Methods for using a detector to monitor and detect channel occupancy

A method comprising:

• providing a network station having a receiver and a wireless spectrum detector separate from the receiver;
• identifying the framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency using the wireless spectrum detector;
• detecting for non-cooperative transmissions on the first frequency using the wireless spectrum detector, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network, wherein the network uses a current channel that includes the first frequency;
• detecting for non-cooperative transmissions on a backup channel that includes a second frequency different from the first frequency of the current channel using the wireless spectrum detector;
• determining that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the detector on the first frequency;
• determining that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the detector on the second frequency;
• tuning the receiver to the second frequency responsive to information received from the detector regarding occupancy of the first and second frequencies;
• and
• receiving a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency using the receiver.

A method for using a detector, the method comprising:

• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a first channel at a first station participating in a cooperative network, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• scheduling a start of a detection interval;
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a second channel using the detector during the detection interval;
• and
• receiving a transmission from a second station participating in the cooperative network at the first station during the detection interval.

A method for using a detector to determine availability of a backup channel, the method comprising:

• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a current channel used for communication among a plurality of network stations in a cooperative network at a station participating in the cooperative network, wherein the current channel uses a frequency within a detector window of the detector and wherein a backup channel is not at a frequency simultaneously observable by the detector;
• scheduling a detection interval within a portion of a frame not used to receive network transmissions;
• buffering information to be transmitted during the portion of the frame if the detection interval is scheduled during a station transmission interval;
• tuning a station having the detector to a backup frequency included in the backup channel, wherein the backup channel is within the detector window;
• and
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on the backup channel using the detector during the detection interval, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network.

A method comprising:

• providing a network station having a receiver and a wireless spectrum detector separate from the receiver;
• identifying, with the wireless spectrum detector, a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency;
• scheduling a transmission gap within a frame defined by the framing of the cooperative network, during which each of the network stations in the cooperative network refrains from transmitting;
• scheduling an asynchronous detection interval within the frame defined by the identified framing of the cooperative network, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• detecting, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on a second frequency during the transmission gap, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• detecting, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on the second frequency during the asynchronous detection interval, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• determining that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the first frequency;
• determining that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the second frequency;
• and
• receiving, with the receiver, a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency subsequent to migrating the cooperative network from the first frequency to the second frequency.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network stations, at least one of said network stations comprising a detector and a receiver separate from the detector, said at least one network station configured to perform a method comprising:
• identifying the framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency using the wireless spectrum detector;
• detecting for non-cooperative transmissions on the first frequency using the wireless spectrum detector, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network, wherein the network uses a current channel that includes the first frequency;
• detecting for non-cooperative transmissions on a backup channel that includes a second frequency different from the first frequency of the current channel using the wireless spectrum detector;
• determining that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the detector on the first frequency;
• determining that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the detector on the second frequency;
• tuning the receiver to the second frequency responsive to information received from the detector regarding occupancy of the first and second frequencies;
• and
• receiving a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency using the receiver.

A device comprising:

• a wireless spectrum detector configured to detect a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency and to detect for non-cooperative transmissions on the first frequency, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• a processor configured to schedule an asynchronous detection interval having a reference within a frame defined by the framing of the cooperative network;
• and
• a receiver configured to tune to a second frequency responsive to information received from the wireless spectrum detector and to receive a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency;
• said detector further configured to detect for non-cooperative transmissions a the second frequency during the scheduled asynchronous detection interval;
• said processor configured to determine that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the first frequency, and to determine that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the second frequency.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network stations, at least one of said plurality of network stations further comprising:
• a wireless spectrum detector configured to detect a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency and to detect for non-cooperative transmissions on the first frequency, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• a processor configured to schedule an asynchronous detection interval having a reference within a frame defined by the framing of the cooperative network;
• and
• a receiver configured to tune to a second frequency responsive to information received from the wireless spectrum detector and to receive a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency;
• said detector further configured to detect for non-cooperative transmissions a the second frequency during the scheduled asynchronous detection interval;
• said processor configured to determine that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the first frequency, and to determine that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the second frequency.

A device comprising:

• a detector configured to:
• identify a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency;
• detect for non-cooperative transmissions on the first frequency, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network, wherein the network uses a current channel that includes the first frequency;
• and
• detect for non-cooperative transmissions on a backup channel that includes a second frequency different from the first frequency of the current channel;
• a receiver, separate from the detector, configured to receive a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the detector on the first frequency;
• determine that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the detector on the second frequency;
• and
• tune the receiver to the second frequency responsive to information received from the detector regarding occupancy of the first and second frequencies.

A device configured to participate in a cooperative network, said device comprising:

• a detector configured to:
• detect non-cooperative transmissions on a first channel, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• and
• detect non-cooperative transmissions on a second channel during a detection interval;
• a processor configured to scheduling a start of the detection interval;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive a transmission from another station participating in the cooperative network during the detection interval.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network stations participating in a cooperative network, at least one of said plurality of network stations comprising a detector and configured to perform a method comprising:
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a first channel at said at least one of said plurality of network stations, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• scheduling a start of a detection interval;
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a second channel using the detector during the detection interval;
• and
• receiving a transmission from a second station participating in the cooperative network during the detection interval.

A device comprising a detector, said device configured to perform a method comprising:

• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a current channel used for communication among a plurality of network stations in a cooperative network at a station participating in the cooperative network, wherein the current channel uses a frequency within a detector window of the detector and wherein a backup channel is not at a frequency simultaneously observable by the detector;
• scheduling a detection interval within a portion of a frame not used to receive network transmissions;
• buffering information to be transmitted during the portion of the frame if the detection interval is scheduled during a station transmission interval;
• tuning the device to a backup frequency included in the backup channel, wherein the backup channel is within the detector window;
• and
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on the backup channel using the detector during the detection interval, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network stations configured to communicate in a cooperative network, at least one of said plurality of network stations comprising a detector and configured to perform a method comprising:
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on a current channel used for communication among said plurality of network stations at said at least one of said plurality of network stations, wherein the current channel uses a frequency within a detector window of the detector and wherein a backup channel is not at a frequency simultaneously observable by the detector;
• scheduling a detection interval within a portion of a frame not used to receive network transmissions;
• buffering information to be transmitted during the portion of the frame if the detection interval is scheduled during a station transmission interval;
• tuning the at least one of said plurality of network stations to a backup frequency included in the backup channel, wherein the backup channel is within the detector window;
• and
• detecting non-cooperative transmissions on the backup channel using the detector during the detection interval, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the network.

A device comprising:

• a receiver;
• and
• a wireless spectrum detector separate from the receiver,
• said device configured to:
• identify, with the wireless spectrum detector, a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency;
• schedule a transmission gap within a frame defined by the framing of the cooperative network, during which each of the network stations in the cooperative network refrains from transmitting;
• schedule an asynchronous detection interval within the frame defined by the identified framing of the cooperative network, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• detect, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on a second frequency during the transmission gap, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• detect, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on the second frequency during the asynchronous detection interval, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• determine that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the first frequency;
• determine that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the second frequency;
• and
• receive, with the receiver, a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency subsequent to migrating the cooperative network from the first frequency to the second frequency.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of network stations configured to operate in a cooperative network, at least one of said plurality of network stations comprising a wireless spectrum detector and a receiver, and configured to:
• identify, with the wireless spectrum detector, a framing of a cooperative network transmission on a first frequency;
• schedule a transmission gap within a frame defined by the framing of the cooperative network, during which each of the network stations in the cooperative network refrains from transmitting;
• schedule an asynchronous detection interval within the frame defined by the identified framing of the cooperative network, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• detect, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on a second frequency during the transmission gap, the non-cooperative transmissions originating from a source not participating in the cooperative network;
• detect, with the wireless spectrum detector, for non-cooperative transmissions on the second frequency during the asynchronous detection interval, the asynchronous detection interval not overlapping with the transmission gap within the frame;
• determine that the first frequency is occupied based upon a presence of a non-cooperative transmission detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the first frequency;
• determine that the second frequency is not occupied based upon an absence of non-cooperative transmissions detected by the wireless spectrum detector on the second frequency;
• and
• receive, with the receiver, a transmission from a cooperative network station on the second frequency subsequent to migrating the cooperative network from the first frequency to the second frequency.