Patent ID: 8046484
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of transmitting data and for determining that the transmitted data was received, the method comprising: transmitting the same data from a source device over a contention channel in a centralized network to a plurality of devices on the channel, and to a central coordinator connected to said contention channel; the source device determining that said data was received by said plurality of devices by waiting for and receiving a data acknowledgment signal on a beacon channel only from the central coordinator in lieu of a data acknowledgment signal from the said plurality of devices as an indicator of successful reception of the data by said central coordinator and also as an indication that the data was probably received by said plurality of devices to which the data was transmitted; and the central coordinator generating the data acknowledgment that is received from the central coordinator, the generating occurring responsive to a first portion of the plurality of devices transmitting an individual data acknowledgment signal to the central coordinator, and a second portion of the plurality of devices not transmitting an individual data acknowledgment signal to the central coordinator within a predetermined period of time, wherein the data acknowledgment signal received from said central coordinator comprises a universal data acknowledgment signal including a list of acknowledgments and negative acknowledgments received from said plurality of devices.