METHOD OF RESOLVING MEDIA CONTENTION IN RADIO COMMUNICATION LINKS

摘要

Each node in a wireless packet communication system has a transmitter and a receiver. Each receiver is assigned a specific frequency hopping band plan (f1-f12) on which to receive signals. To communicate with a target node, the transmitter of a source node changes frequency according to the band plan of the target node's receiver. The source node then transmits a poll packet to the target node to determine whether the latter is available to accept a specified number of data packets at a specified level of priority. Failure to receive an acknowledgement, the source node either retransmits the poll packet later or redirects the poll packet to another target node. An acknowledgement of the poll packet indicates that the target node (10) has reserved access to itself for the polling source node by remaining at a fixed receive frequency (f3) for a period of time (20). The source node transmits data at the fixed frequency (f3). After receiving data, the target node resumes frequency hopping according to its assigned band plan.