US 7,027,418 B2 · Approach for selecting communications channels based on performance

Abstract

An approach for selecting sets of communications channels involves determining the performance of communications channels. A set of channels is selected based on the results of performance testing and specified criteria. The participant generates data that identifies the selected set of channels and provides that data to other participants of the communications network. The participants communicate over the set of channels, such as by using a frequency hopping protocol. When a specified time expires or monitoring of the performance of the channel set identifies poor performance of the set of channels, the participant selects another set of channels for use in communications based on additional performance testing. By selecting channels based on the initial performance testing and performance monitoring, the communications network adaptively avoids channels with poor performance.

Claims128

Dependent claims

A method for selecting communications channels for a communications system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
wherein the communications system is a frequency hopping communications system and the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
and
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants.

2 more elements

A method for communicating among a network of communications devices according to a frequency hopping protocol, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

determining first performance data for a plurality of communications channels based on one or more performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels, wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol, and wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of communications devices;
determining classifications, based on the first performance data and at least a first performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon the classifications of the at least two communications channels, a first set of two or more communications channels;
generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;
providing the first identification data to a communications device of the network of communications devices over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol;
communicating with the communications device over the first set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol;
determining performance data for the first set of two or more communications channels;
and
if the performance data indicates that at least a specified number of communications channels of the first set of two or more communications channels do not satisfy specified performance criteria, then
determining second performance data for the plurality of communications channels based on one or more additional performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;
determining additional classifications, based on the second performance data and at least a second performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon the additional classifications of the at least two communications channels, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;
providing the second identification data to the communications device of the network of communications devices over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol;
and
communicating with the communications device over the second set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol.

13 more elements

A communications device for use in a network of devices, comprising:

a memory containing identification data that identifies a first set of two or more communications channels from a plurality of communications channels, wherein channel performance of the first set of two or more communications channels and at least one performance criterion are used to select the first set of two or more communications channels;
a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the memory and that is configured to transmit and receive, based on the identification data, over the first set of two or more communications channels, according to a frequency hopping protocol;
wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol;
and
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants.

2 more elements

A communications device for use in a network of devices, comprising:

a memory for storing one or more sequences of instructions;
a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
select, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
generate and store in the memory first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;
cause the first identification data to be transmitted to another communications device;
a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the memory and that is configured to transmit to and receive from the other communications device, based on the first identification data, over the first set of two or more communications channels, according to a frequency hopping protocol, wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants;
and
the first identification data is transmitted to the other communications device over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol.

6 more elements

A communications channel selector apparatus comprising:

means for selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
means for selecting, based upon the performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
and
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants.

2 more elements

A communications apparatus comprising:

means for selecting, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
means for generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;
means for providing the first identification data to a participant;
means for communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels, wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants;
and
wherein the first identification data is provided to the participant over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol.

4 more elements

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for selecting communications channels for a communications system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
wherein the communications system is a frequency hopping communications system and the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
and
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants.

2 more elements

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for communicating among a network of communications devices according to a frequency hopping protocol, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

determining first performance data for a plurality of communications channels based on one or more performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels, wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol, and wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of communications devices;
determining classifications, based on the first performance data and at least a first performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon the classifications of the at least two communications channels, a first set of two or more communications channels;
generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;
providing the first identification data to a communications device of the network of communications devices over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol;
communicating with the communications device over the first set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol;
determining performance data for the first set of two or more communications channels;
and
if the performance data indicates that at least a specified number of communications channels of the first set of two or more communications channels do not satisfy specified performance criteria, then
determining second performance data for the plurality of communications channels based on one or more additional performance measurements of the plurality of communications channels;
determining additional classifications, based on the second performance data and at least a second performance criterion, of at least two communications channels of the plurality of communications channels;
selecting, based upon the additional classifications of the at least two communications channels, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
generating second identification data that identifies the second set of two or more communications channels;
providing the second identification data to the communications device over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol;
and
communicating with the communications device over the second set of two or more communications channels according to the frequency hopping protocol.

13 more elements

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for communicating with a participant in a communications arrangement, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

selecting, based on first performance data that indicates performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and at least a first performance criterion, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
generating first identification data that identifies the first set of two or more communications channels;
providing the first identification data to the participant;
communicating with the participant over the first set of two or more communications channels, wherein the plurality of communications channels correspond to a set of frequencies to be used based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
wherein at each hop in the hopping sequence, only one communications channel is used for communications between a pair of participants;
and
wherein the first identification data is provided to the participant over one communications channel of the plurality of communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol.

4 more elements

A method for selecting communications channels for a frequency hopping communications system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

selecting, based upon performance of a plurality of communications channels at a first time and channel selection criteria, a first set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
after selecting the first set of two or more communications channels, causing the first set of two or more communications channels to be loaded into a first register of a first participant and a second register of a second participant;
causing the first participant and the second participant to communicate over the first set of two or more communications channels based on a hopping sequence according to a frequency hopping protocol;
selecting, based upon performance of the plurality of communications channels at a second time that is later than the first time and the channel selection criteria, a second set of two or more communications channels from the plurality of communications channels;
after selecting the second set of two or more communications channels, causing the second set of two or more communications channels to be loaded into the first register of the first participant and the second register of the second participant;
and
causing the first participant and the second participant to communicate over the second set of two or more communications channels based on the hopping sequence according to the frequency hopping protocol.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Approach for selecting communications channels based on performance

Life of this patent

Approach for selecting communications channels based on performance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims128