Defragmentation of communication channel allocations

Abstract

Approaches scheduling and allocation of communication bandwidth across a communication channel provide the opportunity for improved network utilization. According to one embodiment, a method of allocating communication bandwidth among a plurality of network devices scheduling and conducting communication activities within the communication network in a communication network is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a first network device determining allocations of other network devices operating in the communication network; the first network device preempting a scheduled allocation of a second network device; and the first network device scheduling its communication activities on the communication network. Additionally, the first network device can also determine whether a conflict exists between its desired or required allocation and an allocation of the second network device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to the following U.S. patent provisional applications Ser. No. 60 / 715, 220, filed on Sep. 7, 2005; Ser. No. 60 / 675,296, filed on Apr. 26, 2005; Ser. No. 60 / 674,806, filed on Apr. 25, 2005; and Ser. No. 60 / 673,836, filed on Apr. 22, 2005, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to communication channels, and more particularly to a system and method for coordinating communications activities on a communications channel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] With the many continued advancements in communications technology, more and more devices are being introduced in both the consumer and commercial sectors with advanced communications capabilities. Additionally, advances in processing power and low-power consumption technologies, as well as advances in data coding techniques have led to the prolifer...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The preempting operation can be performed in a number of different ways. For example, in one embodiment, preemption comprises the step of adjusting a threshold to provide increased bandwidth availability to the first network device. In another embodiment, the step of preempting comprises the steps of the first network device informing the second network device of the preemption and of its scheduling requirement; and the second network device reallocating its bandwidth in a manner that does not conflict with the first network device. In a further embodiment, the step of preempting comprises the steps of the first network device informing the second network device of its scheduling requirement, and the second network device determining whether its own scheduling requirement is in conflict with the first network device. In this embodiment, the second network device can reallocate its bandwidth in a manner that does not conflict with the first network device.

[0012] Additionally, preemption in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can result in the second network device reallocating some or all of its scheduled bandwidth to a different communication window or channel. It can also comprise the steps of determining a relative priority of the network devices and further determining whether a given network device can preempt another network device based on the relative priority. Further, the scheduled allocations of a network device can comprise one or more network time or channel slots.

[0013] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the above described features and functionality can be performed using control logic disposed in a network device configured to operate within a communication network, the network device can further include a housing and a transmitter and receiver within the housing; network device, and wherein the other network device is configured to determine whether its own scheduling requirement is in conflict with the first network device.

Problems solved by technology

Architects of these and other networks, and indeed communications channels in general, have long struggled with the challenge of managing multiple communications across a limited channel.

For example, in some environments, more than one device may share a common carrier channel and thus run the risk of encountering a communication conflict between the one or more devices on the channel.

However, even with various multiplexing schemes available to network and other communication channel designers, there can still be inefficiencies in bandwidth allocation due to factors such as fragmentation.

Fragmentation can occur, for example, where short durations of network bandwidth are separated by unavailable network time slots, making it difficult for a communication process to properly allocate its communication packets in an efficient manner.

As users come and go, the unoccupied slots within a communication window can easily get fragmented to the point that a user may not be able to find the required or the optimal configuration of the slots (whether they desire contiguous or uniformly distributed slots, or otherwise) to meet their needs.

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