Fixed frequency transceiver for use in a frequency hopping system

• US 6,751,251 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lansford, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US10/437,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 375/133, 375/343, 375/376, 370/459
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/71563 Acquisition

Abstract

A non-frequency-hopping node and a method for using such a node to transmit and receive data in a frequency-hopping system are disclosed.

In one embodiment, a non-frequency-hopping node interacts with a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) system, which comprises a wireless medium or electromagnetic airwaves, a frequency-hopping node coupled to the wireless medium and an access point coupled to the wireless medium. The non-frequency-hopping node connects to the wireless medium and listens for an active signal generated by the FHSS system on a predetermined frequency channel. Upon detecting the active signal, the non-frequency-hopping node exchanges information with the FHSS system on the predetermined frequency channel.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium having executable code to cause a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

listening by a non-frequency-hopping node for an active signal generated by a frequency-hopping system on a predetermined frequency channel; and

exchanging data with the frequency-hopping system on the predetermined frequency channel upon detecting the active signal.

2. The machine-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

defining a commonly known network identification between the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system;

embedding the network identification in the active signal; and

exchanging the data with the frequency-hopping system upon detecting the network identification.

3. The machine-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the listening further comprises:

receiving the active signal through an antenna of the non-frequency-hopping node;

mixing the active signal with a local signal generated by a local oscillator of the non-frequency-hopping node; and

passing the mixed signal through a signal detector of the non-frequency-hopping node to look for the active signal.

4. The machine-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the exchanging further comprises:

receiving the data from the frequency-hopping system and passing the data through the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s control unit; and

preparing transmit data from the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s control unit by filtering and mixing the transmit data with a local signal generated by the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s local oscillator and sending the transmit data to the frequency-hopping system.

5. The machine-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system utilize a listen-before-talk network protocol.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

means for listening by a non-frequency-hopping node for an active signal generated by a frequency-hopping system on a predetermined frequency channel; and

means for exchanging data with the frequency-hopping system on the predetermined frequency channel upon detecting the active signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for defining a commonly known network identification between the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system;

means for embedding the network identification in the active signal; and

means for exchanging the data with the frequency-hopping system upon detecting the network identification.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means for listening comprises:

means for receiving the active signal through an antenna of the non-frequency-hopping node;

means for mixing the active signal with a local signal generated by a local oscillator of the non-frequency-hopping node; and

means for passing the mixed signal through a signal detector of the non-frequency-hopping node to look for the active signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means for exchanging comprises:

means for receiving the data from the frequency-hopping system and passing the data through the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s control unit; and

means for preparing transmit data from the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s control unit by filtering and mixing the transmit data with a local signal generated by the non-frequency-hopping node'"'"'s local oscillator and sending the transmit data to the frequency-hopping system.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system utilize a listen-before-talk network protocol.

11. A non-frequency-hopping node, comprising:

a processor; and

a transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver operable

to listen for an active signal generated by a frequency-hopping system on a predetermined frequency channel and

to exchange data with the frequency-hopping system on the predetermined frequency channel upon detecting the active signal.

12. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 11, further comprising a control unit coupled to the transceiver, wherein the control unit operable

to define a commonly known network identification between the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system,

to embed the network identification in the active signal, and

to exchange the data with the frequency-hopping system upon detecting the network identification.

13. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 11, further comprising:

an antenna;

a local oscillator; and

a signal detector, wherein the transceiver

receives the active signal through the antenna,

mixes the active signal with a local signal generated by the local oscillator, and

passes the mixed signal through the signal detector to look for the active signal.

14. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 11, further comprising:

a control unit; and

a local oscillator, wherein the transceiver

receives the data from the frequency-hopping system and passes the data through the control unit, and

prepares transmit data from the control unit by filtering and mixing the transmit data with a local signal generated by the local oscillator and sending the transmit data to the frequency-hopping system.

15. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 13, wherein the active signal comprises a network identification commonly known to the non-frequency-hopping node and the frequency-hopping system.

16. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 11, wherein the transceiver comprises a receiver including:

a local oscillator; and

a signal detector coupled to the local oscillator, the signal detector searching for the active signal.

17. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 16, wherein the signal detector comprises:

a bandpass filter; and

a frequency modulation discriminator coupled to the bandpass filter.

18. The non-frequency-hopping node according to claim 11, wherein the transceiver comprises a transmitter including:

a bandpass filter;

a voltage control oscillator (VCO) coupled to the bandpass filter; and

a local oscillator coupled to the VCO.