Method and apparatus for changing communication link between source devices and sink devices

A method of changing a communication link between source devices and sink devices in a network in which uplink periods for uplink transmission and downlink periods for downlink transmission are alternately scheduled, the method comprising:

• during a first uplink period, broadcasting an uplink period allocation requesting message to all the source devices in the network, wherein the uplink period allocation message is broadcast by a primary sink device from among the sink devices, and wherein the uplink period allocation requesting message requests that passive source devices in which a communication link is not set use a subsequent uplink period;
• during a first downlink period following the first uplink period, broadcasting an uplink period allocation message to all the sink devices in the network, wherein the uplink period allocation message is broadcast by an active source device of the source devices that establishes a communication link with the primary sink device, and wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that the subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices;
• during a second uplink period following the first downlink period, broadcasting a link set message to all the source devices, wherein the link set message is broadcast by a primary passive source device among the source devices, and wherein the link set message is broadcast to establish a communication link between the primary passive source and the primary sink device;
• during a second downlink period following the second uplink period, relaying the link set message to all the sink devices, wherein the link set message is relayed by the active source device;
• and
• during a third uplink period following the second downlink period, establishing a communication link between the primary passive source device and the primary sink device by the primary sink device.

A method of changing a communication link between source devices and sink devices in a network in which uplink periods for uplink transmission and downlink periods for downlink transmission are alternately scheduled, the method comprising:

• during a first uplink period, broadcasting an uplink period allocation requesting message to all the source devices in the network, wherein the uplink period allocation message is broadcast by a primary sink device from among the sink devices, and wherein the uplink period allocation requesting message requests passive source devices, in which a communication link is not set to, use a subsequent uplink period;
• during a first downlink period following the first uplink period, broadcasting an uplink period allocation message to all the sink devices in the network, wherein the uplink period allocation message is broadcast by an active source device that establishes a communication link with the primary sink device, and wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that the subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices;
• during a second uplink period following the first downlink period, broadcasting a link set message to all the sink devices, wherein the link set message is broadcast by a primary passive source device among the passive source devices, and wherein the link set message is broadcast to establish a communication link between the primary passive source device and the primary sink device;
• and
• during a third uplink period following the second uplink period, establishing a communication link between the primary passive source device and the primary sink device by the primary sink device.

A network system in which uplink periods for uplink transmission between source devices and sink devices and downlink periods for downlink transmission between the source devices and the sink devices are alternately scheduled, the network system comprising:

• an active source device which establishes a communication link with a primary sink device from among the sink devices, and broadcasts an uplink period allocation message to the sink devices and passive source devices during a first downlink period, wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that a subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices in which a communication link is not set;
• a primary passive source device which broadcasts a link set message to all the source devices in the network during a first uplink period following the first downlink period, wherein the link set message is broadcast to establish a communication link between the primary passive source device and the primary sink device;
• and
• the primary sink device which establishes a communication link with the primary passive source device during a second uplink period when the active source device relays the link set message to all the sink devices in the network during a second downlink period following the first uplink period, wherein the second uplink period follows the second downlink period.

A network system in which uplink periods for uplink transmission between source devices and sink devices and downlink periods for downlink transmission between the source devices and the sink devices are alternately scheduled, the network system comprising:

• a primary sink device which broadcasts an uplink period allocation requesting message to all the source devices in the network during a first uplink period, wherein the uplink period allocation requesting message requests passive source devices, in which a communication link is not set, to use a subsequent uplink period;
• an active source device which establishes a communication link with the primary sink device, and broadcasts an uplink period allocation message to all the sink devices in the network during a first downlink period following the first uplink period, wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that the subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices;
• and
• a primary passive source device which broadcasts a link set message for establishing a communication link with the primary sink device to all the source devices during a second uplink period following the first downlink period,
• wherein, when the active source device relays the link set message to all the sink devices in the second downlink period, the primary sink device establishes a communication link with the primary passive source device during a third uplink period following the second uplink period.

A network system in which uplink periods for uplink transmission between source devices and sink devices and downlink periods for downlink transmission between the source devices and the sink devices are alternately scheduled, the network system comprising:

• a primary sink device which broadcasts an uplink period allocation requesting message to all the source devices in the network during a first uplink period, where the uplink period allocation requesting message requests passive source devices, in which a communication link is not set, to use a subsequent uplink period;
• an active source device which establishes a communication link with the primary sink device, and broadcasts an uplink period allocation message to all the sink devices in the network during a first downlink period following the first uplink period, wherein the uplink period allocation message instructs that the subsequent uplink period be allocated to the passive source devices;
• and
• a primary passive source device which broadcasts a link set message for establishing a communication link with the primary sink device to all the sink devices during a second uplink period following the first downlink period,
• wherein the primary sink device establishes a communication link with the primary passive source device during a third uplink period following the second uplink period.