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Method and system for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping system

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-16
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2017-09-16
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Abstract

Abstract A system and method for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies is disclosed, in a frequency hopping system including a plurality of remote stations communicating under control of transceivers with a transceiver of a base station, such communication being performed over a shared medium through a sequence of frequency hopping periods in a plurality of operating frequencies. The method consists in selecting a set of signalling frequencies among the operating frequencies, and interleaving signalling messages transmitted on each signalling frequency within each frequency hopping period to allow a remote station to enter the network for the first time or by re-acquiring synchronization, by scanning each signalling frequency for receiving a signalling message. The method preferably employs structure and techniques for averaging over the sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation for data and control messages transmissions on the plurality of signalling frequencies according to the time occupation for signalling messages transmissions.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frederic Bauchot
  • 👤 Frederic Lefevre
  • 👤 Francois LeMaut
  • 👤 Luc Revardel
  • 👤 Roland Amiel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 20:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04B1/713

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 170 words
An base station apparatus for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations said apparatus comprising: means for defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control message transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said apparatus and said plurality of remote stations; means for defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; means for selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; means for adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; and means for controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control message transmissions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 170 words
An base station apparatus for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations said apparatus comprising: means for defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control message transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said apparatus and said plurality of remote stations; means for defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; means for selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; means for adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; and means for controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control message transmissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adding means further comprises a means for inserting consecutive signalling messages (HH) within each said frequency hopping period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for inserting consecutive signalling messages comprise means for inserting said consecutive signalling messages at the end of each said frequency hopping period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controlling means further comprises a means for computing the duration of said plurality of signalling messages, and means for reducing the time occupation for data and control messages transmission of said set of signalling frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shared medium is a wireless radio frequency channel, and each said plurality of signalling messages is a Hop Header packet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said frequency hopping period is divided into time slots, and wherein said plurality of signalling messages is transmitted over at least one of said time slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of signalling messages are transmitted over a number of time slots different than the number of said signalling messages.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 171 words
A method for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system comprising at least one base station communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations, said method comprising the steps of: defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control messages transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said at least one base station and said plurality of remote stations; defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; and controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control messages transmissions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 171 words
A method for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system comprising at least one base station communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations, said method comprising the steps of: defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control messages transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said at least one base station and said plurality of remote stations; defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; and controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control messages transmissions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 192 words
A system for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system having at least one base station communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations said system comprising: means for defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control message transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said apparatus and said plurality of remote stations; means for defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; means for selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; means for adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; means for controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control message transmissions means for selecting said base station upon receiving at least one of said signalling messages at a remote station.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 192 words
A system for controlling the time occupation of signalling frequencies in a frequency hopping communication system having at least one base station communicating over a shared medium with a plurality of remote stations said system comprising: means for defining a sequence of frequency hopping periods during which data and control message transmissions occur on a plurality of operating frequencies between said apparatus and said plurality of remote stations; means for defining a set of signalling frequencies for transmitting synchronization information to said plurality of remote stations; means for selecting said set of signalling frequencies within said plurality of operating frequencies; means for adding within each said frequency hopping periods a plurality of signalling messages, each signalling message being transmitted over said shared medium at an assigned signalling frequency within said set of signalling frequencies; means for controlling over said sequence of frequency hopping periods the time occupation of said set of signalling frequencies for signalling transmissions according to the time occupation of said plurality of operating frequencies for data and control message transmissions means for selecting said base station upon receiving at least one of said signalling messages at a remote station.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5644576A Cited
US5870385A Cited
US5912918A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-02-28 2003-08-30 2004-02-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-02-28 2007-08-30 2008-02-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-02-28 2011-08-30 2012-02-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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