Data communication transceiver using identification protocol

• US 5,365,551 A
• Filed: 12/15/1992
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R., Rotzoll, Robert R., Allen, David H., Snodgrass, Charles K., Pax, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US07/990,918
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 380/34, 375/1, 342/44, 340/825.47, 340/825.21, 340/825.72, 340/825.63, 340/870.12, 340/870.22
• US Class Current: 375/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/78 discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe G01S13/75, G01S13/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10049 binary tree
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5069 for group communication, multicast communication or broadcast communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 : Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0825 : with collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup

Abstract

One or more interrogating commander stations and an unknown plurality of responding responder stations coordinate use of a common communication medium. Each commander station and each responder station is equipped to broadcast messages and to check for error in received messages. When more than one station attempts to broadcast simultaneously, an erroneous message is received and communication is interrupted. To establish uninterrupted communication, a commander station broadcasts a command causing each responder station of a potentially large first number of responder stations to each select a random number from a known range and retain it as its arbitration number. After receipt of such a command, each addressed responder station transmits a response message containing its arbitration number. Zero, one, or several responses may occur simultaneously. By broadcasting requests for identification to various subsets of the full range of arbitration numbers and checking for an immediate error-free response, a commander station can determine the arbitration number of every responder station capable of communicating at the time. Consequently, a commander station can conduct subsequent uninterrupted communication with each responder station, for example by addressing only one responder station. Responder stations of this invention require minimal logic and circuitry to respond to multiple commander stations.

Claims

1. A transceiver comprising:

a. a transmitter for transmitting a command signal, the command signal comprising an address of a subset of a predetermined set of designations;

b. a receiver for receiving a reply signal;

c. means for determining a self designation from the reply signal, the self designation responsive to the command signal;

d. a circuit for providing a collision detection signal;

e. specifying means, responsive to the collision detection signal, for specifying the address, wherein the specifying means further comprises a computer circuit that performs the following method for selecting an untested subset after use of an initial subset, the method comprising the steps of;

(1) if a collision occurred, dividing the initial subset into an untested right subset and an untested left subset, the initial subset becoming the immediate superset of the untested right subset, the untested right subset disjoint from the untested left subset, and selecting the untested left subset whereby the untested left subset becomes a tested left subset;

(2) if a collision occurred and the initial subset cannot be divided or if a collision did not occur, selecting the untested right subset disjoint from the initial subset whereby the untested right subset becomes a tested right subset; and

(3) if a collision did not occur, considering individually each immediate superset of the initial set until a tested left is under consideration and selecting the untested right subset that is disjoint from the tested left subset under consideration.

2. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys an electromagnetic signal.

3. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys a pressure variation signal.

4. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys a chemical concentration variation signal.

5. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein a portion of the command signal is modulated responsive to the address of the subset.

6. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the receiver and the transmitter further comprise means for spread spectrum communication.

7. The transceiver of claim 6 wherein the means for spread spectrum communication in the transmitter further comprises a circuit for modulating the command signal responsive to a pseudo noise sequence.

8. The transceiver of claim 7 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 32 states.

9. The transceiver of claim 6 wherein the means for spread spectrum communication in the receiver further comprises a circuit for demodulating the reply signal responsive to a pseudo noise sequence.

10. The transceiver of claim 9 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has a selectable quantity of states.

11. The transceiver of claim 9 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 64 states.

12. The transceiver of claim 9 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 256 states.

13. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the command noise sequence has 256 states.

14. The transceiver of claim 13 wherein the command packet comprises an opcode.

15. The transceiver of claim 14 wherein the reply signal comprises a packet having a format and the means for determining is responsive to the format.

16. The transceiver of claim 15 wherein the means for determining is responsive to the opcode.

17. The transceiver of claim 13 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a branch code and a mask code in the command packet.

18. The transceiver of claim 13 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a high code and a low code in the command packet.

19. The transceiver of claim 13 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a limit code in the command packet.

20. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the command signal further comprises consistent redundant signals.

21. The transceiver of claim 20 wherein the command signal further comprises a command socket comprising a check code for one of the redundant signals.

22. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein a portion of the reply signal is modulated responsive to the self designation.

23. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the self designation comprises a designation code.

24. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the reply signal further comprises a reply packet.

25. The transceiver of claim 24 wherein the designation comprises a designation code in the reply packet.

26. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the reply signal further comprises consistent redundant signals and the receiver further comprises means for detecting a received signal that includes inconsistent redundant signals.

27. The transceiver of claim 26 wherein the redundant signals further comprise a Viterbi convolution code.

28. A transceiver comprising:

a. a transmitter for transmitting a command signal, the command signal comprising an address of a subset of a predetermined set of designations;

b. a receiver for receiving a reply signal;

c. means for determining a self designation from the reply signal, the self designation responsive to the command signal;

d. a circuit for providing a collision detection signal;

e. specifying means, responsive to the collision detection signal, for specifying the address, wherein the specifying means further comprises a computer circuit that performs the following method for selecting an untested subset after use of an initial subset, the untested subset being one of a hierarchy of subsets, the hierarchy having levels arranged from a root level, the root level having one subset comprising the full set of designations, each subset at any one level being disjoint from all other subsets at that level, each subset at any level being the proper subset of only one subset at a level closer to the root level, the method comprising the steps of;

(1) recording that the initial subset does not require test;

(2) if a collision did not occur, recording for each proper subset of the initial subset that test is not required;

(3) if a subset that requires test exists at the same level as the initial subset, selecting a subset on the same level as the initial subset; and

(4) if no subset that requires test exists at the same level as the initial subset, proceeding to another level and continuing the method from step (2).

29. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys an electromagnetic signal.

30. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys a pressure variation signal.

31. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the transmitter and the receiver are coupled to a medium, and the medium conveys a chemical concentration variation signal.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the transmitter and the receiver further comprise means for spread spectrum communication.

33. The transceiver of claim 32 wherein the means for spread spectrum communication in the transmitter further comprises a circuit for modulating the command signal responsive to a pseudo noise

34. The transceiver of claim 33 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 32 states.

35. The transceiver of claim 32 wherein the means for spread spectrum communication in the receiver further comprises a circuit for demodulating the reply signal responsive to a pseudo noise sequence.

36. The transceiver of claim 35 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has a selectable quantity of states.

37. The transceiver of claim 35 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 64 states.

38. The transceiver of claim 35 wherein the pseudo noise sequence has 256 states.

39. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the command signal further comprises a command packet.

40. The transceiver of claim 39 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a branch code and a mask code in the command packet.

41. The transceiver of claim 39 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a high code and a low code in the command packet.

42. The transceiver of claim 39 wherein the address of the subset further comprises a limit code in the command packet.

43. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the command signal further comprises consistent redundant signals.

44. The transceiver of claim 43 wherein the command signal further comprises a command packet comprising a check code for one of the redundant signals.

45. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein a portion of the command signal is modulated responsive to the address of the subset.

46. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein a portion of the reply signal is modulated responsive to the self designation.

47. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the self designation comprises a designation code.

48. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the reply signal further comprises a reply packet.

49. The transceiver of claim 48 wherein the self designation comprises a designation code in the reply packet.

50. The transceiver of claim 28 wherein the reply signal further comprises consistent redundant signals and the receiver further comprises means for detecting a received signal that includes inconsistent redundant signals.

51. The transceiver of claim 50 wherein the redundant signals further comprise a Viterbi convolution code.