Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 1 of 159
`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 1 of 159
`
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT 5
`EXHIBIT 5
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 2 of 159
`I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007570614B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Treister et al.
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7 ,570,614 B2
`*Aug. 4, 2009
`
`(54) APPROACH FOR MANAGING
`COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS BASED ON
`PERFORMANCE
`
`5,317,568 A
`5,323,447 A
`5,394,433 A
`
`511994 Bixby et al.
`6/1994 Gillis et al.
`2/1995 Bantz et al.
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Bijan Treister, Kew (AU); Hongbing
`Gan, Carlton North (AU); Efstratios
`Skafidas, Coburg (AU)
`
`(73) Assignee: Bandspeed, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1555 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/948,499
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 6, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0097681 Al
`
`Jul. 25, 2002
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/264,345, filed on Jan.
`25, 2001.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04W 4100
`(2009.01)
`H04W 72100
`(2009.01)
`H04B 17102
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 370/329; 370/332; 455/134;
`455/452
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 370/329,
`370/332,333,341,389,431,432,318,229;
`455/135, 453, 13.4, 114.2, 115.1, 134
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,716,573 A
`12/1987 Bergstrom et al.
`4,780,885 A
`10/ 1988 Paul et al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`WO
`
`2 401 512 Al
`WO 96/34468 Al
`
`1112004
`10/1996
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Walter L. Davis, "A MAC Layer submission for the High Rate 802.
`15.3 Standard," Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless
`Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Sep. 2000, XP 002220853, pp.
`1-57.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner-Hanh Nguyen
`(7 4) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hickman Palermo Truong &
`BeckerLLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An approach for managing communications channels based
`on performance involves selecting a particular channel based
`on channel performance. Based on the selected channel,
`channel identification data is provided to another participant
`of the communications system to determine on which channel
`to respond. For example, the other participant may respond on
`the selected channel, avoid using the selected channel to
`respond, or skip the selected channel in a sequence of chan(cid:173)
`nels, such as a frequency hopping sequence. The communi(cid:173)
`cation sent in response may include a performance measure(cid:173)
`ment of the channel used to provide the channel identification
`data. According to another aspect of the invention, a particu(cid:173)
`lar participant is selected from a group of participants based
`on the performance of a particular channel. According to yet
`another aspect, performance data is maintained, such as in a
`lookup table, and the performance data may be shared
`between participants of the communications system.
`
`97 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE
`OF TI-IE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
`
`114
`
`SELECT A COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL BASED ON THE
`PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
`
`118
`
`GENERATE CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION DATA AND
`PROVIDE THE DATA TO A PARTICIPANT
`
`122
`
`RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION FROM THE PARTICIPANT
`OVER THE SELECTED COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL
`
`126
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 3 of 159
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,418,839 A
`5,541,954 A
`5,574,979 A
`5,649,291 A
`5,726,978 A
`5,774,808 A
`5,781,861 A
`5,844,522 A
`5,873,036 A
`5,898,928 A
`5,956,642 A
`6,009,332 A
`6,169,761 Bl
`6,240,126 Bl
`6,549,784 Bl
`6,601,101 Bl
`6,633,761 Bl
`6,650,872 Bl *
`6,687,239 Bl*
`6,694,147 Bl
`6,700,875 Bl *
`6,704,346 Bl
`6,745,034 B2
`6,751,249 Bl
`6,760,317 Bl *
`6,975,603 Bl *
`7,027,418 B2
`2002/0122462 Al
`2005/0020271 Al
`
`5/1995 Knuth et al.
`7/1996 Emi
`1111996 West
`7I1997 Tayloe
`3/1998 Frodigh et al.
`6/1998 Sarkioja et al.
`7I1998 Kang et al.
`12/1998 Sheffer et al.
`211999 Vucetic
`411999 Karlsson et al.
`911999 Larsson et al.
`12/1999 Haartsen
`112001 Marcoccia et al.
`512001 Ohashi et al.
`4/2003 Kostic et al.
`7/2003 Lee et al.
`10/2003 Singhal et al.
`1112003 Karlsson .................. 455/67.11
`212004 Koprivica ................... 370/341
`212004 Viswanath et al.
`3/2004 Schroeder et al ............ 370/252
`3/2004 Mansfield
`6/2004 Wang et al.
`6/2004 Cannon et al.
`7/2004 Honkanen et al. ........... 370/329
`12/2005 Dicker et al. ................ 370/329
`412006 Gan et al.
`912002 Batra et al.
`112005 Fukuda et al.
`
`10/2005 Hanson et al.
`2005/0223115 Al
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Jeyhan Karaoguz, "Multi-Rate QAM Physical Layer (8-40 Mbps)
`Proposal for High Rate WPAN," Project: IEEE P802.15 Working
`Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Oct. 20,
`2000, XP002220854, pp. 1-39.
`Gan et al., "Adaptive Frequency Hopping Implementation Proposals
`for IEEE 802.15.112 WPAN," Bandspeed Pty Ltd., Nov. 2000, pp.
`1-28.
`IEE Proc.-Commun., vol. 142, No. 2, Apr. 1995, entitled "Adaptive
`frequency hopping in HF communications", by J. Zander, PhD and G.
`Malmgren, MSc, (pp. 99-105).
`Fifth International Symposium on Signal Processing and its Appli(cid:173)
`cations, ISSPA '99 Brisbane, Australia, Aug. 22-25, 1999, entitled
`"Multiuser OFDM", by E. Lawrey, (pp. 761-764).
`Martin Johnson, "HiperLAN/2-The Broadband Radio Transmission
`Technology Operating in the 5 GHz Frequency Band," pp. 1-22,
`1999.
`European Patent Office, "Communication pursuant to Article 96(2)
`EPC," Jun. 22, 2004, 5 pages.
`"Clean Version of Amended Claims for Response to Official Comm.
`From Patent Examiner," EPO Patent Application No. 02709170.1,
`pp. 1-15.
`Lawrey, et al., "Adaptive Frequency Hopping for Multiuser OFDM",
`ICICS, 1999, 5 pages.
`The International Bureau ofWIPO, "Notification Concerning Trans(cid:173)
`mittal of Internaitonal Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter
`1 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty" International application No.
`CT/US2006/027206, received Jan. 31, 2008, 7 pages.
`Claims, International application No. PCT/US2006/027206, 6 pages.
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 4 of 159
`
`FIG. lA
`
`FIG. lB
`
`/110
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`ARRANGEMENT 100
`
`\
`
`MASTER
`
`SLAVE~
`
`SLAVE_)
`
`DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE
`OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
`~114
`
`w
`SELECT A COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL BASED ON THE
`PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
`"-1rn
`
`v
`GENERATE CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION DATA AND
`PROVIDE THE DATA TO A PARTICIPANT
`~122
`
`w
`RECEIVE A COMMUNICATION FROM THE PARTICIPANT
`OVER THE SELECTED COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL
`
`126
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`"' ...
`~
`
`N
`0
`0
`
`"°
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`....
`0 .....
`....
`
`(.H
`
`d
`rJl
`"'--...l
`tit
`
`--...l "'= 0--,
`"'"" ~ = N
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 5 of 159
`
`FIG. lC
`
`130
`
`I
`
`FIG. lD
`
`160
`
`I
`
`DETERMINE THE Pl;RFORMANCE OF A
`COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL FOR THE PARTICIPANTS
`~134
`
`'"
`
`SELECT A PARTICULAR PARTICIPANT BASED ON THE
`PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL
`~138
`
`'V
`SEND A COMMUNICATION TO THE PARTICULAR
`PARTICIPANT OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL
`
`142
`
`DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
`COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS
`
`\_164
`
`'+'
`CREATE AND MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE DATA FOR
`THE PERFORMANCE OF AT LEAST ONE CHANNEL
`BETWEEN TWO PARTICIPANTS
`
`"-168
`
`~
`
`REQUEST AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE
`DATA FROM ANOTHER PARTICIPANT
`
`'="172
`
`,v-
`
`CREATE AND MAINTAIN
`REVISED PERFORMANCE DATA
`
`176
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`"' ...
`~
`
`N
`0
`0
`
`"°
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`N
`0 .....
`....
`
`(.H
`
`d
`rJl
`"'--...l
`tit
`
`--...l "'= 0--,
`"'"" ~ = N
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 6 of 159
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`PERFORMANCE
`LOOKUP~
`TABLE 200
`
`SLAVE A
`
`SLAVE B
`
`SLAVEC
`
`SLAVE nn
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`CLASSIFICATION
`LOOKUP~
`TABLE 200
`
`SLAVE A
`
`NO
`
`SLAVES
`
`SLAVEC
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`SLAVE nn
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`CH 1
`
`1
`
`0
`
`2
`
`CH 1
`
`CH2
`
`10
`
`9
`
`9
`
`CH2
`
`YES
`
`CH3
`
`CH4
`
`3
`
`5
`
`6
`
`CH4
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`CH3
`
`......
`
`......
`
`......
`
`......
`
`. . ' ' ..
`
`O O
`
`0
`
`I
`
`I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`0
`
`I
`
`0
`
`o
`
`o
`
`o
`
`I
`
`0
`
`O
`
`I
`
`0
`
`I
`
`0
`
`O
`
`0
`
`0
`
`0
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`.....
`
`......
`
`CHn
`
`2
`
`4
`
`8
`
`CHn
`
`NO
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`"' ...
`~
`
`N
`0
`0
`
`"°
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`.....
`
`('D
`('D
`
`(.H
`
`0 .....
`....
`
`(.H
`
`d
`rJl
`"'--...l
`tit
`
`--...l "'= 0--,
`"'"" ~ = N
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 7 of 159
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I PREAMBLE I HEADER I
`
`304
`
`308
`
`MASTER TO SLAVE PACKET 300
`
`I
`
`PAYLOAD
`
`I
`
`312
`
`I CHANNEL DATA I
`
`I
`
`316
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~ ...
`~
`
`N
`0
`0
`
`"°
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`SLAVE TO MASTER PACKET 350
`
`I
`
`PREAMBLE
`
`HEADER
`
`PAYLOAD
`
`304
`
`358
`
`352
`
`('D
`('D
`
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`..... ...
`0 .....
`....
`
`(.H
`
`PERFORMANCE DATA
`FOR LAST CHANNEL
`
`366
`
`d
`rJl
`-....l u.
`
`-....l = °" "'"" ~ = N
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 8 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 5of13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG.4
`
`400
`
`I
`
`IDENTIFY PARTICIPANTS
`
`SELECT THE MASTER PARTICIPANT
`
`SELECT FREQUENCY HOPPING SEQUENCE
`
`404
`
`408
`
`412
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`ALL PARTICIPANTS USE THE
`NON-ENHANCED MODE
`
`420
`
`PARTICIPANTS THAT SUPPORT
`THE ENHANCED MODE CAN USE
`THE ENHANCED MODE
`
`424
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 9 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 6of13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. SA
`
`/500
`
`MASTER HOPS TO NEXT CHANNEL AND WAITS FOR
`MASTER TRANSMISSION TIME SLOT
`
`MASTER SELECTS CHANNEL, BASED ON LOOKUP TABLE,
`FOR REPLY PACKET FROM SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`MASTER GENERATES AND SENDS NORMAL DATA PACKET
`WITH SELECTED CHANNEL TO SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`504
`
`508
`
`NO
`
`MASTER HOPS TO SELECTED CHANNEL
`AND WAITS FOR REPLY PACKET
`
`MASTER UPDATES
`LOOKUP TABLE
`
`512
`
`NO
`
`MASTER SCORES REPLY PACKET AND
`UPDATES LOOKUP TABLE
`
`520
`
`MASTER DECODES REPLY PACKET, IDENTIFIES
`SCORE APPLIED BY SLAVE PARTICIPANT TO LAST
`PACKET, AND UPDATES LOOKUP TABLE
`522
`
`518
`
`MASTER
`DETERMINES IN
`WHICH DIRECTION
`PACKET WAS LOST
`
`516
`
`MASTER
`SENDS DATA
`TO HIGHER
`LAYERS
`
`524
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 10 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 7of13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. SB
`
`550
`
`/
`
`MASTER HOPS TO NEXT CHANNEL AND WAITS FOR
`MASTER TRANSMISSION TIME SLOT
`
`MASTER SELECTS CHANNEL, BASED ON LOOKUP TABLE,
`FOR REPLY PACKET FROM SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`MASTER GENERATES AND SENDS REQUEST TABLE DATA
`PACKET WITH SELECTED CHANNEL TO SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`554
`
`558
`
`MASTER HOPS TO SELECTED CHANNEL AND
`WAITS FOR REPLY PACKET
`
`MASTER UPDATES
`LOOKUP TABLE
`
`MASTER SCORES REPLY PACKET,
`UPDATES LOOKUP TABLE, AND
`DECODES REPLY PACKET
`
`NO
`
`570
`
`NO
`
`566
`
`MASTER
`DETERMINES IN
`WHICH DIRECTION
`PACKET WAS LOST
`
`564
`
`MASTER DISCARDS i--..,...1
`REPLY PACKET
`
`576
`
`MASTER UPDATES OWN LOOKUP TABLE BASED
`ON SLAVE PARTICIPANT'S LOOKUP TABLE
`FROM REPLY PACKET
`
`578
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 11 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 8of13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`600
`
`I
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT HOPS TO NEXT CHANNEL
`AND WAITS FOR TRANSMISSION TIME SLOT
`
`-------.--•
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`UPDATES
`LOOKUP TABLE
`
`606
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT SCORES RECEIVED
`PACKET AND UPDATES LOOKUP TABLE
`
`----------------
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT DECODES HEADER,
`IDENTIFIES SELECTED CHANNEL, AND
`INTERNALLY STORES SELECTED CHANNEL
`
`608
`
`610
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`SLAVE
`PARTICIPANT
`DECODES
`TYPE OF PACKET
`
`614
`
`NORMAL DATA
`PACKET
`
`UPDATE TABLE
`PACKET
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 12 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 9of13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`630
`
`I
`
`NO
`
`>
`
`YES
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT HOPS TO
`SELECTED CHANNEL AND WAITS
`FOR ASSIGNED TIME SLOT
`
`634
`
`YES
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT SCORES
`RECEIVED PACKET AND UPDATES
`LOOKUP TABLE
`
`642
`
`SLAVE
`PARTICIPANT
`UPDATES
`LOOKUP TABLE
`
`YES
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 13 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 7 ,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. 6C
`
`650
`
`/
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT DECODES
`NORMAL DATA PACKET AND
`SENDS DATA TO HIGHER LAYERS
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT GENERATES
`REPLY PACKET
`
`652
`
`654
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT HOPS TO
`SELECTED CHANNEL AND WAITS FOR
`ASSIGNED TIME SLOT
`
`656
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT INCLUDES THE
`PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED SCORE
`FOR THE RECEIVED PACKET
`AS PART OF THE REPLY PACKET
`
`RETURN TO
`BLOCK 602
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT SENDS
`REPLY PACKET TO MASTER
`ON SELECTED CHANNEL
`
`658
`
`660
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 14 of 159
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`FIG. 6D
`
`FROM
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT DECODES
`BLOCK 616 FOR
`11UPDATETABLE - - . UPDATE TABLE PACKET
`PACKET"
`
`670
`
`/
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`GENERATES
`REJECT DATA PACKET
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT CREATES
`UPDATE TABLE PACKET WITH
`LOOKUP TABLE DATA
`
`680
`
`690
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT HOPS TO
`SELECTED CHANNEL
`AND WAITS FOR
`ASSIGNED TIME SLOT
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT HOPS TO
`SELECTED CHANNEL
`AND WAITS FOR
`ASSIGNED TIME SLOT
`
`682
`
`692
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT SENDS
`REJECT PACKET TO MASTER
`ON SELECTED CHANNEL
`
`684
`
`SLAVE PARTICIPANT SENDS
`UPDATE TABLE PACKET
`TO MASTER
`ON SELECTED CHANNEL
`
`694
`
`RETURN TO
`BLOCK602
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 15 of 159
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`FIG. 7
`
`700
`
`/
`
`MASTER STARTS LOOKUP'"'"""-------.
`TABLE TIMER
`
`702
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`MASTER DETERMINES THE NUMBER
`OF USEABLE CHANNELS
`BETWEEN MASTER AND
`A PARTICULAR SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`706
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`MASTER REDEEMS CHANNELS SUCH
`THAT THERE IS A SUFFICIENT NUMBER
`OF USEABLE CHANNELS
`BETWEEN THE MASTER AND THE
`PARTICULAR SLAVE PARTICIPANT
`
`712
`
`._ ____ __.
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 16 of 159
`
`FIG. 8
`
`DISPLAY
`fill
`
`INPUT DEVICE
`IDA
`
`CURSOR
`CONTROL
`filfi
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-1
`
`MAIN
`MEMORY
`.BOO
`
`ROM
`
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`
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`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 17 of 159
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`1
`APPROACH FOR MANAGING
`COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS BASED ON
`PERFORMANCE
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`10
`
`This application claims domestic priority from prior U.S.
`Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/264,345, filed on
`Jan. 25, 2001, titled "AMETHODFORNETWORKQUASI(cid:173)
`ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY HOPPING MULTICHANNEL
`UTILIZATION," naming as inventors Bijan Treister, Hong(cid:173)
`bing Gan, and Efstratios Skafidas, the entire disclosure of
`which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as
`if fully set forth herein. This application is related to co(cid:173)
`pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/052,019 entitled
`"APPROACH FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS
`CHANNELS BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND TRANS(cid:173)
`FERRING FUNCTIONS BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS IN A
`COMMUNICATIONS ARRANGEMENT," filed on Jan. 16,
`2002, naming as inventors Bijan Treister, Hongbing Gan, and 20
`Efstratios Skafidas.
`
`2
`may occupy a portion of the communications frequency band
`corresponding to several frequencies used by an FH system.
`With some communications system approaches, such as
`the FH approach, the frequency band is broken up into sepa(cid:173)
`rate frequencies, often referred to as "communications chan(cid:173)
`nels." As used herein, the terms "communication channel"
`and "channel" are synonymous. For example, an FH system
`transmits data on one channel, hops to another channel in the
`hopping sequence to transmit more data, and continues by
`transmitting data on subsequent channels in the hopping
`sequence. The switching of frequencies may occur many
`times each second. The use of an FH protocol helps to reduce
`problems with interference from other communications sys-
`15 terns and other interference sources. Frequency hopping also
`helps with fading of transmissions and power consumption
`and provides security for the transmission so that others may
`not intercept the data being transmitted because others do not
`know the hopping sequence.
`An example of a frequency hopping protocol is the Institute
`of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.1
`Wireless Personal Area Network Standard, which is based on
`the Bluetooth™ wireless personal area network (WPAN)
`technology from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)
`25 whose web site is http://www.bluetooth.com/. The BLUE(cid:173)
`TOOTH trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.,
`U.S.A. The Bluetooth protocol uses 79 individual randomly
`chosen frequency channels numbered from 0 to 78 and
`changes the frequencies 1600 times per second. Examples of
`30 NFH systems include the IEEE 802.11 b Wireless Local Area
`Network (WLAN) and the IEEE 802.15.3 next-generation
`WPAN, both of which operate in the 2.4 GHz Industrial,
`Scientific, Medical (ISM) band, which is an unlicensed por(cid:173)
`tion of the radio spectrum that may be used in most countries
`35 by anyone without a license.
`Typically, the master of an FH communications system
`transmits at even-numbered timeslots on the hopping
`sequence and the slaves listen at those regular intervals. The
`master will address one slave (or all slaves in a "broadcast"
`mode), and the addressed slave responds back to the master at
`the next odd-numbered timeslot.A preamble, which is known
`to all the participants of the FH network, is used to identify the
`network and for the slaves to synchronize with the master. For
`example, in Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15.1, the known pre(cid:173)
`amble is called the "channel access code."
`A common problem for communications systems is poor
`transmission quality of communications channels, also
`referred to as poor channel performance, which results in data
`50 transmission errors. For example, poor channel performance
`may increase the bit error rate (BER) or result in the loss of
`packets, leading to reduced transmission quality. As used
`herein, a "data packet" is a block of data used for transmis(cid:173)
`sions in a packet-switched system, and the terms "data
`55 packet" and "packet" are synonymous.
`A common source of poor channel performance is inter(cid:173)
`ference from other communications systems or other inter(cid:173)
`ference sources. Interference has a dynamic nature due to the
`use of devices at different times and locations, and as a result,
`60 eventually all channels of a communication system that uses
`multiple channels will experience some degree of interfer(cid:173)
`ence at some time. Interference may change depending on
`when the communications systems use the band and the rela(cid:173)
`tive locations of the participants of each system to partici-
`65 pants of other systems. Because the participants may be
`mobile, interference may vary depending on the movements
`of the participants of one system relative to the locations of
`
`40
`
`45
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to communications systems,
`and more particularly, to selecting communications channels
`and participants with which to communicate based on chan(cid:173)
`nel performance.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A communications network is any system or mechanism
`that provides forthe exchange ofinformation or data between
`participants. As used herein, the term "participant" refers to
`any device or mechanism that exchanges data with other
`devices or mechanisms over a communications medium. In
`some communications network arrangements, one of the par(cid:173)
`ticipants is designated as a "master participant." As used
`herein, the terms "master participant" and "master" are syn-
`onymous. The master participant performs one or more func(cid:173)
`tions that are assigned to only the master participant and not
`to other participants. For example, a master participant may
`initiate and manage communications with other participants.
`As another example, the master participant may select a par-
`ticular frequency hopping scheme to be used in the commu(cid:173)
`nications network.
`In communications networks with a master participant, the
`other participants are conventionally referred to as "slave
`participants." As used herein, the terms "slave participant"
`and "slave" are synonymous. Communications networks that
`use a master participant conventionally use only a single
`master participant, with any number of slave participants.
`Master participants are typically elected from available slave
`participants according to a selection or voting algorithm.
`A frequency hopping (FH) protocol is an approach for
`wireless communications in a communications network that
`uses a frequency hopping signal transmission technique in
`which information or data is transmitted over a set of frequen(cid:173)
`cies in a communications frequency band. A frequency hop(cid:173)
`ping communications system is a system that uses a FH
`protocol. The order in which the communications network
`hops among the set of frequencies is known as the hopping
`sequence.
`In contrast to FH systems, a non-frequency hopping (NFH)
`system is simply a communications system whose carrier
`does not hop over a set of frequencies. A typical NFH system
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 18 of 159
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`10
`
`3
`participants of other systems. In addition, interference may
`arise from other sources resulting in a degradation of perfor(cid:173)
`mance.
`Another common source of poor channel performance is
`the coexistence problem that may arise between the commu(cid:173)
`nications systems that operate in the same frequency band.
`For example, while an FH communications system hops over
`the entire frequency band, an NFH communications system
`occupies separate parts of the frequency band. When the FH
`communications system hops over part of the frequency band
`occupied by an NFH communications system, there may be
`interference between the systems. Although the use of a FH
`protocol helps to lessen the interference problem because not
`all of the FH channels will interfere with other communica(cid:173)
`tions systems, there nevertheless remains interference on
`those channels that coincide with the NFH communications
`systems. An example of the interference situation is the coex(cid:173)
`istence problem between the frequency hopping IEEE
`802.15.1 WPAN and the non-frequency hopping IEEE
`802.11 b Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) because both 20
`share the 2.4 GHz ISM band.
`One approach for managing poor channel performance is
`to increase the power used in the transmissions such that
`interference has less of an impact on the system transmitting
`at the increased power. However, this increased power 25
`approach drains batteries used by the participants, and thus
`the required power increase may be impractical. Also, the
`increased power approach only benefits the system using the
`increased power and results in a bigger interference impact on
`other systems.
`Other approaches for managing interference include
`retransmitting data that had errors in an original transmission
`and incorporating a form of redundancy into the transmission
`(e.g., by including multiple copies of some or all of the data)
`so that the participant receiving the data can identify and 35
`correct transmission errors. However, such approaches
`require additional resources to both identify the errors and
`then to correct the errors, such as by using additional trans(cid:173)
`missions or by using redundant data transmission approaches
`that decrease the amount of information that can be transmit- 40
`ted, which reduces the performance of the communications
`system.
`Based on the need for wireless communications and the
`limitations in the conventional approaches, an approach for 45
`managing poor performance of communications channels
`that does not suffer from the limitations of the prior
`approaches is highly desirable.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`50
`
`4
`According to other aspects of the method, additional chan(cid:173)
`nels may be selected and provided to additional participants.
`The communication that is received from the participant may
`include a measurement of the performance of the channel
`used to provide the channel identification data. Channels may
`be classified based on the performance of the channels, such
`as by classifying the channels as good or bad, and then the
`selected channel may be selected from those channels classi(cid:173)
`fied as good. If the number of good channels drops below a
`specified threshold, bad channels may be redeemed to pro-
`vide a sufficient number of good channels. Performance data
`may be requested and received from other participants, and
`performance data may be maintained by a participant, such as
`15 by storing the performance data in a lookup table.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a method is
`provided for selecting a particular participant with which to
`communicate in a communications system. The performance
`of a communications channel between a specified participant
`and other participants is determined. Based on the perfor(cid:173)
`mance and performance criteria, a particular participant is
`selected, and a communication is sent over the channel to the
`particular participant.
`According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method
`is provided for using a selected communications channel in a
`communications system. A communication is received from a
`participant. The communication includes channel identifica(cid:173)
`tion data that identifies a channel selected based upon channel
`performance and performance criteria. Based on the channel
`30 identification data, another channel is determined, and
`another communication is sent to the participant over the
`other channel. The other communication may include a mea(cid:173)
`surement of the performance of the channel used to receive
`the channel identification data.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a method is
`provided for maintaining performance data for communica(cid:173)
`tions channels between participants. The performance of the
`channels is determined and performance data is created and
`maintained by a participant. A request is made for additional
`performance data from another participant, and revised per(cid:173)
`formance data is created and maintained by the participant.
`The communications system may use a frequency hopping
`protocol.
`According to yet another aspect of the invention, a com-
`munications device includes an interface that is configured to
`receive data from and transmit data to communications
`devices and a mechanism communicatively coupled to the
`interface. The mechanism is configured to select, based on
`channel performance and performance criteria, a selected
`communications channel. The mechanism is further config(cid:173)
`ured to generate channel identification data that identifies the
`selected communications channel and to provide the channel
`identification data to a communications device. The mecha-
`55 nism is configured to receive a communication from the com(cid:173)
`munications device over another channel that is determined
`based upon the channel identification data.
`According to other aspects, the invention encompasses a
`computer-readable medium and a carrier wave configured to
`carry out the foregoing functions.
`
`According to one aspect of the invention, a method is
`provided for selecting channels for a communication system.
`Based on performance of the channels and performance cri(cid:173)
`teria, a communications channel is selected. Channel identi(cid:173)
`fication data that identifies the selected channel is generated
`and provided to a participant, such as by appending the chan(cid:173)
`nel identification data to a data packet. A communication is
`received from the participant over another channel that is
`selected based on the channel identification data. The other 60
`channel may be the selected communications channel, or the
`other channel may be specified to not be the selected com(cid:173)
`munications channel, or the response channel may be a com(cid:173)
`munications channel immediately following the selected
`communications channel in a sequence of communications 65
`channels, such as a hopping sequence in a frequency hopping
`system.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by
`way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar
`elements and in which:
`
`

`

`Case 1:20-cv-00765-DAE Document 40-5 Filed 10/17/22 Page 19 of 159
`
`US 7,570,614 B2
`
`6
`
`I. OVERVIEW
`II. MEASURING CHANNEL PERFORMANCE, CLAS(cid:173)
`SIFYING CHANNELS, AND STORING RELATED
`INFORMATION
`A. Approaches for Channel Performance Measurement
`B. Approaches for Channel Classification
`C. Maintaining Channel Performance and Channel
`Classification Information
`III. SELECTING CHANNELS AND INFORMING PAR(cid:173)
`TICIPANTS
`IV. NETWORK AND PARTICIPANT INITIALIZATION
`V. MASTER CONNECTION SEQUENCE
`A. Normal Packet
`B. Request Table Data Packet
`VI. SLAVE CONNECTION SEQUENCE
`A. Initial Handling of Packets
`B. Packet Not Intended for Slave
`C. Normal Packet
`D. Update Table Packet
`VII. REDEMPTION OF CHANNELS
`VIII. APPROACH FOR MASTER ADAPTIVE SELEC(cid:173)
`TION OF PARTICIPANTS
`IX. IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS
`I. Overview
`A novel approach for managing communications channels
`generally involves measuring, maintaining, and using chan(cid:173)
`nel performance data to manage a communications system.
`According to one embodiment of the invention, channel per(cid:173)
`formance data is used to select one communications channel
`from a group of communications channels for use in commu-
`nicating with a participant of the communications system.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, channel
`performance data is used to select one participant from a
`35 group of participants to communicate with over a specified
`communications channel. According to yet another embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the invention, the participants of the communications
`system maintain and share performance data about the com(cid:173)
`munications channels between the participants.
`FIG. lA is a block diagram that depicts a communications
`arrangement 100 that includes participants Pl through PS,
`according to an embodiment of the invention. In the particular
`example depicted in FIG. lA, participant P4 is designated as
`the master participant and participants Pl, P2, P3, and PS are
`45 designated as slaves, although in general, any participant may
`be designated as the master.
`Participants Pl through PS may be any of a variety of
`communications devices. Examples of communications
`devices that may be used in a communications arrangement
`50 that uses the channel selection approach described herein
`include, but are not limited to, wireless devices that are used
`in wireless local area networks (WLANs) and in wireless
`personal area networks (WPANs), such as cordless phones,
`laptop computers, desktop computers, printers, and personal
`55 digital assistants (PDAs). Wireless devices may communi(cid:173)
`cate in a variety of ways, including but not limited to, infrared,
`line of sight, cellular, microwave, satellite, packet radio and
`spread spectrum
`technologies. Some communications
`devices may be characterized as mobile devices based on the
`60 relative ease of moving such devices between locations or
`because the mobile devices may be conveniently carried by a
`person, such as cordless phones, laptop computers, and
`PDAs.
`In FIG. lA, master P4 is responsible for performing one or
`65 more functions. An example function is initiating and man(cid:173)
`aging communications with participants Pl, P2, P3, and PS.
`Master par