the plurality of channels during a first time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a second plurality of time slots for a second channel of the plurality of channels during a second time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a third plurality of time slots for a third channel of the plurality of channels during the second time period, wherein the first plurality of time slots has a different number of time slots than the second plurality of time slots and a different number of time slots than the third plurality of time slots, wherein each time slot of the first plurality of time slots is associated with a first bandwidth capacity, wherein each time slot of the second plurality of time slots is associated with a second bandwidth capacity, and wherein each time slot of the third plurality of time slots is associated with a third bandwidth capacity; receive a request for channel resources from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the request identifies a particular bandwidth amount; updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a particular time slot of the first plurality of time slots, wherein the particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount and the first bandwidth capacity, and wherein the first bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount; send a channel resource allocation message to the network node identifying the particular time slot; and responsive to detecting erroneous conditions corresponding to the particular time slot, update the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a second particular time slot of the third plurality of time slots, wherein the second particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount, the second bandwidth capacity, and the third bandwidth capacity, wherein the second bandwidth capacity is insufficient for the particular bandwidth amount, and wherein the third bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing instructions that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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generating a channel allocation schedule, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a plurality of channels and a plurality of network nodes, each channel corresponding to a particular frequency, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a first plurality of time slots for a first channel of the plurality of channels during a first time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a second plurality of time slots for a second channel of the plurality of channels during a second time period, wherein the channel allocation schedule identifies a third plurality of time slots for a third channel of the plurality of channels during the second time period, wherein the first plurality of time slots has a different number of time slots than the second plurality of time slots and a different number of time slots than the third plurality of time slots, wherein each time slot of the first plurality of time slots is associated with a first bandwidth capacity, wherein each time slot of the second plurality of time slots is associated with a second bandwidth capacity, and wherein each time slot of the third plurality of time slots is associated with a third bandwidth capacity; receiving a request for channel resources from a network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the request identifies a particular bandwidth amount; updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a particular time slot of the first plurality of time slots, wherein the particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount and the first bandwidth capacity, and wherein the first bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount; initiating transmission of a channel resource allocation message identifying the particular time slot; and responsive to detecting erroneous conditions corresponding to the particular time slot, updating the channel allocation schedule to allocate the request to a second particular time slot of the third plurality of time slots, wherein the second particular time slot is selected based on the particular bandwidth amount, the second bandwidth capacity, and the third bandwidth capacity, wherein the second bandwidth capacity is insufficient for the particular bandwidth amount, and wherein the third bandwidth capacity is sufficient for the particular bandwidth amount. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification