Methods and Systems for Network Coordination BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] In situations where multiple logical networks share a common communication medium or channel, the networks compete for access to the channel. Typically, the networks will compete for bandwidth. In the absence of any coordination between the networks, they can destructively interfere with one another, reducing capacity utilization and reducing the bandwidth (BW) available to devices within a network.

[0002] It is also often imperative for security reasons and other concerns, that the devices within one network not be able to access and interpret the message exchanges within another network. This is usually accomplished through security keys that encrypt messages. These keys are usually unique to the network and are not shared with other logical networks.

[0003] The scenario described above may arise when neighboring homes in a residential neighborhood or apartment complex deploy local area networks within their individual dwellings. Often these networks share a channel as is the case in wireless and in powerline networks. An acceptable implementation of this scenario requires systems and methods that allow multiple networks to coordinate with one another without compromising the security of any individual network.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for coordination among multiple interfering networks.

[0005] The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS [0006] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary network scenario; [0007] Figure 2 shows an exemplary TDMA frame for the exemplary network shown in Figure 1 ; [0008] Figure 3 is a diagram showing exemplary neighbor network set up steps; [0009] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an exemplary TDMA frame after an new QoSC has joined; [0010] Figure 5 is a message sequence chart showing exemplary procedures for requesting bandwidth;

[0011] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary TDMA frame after a QoSC has been granted bandwidth; [0012] Figure 7 is a message sequence chart showing exemplary procedures for releasing a Contention-Free Period; [0013] Figure 8 is a message sequence chart showing exemplary procedures for shutting down a network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0014] Some channel-sharing or media-sharing network coordination problems may be solved by contention access protocols that are employed by all devices in the multiple networks sharing a channel or medium. Often these protocols require the deciphering of parts of the transmitted messages which can undermine the security of individual networks. Quality of Service (QoS) is a term that refers to systems and methods for establishing priorities among network devices. Contention access protocols have been shown to be inefficient in providing QoS guarantees to Audio-Visual (AV) and streaming applications, which are increasingly popular.

[0015] hi some methods, a central controller may arbitrate among multiple networks in deciding how the total available bandwidth (BW) is apportioned. This centralized decision making scheme can cause large delays and incur heavy messaging overhead as the number of neighboring networks grows.

[0016] Embodiments of the present invention may allow multiple interfering or neighboring networks to coordinate the sharing of a medium or channel between themselves.

Each network may carve out for itself a portion of the BW through a sequence of message exchanges with devices in neighboring networks. If required, each network's operations may be kept completely secure and autonomous. Coordination messages between networks may be the only unencrypted message exchanges. Furthermore, these methods may be completely distributed in nature. Each network may coordinate with its immediate neighbors only. The chaining effect where a network must coordinate with networks multiple hops away may be avoided. Some embodiments require no central authority to arbitrate among networks. These embodiments demonstrably improve capacity over contention access protocols used for multiple network operation through collision reduction, interference mitigation and reuse of the communication medium by non-interfering networks.

[0017] Some embodiments of the present invention employ a network model where each network has a controlling authority called a QoS Controller (QoSC). In these embodiments,

there is one instance of a QoSC in each network. The QoSC manages the activities of devices within its network and performs functions such as BW allocation to connections. These embodiments may employ a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme where the networks share bandwidth by operating in different segments of a time frame.

[0018] In these embodiments, the QoSC of each network, at network initialization, constructs an Interfering Network List (INL). The INL identifies the interfering neighboring networks. The QoSC then communicates with each of the interfering networks in its INL, through a series of message exchanges. The QoSC may indicate to its neighbors the frame configuration that it perceives and the regions within the time frame that it will be using. This message exchange may also require the neighboring QoSC to release or give up bandwidth (a portion of the time frame) in favor of the request from the QoSC for additional BW.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present invention, a time frame, as instantiated by the QoSC and observed by all devices in the network controlled by the particular QoSC, may comprise four regions : [0020] 1. Beacon Region: Beacons are control messages that identify the frame configuration and the BW assignments within the time frame to multiple networks and to devices within a given network. Each QoSC must transmit a Beacon to devices in its network to inform them of the frame configuration to follow. In many embodiments, Beacon transmissions must be transmitted without collisions in order to provide timing and accurate frame configuration information to devices in the network. Collisions occur when devices transmit simultaneously in a group of interfering networks. Consequently, embodiments of the present invention may utilize methods by which networks within an INL coordinate with one another and transmit individual Beacons without collisions. All devices in networks in an INL know not to transmit in a Beacon Region.

[0021] 2. Contention Period (CP): This is a period when multiple devices use a contention access protocol to share the medium. QoSCs may use this period to communicate with other QoSCs. A network may have one or more Contention periods. Typically, contention periods of one network cannot overlap with the Contention Free period of another network in that network's INL. In most embodiments, each network must have at least one CP which is at least long enough to carry the maximum size message defined for these embodiments. Various contention access protocols may be used during the CP of these embodiments.

[0022] 3. Contention Free Period (CFP): This is a period when only devices that have explicit authorization from their QoSC are allowed to transmit. A QoSC must ensure that

transmissions in the CFP are contention free. Further, QoSCs must ensure that CFPs of networks in an INL do not coincide or overlap.

[0023] 4. Stay-Out period (SOP): This is a period within the time frame when all devices in a network are instructed by the QoSC to remain silent. They must not use either the contention access protocol or the contention free access protocol during the SOP.

[0024] Each QoSC constructs its version of the time frame and broadcasts this in its Beacon. All devices in a network decode the Beacon from their QoSC and must observe the time schedule indicated therein. When constructing its version of the time frame, the QoSC is obligated to follow certain rules, which determine what segments of time are available for the QoSC to claim. These rules when used along with the INL, ensure that there is re-use of capacity among networks that don't interfere with one another even though they share a common communication channel.

[0025] Once a time frame is instantiated and transmitted in the beacon, all devices in a network must observe the schedule indicated therein. All operations within a portion of the time frame that belongs to a particular network are autonomous to that network and the QoSC may manage its share of the BW any way it sees fit.

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise a distributed model for coordination among multiple neighboring networks based on Interfering Network Lists. These embodiments do not require a central authority to arbitrate between multiple networks.

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention may also comprise methods and systems for networks to share BW with other networks in an INL through coordination achieved by a series of message exchanges. In some embodiments, the message exchange is simple and requires minimal capacity for signaling overhead. Such coordination may allow each network to provide QoS support to applications/devices within its domain. In some embodiments, coordination dramatically enhances system capacity utilization and efficiency.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise a distributed coordination mechanism that restricts all decision making to an INL and does not require networks that are multiple hops away to coordinate with one another.

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise a coordination mechanism that allows networks to re-use the portions of time frames that are already in use by non- interfering networks. This approach can boost system capacity significantly over contention . protocols or other methods with limited coordination or coordination achieved through extensive signaling.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention may dramatically increase performance in autonomous networks that operate and provide QoS support for applications such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), High Definition Television (HDTV), SDTV transmission, streaming Internet Protocol (IP) applications, etc.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with networks compliant with IEEE 802. 15.3, IEEE 802.11 or HomePlug Powerline Communications standards. These standards and their defining documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise bandwidth sharing or allocation wherein bandwidth sharing/allocation decisions are made locally among QoSCs identified in an Interfering Networks List (INL).

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise systems and methods that allow spatial reuse through the concept of using INLs.

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention may comprise Beacon and data transmissions from different networks that may occur simultaneously if certain interference conditions are satisfied.

TDMA Frame Structure [0035] Embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to an exemplary network scenario. This exemplary scenario is illustrated in Figure 1. In this scenario, a Base Station Set (BSS) 10 is a network comprising a Quality of Service Controller (QoSC) 12 and the stations (STAs) it controls 14-20. A QoSC 12, in coordination with other QoSC's 22-30 in the neighborhood, may allocate a TDMA frame to one or more of the following uses: 1. For transmission of Beacons; 2. for contention-free access; 3. for contention access; or 4. for a stay-out region where transmission is not allowed.

[0036] An exemplary frame structure may be described with reference to Fig. 2. A QoSC may reserve bandwidth during a Contention Period 64. Once a QoSC/network has declared a certain time interval as its Contention-Free period 66,70, 74, any of its Interfering Neighbors will not be allowed to transmit at the same time. As far as the Interfering Neighbors are concerned, that time interval is a Stay-Out Region 68,72, 76 wherein no transmission may occur. Multiple BSSs may share a Contention-Free Period when their stations do not interfere.

For example, in the exemplary system illustrated in Figures 1 & 2, during the Contention-Free

Period 66 of QoSC"B"22 (with a Network Identification (NID) of #132), QoSC"D"26 (NID= #138a) has also scheduled a Contention-Free Period 70. This can be achieved because QoSC "B"22 has no stations that interfere with the stations administered by QoSC"D"26. When QoSCs do not schedule all time within a frame for Contention-Free Periods 66,70, 74, any remaining time may be allocated as a Contention Period 78, 80 for all network stations or a particular set of stations. Bandwidth allocation decisions may be based on a first-come-first- served basis or by station, user, network or other priority methods.

[0037] For each BSS sub-network 20-30, any time that is not the Beacon Region 62, a Contention-Free Period 66,70, 74, or a Stay-Out Region 68,72 & 76 may become a Contention Period 64,78, 80. Stations in that BSS network are allowed to transmit in the Contention Period using Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) or some other protocol that resolves multiple device contention.

[0038] Communications between two neighbor networks can take place during the time when the Contention Periods of the two BSS networks overlap. Inter-BSS network communication may occur when the Contention Periods of all neighbor networks overlap for some minimum duration. This minimum duration should be long enough to transmit any neighbor network message efficiently using CSMA or some other method.

[0039] Some embodiments of the present invention may employ a distributed approach.

When a new QoSC is powered up, it will try to decode all the Beacons it can detect. If, after several Beacon Cycles, no Beacon is received, the new QoSC will establish a new network with no interfering neighbors.

[0040] If Beacons are received, the new QoSC will coordinate with its neighbor QoSCs to find out a Network ID (NID) and a slot in the Beacon Region 62 for the new network. Only the interfering neighbors of the new QoSC need to be involved in the process.

[0041] A similar distributed approach may be used to reserve bandwidth for a Contention-Free Period. A QoSC may negotiate with its interfering neighbor QoSCs to find an allocation for its station's reserved links.

[0042] Some embodiments of the present invention comprise one or more Interfering Networks Lists (INLs). Each QoSC may maintain an Interfering Networks List (INL). The entries of the INL may comprise the NIDs of the networks that the QoSC can receive. A neighbor network may be identified in an INL if the QoSC or, in some embodiments a STA controlled by the QoSC, can hear the Beacon for that network. In some cases, it is possible that some stations in the network controlled by the QoSC may not hear the interfering Beacon.

[0043] Some embodiments of the present invention may employ Beacon Protocol Data Units (Beacon PDUs) to negotiate network status. As mentioned above, the Beacon Region 62 may be divided into slots. The Beacon of each network is scheduled to be transmitted in one of these slots.

[0044] Inside each BEACON PDU, the following fields may be used by a new QoSC to set up its network: 1. The NID of the BSS network; 2. The slot number where the Beacon is transmitted ; 3. The total number of slots in the Beacon Region; 4. Allocations of the network, which include: a. The locations of Contention-Free Periods (i. e. reserved links of the network). b. The locations of Stay-Out Regions. c. The locations of Contention Periods.

[0045] Table 1 shows a portion of an exemplary BEACON PDU (Many other fields may be used that are not shown in the table of Table 1). Figure 4 shows an exemplary beacon schedule.

Table 1 shows the portion of the BEACON PDU that is relevant to the discussions of Neighbor Networks. (Many other fields are not shown in the Table.) Table 1: Portion of a BEACON PDU 11 Field Name. Bits lDefiriition,.. 0 NID 8 Network ID of this BSS network. Valid value is between 129 and 254. a 0 o Slot number where this Beacon is transmitted. Valid value is between 0 and (NumSlots-1). c) U Number of slots in the Beacon Region of this BSS. Valid value is between 1 and TBD. Coding method in which schedules are specified. Set to 0 to mean Coding 1 relative (TDMA) coding (only"Duration"is used). Set to 1 to mean OFDMA coding (exact format TBD). Number of schedules to follow. The schedules inform the stations of NumSch 7 this network about the usage of the powerline channel in each time interval. This field is present only if Coding=0. It specifies the start time of the first schedule in micro-seconds, relative to the end of the Beacon (present only if 16 Region. E. g. SchStartTime = 1000 means the first schedule starts lms Coding = 0) after the end of the Beacon Region. The time between the end of the Beacon Region and before the start of the first schedule is reserved. Schedule 1 32 First schedule. (See Table 2.) Scheduler 32 nth schedule. (See Table 2.) Table 2: Format of each"Schedule"in the BEACON PDU. (Coding=0,"relative"or TDMA) ; Formàt of"Schedulè_n"in the jBECàCON PDU 0 | FieldName @ s | Def on 0 Fixed 1 1 means the schedule is fixed and cannot be moved. 0 means otherwise. (reserved) 7 Reserved. ID of the schedule. ID=0 means Stay-Out region. ID= 255 ID 8 means Contention Period. ID between 1 and 127 means reserved link of the network. Other values are reserved. Duration 16 Duration of this schedule, in micro-seconds.

Procedures for Setting up a New BSS Network [0046] This Section describes detailed procedures of setting up a new BSS Network in some exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the exemplary network scenario, it is assumed that some Interfering Neighbor BSS networks already exist.

[0047] Aspects of some embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to Figure 1. In Figure 1, only the QoSCs 12,22-30 and some NIDs 14-20 of each BSS are shown. An arrow 32,34 between two QoSCs means that the two QoSCs can hear each other and at least one station in each of their respective networks interferes with a station in the other's network. In this scenario, a new QoSC"F"30 can hear only BSS/QoSC"E"28 and BSS/QoSC "B"22.

[0048] Table 3 shows a portion of the content of each Beacon in the exemplary system (See also Figure 2). In this exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that there are currently 6 slots in the Beacon Region 62. For example, the Beacon of BSS"E"28 says that its NID is #130, its Beacon is transmitted in Slot #0, and there are 6 slots in its Beacon Region.

Table 3: Content of each Beacon. NID SlotID NumSlots Beacon of BSS"E"130 0 6 Beacon of BSS"B"132 1 6 Beacon of BSS"C"134 2 6 BeaconofBSS"A"136 3 6 Beacon of BSS"D"138 4 6 [0049] In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the following is a list of the conditions that must be satisfied before a new BSS network can be established in an existing Neighbor Network or before a new bandwidth request is granted.

1. There is a vacant slot in the Beacon Region for the new Beacon. If a free slot is not available, then the QoSCs involved must make sure that the maximum size of the Beacon Region has not been reached.

2. Each QoSC involved must make sure that a minimum duration of Contention Period is maintained between itself and all its neighbors at all times. This minimum Contention Period is required in order to exchange messages between neighbor networks.

[0050] If by accepting a new BSS network set up request or bandwidth request, one or more of the above conditions would be violated, then the request must be rejected by the other members of the existing Neighbor Network.

[0051] Figure 3 shows an exemplary message sequence chart depicting the procedures of setting up a new BSS Network with Interfering Neighbor BSS Networks (Neighbor Networks) for this exemplary embodiment. Each step in Figure 3 is described in the following subsections.

Step One: NNINLREQ [0052] The objective of Step One and Step Two is to find an NID and a slot in the Beacon Region 62 for the new network. The new QoSC 30 first will listen for Beacons to find out if neighbor networks exist. It will then send the NNINLREQ message to each of its neighbor QoSCs (E and B) 28 & 22. The purpose of the message is to obtain the INLs of BSS E and B 28 & 22. (This message may also carry the INL of the sender. ) An exemplary embodiment of an NN INL REQ message is shown in Table 4.

Table 4 of NNET MPDU, NN ! NL REQ FieldName Octet BitNum Bits Values DeBmtidn, ,. Type 0 0-7 8 0 Set to 0 to indicate NNINLREQ. NID of the sender. If the sender does not have a NID, set it to 0. Slot number where the sender transmits its Beacon. (Set to OxFF to indicate not valid.) - Number of slots in the Beacon Region of the sender. (Set to OFF to indicate not valid.) NumEntries 4 0-7 8 2 Number of NIDs in the sender's INL. Nm 1, 5 0-7 8 130 F'st NID in the sender's INL. It is an NID that the sender can recognize. X N Slot number where NID1 transmits its - Beacon. 0 Number of slots in the Beacon Region of Z NID 1. Wo Second NID in the sender's INL. It is an - NID that the sender can recognize. t t Slot number where NID2 transmits its - Beacon. Number of slots in the Beacon Region of NumSlots_2 NID 2.

Step Two: NNINLRSP [0053] When QoSC"E"28 receives the NNINLREQ message, it will reply to the new QoSC 30 with an NNINLRSP message. An exemplary embodiment of this message is shown in Table 5. This message may contain the INL of BSS"E". It indicates that BSS"E"can hear BSS"B"and"C". In addition, it indicates that BSS"E","B", and"C"transmit their Beacons in Slots #0, #1, and #2, respectively, and that each Beacon Region has 6 slots.

Table 5 BObY of NNET 1VIPDU ; NN ZNI... ^RSP : PieldName, : Octet BitNum Bits Values De6moii=,,. Type 0 0-7 8 1 Set to 1 to indicate NNINLRSP. SrcNID 1 0-7 8 130 NID of the sender. If the sender does not SrcNID 1 0-7 8 130, rT n have a NID, set it to 0. Slot number where the sender transmits its Beacon. (Set to OxFF to indicate not valid.) NumSlots 3 0-7 8 6 Number of slots in the Beacon Region of the sender. (Set to OxFF to indicate not valid.) NumEntries 4 0-7 8 2 Number of NIDs in the sender's INL. NID 1 5 0-7 8 132 First NID in the sender's INL. It is an NID J\1D 1 3 U-/6 lj <. that the sender can recognize. Slot number where NID 1 transmits its °-'Beacon. Beacon. NumSIotsl 70-78 6 rofslotsintheBeaconRegionof bon l NID_2 8 0-7 8 134 Second NID in the sender's INL. It is an S J\LD 2 0 0-/0 134 TT-rr 1. . .) - NID that the sender can recognize. SlotID 2 9 0-7 8 2 Slot number where NID2 transmits its beacon. Number of slots in the Beacon Region of - nom 2.

[0054] Similarly, QoSC"B"22 will send the NNINLRSP message to the new QoSC 30 indicating that BSS"B"22 can hear BSS"E", "C"and"A", and that BSS"B","E","C", and "A"transmit their Beacons in Slot #1, #0, #2, and #3, respectively, and that each Beacon Region has 6 slots.

[0055] When the new QoSC 30 receives all the NNINLRSP messages, it may then Randomly choose a new NID which does not appear in any of the INLs of BSS"E"28 and"B"22.

Choose a slot which is not used by any network in the INLs of BSS"E"28 and"B"22.

[0056] Suppose the new QoSC 30 chooses NID=138, and Slot #4. Note that NID=138 is also used by an existing BSS. This example illustrates that a single NID can be used by multiple non-interfering STAs simultaneously in some embodiments of the present invention.

Step Three: NNNEWNETREQ [0057] From the previous steps, the new QoSC 30 has decided to use Slot #4 and NID=138. Next, the new QoSC 30 will send the NNNEWNETREQ message to each of its neighbor QoSC to request to set up a new network. An exemplary NNNEWNETREQ

message is shown in Table 6. This message may also specify the proposed schedules of the new network. Suppose the schedules are: * After the Beacon Region, Contention Period (Usage=2) of 2ms.

Then, Stay-Out Region (Usage=0) of 6ms.

* Then, Contention Period (Usage=2) of 10ms.

Table 6 : : : ME3C OY, ofNNETMPDU NN NEWNET_REQ BitNu. Field, Name Octet-Bits. Values Definition Type 0 0-7 8 2 Set to 2 to indicate NNNEWNETREQ. ReqID 1 0-7 8 33 Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 138 NID of the sender. It is also the proposed NID of the new network. SlotID 0-7 8 Proposed slot number to transmit the Beacons of the new network. NumSlots 0-7 8 6 Proposed number of slots in the Beacon Region of the new network. Coding method in which schedules are specified. 0 means Coding 0 1 0 relative (TDMA) coding (only"Duration"is used). 1 means absolute coding ("StartTime"and"Duration"are used). NumSch 1-7 7 3 Number of schedules to follow. The new QoSC's NumSch 1-7 7 3,) if-tr. proposed schedule of its Beacon. SchStartTime This field is present only if Coding=0. It specifies the start (present only if 6-7 0-7 16 0 time of the first schedule in micro-seconds, relative to the Coding=0) end of the Beacon Region. Usage of the first schedule. 0 means Stay-Out Region. 1 Usage-1 0-1 2 2 means Contention-Free Period of this network. 2 means Contention Period. 3 is reserved. (reserved) 2-7 6 0 Reserved. Duration 1 9-10 0-7 16 2000 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. Usage_2 0-1 2 0 Usage of the second schedule. 11 (reserved) 2-7 6 0 Reserved. Duration2 12-13 0-7 16 6000 Duration of the second schedule, in micro-seconds. Usage3 0-1 2 2 Usage of the third schedule. (reserved) 2-7 6 0 Reserved. Duration3 15-16 0-7 16 10000 Duration of the third schedule, in micro-seconds.

Step Four: NNNEWNETRSP [0058] When QoSC"E"28 receives the NNNEWNETREQ message, it will check to see if the proposed NID, slot number, and schedule are acceptable or not. It will then reply with the NNNEWNETRSP message. The message contains the results (accept or reject). An exemplary NN NEW NET RSP message is shown in Table 7.

[0059] In this example, the proposed NID=138 is acceptable because NID=138 does not appear in the INL of QoSC"E"28. The proposed Slot #4 is also acceptable because none of the neighbors of QoSC"E"28 uses that slot. The proposed schedule is acceptable because it does not conflict with any of QoSC E's own reserved links.

Table 7 MIBODY of NNFT MPDU : N-IiE''W'NET RSP r R-] r 1 m ; Field Name Octet, BitNum Bits Values Definition Type 0 0-7 8 3 Set to 3 to indicate NNNEWNETRSP. ReqID 1 0-7 8 33 Request ID. Copy directly from NN-NEW-NET-REQ. SrcNID 2 0-7 8 130 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean NNNEWNETREQ is accepted. Set to 1 to mean NNNEWNETREQ is rejected because the proposed NID is not acceptable. Result 3 0-7 8 0 Set to 2 to mean NN NEW NET REQ is rejected because the proposed slot number or number of slots is not acceptable. Set to 3 to mean NNNEWNETREQ is rejected because the proposed schedule is not acceptable.

[0060] Similarly, QoSC"B"22 will also reply with the NNNEWNETRSP message.

Step Five: NNNEWNETCFM [0061] When the new QoSC 30 receives all the NNNEWNETRSP messages, it will check to see if its request to set up a new network is accepted or not. It will then send the NNNEWNETCFM message to each of its neighbor QoSCs (E and B) 28 & 22. If the request is accepted, the new QoSC 30 can start transmitting its Beacon in the proposed slot. An exemplary NNNEWNETCFM message is shown in Table 8.

Table 8 PO of NNET, MPDU, NN :, NEW NET.,,, CFM, Field Name v"Octet BitNurii'Bits Values v Denitiort : Type 0 0-7 8 4 Set to 4 to indicate NNNEWNETCFM. Request ID. Copy directly from NN NEW NET REQ. NID of the sender. It is also the proposed NID of the new network. Set to 0 to mean the request to set up a new network with the parameters specified is accepted. accepted. Set to 1 to mean the request to set up a new network with the parameters specified is canceled.

Table 9 N NID SlotID NumSlots Beacon of BSS E, #130 130 0 6 Beacon of BSS B, #132 132 1 6 Beacon of BSS C, #134 134 2 6 Beacon of BSS A, #136 136 3 6 Beacon of BSS D, #138a l 138 4 6 Beacon of BSS F, #138b 1 138 4 6

[0062] Table 9 shows a portion of the content of each Beacon in the system after the new QoSC has joined the system as BSS #138b.

[0063] An exemplary revised TDMA frame showing network status after the new QoSC has joined the system is shown in Figure 4.

Procedures for Requesting Bandwidth [0064] This Section describes the detailed procedures of requesting bandwidth for a network in some embodiments of the present invention. Consider the network scenario illustrated in Figure 1 after the new QoSC"F"30 has joined the system as a BSS with NID #138 (b). The corresponding TDMA frame is shown in Figure 4. Suppose that QoSC"F"30 wants to request for a Contention-Free Period of duration 3ms for its reserved links. Figure 5 shows an exemplary message sequence chart of the procedures. Each step illustrated in Figure 5 is described in the following subsections. (Note: The new QoSC 30 could also request for a Contention-Free Period when it sends the NNNEWNETREQ by setting the"Usage"field to 1 in its proposed schedule.) Step One: NNADDBWREQ [0065] In these embodiments, illustrated in Fig. 5, the source QoSC"F"30 may first determine a proposed schedule. It decodes the Beacons of all its neighbor QoSCs 22,28 to find out the current schedules of its neighbors. Suppose QoSC"F"30 proposes to use an interval (of duration 3ms) which overlaps with the Contention-Free Period 74 of BSS"A"12. The proposed interval can be specified by a start time of 8ms (relative to the end of the Beacon Region), and a duration of 3ms. QoSC"F"30 may send the NNADDBWREQ message to all its neighbors.

The message includes the additional proposed time intervals that the source QoSC wants to reserve. An exemplary NNADDBWREQ message is shown in Table 10.

Table 10 --0 MIBODYofNNETMPDU. NN_A : DD REQ (Codingt FielbdName T Octet [BitNum T Bits ; S|ValueslDemtion t Type 0 0-7 8 5 Set to 5 to indicate NN ADD BW REQ. Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 138 NID of the sender. Coding (-1) 0 1 1 Coding method in which schedules are specified. Must be set to 1. 3 Number of schedules to follow. The sender wants NumSch 1-7 7 1 to reserve each time interval for its Contention- Free Period. Duration 1 4-5 0-7 16 3000 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. Start time of the first schedule, in micro-seconds, btartiime 1 6-7 U-7 16 oOUU i.-.., 1 <. f n r- - relative to the end of the Beacon Region.

Step Two: NNADDBWRSP [0066] When QoSC"E"28 receives the NNADDBWREQ, it will check to see if the proposed schedule is acceptable or not. In this case, the proposed schedule does not conflict with the current schedule of QoSC"E"28, so the request is accepted. QoSC"E"28 may reply with the NNADDBWRSP message and update the schedule in its Beacon to include a new Stay- Out region. An exemplary NNADDBWRSP message is shown in Table 11. Similarly, QoSC"B"22 may reply with the NNADDBWRSP message.

Table 11 NpgDYofNNET ;'MPbU : Nl P"SP l I ç e | l" {"" ; S ; k I si | Field, p 0'6tei BitNum, Bits Valu s,,, tijei Type 0 0-7 8 6 Set to 6 to indicate NNADDBWRSP. Request ID. Copy directly from NN ADD BW REQ. SrcNID 2 0-7 8 130 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean NNADDBWREQ is accepted. Set to 1 to meanNNADDBWREQ is rejected because the proposed schedule is being reserved Result 3 0-7 8 0 by another QoSC. Set to 2 to mean NNADDBWREQ is rejected because the resultant Contention Period remaining would become too short.

Step Three: NNADDBWCFM [0067] When the source QoSC"F"30 receives all the NNADDBWRSP messages, it will check to see if its request is accepted or not. It will then send the NNADDBWCFM message to each of its neighbor QoSC. If the request is accepted, it will also update the schedule in its Beacon to reflect the new reserved link. An exemplary NNADDBWCFM message is shown in Table 12.

Table 12 | MIBODYofNNETMPDU « NN ADD_BW_CFM Field Name Octet BitNum'Bits Values Definition.. Type 0 0-7 8 7 Set to 7 to indicate NNADDBWCFM. g gg Request ID. Copy directly from NN ADD BW REQ. SrcNID 1 0-7 8 138 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean the bandwidth request is Action 3 0-7 8 0 successful. Set to 1 to mean the bandwidth request is canceled.

[0068] Figure 6 shows the new TDMA frame after the bandwidth request is accepted.

Note that QoSC"F"30 may assign any number of reserved links to its new Contention-Free Period.

Procedures for Releasing Bandwidth [0069] An exemplary message sequence chart for releasing bandwidth used by the Contention-Free Period is shown in Figure 7. The source QoSC sends the NNRELBWIND message to all its neighbors. Note that a response message is not required. Upon receiving the bandwidth release request, a QoSC may be able to change the Stay-Out region into a Contention Period provided that no other neighbor QoSC is reserving the same time interval.

Procedures for Shutting Down a Network [0070] An exemplary message sequence chart for shutting down a network is shown in Figure 8. The QoSC sends the NNRELNETIND message to all its neighbors. A response message is not required.

Message Format [0071] In some embodiments of the present invention a new MPDU type called NNET PDU may be employed. An NNET PDU can carry different messages depending on the value of a"Type"field.

NNINLREQ and NNINLRSP [0072] The NNINLREQ message is used by a QoSC to find out the INL of another QoSC. When a QoSC receives the NNINLREQ message, it must reply with the NN_INL_RSP message. An exemplary NNINLREQ message is shown in Table 13.

Table 13 , t'',', MTBODY of NNET MPDU :} Q àndNN RSP ; X l i . | s l FieldName. Octet BitNum Bits-YDèfinition Set to 0 to indicate NNINLREQ. Set to 1 to indicate NNINLRSP. SrcNID 1 0-7 8 NID of the sender. If the sender does not have a NID, set it to 0. S10tlD 0 7 8 Slot number where the sender transmits its Beacon. (Set to OxFF to indicate not valid.) NumSlots 3 0-7 8 Number of slots in the Beacon Region of the sender. (Set to OxFF to indicate not valid.) NumEntries 4 0-7 8 Number of NIDs in the sender's INL. First NID in the sender's INL. It is an NID that the - sender can recognize. z SlotID 1 Variable 0-7 8 Slot number where NID 1 transmits its Beacon. 0 t NumSlots_l Variable 0-7 8 Number of slots in the Beacon Region of NID 1. z M . 9 nfl'NID in the sender's INL. It is an NID that the NID-N Variable 0-7 8 sender can recognize. SIotIDn Variable 0-7 8 Slot number where NID-N transmits its Beacon. NumSlotsn Variable 0-7 8 Number of slots in the Beacon Region of NID n.

NNNEWNETREQ [0073] The NNNEWNETREQ message is used by a new QoSC to request to set up a new network. This message contains the proposed NID, slot number, and schedule. A copy of this message must be sent to each of the neighbors of the new QoSC. An exemplary embodiment of the NNNEWNETREQ message when the"Coding"field is 0 is shown in Table 14.

Table 14 - ; MIBODYpttTMPDU : lNBWJBTRBQ (Coding=0) ç | z | ¢ f _,. FieldName Octet BitNum Bits Definition Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 2 to indicate NNNEWNETREQ. ReqID 1 0-7 8 Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. It is also the proposed NID of the new network. SlotID 3 0-7 8 Proposed slot number to transmit the Beacons of the olotiD j U-/o,, new network. NumSlots 4 0-7 8 Proposed number of slots in the Beacon Region of the new network. Coding method in which schedules are specified. 0 Coding (=0) 0 1 means relative (TDMA) coding (only"Duration"is used). 1 means absolute coding ("StartTime"and "Duration"are used). NumSch 1-7 7 Number of schedules to follow. SchStartTime This field is present only if Coding=0. It specifies the (present only if 6-7 0-7 16 start time of the first schedule in micro-seconds, Coding=0) relative to the end of the Beacon Region. Usage of the first schedule. 0 means Stay-Out Region. Usage_1 0-1 2 1 means Contention-Free Period of this network. 2 8 means Contention Period. 3 is reserved. (reserved) 2-7 6 Reserved. l l Duration 1 9-10 0-7 16 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. Usage of the n « i schedule. 0 means Stay-Out Region. 1 Usage n 0-1 2 means Contention-Free Period of this network. 2 means Variable Contention Period. 3 is reserved. I I (reserved) 2-7 6 Reserved. Duration n Variable 0-7 16 Duration of the schedule, in micro-seconds.

[0074] The format of an exemplary NNNEWNETREQ message when the"Coding" field is 1 is shown in Table 15. The usage of any time interval that is not specified may be assumed to be a Stay-Out region (i. e. Usage=0).

Table 15 f 0 ; MIBODY of NMET MPDU Field Name Octet-BitNum Bits Definitiont'. Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 2 to indicate NNNEWNETREQ. Re ID 1 0 7 8 Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. It is also the proposed NID of the new network. SlotID 3 0-7 8 Proposed slot number to transmit the Beacons of the new network. NumSlots 4 p _ g Proposed number of slots in the Beacon Region of the new network. Coding method in which schedules are specified. 0 Coding (=l) 0 1 means relative (TDMA) coding (only"Duration"is used). 1 means absolute coding ("StartTime"and "Duration"are used). NumSch 1-7 7 Number of schedules to follow. Usage of the first schedule. 0 means Stay-Out Region. Usage-1 0-1 2 1 means Contention-Free Period of this network. 2 means Contention Period. 3 is reserved. I 11 (reserved) 2-7 6 Reserved. Duration 1 7-8 0-7 16 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. r 6 Start time of the first schedule, in micro-seconds, - relative to the end of the Beacon Region. Usage of the ni schedule. 0 means Stay-Out Region. 1 Usage n 0-1 2 means Contention-Free Period of this network. 2 means Variable Contention Period. 3 is reserved. I (reserved) 2-7 6 Reserved. l Duration n Variable 0-7 16 Duration of the n schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime n Variable 0-7 16 Start time of the nffi schedule, in rnicro-seconds, relative - to the end of the Beacon Region.

NN NEW NET RSP [0075] When a QoSC receives a NN NEW NET REQ message, it may reply with the NNNEWNETRSP message. An exemplary NNNEWNETRSP message is shown in Table 16. The NN NEW NET RSP message may contain the NID of the sender, and a result field indicating if the request is accepted or not. When determining if the request is acceptable, the QoSC may check the following: # Make sure the proposed NID does not appear in the QoSC's INL.

# None of the neighbors of the QoSC are transmitting in the proposed slot in the Beacon Region. The proposed schedule is acceptable. For example, none of the QoSC's own reserved links will be affected by the proposed schedule, and a minimum duration of shared Contention Period among all neighbor networks is maintained.

Table 16

E I ME30DYofMT MPDU* NN NEW NET'RSP Field Name : Octet BitNum Bits Deftion Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 3 to indicate NNNEWNETRSP. ReqlD 1 0-7 8 Request ID. Copy directly from NN NEW NET REQ. SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean NNNEWNETREQ is accepted. Set to 1 to mean NNNEWNETREQ is rejected because the proposed NID is not acceptable. 8 Set to 2 to mean NN_NEW_NET_REQ is rejected because the proposed slot number or number of slots is not acceptable. Set to 3 to mean NN NEW NET REQ is rejected because the proposed schedule is not acceptable.

NNNEWNETCFM [0076] The NNNEWNETCFM message may be sent by the new QoSC to all its neighbor QoSCs to confirm if the request to set up a new network is successful or canceled. This message may be sent after the new QoSC has received all the NNNEWNETRSP messages from its neighbors. An exemplary NNNEWNETCFM message is shown in Table 17.

[0077] For example, one of the neighbor QoSCs may have rejected the request, while all the other neighbor QoSCs may have accepted the request. In this case, the new QoSC may send the NN NEW NET CFM message to all its neighbor QoSCs to cancel the request.

Table 17 MIBQDY. of. NNET MPDU : NN, NEW, NET CFM . : 'v Field Name Octet BitNum., : Bits Definition Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 4 to indicate NN NEW NET CFM. Reqm 1 p _-7 g Request ID. Copy directly from NN NEW NET REQ. SrcNID 2 O-7 8 NID of the sender. It is also the proposed NID of the new network. Set to 0 to mean the request to set up a new network Action 3 0-7 8 is successful. Action 3 0-7 8, Set to 1 to mean the request to set up a new network is canceled.

NNADDBWREQ [0078] The NN_ADD_BW_REQ message is sent by a source QoSC to all its neighbor QoSCs to request additional bandwidth. The message contains the proposed time intervals used by the source QoSC. Each interval may be specified by a start time and a duration. The start time may be measured from the end of the Beacon Region. The usage of any time interval that is not specified in the message may be left unchanged. An exemplary NNADDBWREQ message is shown in Table 18.

Table 18 t"5 w E MB DY. óf WD w id o s Field Name,. , pctet BitNum Bits. =Defiaition Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 5 to indicate NN ADD BW REQ. ReqID 0-7 8 not used recently. not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. Coding (=1) 0 1 Coding method in which schedules are specified. Must be set to 1. 3 Number of schedules to follow. The sender wants to NumSch 1-7 7 reserve each time interval for its Contention-Free Period. Duration 1 4-5 0-7 16 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime 1 6-7 0-7 16 start time of the first schedule, in micro-seconds, Startiime 1 6-/U-7 16 i-. < 1 T-* . - relative to the end of the Beacon Region. Duration n Variable 0-7 16 Duration of the schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime n Variable 0-7 16 Start time of the ni schedule, in micro-seconds, StartTlme n Variable 0-7 1 16.. - relative to the end of the Beacon Region.

NNADDBWRSP [0079] When a QoSC receives a NN ADD BW REQ message, it may reply with the NNADDBWRSP message. The message indicates if the bandwidth request is accepted or not. An exemplary NNADDBWRSP message is shown in Table 19.

Table 19 MFBODY of NNET MPDU, NN,. 13W RSP Field Name Octet BitNum Bits DeSmtion Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 6 to indicate NNADDBWRSP. 8 Request ID. Copy directly from NN ADD BW REQ. SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean NNADDBWREQ is accepted. Set to 1 to mean NN ADD BW REQ is rejected because the proposed schedule is being reserved by Result 3 0-7 8 another QoSC. Set to 2 to mean NNADDBWREQ is rejected because the resultant Contention Period remaining would become too short.

NNADDBWCFM [0080] The NNADDBWCFM message is sent by the source QoSC to all its neighbor QoSCs to confirm if the bandwidth request is successful or canceled. This message may be sent after the source QoSC has received all the NNADDBWRSP messages from its neighbors.

An exemplary NNADDBWCFM message is shown in Table 20.

Table 20 MEBODY ofNNET NPDU ; NN ADD, 13-- Y, . 3 i1. . Feld Name Octet : BztNum ; Bits'Definition Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 7 to indicate NNADDBWCFM. ReqID 1 0-7 8 Request ID. Copy directly from , NN-ADD-BW REQ. SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. Set to 0 to mean the bandwidth request is successful. Action 3 0-7 8 Set to 1 to mean the bandwidth request is canceled.

NNRELBWIND [0081] The NNRELBWIND message is sent by a QoSC to release part or all of its Contention-Free Period. The message contains the time intervals that are being released. The usage of any time interval that is not specified in the message may be left unchanged. In some embodiments, no response message is required. An exemplary NNRELBWIND message is shown in Table 21.

Table 21 MTBODY of NNET MPDU : NN^REL BW INI ? (Coding=1) =, Field Name Octet BitNum Bits Definition ; Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 8 to indicate NNRELBWIND. ReqID 1 0-7 8 Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. Coding (=1) 0 1 Coding method in which schedules are specified. Must be set to 1. 3 NumSch 1-7 7 Number of schedules to follow. The sender is going to release each time interval. Duration 1 4-5 0-7 16 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. _ 11 StartTime 1 6-7 0-7 16 Start time of the first schedule, in micro-seconds, StartTime 1 6-7 0-7 16 i... ... t..) r n- - relative to the end of the Beacon Region. Duration n Variable 0-7 16 Duration of the n schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime n Variable 0-7 16 Start time of the nd schedule, in micro-seconds, relative to the end of the Beacon Region. - relative to the end of the Beacon Region.

NNRELNETIND [0082] A NNRELNETIND message is sent by a QoSC to release all its Contention- Free Period and to shutdown its network. No response message is required. An exemplary NNRELNETIND message is shown in Table 22.

Table 22 M1BODY ofNNETMPDU : NNRBINBTD Field Name Octet BitNum Bits Definition. Type 0 0-7 8 Set to 9 to indicate NNRELNETIND. ReqID 1 0-7 8 Request ID. Set by sender so that the same value was not used"recently." not used"recently." SrcNID 2 0-7 8 NID of the sender. SlotID 3 0-7 8 Slot number used by the sender to transmit the blotiD 3 U-/s . Beacons. NumSlots 4 0-7 8 Number of slots in the sender's Beacon Region. Coding (=1) 0 1 Coding method in which schedules are specified. Must be set to 1. 5 Number of schedules to follow. This is the list of NumSch 1-7 7 time intervals which have been reserved by the sender. Duration 1 6-7 0-7 16 Duration of the first schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime 1 go 0-7 16 Start time of the first schedule, in micro-seconds, relative to the end of the Beacon Region. Duration n Variable 0-7 16 Duration of the n « schedule, in micro-seconds. StartTime n Variable 0-7 16 Start time of the ni schedule, in micro-seconds, StartTime n Variable 0-7 16 i......... j r.,, - relative to the end of the Beacon Region.

Discovery and Proxy Networking [0083] To support device discovery, a Discover Beacon or a Discover message may be sent periodically. Embodiments of the present invention may send a Discover message (DISCOVER PDU) during the Contention-Free Period of a network.

[0084] In alternative embodiments, i. e. sending a Discover Beacon, coordination between neighbor QoSCs to schedule a slot in the Beacon Region for the Discover Beacon may be required. This approach may be less efficient compared with simply sending the DISCOVER PDU in the Contention-Free Period.

Changing the Duration of the Beacon Region [0085] Messages are also required to change the parameters of the network, e. g. to change the NID, the slot number where the Beacon is transmitted, or the number of slots in the Beacon Region.

[0086] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the forgoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalence of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.