US6317436B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for managing communication resources using an adaptive broadcast cycle (ABC)
Assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-28
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Granted: 2001-11-13
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Expires: 2019-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for managing communication resources between nodes in a network, and more particularly to a dynamic distributed multi-channel time division multiple access (TDMA) slot assignment method is presented. The method and apparatus include a set of higher level heuristics that enable the wireless channel access scheme to address predetermined characteristics of the wireless channel access system. These predetermined heuristics include using bootstrap slots, adaptive broadcast cycles, channelized neighborhoods, standby slots, speculation slots, neighbor segregation, hard circuits, and soft circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 C. David Young
- 👤 James A. Stevens
- 👤 Roy W. Krueger
- 👤 Michael S. Becker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04B7/2643; H04B7/2656; H04W; H04W72/00; H04W72/50; H04W72/535; H04W74/00; H04W74/04; H04W24/00; H04W72/04; H04W72/044; H04W72/0446; H04W72/20; H04W84/00; H04W84/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for managing communication channel resources between a plurality of nodes arranged in a network wherein each node communicates during specific time slots on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including a plurality of time slots arranged within a frame of a cycle, the plurality of time slots including broadcast slots; choosing a first broadcast schedule at each node, the first broadcast schedule having possible assignments of broadcast slots to communicate between nodes in the network; searching for empty slots at each node earlier in the cycle in the first broadcast schedule; and transitioning the plurality of nodes in the network to a second broadcast schedule with a shorter cycle when empty slots are found.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for managing communication channel resources between a plurality of nodes arranged in a network wherein each node communicates during specific time slots on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including a plurality of time slots arranged within a frame of a cycle, the plurality of time slots including broadcast slots; choosing a first broadcast schedule at each node, the first broadcast schedule having possible assignments of broadcast slots to communicate between nodes in the network; searching for empty slots at each node earlier in the cycle in the first broadcast schedule; and transitioning the plurality of nodes in the network to a second broadcast schedule with a shorter cycle when empty slots are found.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of time slots further includes bootstrap slots and the method further comprises: transmitting transmit information in the bootstrap slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of time slots further includes standby slots and the method further comprises: designating at least one time slot in a time frame as a standby slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method recited in claim 3 , further comprising: associating the standby slot with a broadcast slot in a first frame of the cycle; and shifting the association of the standby slot in a second frame of the cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 3 , further comprising: reserving at least one of the standby slots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein reserving includes simultaneously reserving eight (8) standby slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein adapting the first broadcast schedule includes slot poaching.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A communications system, comprising: a plurality of transceiver nodes arranged in a network and adapted to utilize a time division multiple access structure to communicate on the network; the time division multiple access structure including a broadcast cycle, the broadcast cycle including a plurality of broadcast slots and standby slots arranged within a plurality of time frames wherein a standby slot is associated with a particular broadcast slot in a first sequence within a first time frame in the broadcast cycle and the standby slot is associated with a different broadcast slot in a second time frame of the broadcast cycle; a broadcast slot schedule including assignments of the broadcast slots to the transceiver nodes; and an adaptive broadcast cycle protocol to adapt the broadcast cycle and the broadcast schedule based on the density of the network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A communications system, comprising: a plurality of transceiver nodes arranged in a network and adapted to utilize a time division multiple access structure to communicate on the network; the time division multiple access structure including a broadcast cycle, the broadcast cycle including a plurality of broadcast slots and standby slots arranged within a plurality of time frames wherein a standby slot is associated with a particular broadcast slot in a first sequence within a first time frame in the broadcast cycle and the standby slot is associated with a different broadcast slot in a second time frame of the broadcast cycle; a broadcast slot schedule including assignments of the broadcast slots to the transceiver nodes; and an adaptive broadcast cycle protocol to adapt the broadcast cycle and the broadcast schedule based on the density of the network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The communication system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the adaptive broadcast cycle protocol adapts a first broadcast slot schedule having first assignments of broadcast slots into a second broadcast slot schedule having second assignments of broadcast slots, a portion of the second assignments being the same as the first assignments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The communication system as recited in claim 9 , wherein half of the second assignments of the broadcast slots are the same as the first assignments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication system as recited in claim 8 , wherein each standby slot may be selectively reserved by a particular node in the network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communication system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the adaptive broadcast cycle protocol includes slot poaching.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for automatically managing communications channel resources between nodes in a network of nodes, wherein each node communicates during specific time slots and uses multiple channels on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network utilizing a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including cycles having time frames, each frame having a plurality of time slots, the time slots including broadcast slots; choosing, at each node in the network, a broadcast schedule on a channel to communicate between the nodes; choosing, in a group of nodes in the network, a shorter cycle broadcast schedule on another channel to temporarily form a subnet to create additional throughput; and maintaining contact with the network in the group of nodes to return to the network when requested.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for automatically managing communications channel resources between nodes in a network of nodes, wherein each node communicates during specific time slots and uses multiple channels on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network utilizing a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including cycles having time frames, each frame having a plurality of time slots, the time slots including broadcast slots; choosing, at each node in the network, a broadcast schedule on a channel to communicate between the nodes; choosing, in a group of nodes in the network, a shorter cycle broadcast schedule on another channel to temporarily form a subnet to create additional throughput; and maintaining contact with the network in the group of nodes to return to the network when requested.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising: utilizing a unifying slot assignment protocol to maintain substantially contention free access to the communication channel resources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising: designating at least one time slot within a time frame of a cycle as a standby slot; and associating each designated standby slot with one of the broadcast slots.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising: associating a designated standby slot with a particular broadcast slot in a first time frame of the time divisions; and associating the designated standby slot with a different broadcast slot in a second time frame of the time division.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for managing communication channel resources between a plurality of nodes arranged in a network wherein each node communicates during specific time slots on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including a plurality of time slots arranged within a frame of a cycle, the plurality of time slots including broadcast slots; choosing a first broadcast schedule at each node, the first broadcast schedule having possible assignments of broadcast slots to communicate between nodes in the network; searching for unassigned slots at a node earlier in the cycle in the first broadcast schedule; and poaching the unassigned slots in the first broadcast schedule to achieve the efficiency of a shorter cycle.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for managing communication channel resources between a plurality of nodes arranged in a network wherein each node communicates during specific time slots on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising: communicating between nodes in the network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including a plurality of time slots arranged within a frame of a cycle, the plurality of time slots including broadcast slots; choosing a first broadcast schedule at each node, the first broadcast schedule having possible assignments of broadcast slots to communicate between nodes in the network; searching for unassigned slots at a node earlier in the cycle in the first broadcast schedule; and poaching the unassigned slots in the first broadcast schedule to achieve the efficiency of a shorter cycle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of time slots further includes bootstrap slots and the method further comprises maintaining contact with the network in the group of nodes through information in the bootstrap slots.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of time slots further includes bootstrap slots and the method further comprises: transmitting transmit information in the bootstrap slots.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of time slots further includes standby slots and the method further comprises: designating at least one time slot in a time frame as a standby slot.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising: associating the standby slot with a broadcast slot in a first frame of the cycle; and shifting the association of the standby slot in a second frame of the cycle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 20 , further comprising: reserving at least one of the standby slots.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-12 | 2005-05-14 | 2005-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-12 | 2009-05-14 | 2009-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-12 | 2013-05-14 | 2013-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |