Granted Patent B2

US 12,477,583 · App. 17/846,625 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Inventors: Brian L. Aanderud (Eden Prairie, MN); Stephen M. Clark (Evansdale, IA); Tj T. Kwon (Marion, IA)

Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.

H04W74/0833H04W48/20H04W74/006

Abstract

Claims (82)

1 . A method for joining a communication network comprising a first cell, comprising:

monitoring a channel for a first pilot signal;

determining the first pilot signal;

determining a first base station associated with the first pilot signal;

identifying a random-access channel procedure to communicate with the first base station;

selecting a first proposed alias;

transmitting a cell join request to the first base station via the random-access channel procedure for admittance into the first cell, wherein the join request comprises the first proposed alias;

determining if the first proposed alias is acceptable via the first base station;

receiving an admittance reply from the first base station, wherein the admittance reply is based on an acceptance of the first proposed alias or a recommended alias; and

receiving a resource allocation message that includes the first proposed alias or the recommended alias.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the first proposed alias comprises:

examining in-use aliases within the first cell;

selecting an alias that is not in-use.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a recommended alias reply from the first base station, wherein the recommended alias reply includes the recommended alias that is dissimilar to the proposed alias.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the first proposed alias is acceptable comprises;

determining a number of bits required to transmit the first proposed alias; and

selecting the recommended alias requiring fewer bits to transmit than the proposed alias if aliases with a lower bit count are available.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein determining if the first proposed alias is acceptable further comprises:

comparing the first proposed alias to a set of aliases in-use within the first cell;

determining that the first proposed alias is unique to the set of aliases in-use within the first cell.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a resource management message, wherein the resource management message comprises an aliased identification element configured to identify the first proposed alias or the recommended alias.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising joining a second cell within the communication network, comprising:

monitoring a channel for a second pilot signal for the second cell;

receiving the second pilot signal;

identifying a second base station associated with the second pilot signal;

identifying the random-access channel procedure to communicate with the second base station;

selecting a second proposed alias;

transmitting a second cell join request to the second base station via the random-access channel procedure for admittance into the second cell, wherein the second cell join request comprises the second proposed alias;

determining if the second proposed alias is acceptable via the second base station;

receiving an admittance reply from the second base station; and

receiving a resource allocation message that includes the second proposed alias.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting a second resource management message, wherein the second resource management message comprises an aliased identification element configured to identify the first proposed alias, and the second proposed alias.

9 . A method of claim 1 , whereupon at least one of a determination of an absence of the first pilot signal or a determination of an absence of the first base station, the method further includes designating a node as the first base station.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

transmitting an initial resource allocation message;

receiving the cell join request; and

transmitting the admittance reply.

11 . A communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication nodes, wherein a first set of the plurality of communication nodes are arranged in a first cell containing one communication node configured as a base station and at least one communication node configured as a user equipment, the user equipment comprising:

a first transmitter;

a first receiver;

one or more first processors; and

a first memory communicatively coupled to the one or more first processors and having instructions stored upon, which when executed by the one or more first processors, causing the one or more first processors to:

monitor a channel for a first pilot signal;

determine the first pilot signal;

determine a first base station associated with the first pilot signal;

identify a random-access channel procedure to communicate with the first base station;

select a first proposed alias;

transmit a cell join request to the first base station via the random-access channel procedure for admittance into the first cell, wherein the join request comprises the first proposed alias;

receive an admittance reply from the first base station, wherein the admittance reply is based on an acceptance of the first proposed alias or a recommended alias; and

transmit a signal via a resource of a cell joining procedure.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the base station comprises:

a second transmitter;

a second receiver;

one or more second processors; and

a second memory communicatively coupled to the one or more second processors and having second instructions stored upon, which when executed by the one or more second processors, causing the one or more second processors to:

determine at least one of an absence of the first pilot signal or an absence of the first base station;

designate a node as the first base station;

receive the cell join request;

determine if the first proposed alias is acceptable;

transmit the admittance reply.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein selecting the first proposed alias comprises:

examining in-use aliases within the first cell; and

selecting an alias that is not in-use.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the determination that the first proposed alias is acceptable comprises:

comparing the first proposed alias to other aliases in-use within the first cell; and

determining that the first proposed alias is unique to the other aliases in-use within the first cell.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions stored upon the second memory further instruct the second one or more processors to maintain an alias table.

16 . The system of claim 11 wherein a determination of the first proposed alias as acceptable comprises:

determining a number of bits required to transmit the proposed alias; and

selecting the recommended alias requiring fewer bits to transmit than the proposed alias if aliases with a lower bit count are available.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of communication nodes comprises a second set of communication nodes arranged in a second cell containing a second base station, wherein the second cell includes at least one shared user equipment from the first cell, the shared user equipment configured with a second alias specific for the second cell.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one shared user equipment is configured to transmit a resource management message comprising an alias element, configured to identify the first proposed alias or the second alias, and a cell identification element configured to identify the first cell or the second cell.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions stored upon the second memory further instruct the second one or more processors to, upon two or more user equipment selecting a same alias, to:

refuse to admit the two or more-user equipment; and

report a random-access channel collision in a subsequent resource allocation message.

20 . A method for joining an ad hoc communication network comprising a first cell, comprising:

selecting a first proposed alias;

transmitting a cell join request to a first base station via a random-access channel procedure for admittance into the first cell, wherein the join request comprises the first proposed alias;

determining if the first proposed alias is acceptable via the first base station;

receiving an admittance reply from the first base station, wherein the admittance reply is based on an acceptance of the first proposed alias or a recommended alias; and

receiving a resource allocation message that includes the alias.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (328)