Self synchronized beacon
A system and method for communicating on a network having multiple radios by substantially simultaneously transmitting a beacon signal from the radios. When a first radio receives a beacon signal from another radio, the first radio determines if the received beacon signal contains a priority designator. If the received beacon signal has a higher priority than that of the first radio, the first radio synchronizes subsequent transmission of its beacon signals to the other radio's beacon signal. In a network environment, radios may continuously adapt their beacon signals to transmit substantially simultaneously. Additionally, radios in a congested environment may coordinate beacon signals to minimize overhead use of bandwidth.
1 . A network comprising:
a plurality of radio terminals, each of said plurality of radios being adapted to establish at least one two-way data communication session, adapted to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected, and adapted to broadcast a beacon signal;
wherein each of said plurality of radios being adapted to transmit said beacon signal substantially simultaneously by the method of identifying a second beacon signal from a second of said plurality of radios and synchronizing the transmission of said beacon signal based on said second beacon signal.
2 . The network of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises:
determining a priority for said second beacon signal; and
comparing said priority to a predetermined value.
3 . The network of claim 2 wherein said predetermined value comprises an address.
4 . The network of claim 1 wherein one of said radios is further adapted to receive and not transmit during a beacon interval to receive beacon signals from one or more of said plurality of radio transmitters.
5 . The network of claim 4 wherein said beacon interval is a randomly selected beacon interval.
6 . The network of claim 1 wherein at least one of said radios is adapted to receive a synchronize command, said synchronization command adapted to initiate a sequence within said at least one of said radios comprising receiving rather than transmitting for one or more beacon rhythms.
7 . The network of claim 1 wherein said plurality of radios are connected through a secondary communication path.
8 . The network of claim 7 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group comprising a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, and a twisted pair connection.
9 . The network of claim 7 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of: a cable television distribution network, a digital subscriber line distribution network, an Ethernet network, and a second wireless communications path.
10 . The network of claim 1 wherein at least one of said radios is adapted to operate in substantial compliance with at least a portion of IEEE 802.11.
11 . A radio comprising:
a transmitter; and
a receiver;
wherein said radio is adapted to establish at least one two-way data communication session, adapted to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected, adapted to broadcast a beacon signal, adapted to transmit said beacon signal substantially simultaneously by the method of receiving a second beacon signal from a second radio capable of two-way communications with said radio, determining a beacon rhythm from said second beacon signal, and transmitting said beacon signal using said beacon rhythm.
12 . The radio of claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:
determining a priority for said second beacon signal; and
comparing said priority to a predetermined value.
13 . The radio of claim 12 wherein said predetermined value comprises an address.
13 . The radio of claim 11 wherein said beacon signal comprises an identifier specific to said each of said plurality of radios.
14 . The radio of claim 11 wherein one of said radios is further adapted to receive and not transmit during a beacon interval to receive beacon signals from one or more of said plurality of radio transmitters.
15 . The radio of claim 14 wherein said beacon interval is a randomly selected beacon interval.
16 . The radio of claim 11 wherein at least one of said radios is adapted to receive a synchronize command, said synchronization command initiating a sequence within said at least one of said radios comprising receiving rather than transmitting for one or more beacon rhythms.
17 . The radio of claim 11 wherein said plurality of radios are connected through a secondary communication path.
18 . The radio of claim 17 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group comprising a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, and a twisted pair connection.
19 . The radio of claim 17 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of: a cable television distribution network, a digital subscriber line distribution network, an Ethernet network, and a second wireless communications path.
20 . The radio of claim 11 wherein at least one of said radios is adapted to operate in substantial compliance with at least a portion of IEEE 802.11.
21 . A method comprising:
establishing at least one two-way communication session;
delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected;
transmitting a beacon signal on a first beacon rhythm;
receiving a beacon signal having a second beacon rhythm from a second radio capable of two-way communication;
adjusting said first beacon rhythm to be substantially synchronous with said second beacon rhythm to; and
transmitting said beacon signal substantially simultaneously with said second beacon rhythm.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:
determining a priority for said second beacon signal; and
comparing said priority to a predetermined value.
23 . The method of claim 21 wherein said beacon signal comprises an identifier specific to said each of said plurality of radios.
24 . The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving and not transmitting during said transmitting said beacon signal and receiving at least one beacon signal from said second radio.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein said beacon interval is a randomly selected beacon interval.
26 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:
receiving a synchronize command, said synchronization command initiating a sequence comprising: receiving rather than transmit for one or more beacon rhythms; and receiving at least one beacon signal.
27 . The method of claim 21 further comprising communicating through a secondary communication path.
28 . The method of claim 27 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group comprising a coaxial connection, a fiber optic connection, and a twisted pair connection.
29 . The method of claim 27 wherein said secondary communication path comprises at least one from a group composed of: a cable television distribution network, a digital subscriber line distribution network, an Ethernet network, and a second wireless communications path.
30 . The method of claim 21 wherein at least a portion of said transmission is in substantial compliance with at least a portion of IEEE 802.11.