Patent ID: 8218600
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a communications network, the method comprising: operating an access point (AP) acting as a network controller in a frequency hopping network, the AP communicating with other communication devices of the network over m number of frequencies using a hopping sequence of at least some of the m number of frequencies and a dwell time d for the plurality of frequencies; and operating a communication device seeking to establish synchronized communication with other communication devices of the frequency hopping network without any cross-AP coordination, the communication device scanning all of the m number of frequencies using a scanning time s for each of the m number of frequencies, wherein the scanning time s is no greater than 1/m of the AP dwell time d and, wherein guaranteed synchronized communication between the AP and the communication device can be established within a deterministic amount of time based on a consideration of a total number of the plurality frequencies used by the AP, a maximum time required for the AP and the communication device to switch between any of the plurality of frequencies, a maximum time interval between probe and beacon packets, the dwell time d of the AP, and the scanning time s of the communication device.