On-demand broadcast protocol
First Claim
1. A method of communicating over a network of nodes using a plurality of time slots, wherein nodes are permitted to simultaneously use a time slot only when the nodes are at least three hops apart, the method comprising:
- assigning at least one of the plurality of time slots to a first node;
the first node communicating, to neighboring nodes within one hop of the first node, which time slots assigned to the first node are scheduled to be used by the first node;
each neighboring node determining whether said each neighboring node has a need to use more time slots than have been assigned to said each neighboring node;
each neighboring node communicating its respective need to the first node; and
permitting at least one of the neighboring nodes to use a time slot assigned to the first node and not scheduled to be used by the first node;
wherein the permitting step further includes permitting at least one of the neighboring nodes to use the time slot assigned to the first node, and not scheduled to be used by the first node, only when said at least one of the neighboring nodes has not indicated a preference to obtain slots from a node other than the first node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of communicating over a network of nodes using a plurality of time slots is disclosed. According to the method, at least one of the plurality of time slots are assigned to a first node. The first node communicates, to neighboring nodes within one hop of the first node, which time slots assigned to the first node are scheduled to be used by the first node. Each neighboring node determines whether it has a need to use more time slots than it has been assigned. Each neighboring node communicates its respective need to the first node. At least one of the neighboring nodes is permitted to use one of the unscheduled time slots.
110 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of communicating over a network of nodes using a plurality of time slots, wherein nodes are permitted to simultaneously use a time slot only when the nodes are at least three hops apart, the method comprising:
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assigning at least one of the plurality of time slots to a first node; the first node communicating, to neighboring nodes within one hop of the first node, which time slots assigned to the first node are scheduled to be used by the first node; each neighboring node determining whether said each neighboring node has a need to use more time slots than have been assigned to said each neighboring node; each neighboring node communicating its respective need to the first node; and permitting at least one of the neighboring nodes to use a time slot assigned to the first node and not scheduled to be used by the first node; wherein the permitting step further includes permitting at least one of the neighboring nodes to use the time slot assigned to the first node, and not scheduled to be used by the first node, only when said at least one of the neighboring nodes has not indicated a preference to obtain slots from a node other than the first node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing communication resources in a network of nodes, wherein a first node has a communication time slot allocated thereto, the method comprising:
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the first node communicating, to a neighboring node within one hop of the first node, whether the first node intends to use the communication time slot; the neighboring node indicating, to nodes within one hop of said neighboring node, whether the neighboring node needs to use more communication time slots than have been allocated to said neighboring node; and the first node permitting the neighboring node to use the communication time slot when the first node is not scheduled to use the communication time slot; wherein the permitting step further includes permitting the neighboring node to use the time slot assigned to the first node, and not scheduled to be used by the first node, only when the neighboring node has not indicated a preference to obtain slots from a node other than the first node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification