Patent ID: 6487186
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for automatically managing communication channel resources between nodes having neighboring nodes in a network of nodes, wherein each node communicates during specific time slots on a time multiplex basis, the method comprising:communicating between nodes in the network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including time divisions having time frames, each time frame having a plurality of time slots, the plurality of time slots including bootstrap slots; storing, at each node, an assignment of bootstrap slots in a time frame of a time division to nodes in the network; dynamically adapting the assignment of bootstrap slots based on density of the network; wherein dynamically adapting the assignment of bootstrap slots includes: determining, at a node, which bootstrap slots are assigned to the neighboring nodes of that node; self-assigning, at that node, a first assignment of a bootstrap slot that is not assigned to its neighboring nodes; and transmitting, from that node to its neighboring nodes, a communication during that node's self-assigned bootstrap slot, the communication notifying its neighboring nodes of the first assignment of the bootstrap slot.