Hierarchical communications system using microlink, data rate switching, frequency hopping and vehicular local area networking

In a hierarchical communications network, the method of communicating with roaming computing devices comprising:

• communicatively connecting a plurality of base stations operating with different communication parameters;
• communicating between base stations and roaming computing devices with common communication parameters;
• and
• transmitting information to roaming computer devices that is indicative of communication parameters of neighboring base stations (operating with different communication parameters) so as to facilitate attachment of a roaming computing device associated with a first base station having a first set of communication parameters to a second base station having a second set of communication parameters as the roaming computing device moves from the vicinity of the first base station to the vicinity of the second base station.

In a hierarchal communications network comprising a plurality of base stations and a plurality of mobile computing devices, a method of communicating between said base stations and said plurality of mobile computing devices within a predetermined time interval, said method comprising:

• communicating addresses of each of said plurality of mobile computing devices;
• communicating current communications channel parameters;
• controlling contention between said mobile computing devices with communication requirements;
• allocating time for asynchronous and scheduled communication in the same time interval;
• communicating with said mobile computing devices with communication requirements during the time allocated for asynchronous communication;
• and
• communicating with said at least one mobile computing device requiring scheduled communication during the time allocated for scheduled communication.

A radio unit for operation in a communication system having a plurality of local area networks comprising:

• a transceiver for communicating on a plurality of local area networks;
• a memory device which stores a plurality of communication protocols, each communication protocol governing radio operation on one of the plurality of local area networks;
• and
• a control processor which selects from the memory device one of the plurality of communication protocols to enable the transceiver to communicate on a corresponding one of the plurality of local area networks.

A radio unit for operation in a communication system having a plurality of local area networks comprising:

• a transceiver for communicating on a plurality of local area networks;
• a memory device which stores a plurality of communication protocols, each communication protocol governing radio operation on one of the plurality of local area networks;
• a control processor which selects from the memory device one of the plurality of communication protocols to enable the transceiver to communicate on a corresponding one of the plurality of local area networks;
• and
• the control processor resolving conflicts among the plurality of communication protocols on a priority basis.

A radio unit for operation in a communication system having a plurality of local area networks comprising:

• a transceiver for communicating on a plurality of local area networks;
• a memory device which stores a plurality of communication protocols, each communication protocol governing radio operation on one of the plurality of local area networks;
• a control processor which selects from the memory device one of the plurality of communication protocols to enable the transceiver to communicate on a corresponding one of the plurality of local area networks;
• and
• the control processor causing the radio unit to enter a low power consumption mode when the radio unit is not actively communicating on any of the plurality of local area networks.

A communication system comprising:

• a first RF local area network operating using a first communication protocol;
• a second RF local area network operating using a second communication protocol;
• a radio unit having a control processor, a memory device, and a transceiver, the memory device storing the first and second communication protocols and the transceiver configured for communication on both the first and second RF local area networks;
• a radio unit communicating on the first RF local area network pursuant to the first communication protocol while communicating on the second RF local area network pursuant to the second communication protocol;
• and
• the control processor resolving conflicts between the first and second communication protocols.

A communication system comprising:

• a premises local area network;
• a spontaneous local area network;
• a radio unit having a control processor and a transceiver for communicating on both the premises local area network and the spontaneous local area network;
• and
• the radio unit participating as a slave to the premises local area network while participating as a master to the spontaneous local area network pursuant to control by the control processor.

A communication system comprising:

• a first RF local area network operating using a first communication protocol;
• a second RF local area network operating using a second communication protocol;
• a radio unit having a control processor and a transceiver for communicating on both the first and second RF local area networks;
• the radio unit communicating on the first RF local area network pursuant to the first communication protocol while communicating on the second RF local area network pursuant to the second communication protocol;
• and
• the control processor resolving conflicts between the first and second communication protocols and causing the radio unit to enter a state of low power consumption when the radio unit is not actively communicating on either the first or the second RF local area networks.

A communication system comprising:

• a first RF local area network comprising a first plurality of network devices;
• a second RF local area network comprising a second plurality of network devices;
• a radio unit having a control processor and configured to communicate with both the first and second pluralities of network devices;
• when within range of one of the second plurality of network devices, the radio unit participates as a master in the second RF local arena network pursuant to control by the control processor;
• and
• when within range of one of the first plurality of network devices, the radio unit participates as a slave in the first RF local area network pursuant to control by the control processor.

In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes including at least one controlling node and at least one terminal node, a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications protocol comprising:

• including at least one time interval for communications access in each frequency dwell;
• resolving channel contention before actual data transmission, thereby minimizing collisions during data transmission and reducing inefficiencies due to packet loss and retransmission time;
• wherein the step of resolving channel contention includes slotted reservation access;
• wherein said slotted reservation access includes determining the number of access slots to be provided for poll requests;
• and
• wherein said slotted reservation access includes determining an access probability factor to be provided for poll requests, wherein a poll request is transmitted or deferred according to said access probability factor.

In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes including at least one controlling node and at least one terminal node, a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications protocol comprising:

• including at least one time interval for communications access in each frequency dwell;
• resolving channel contention before actual data transmission, thereby minimizing collisions during data transmission and reducing inefficiencies due to packet loss and retransmission time;
• wherein the step of resolving channel contention includes slotted reservation access;
• and
• wherein the step of resolving channel contention includes capture means for granting channel access to one node over another node in a collision condition based on significantly greater signal strength.

In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes including at least one controlling node and at least one terminal node, a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications protocol comprising:

• including at least one time interval for communications access in each frequency dwell;
• resolving channel contention before actual data transmission, thereby minimizing collisions during data transmission and reducing inefficiencies due to packet loss and retransmission time;
• wherein the step of resolving channel contention includes slotted reservation access;
• and
• wherein the addresses of devices desiring communication are placed in a polling queue and polled sequentially.

In a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes including at least one controlling node and at least one terminal node, a frequency hopping spread spectrum communications protocol comprising:

• including at least one time interval for communications access in each frequency dwell:
• supporting synchronous communication in each of said frequency dwell time intervals;
• supporting scheduled, time-bounded communication in each of said frequency dwell time intervals;
• wherein the number of access slots allocated for synchronous communication and for scheduled, time-bounded communication is determined and transmitted in a reservation poll message early in said time intervals;
• and
• wherein the number of access slots allocated for scheduled, time-bounded communication is based on the length of said time intervals.