Multiplex communications – Network configuration determination
Patent
1997-06-18
2000-08-01
Nguyen, Chau
Multiplex communications
Network configuration determination
370400, H04L 1228
Patent
active
060977035
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to a method of transmitting data between originating and destination stations in a multi-station communication network, to a communication network for implementing the method, and to communication apparatus for use in the network.
Communication networks are known which require one or more controlling nodes or base stations through which messages must be routed from originating to destination stations. Such networks are vulnerable to breakdown of the controller nodes or base stations. In addition, the controller nodes or base stations are relatively expensive, and remote stations in the network are restricted in their movement with respect to the base stations.
The connectivity between stations in such a network may change due to relative movement between remote stations and the base station, interference, noise and other factors. In a Rayleigh fading environment, the rate of fluctuation of signal strength, noise and interference changes the connectivity between stations in the network on an instantaneous basis, making any method of fixed routing or adaptive routing by the passing of routing information between stations almost impossible. Generally, in order to compensate for interference and fading, messages are transmitted redundantly and with sufficient power to ensure their reception, leading to sub-optimal utilisation of the network and to interference between stations. Sub-optimal utilisation of the network results in a reduction in the network capacity (Erlangs) for a given area and a given spectrum allocation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of transmitting message data from a first one of a plurality of stations in a network to a second one of the plurality of stations, the method comprising: network; intermediate station for onward transmission to the second station; and station to the first station, indicative of the onward transmission of the message data.
Preferably, each station in the network monitors the activity of other stations on an ongoing basis in order to determine the availability of those other stations, according to predetermined criteria, as intermediate or destination stations.
The monitoring may be carried out by receiving data transmitted by the other stations, and analysing the received data transmissions to select an intermediate or destination station.
The monitoring may further include extracting information from the received data indicating at least the identity of the other stations.
For example, the information may relate to the destination and/or the origin of message data transmitted to or received from the other stations.
The method may also include extracting information from the received data relating to the final destination and/or primary origin of the message data.
The method may further include extracting information from the received data relating to the propagation delay of each message, the data rate of each message and/or the volume of messages between any two or more stations.
The data transmitted by each station may include time data, the monitoring including determining the age of data transmissions received from other stations in the network and discarding data transmissions older than a predetermined age.
The time data in the received data transmissions may be compared with a reference time, and the received data transmissions may be discarded a predetermined period after the reference time.
The method preferably includes allocating a priority to received data transmissions, and adjusting the order of retransmission of the received data transmission to other stations according to the age thereof.
The method may include monitoring the quality of the signal path between the first station and one or more of the other stations and adapting, according to predetermined criteria, at least one parameter of a subsequent transmission to another station in accordance with the monitored quality of the signal path to increase the probability of the
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Larsen David Victor
Larsen James David
Larsen Mark Sievert
Van Lochem Gerhard Willem
Lee Chiho Andrew
Nguyen Chau
Salbu Research and Development (Proprietary Limited)
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