Adaptive network to dynamically account for hidden nodes
AssigneeLantiq Deutschland GmbH
InventorVladimir Oksman
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a network element that is configured to be associated with a network having a number of nodes. The master node is configured to communicate with a number of nodes and allocate bandwidth therebetween by sending outgoing signals and receiving incoming signals over a transmission medium. The master node is further configured to adaptively account for hidden nodes with which the master node cannot bi-directionally directly communicate by communicating at least one signal with at least one proxy node. Other methods and network elements are disclosed.
Claims18
A network element within a network, comprising:
- a master node configured to communicate with a number of nodes and allocate bandwidth therebetween by sending outgoing signals and receiving incoming signals over a transmission medium;
- the master node being further configured to adaptively account for hidden nodes with which the master node cannot bi-directionally directly communicate by communicating at least one signal with at least one proxy node.
A method for communicating over a network and to be carried out on a master node, comprising:
- providing control signals to transmit a beacon signal with an associated media access plan that includes a number of relayed beacon timeslots that are uniquely assigned to proxy nodes and network nodes associated with the network, which media access plan further specifies at least one admission request timeslot reserved for admission requests from hidden nodes that are unable to bi-directionally directly communicate with the master node;
- determining whether a received signal is an admission request transmitted by a hidden node during the admission request timeslot or a relayed access request transmitted by a transmit proxy node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.