Power conservation and latency minimization in frequency hopping communication networks

摘要

In one embodiment, a communication device samples a particular frequency hopping sequence during only a particular specified sub-timeslot of a timeslot. If a transmission energy is not detected during the specified sub-timeslot, the device turns off its receiver for a remainder of the timeslot. Otherwise, it continues to sample the particular frequency hopping sequence for at least one or more additional sub-timeslots of the remainder of the timeslot. In another embodiment, a communication device determines whether a neighboring communication device is operating in a first mode or a second mode. If in the second mode, it transmits a transmission to the neighboring communication device starting at any sub-timeslot of the plurality of sub-timeslots. If in the first mode, it transmits the transmission to the neighboring communication device while ensuring that the transmission is actively energized during a particular specified sub-timeslot.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
operating a communication device according to a particular frequency hopping sequence in a communication network, the particular frequency hopping sequence having a plurality of timeslots each corresponding to a particular frequency within the frequency hopping sequence, each timeslot divided into a plurality of sub-timeslots; and operating the communication device in a first mode, wherein the first mode comprises:
sampling the particular frequency hopping sequence by a receiver of the communication device during only a particular specified sub-timeslot of a timeslot;detecting whether a transmission energy is detected during the specified sub-timeslot;in response to detecting that there is no transmission energy during the specified sub-timeslot, turning off the receiver for a remainder of the sub-timeslots in the timeslot;in response to detecting that there is transmission energy during the specified sub-timeslot, continuing to sample the particular frequency hopping sequence for at least one or more additional sub-timeslots of the remainder of the sub-timeslots in the timeslot until no transmission energy is detected in one of the at least one or more additional sub-timeslots, wherein continuing to sample the particular frequency hopping sequence for at least one or more additional sub-timeslots of the remainder of the timeslot comprises:
determining whether the transmission energy is from a transmission meant for the communication device,keeping the receiver on for at least a duration of the transmission in response to the transmission being meant for the communication device, andturning off the receiver in response to the transmission not being meant for the communication device; andin response to detecting no transmission energy while continuing to sample the particular frequency hopping sequence in the at least one or more additional sub-timeslots, turning off the receiver for the remainder of the sub-timeslots in the timeslot subsequent the one at least one or more additional sub-timeslot.