Channel hopping protocol

Multiplex communications – Channel assignment techniques – Using time slots

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C375S132000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06292494

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to wireless networks such as networks of data processing stations interconnected by radio frequency or infrared links.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the transmission of data over wireless networks such as radio frequency networks or infrared networks, problems with noise at different frequencies or on different channels can pose problems for communications. Therefore it has been proposed to establish data processing networks using wireless links that will hop over different frequencies of radio frequency or different wavelengths of infrared light. These will be referred to as different channels. As noise may only be present on one or a few channels, if the network changes channels periodically it will reduce the impact of the selection of noisy channels. However, it is; important that, when a station transmitting data intends to change channels, all of the stations of the network likewise change channels so that they will all be corresponding or communicating on the same channel at such time that a channel is changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,987, issued Jul. 14, 1992, and assigned to Metricom, Inc., depicts radio communication systems using channel hopping, however the transmission of information does not include the address of the domain ID of the network being used and so would encounter conflicts with other nearby networks. In addition, the transmitting station does not inform the receiving stations to which channel they should next hop. An aging field is used to time hop during normal communication. The foregoing pose limitations which are avoided by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to establish a protocol including a method of operating a network that uses channel hopping; as well as to establish means, including software, to implement operation under the protocol of the invention.
One aspect of the invention provides a method of information transmission over a medium for a wireless communication system of a network of stations capable of sending and receiving data transmissions over a number of communication channels of the medium. Data transmission is sent in packets, with each packet including a header and a data portion. The heading includes identification (ID) of the network, identification of the next channel to be used in communications, an address, a channel busy count field, and a network command. The data portion is used to contain data.
The protocol of the invention establishes and maintains communications between stations or members of the network. The protocol established by this invention is adapted to manage a number of stations on a peer-to-peer basis. Higher network functions are performed by upper layers of software used by the stations in the networks and are not addressed in this application.


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