Network channel access protocol - slot scheduling
AssigneeSkyPilot Network, Inc.
InventorsThomas Hammel, Kirk Alton Bradley, Mark J. Rich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.
Claims25
A method for communication slot allocation and assertion for a planned transmission, comprising:
- providing a node;
- obtaining an array of communication slots;
- locating at least one available communication slot within the array;
- allocating the at least one communication slot;
- determining if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override;
- if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override,
- canceling a prior allocation of the at least one communication slot;
- informing neighboring nodes of the node of cancellation of the prior allocation;
- asserting usage of the at least one communication slot;
- informing the neighboring nodes of assertion of the at least one communication slot;
- determining whether the at least one communication slot is configured to receive or transmit;
- and
- if the at least one communication slot is configured to receive, scheduling use of the at least one communication slot.
A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor in response to a command to allocate at least one communication slot, causes execution of a method comprising:
- allocating the at least one communication slot;
- determining if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override;
- if the at least one communication slot was made available by priority override,
- canceling a prior allocation of the at least one communication slot;
- informing neighboring nodes of the node of cancellation of the prior allocation;
- asserting usage of the at least one communication slot;
- informing the neighboring nodes of assertion of the at least one communication slot;
- determining whether the at least one communication slot is configured to receive or transmit;
- and
- if the at least one communication slot is configured to receive, scheduling use of the at least one communication slot.
A method for slot allocation acknowledgement by a node, comprising:
- providing slot allocation information;
- determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
- if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
- if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
- if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
- if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference,
- scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
- determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node;
- and
- if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor in response to receiving slot allocation information, causes execution of a method comprising:
- determining if the slot allocation information has been superseded;
- if the slot allocation information has not been superseded, determining whether the slot allocation information pertains to the node;
- if the slot allocation information pertains to the node, determining a mode associated with the slot allocation information;
- if the mode condition is transmit or receive, checking for conflicts and interference with the slot allocation information;
- if the slot allocation information is not conflicted and not precluded by interference,
- scheduling use of a communication slot identified by the slot allocation information;
- determining whether the mode condition of the slot allocation information involves activity within an interference area of the node;
- and
- if the activity is within the interference area, advertising the slot allocation information to neighboring nodes of the node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.