Abstract: A technique for spectrum sensing management and control for a secondary communication system seeking to utilize another communication system's spectrum is provided (600). Sensor control data is sent from a base station to subscriber units (604). Sensing measurements are taken and sent back to the base station for ranking (608) as sensed feedback information. Comparisons of the sensed feedback information are made to each other and to thresholds aligned with the types of measurements taken (610). An initial ranked channel list is generated (612). Weighting of the initial ranking list and secondary ranking list is followed by re-ranking the channels according to the weighting into a final ranking list (612). The final ranking list is transmitted to the mobile units to enable operation within the other communication system's spectrum within interfering with that system (614). The weighting is based on the type of sensing measurement taken as opposed to the channel.

Abstract: A technique for spectrum sensing management and control for a secondary communication system seeking to utilize another communication system's spectrum is provided (600). Sensor control data is sent from a base station to subscriber units (604). Sensing measurements are taken and sent back to the base station for ranking (608) as sensed feedback information. Comparisons of the sensed feedback information are made to each other and to thresholds aligned with the types of measurements taken (610). An initial ranked channel list is generated (612). Weighting of the initial ranking list and secondary ranking list is followed by re-ranking the channels according to the weighting into a final ranking list (612). The final ranking list is transmitted to the mobile units to enable operation within the other communication system's spectrum within interfering with that system (614). The weighting is based on the type of sensing measurement taken as opposed to the channel.

Abstract: To reduce interference and increase battery life, a method and apparatus for transmitting location data within an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation, a portion of a beacon payload is reserved to broadcast location information (coordinates) for a node as well as other parameters that may be needed for location estimation. In addition to a node's location, an accuracy of the nodes location is also included within the beacon field. Because nodes will no longer have to awake outside their beacon transmit times to broadcast location information, battery life is extended. In addition, because nodes will no longer be transmitting location information outside their guaranteed time slot, system interference is also reduced.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining a location for each of a plurality of units, which are sub-divided into more than one sub-net groupings, that each include two or more units. Within each sub-net grouping, measured range information between units within the sub-nets and one or more reference units is gathered in at least a selected one of the units. The selected one of the units then estimates a location for each of the units, which minimizes any error in the measured ranges between the units in each of the corresponding sub-nets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing phantom children in an ad-hoc network is described herein. During operation messaging between the parent and child nodes allows the parent node to detect when a node has become a phantom node, and take action to correct it. In particular a maintenance message is periodically transmitted by every node in the network to its parent. The maintenance message is designed to inform the parent of at least a unique identifier of the child. The parent can then compare this unique identifier of the child to others associated with the parent to determine if the child is the real child or a phantom child. Corrective action is taken when a phantom node is detected.

Abstract: Protocols for ad-hoc wireless networks (200) that use mediation devices (202–210) to facilitate communication between low power, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) are provided. In order to avoid premature battery exhaustion in particular devices, devices operating as mediation devices (202–210) report their communication load to low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) that are positioned to be able to use the mediation devices (202–210). Based on the information as to communication load received from multiple mediation devices (202–210), and optionally on a virtual hop count that is a predictor of how rapidly the use of a route through a particular mediation device will lead to battery exhaustion, low duty cycle wireless devices (212–226) choose a mediation device (202–210) to use or proportion use of mediation devices (202–210) in order to delay battery exhaustion in the network.

Abstract: When a requesting node (402) has routing capabilities and attempts to join a network and there are no association slots available, the requesting node (402) will send an association message to a potential root node (401). If the root node (401) has reached the maximum number of links, and has a non-routing capable node (403) associated with it, the root node (401) will send a message to the non-routing capable node (403), instructing it to disassociate and attempt to re-associate at a later time. A message is then sent to the requesting node (402) for it to associate with the root node (401).

Abstract: When a requesting node (402) has routing capabilities and attempts to join a network and there are no association slots available, the requesting node (402) will send an association message to a potential root node (401). If the root node (401) has reached the maximum number of links, and has a non-routing capable node (403) associated with it, the root node (401) will send a message to the non-routing capable node (403), instructing it to disassociate and attempt to re-associate at a later time. A message is then sent to the requesting node (402) for it to associate with the root node (401).

Abstract: To reduce interference and increase battery life, a method and apparatus for transmitting location data within an ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. During operation, a portion of a beacon payload is reserved to broadcast location information (coordinates) for a node as well as other parameters that may be needed for location estimation. In addition to a node's location, an accuracy of the nodes location is also included within the beacon field. Because nodes will no longer have to awake outside their beacon transmit times to broadcast location information, battery life is extended. In addition, because nodes will no longer be transmitting location information outside their guaranteed time slot, system interference is also reduced.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining a location for each of a plurality of units, which are sub-divided into more than one sub-net groupings, that each include two or more units. Within each sub-net grouping, measured range information between units within the sub-nets and one or more reference units is gathered in at least a selected one of the units. The selected one of the units then estimates a location for each of the units, which minimizes any error in the measured ranges between the units in each of the corresponding sub-nets.

Abstract: Protocols for ad-hoc wireless networks (200) that use mediation devices (202-210) to facilitate communication between low power, low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) are provided. In order to avoid premature battery exhaustion in particular devices, devices operating as mediation devices (202-210) report their communication load to low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) that are positioned to be able to use the mediation devices (202-210). Based on the information as to communication load received from multiple mediation devices (202-210), and optionally on a virtual hop count that is a predictor of how rapidly the use of a route through a particular mediation device will lead to battery exhaustion, low duty cycle wireless devices (212-226) choose a mediation device (202-210) to use or proportion use of mediation devices (202-210) in order to delay battery exhaustion in the network.

Abstract: To address the need for channel assignment in an ad-hoc network, a method and apparatus for channel assignment is provided herein. In particular, a communication system (100) utilizes a method for deterministic node (101-107) channel assignment that enables channel reuse and thus scalability of an ad-hoc network. The channel assignment is dependent upon a current level for the particular nodes, as well as the maximum available channels, the maximum allowable levels in the network, and the maximum number of children nodes that a parent can have.

Abstract: The invention provides methods (300) for organizing and assigning network address to network nodes in clusters (108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220), and forming new clusters and also provides a method 700 for routing messages in clusters. According to the invention, clusters are organized into hierarchical tree arrangements, with addresses assigned in a manner that facilitates routing messages.

Abstract: A multi-routing protocol network (100, 200) and methods (400, 500) of operating wireless devices (102, 104) in the network that allow the network to be switched from one routing protocol to another are provided. Wireless devices initiate communication with devices that are already part of the network, or are starting the network, and transmit information indicative of supported routing protocols. Subsequently the devices receive commands to operate according to particular routing protocols.

Abstract: A self-organizing network characterized as having a number of nodes, with at least one control node of the nodes operable to control one or more of the formation, maintenance and message routing between nodes of the network, and operable to support the association, maintenance, deployment, and disassociation of one or more mobile nodes (MN) in the network (200, 300). The mobile nodes do not form part of the logical backbone of the network and thus may have a static address assigned to them to facilitate communications between regular, fixed nodes of the network and the mobile node in an efficient manner.

Abstract: The invention provides methods (300) for organizing and assigning network address to network nodes in clusters (108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220), and forming new clusters and also provides a method 700 for routing messages in clusters. According to the invention, clusters are organized into hierarchical tree arrangements, with addresses assigned in a manner that facilitates routing messages.

Abstract: A system controller (106) includes a speech encoder (107) that encodes a low bit rate digital voice message. The speech encoder sets values of words of a header of the encoded message. The values of the words define a quantity of frames in the voice message, N, and define a vocoder rate used for the encoded message. The speech encoder sets a state of each indicator in each frame status field of N frame status fields that are transmitted after the header of the encoded message. The speech encoder assembles N frame data fields, wherein each of the frame data fields comprises a set of data words. The N frame data fields follow the N frame status fields. Each set of data words conforms to at least one of the vocoder rate and the states of the indicators. A decoder (3310) decodes the encoded low bit rate digital message.

Abstract: A radio communication system includes a voice recognition system (221) for converting (400) a caller's voice message to a textual speech message. The textual speech message is then transmitted to an intended selective call radio (122). To perform these functions, the radio communication system includes a caller interface circuit (218), a transmitter (116), and a processor (222). To perform voice-to-text conversion, the processor is adapted to cause the caller interface circuit to sample a voice signal generated by the caller during a plurality of frame intervals, and to apply a Fourier transform thereto, thereby generating spectral data. The spectral data is subdivided into a plurality of bands. The spectral envelope of the spectral data is then filtered out to generate filtered spectral data. A Fourier transform is applied thereto to generate an autocorrelation function for each band.