Techniques for dynamically switching between synchronous and asynchronous operation modes in body area networks

摘要

Techniques for dynamically switching between synchronous and asynchronous operation modes in body area networks (BANs). One embodiment includes a method (400) for transitioning from an asynchronous mode to a synchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a BAN. A device receiving a switch mode command (S410) performs the acts comprising: setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command (S430); propagating the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN (S440); upon expiration of the time period, tuning to a channel selected from a set of channels reserved for the synchronous mode (S460); and initializing a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation (S470). Another embodiment includes a method (300) for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a MAC of a body area networks (BAN).

主权项

1. A method for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a body area network (BAN) upon receiving a switch mode command, comprising:
setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command for switching from the synchronous mode to the asynchronous mode within the BAN; upon expiration of the time period, tuning a device to a channel selected from a first set of channels in the BAN reserved for the asynchronous mode, wherein the first set of channels is different from a second set of channels that is reserved for the synchronous mode in the BAN; and causing the device to operate in the asynchronous mode over the reserved channel, wherein the device is configured for asynchronously duty cycling between sleep and wakeup times.