Frequency hopping piconets in an uncoordinated wireless multi-user system

A method for generating a connectivity tree for use in determining a connection route between a first wireless unit and any of a number of other wireless units, the method comprising the steps of:

• in the first wireless unit, receiving address and topology information from each of the other wireless units, wherein the address and topology information comprises an own address from each of the other wireless units and only first order address lists from each of the other wireless units;
• and
• in the first wireless unit, generating n connectivity rings from the first order address lists, wherein n is a positive integer, and wherein each of the connectivity rings is generated by considering a present numbered connectivity ring having parent nodes, and including in a next higher-numbered connectivity ring those nodes representing all children of the parent nodes that satisfy the following rules:
• no descendant of a parent can represent the same unit as is represented by the parent;
• no descendant of a child of the parent can represent the same unit as any of the children of the parent;
• and
• no child of any parent can have the same name as any other child of said any parent.

A wireless network having a scatter topology, the wireless network comprising:

• a first master unit;
• a second master unit;
• a first slave unit;
• and
• a second slave unit,
• wherein the first master unit comprises:
• means for sending a first master address to the first slave unit;
• means for sending a first master clock to the first slave unit;
• and
• means for communicating with the first slave unit by means of a first virtual frequency hopping channel;
• wherein the first slave unit comprises:
• means for receiving the first master address from the first master unit;
• means for receiving the first master clock from the first master unit;
• and
• means for communicating with the first master unit by means of the first virtual frequency hopping channel;
• wherein the second master unit comprises:
• means for sending a second master address to the second slave unit;
• means for sending a second master clock to the second slave unit;
• means for communicating with the second slave unit by means of a second virtual frequency hopping channel;
• wherein the second slave unit comprises:
• means for receiving the second master address from the second master unit;
• means for receiving the second master clock from the second master unit;
• and
• means for communicating with the second master unit by means of the first virtual frequency hopping channel;
• and
• wherein:
• a first hopping sequence of the first virtual frequency hopping channel is a function of the first master address, and the first master address is a unique unit identifying address;
• a phase of the first hopping sequence is a function of the first master clock;
• a second hopping sequence of the second virtual frequency hopping channel is a function of the second master address;
• a phase of the second sequence is a function of the second master clock;
• the first master clock is uncoordinated with the second master clock;
• and
• the first virtual frequency hopping channel uses the same radio spectrum as the second virtual frequency hopping channel,
• whereby the first virtual frequency hopping channel is different from the second virtual frequency hopping channel, thereby permitting communication between the first master unit and the first slave unit to take place without substantially interfering with communication between the second master unit and the second slave unit.

A wireless network comprising:

• a master unit;
• and
• a slave unit,
• wherein the master unit comprises:
• means for sending a master address to the slave unit;
• means for sending a master clock to the slave unit;
• means for communicating with the slave unit by means of a virtual frequency hopping channel;
• means for transmitting an inquiry message that solicits the slave address from the slave unit;
• and
• means for transmitting a page message that includes a request to establish a connection with the slave unit;
• wherein the slave unit comprises:
• means for receiving the master address from the master unit;
• means for receiving the master clock from the master unit;
• means for communicating with the master unit by means of the virtual frequency hopping channel;
• means for receiving the inquiry message;
• means, responsive to the inquiry message, for transmitting the slave address to the master unit;
• and
• wherein:
• a hopping sequence of the virtual frequency hopping channel is a function of the master address;
• and
• a phase of the hopping sequence is a function of the master clock.