# US 2018/0323866 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Low-Power, Long-Range Networking > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323866 A1 - Document ID: US20180323866A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/037,405 - Filed: 2018-07-17 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-06 - Assignees: Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: John Peter Norair - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323866A1 ## CPC - H04B 7/2656: {for structure of frame, burst} - H04L 41/0695: the faulty arrangement being the maintenance, administration or management system - H04L 43/16: Threshold monitoring - H04W 40/244: {using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing} - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 72/02: Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal - H04W 72/23: in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract An endpoint device may be operable to transmit and receive data wirelessly via a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows. A first window of the plurality of repeating windows may be time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots utilized for transmitting beacon signals. A second window of the plurality of repeating windows may be time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots utilized for transmitting alarm signals. The endpoint may be assigned one of the first timeslots and, when an alarm condition is present, select one of the second timeslots for transmitting an alarm signal based on the assigned first timeslot, and based on a hash function. The endpoint may then transmit an alarm signal during the second timeslot. The endpoint may be operable to synchronize its local clock by listening to beacons transmitted by other endpoints. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication system comprising: one or more circuits operable to transmit and receive data wirelessly, said one or more circuits being operable to: receive assignment of a first timeslot for transmission when an alarm condition is not present; detect the presence of said alarm condition; in response to said detection of said alarm condition, determine a second timeslot based on said first timeslot and a hash function; and transmit an alarm signal during said second timeslot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1, wherein: said one or more circuits transmit and receive over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows; a first window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; a second window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; said assigned first timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said first window; and said second timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said second window. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The communication system of claim 2, wherein said second timeslot occurs in the first instance of said second window to occur after said detection of said alarm condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The communication system of claim 2, wherein said first timeslot does not occur in every instance of said first window. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The communication system of claim 2, wherein a third window of said plurality of windows is not time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The communication system of claim 5, wherein said first timeslot is reserved for transmissions of a first type and said third window is utilized for transmissions of one or more second types. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1, wherein said one or more circuits comprise one or more acoustic, chemical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, optical, and/or thermal sensors for said detection of said alarm condition. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: performing by one or more circuits operable to transmit and receive data wirelessly: receiving assignment of a first timeslot during for transmission when an alarm condition is not present; detecting the presence of said alarm condition; in response to said detection of said alarm condition, determining a second timeslot based on said first timeslot and a hash function; and transmitting an alarm signal during said second timeslot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: performing by said one or more circuits: transmitting and receiving over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows, wherein: a first window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; a second window of said plurality of repeating windows is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; said assigned first timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said first window; and said second timeslot is one of said plurality of timeslots of said second window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said second timeslot occurs in the first instance of said second window to occur after said detection of said alarm condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said first timeslot does not occur in every instance of said first window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein a third window of said plurality of windows is not time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said first timeslot is reserved for transmissions of a first type and said third window is utilized for transmissions of one or more second types. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more circuits comprise one or more acoustic, chemical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, optical, and/or thermal sensors for said detection of said alarm condition. ### Claim 15 A communication system comprising: one or more circuits comprising a clock, said one or more circuits being operable to: transmit and receive data via a wireless network; communicate over a medium to which access is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of timeslots; receive signals during one or more time intervals; characterize said signals received during said one or more time intervals; and adjust said clock based on said characterization of said signals received during said one or more time intervals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The communication system of claim 15, wherein: said characterization comprises determining a ratio of (i) end-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols received during the one or more time intervals to (ii) beginning-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols received during the one or more time intervals; said one or more circuits are operable to adjust said clock by a positive amount when said ratio is greater than a threshold; and said one or more circuits are operable to adjust said clock by a negative amount when said ratio is less than a threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The communication system of claim 15, wherein: said characterization comprises comparing (i) how many end-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols were received during the one or more time intervals to (ii) how many beginning-of-timeslot bits, bytes, and/or symbols were received during the one or more time intervals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The communication system of claim 1, wherein: access to said wireless network is time-division multiplexed into a plurality of repeating windows; said one or more time intervals occur during a first window of said plurality of repeating windows; and said signals received during said one or more time intervals were transmitted by other endpoints in said wireless network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The communication system of claim 4, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to transmit an alarm signal during a second window of said plurality of repeating windows. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) The communication system of claim 4, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to synchronize said clock to a network clock during a third window of said plurality of repeating windows.