Personal area network with automatic attachment and detachment
AssigneeAzure Networks, LLC
InventorRobert J. Donaghey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network (100) includes a hub device (110) and at least one unattached peripheral device (120). The unattached peripheral device (120) transmits an attach request to the hub device (110) with a selected address, receives a new address from the hub device to identify the unattached peripheral device (120), and communicates with the hub device (110) using the new address.
Claims43
A network comprising:
- a hub device configured to generate a token and broadcast the token on the network;
- and
- at least one peripheral device configured to receive the token broadcast by the hub device, determine whether the token identifies the peripheral device, analyze the token to determine a size and direction of a current data transfer when the token identifies the peripheral device, and transfer data to or receive data from the hub device according to the determined size and direction of the current data transfer.
A network comprising:
- hub means for generating a token and for broadcasting the token on the network;
- and
- peripheral means connected to the hub means, including
- means for receiving the token broadcast by the hub means,
- means for determining whether the token identifies the peripheral means,
- means for analyzing the token to determine a size and direction of a current data transfer when the token identifies the peripheral means, and
- means for transferring data to or receiving data from the hub means according to the determined size and direction of the current data transfer.
A method for transmitting data in a network having a hub device connected to at least one peripheral device, comprising:
- generating a token;
- broadcasting, by the hub device, the token on the network;
- receiving the broadcast token at the peripheral device;
- determining, at the peripheral device, that the token identifies the peripheral device;
- analyzing the token to determine a size and direction of a current data transfer when the token identifies the peripheral device;
- and
- transferring data between the peripheral device and the hub device according to the determined size and direction of the current data transfer.
A memory used by at least one of a hub device and a peripheral device to transfer data between the hub device and a plurality of the peripheral devices over a wireless network, comprising:
- a network interface structure configured to determine whether and when to schedule a data transfer;
- a link layer transport structure configured to receive data from the network interface structure and arrange for a reliable transmission of the data;
- and
- a link layer driver structure configured to receive the data from the link layer transport structure and transmit the data under control of the link layer transport structure.
A method for transferring data in a network connecting a hub device to a set of peripheral devices, the network operating according to a communications protocol having a plurality of alternating token slots and data transfer slots, the method, performed by the hub device, comprising:
- identifying an address and a communication stream for a current data transfer, the address identifying one of the peripheral devices;
- generating a token based on the identified address and communication stream;
- broadcasting the token on the network during one of the token slots;
- and
- communicating the data between the identified peripheral device and the hub device on the identified communication stream during one of the data transfer slots.
A hub device that communicates data in a network connecting the hub device to a plurality of peripheral devices, the network operating according to a communications protocol having a plurality of alternating token slots and data transfer slots, the hub device comprising:
- a memory having instructions for:
- identifying an address and a communication stream for a current data transfer, the address identifying one of the peripheral devices,
- generating a token based on the identified address and communication stream,
- broadcasting the token on the network during one of the token slots, and
- communicating the data between the identified peripheral device and the hub device on the identified communication stream during one of the data transfer slots;
- and
- a processor that executes the instructions in the memory.
A method for transferring data in a network connecting at least one peripheral device to a hub device, the method, performed by one of the peripheral devices, comprising:
- receiving a token from the hub device that identifies the peripheral device;
- analyzing the token to determine a size and direction of a current data transfer;
- and
- transferring data to or receiving data from the hub device according to the determined size and direction of the current data transfer.
A peripheral device that communicates data in a network connecting at least one peripheral device to a hub device, the peripheral device comprising:
- a memory that stores instructions;
- and
- a processor that executes the instructions in the memory to receive a token from the hub device that identifies the peripheral device, analyze the token to determine a size and direction of a current data transfer, and transfer data to or receive data from the hub device according to the determined size and direction of the current data transfer.
A communications protocol used in a network connecting a hub device to at least one peripheral device, the communications protocol having a plurality of frames comprising:
- a beacon that marks a start of one of the frames;
- at least one token transmission that identifies one of the peripheral devices for a data transfer;
- and
- at least one data transfer opportunity that permits the hub device to communicate a data block with the identified peripheral device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.