Cascading communications from sensing devices to a link

A method of cascading tracker communications within a body motion capture system, the method comprising:

• generating and storing orientation data of a first tracker in a first buffer within the first tracker;
• pulling a sample of the buffered orientation data of the first buffer and placing the sample of the buffered orientation data of the first buffer into a first data packet sent outbound from the first tracker at a time slot assigned to the first tracker as referenced against a first tracker clock signal;
• receiving the first data packet from the first tracker at a link;
• acknowledging receipt of the first data packet with a first outbound confirmation packet including an instruction to modify timing of a next data packet to be sent outbound from the first tracker to more closely match the time slot assigned to the first tracker as referenced against a link clock signal;
• generating and storing orientation data of a second tracker in a second buffer within the second tracker;
• pulling a sample of the buffered orientation data of the second buffer and placing the sample of the buffered orientation data of the second buffer into a second data packet sent outbound from the second tracker at a time slot assigned to the second tracker as referenced against a second tracker clock signal;
• receiving the second data packet from the second tracker at the link;
• and
• acknowledging receipt of the second data packet with a second outbound confirmation packet including an instruction to modify timing of a next data packet to be sent outbound from the second tracker to more closely match the time slot assigned to the second tracker as referenced against the link clock signal.

A body motion capture system comprising:

• a first tracker to be positioned on a first portion of a user's body, the first tracker including:
• one or more sensors to generate and store orientation data of the first tracker in a first buffer;
• a first microcontroller to pull a sample of the buffered orientation data of the first buffer and place the sample of the buffered orientation data of the first buffer into a first data packet sent outbound from the first tracker at a time slot assigned to the first tracker as referenced against a first tracker clock signal;
• a second tracker to be positioned on a second portion of the user's body, the second tracker including:
• one or more sensors to generate and store orientation data of the second tracker in a second buffer;
• a second microcontroller to pull a sample of the buffered orientation data of the second buffer and place the sample of the buffered orientation data of the second buffer into a second data packet sent outbound from the second tracker at a time slot assigned to the second tracker as referenced against a second tracker clock signal;
• and
• a link connected to the first and second trackers, the link to:
• receive the first data packet from the first tracker;
• acknowledge receipt of the first data packet with a first outbound confirmation packet including an instruction to modify timing of a next data packet to be sent outbound from the first tracker to more closely match the time slot assigned to the first tracker as referenced against a link clock signal;
• receive the second data packet from the second tracker;
• and
• acknowledge receipt of the second data packet with a second outbound confirmation packet including an instruction to modify timing of a next data packet to be sent outbound from the second tracker to more closely match the time slot assigned to the second tracker as referenced against the link clock signal.