Embodiments disclosed herein for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems and that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems. In one aspect, a data transmission structure comprises a consolidated poll and one or more frames transmitted in accordance with the consolidated poll. In another aspect, a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) data transmission structure comprises a pilot, a consolidated poll, and zero or more access point to remote station frames in accordance with the consolidated poll. In one aspect, frames are transmitted sequentially with no or substantially reduced interframe spacing. In another aspect, a guard interframe spacing may be introduced between frames transmitted from different sources, or with substantially different power levels. In another aspect, a single preamble is transmitted in association with one or more frames. In another aspect, a block acknowledgement is transmitted subsequent to the transmission of one or more sequential frames.

High speed media access control

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that is backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect a first signal is transmitted according to a legacy transmission format to reserve a portion of a shared medium, and communication according to a second transmission format transpires during the reserved portion. In another aspect, a communication device may contend for access on a legacy system, and then communicate according to a new class communication protocol with one or more remote communication devices during the access period. In another aspect, a device may request access to a shared medium according to a legacy protocol, and, upon grant of access, the device may communicate with or facilitate communication between one or more remote stations according to a new protocol.

High speed media access control with legacy system interoperability

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a data frame is formed comprising a common portion for transmission in a format receivable by various stations, such as access points and remote stations. The data frame also comprises a dedicated portion, formatted for transmission to a specified remote station. In another aspect, the common portion is unsteered, and the dedicated portion is steered. In another aspect, an access point schedules an allocation in response to a data indication included in a common portion of a data frame transmitted from one remote station to another. In another aspect, a first station transmits a reference to a second station, which measures the reference and generates feedback therefrom.

High speed media access control and direct link protocol

A medium access control (MAC) layer protocol is used in a wireless ATM system for integrated support of ATM services, including constant bit-rate (CBR), variable bit-rate (VBR) and available bit-rate (ABR) services. The MAC protocol supports both connectionless packet and connection-oriented virtual circuit modes, with appropriate service parameter and quality-of-services selection. A dynamic time division, multiple access/time division multiplex (TDMA/TDM) approach accommodates the service classes in an integrated manner. A supervisory MAC procedure integrates ATM ABR/VBR/CBR virtual circuits, providing burst-by-burst allocation of ABR cells and call-by-call allocation of VBR and CBR bandwidth parameters. A mechanism is provided for the dynamic allocation of subframe capacities, assignment of ABR slots based on desired queueing rules, assignment of VBR slots based on ATM traffic shaper parameters and assignment of CBR slots based on bandwidth requirements.

Multiservices medium access control protocol for wireless ATM system

An adaptative communication system utilizes opportunistic peak-mode transmissions to transmit data between originating and destination stations, via one or more intermediate stations. Each station monitors the activity of other stations in the network, storing connectivity information for use in subsequent transmissions. Each station also sends out probe signals from time to time, to establish which other stations are in range. Messages are then sent across the network from station to station, with confirmation data being transmitted back to the originating station, until the destination station is reached. Old messages, which would otherwise clog the network, are timed out and deleted. A communication network and transceiver apparatus for use in the network are also disclosed.

Multi-hop packet radio networks

A method for automatically managing the communication channel resources between two nodes having neighboring nodes in a network of transceiver nodes, wherein each node communicates during specific time slots and uses multiple frequencies on a time division multiple access basis includes the steps of storing a table of possible communication frequencies and time slots between nodes; and announcing and transmitting during a specific time slot, a selected transmit frequency and slot from a first node to a second node and all neighboring nodes of the first node. The announced frequency and slot have certain constraints on reuse within two hops of the transmitting node to thereby establish contention free communication on that frequency and slot between the first and second nodes.

Dynamic distributed, multi-channel time division multiple access slot assignment method for a network of nodes

An adaptive TDMA (time division multiple access) communication system is illustrated which dynamically maintains potentially different frequencies between nodes of the communication system using a process of communicating the quality of received signals between the nodes and storing this information so that an optimum frequency band can be selected whereby whenever signal quality deteriorates, an alternate frequency can be selected to provide continued communications. An embodiment of the system spans both high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) to establish the communications through atmospheric induced refractions (reflections) beyond line of sight between directly communicating nodes of the system. Further, the system uses frequency hopping both for signal transmission security and for node identification. When a node is traffic idle and also on a periodic maintenance basis, frequency bands other than the traffic frequency are analyzed for potential future use.

Skywave adaptable communication apparatus

A method of managing communication on an unstable error-prone channel is disclosed, having particular applicability to transceiver nodes in a high frequency radio network. The method achieves highly reliable, efficient communication through the exchange of headers within control frames in accordance with a selected suite of protocols. An orderly link establishment is achieved by the exchange of headers indicating specific link establishment states of the nodes. One node having message data to transmit to another sends a herald header, and if the data is to be accepted by the other node, it responds with a herald acknowledgment header. The herald conveys parameters of the proposed transmission to the receiving node, permitting the parameters to be varied by the transmitting node for changing channel conditions. The issuance of a herald acknowledgment depends on message priorities exchanged by the nodes, so that higher priority messages can preempt lower priority ones. The issuance of a data transfer header including a data acknowledgment informs a transmitting node of data frames that require retransmission.

Managing communication on an unstable error-prone channel

A automatic skywave communications system includes a control channel and one or more traffic channels for voice or data communications. The system automatically establishes and maintains traffic radio links. The system measures, reacts, signals and adapts system parameters.

Charles D. Young

Papers

Dynamic distributed, multi-channel time division multiple access slot assignment method for a network of nodes

Skywave adaptable communication apparatus

Managing communication on an unstable error-prone channel

Automatic skywave communications system