The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 12, 2016
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2013
Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, NH (US);
Phong C. Khuu, Ashburn, VA (US);
Brian D. Loop, Gainesville, VA (US);
Qui M. Le, Chantilly, VA (US);
Kevin M. McNeill, Alexandria, VA (US);
Michael J. Weber, Warrenton, VA (US);
Tim McNevin, Reston, VA (US);
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, NH (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing channel access synchronization in a time division multiple access (TDMA) multi-hop network employing a plurality of time slots defined within a frame structure which repeats. The system and method includes nodes which have local clock variables. The local clock variables generate an expected arrival time of signals from other nodes in the network. Each node then determines whether the local clock variable needs adjusting after receiving a transmission and comparing the expected arrival time with the actual arrival time. Thus, time synchronization across the network is distributed and updated locally at each node. Networks may be merged by casting out nodes in one network and joining those cast out nodes with the other network. Newly joined nodes are thereafter time synchronized into their new network by comparing actual and expected arrival times and updating their clock accordingly.