Abstract: The present invention discloses a mechanism to initiate, establish, and maintain relay connectivity in a SmartBAN network while maintaining uninterrupted operations within the network. The present invention comprises the aspects of identifying and notifying an isolated node, initiating and establishing relay connectivity, maintaining the relay connectivity, and ending the relay connectivity when this is desired by either a hub, the isolated node or the nominated relay node. Some new frame formats comprising several new Information Units are also defined.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for discovering a neighbouring network by an already operational network. The networks comprise a control channel (CCH) and a data channel (DCH), both comprising a beacon to be transmitted, respectively. The channels are predetermined and beacon formats of theft control channels (CCH) are known, and an inter-beacon-interval of the data channel (DCH) of the already operational network comprises an active period followed by an inactive period. The present invention is characterized in that the temporal lengths of the inactive periods are changed in the data channel (DCH) of the already operational network. Furthermore, the method is configured to search for a beacon of a predetermined control channel (CCH) of a neighbouring network during subsequent inactive periods of the already operational network.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for super-frame realignment to enable inter-wireless network communications. The networks can be Wireless Body Area Networks. In the present invention, it is checked whether the inter-beacon interval (IBI) of the data channel of the own network is of shorter or longer duration than the IBI of the data channel of the target network, and if the IBI of the data channel of the own network does not have exactly the same duration as the IBI of the data channel of the target network, the own network allocates its own inactive (304) and/or active periods so that an integer multiple of its forthcoming IBI will correspond to the IBI of the target network, or the forth-coming IBI of the own network will correspond to an integer multiple of the IBI of the target network.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for super-frame realignment to enable inter-wireless network communications. The networks can be Wireless Body Area Networks. In the present invention, it is checked whether the inter-beacon interval (IBI) of the data channel of the own network is of shorter or longer duration than the IBI of the data channel of the target network, and if the IBI of the data channel of the own network does not have exactly the same duration as the IBI of the data channel of the target network, the own network allocates its own inactive (304) and/or active periods so that an integer multiple of its forthcoming IBI will correspond to the IBI of the target network, or the forth-coming IBI of the own network will correspond to an integer multiple of the IBI of the target network.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for discovering a neighbouring network by an already operational network. The networks comprise a control channel (CCH) and a data channel (DCH), both comprising a beacon to be transmitted, respectively. The channels are predetermined and beacon formats of their control channels (CCH) are known, and an inter-beacon-interval of the data channel (DCH) of the already operational network comprises an active period (202) followed by an inactive period (203, 204). The present invention is characterized in that the temporal lengths of the inactive periods (203, 204) are changed (102) in the data channel (DCH) of the already operational network. Furthermore, the method is configured to search (105) for a beacon (205i) of a predetermined control channel (CCH) of a neighbouring network during subsequent inactive periods (203, 204) of the already operational network.

Abstract: Improvements on latency are achieved for highest priority messaging and channel utilization in a time-slotted access channel structure. New superframe structures are presented where scheduled, but unused access slots can be utilized by secondary nodes. The messaging is accomplished by defining user priorities for nodes and the nodes sensing an ongoing transmission in the network. The time slotted channel access structure has at least one access phase which is divided into access slots. In the beginning of the access phase the nodes sense if a highest priority transmission exist and if not, another node with a lower user priority may initiate transmission.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements on latency on highest priority messaging and channel utilization in a time-slotted access channel structure. New superframe structures are presented where scheduled, but unused access slots can be utilized by secondary nodes.