Shared communications channel access in an overlapping coverage environment
OwnerJin-Meng Ho, Donald P. Shaver +1inventors
InventorsJin-Meng Ho, Donald P. Shaver, Sid B. Schrum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for creating contention-free bursts of communications in an environment wherein a communications channel may be shared by a plurality of wireless networks. The methods presented also include mechanisms for recovery due to collisions and otherwise lost transmissions and for ensuring that a single wireless network is not able to obtain access of the communications channel at the expense of other wireless networks.
Claims41
A method for initiating a contention-free burst by a hybrid coordinator of a network using a shared communications medium comprising:
- determining a status of the shared communications medium;
- waiting for access to the shared communications medium based on the status of the shared communications medium;
- and
- transmitting information after expiration of a specified period of time.
A method for access recovery in a shared medium comprising:
- transmitting a frame to a destination to initiate a contention-burst;
- waiting for an expected response from the destination within a first time period;
- if the expected response from the destination does not arrive within the specified time period, then:
- sensing a status of the shared medium;
- waiting a second time period;
- and
- regaining control of the shared medium.
A circuit comprising:
- a memory;
- a processor coupled to the memory, the processor containing circuitry to manage communications in a shared medium, the processor further comprises an error processor to detect and recover from transmissions damaged by collisions from other transmissions;
- a transmit/receive unit coupled to the processor, the transmit/receive unit to transmit and receive data frames from the shared medium;
- and
- a medium sensor unit coupled to the processors, the medium sensor to detect a state of the shared medium.
A communications system comprising:
- a shared medium;
- at least two communications stations, coupled to the shared medium, each communications station comprising:
- a memory;
- a processor coupled to the memory, the processor containing circuitry to manage communications in a shared medium, the processor further comprises an error processor to detect and recover from transmissions damaged by collisions from other transmissions;
- a transmit/receive unit coupled to the processor, the transmit/receive unit to transmit and receive data frames from the shared medium;
- and
- a medium sensor unit coupled to the processors, the medium sensor to detect a state of the shared medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.