Communication system with a mapping system allowing nodes to register with a controller

Abstract

A communication system is provided that includes a controller providing a map of information to enable communication with a plurality of nodes. The information includes identification of two separate time slots, one for random access requests when a node initially contacts a controller and another for exclusively assigned access to transmit messages. The map can further provide information to enable identification of the nodes and assign transmission frequencies.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of communicating data between at least a first communication controller in a system of controller and a plurality of nodes comprising:
 transmitting a map from the first communication controller to a first node in the plurality of nodes, wherein the map includes information allowing access by nodes to transmit reservation requests in at least two slots of a frame, along with information identifying the first node and assigning one of the at least two slots where the first node can transmit requests exclusively from the first node; and   receiving a reservation request in one of the at least two slots from the first node provided in response to the information in the map.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the map further includes information identifying a first frequency for a first one of the slots and a second frequency for a second one of the slots, wherein the first frequency comprises a common frequency received by the first controller and another one of the controllers, and the second frequency comprises a non-common frequency received only by the first controller. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a grant in response to the reservation request received from the first node, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   receiving the data as a packet message containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the map information includes a first frequency for receiving the reservation request signal, a second frequency for transmitting the grant signal, and a third frequency for transmission of the data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two slots identified by the map include a first slot where the first node can transmit a random access request, and a second slot exclusively assigned to the first node for transmitting a reservation request. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a grant in response to the reservation request received from the first node, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   receiving packet data containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the first slot and the second slot wherein the first node can transmit requests are separate from one or more slots where the data can be transmitted.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a grant in response to the reservation request received from the first node, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   receiving packet data containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the first node selectively transmits the data in a series of contiguous slots over a range of multiple frequencies.   
     
     
         7 . A method of communicating data between at least a first communication controller in a system of controller and a plurality of nodes comprising:
 receiving a map transmitted from the first communication controller to at least a first node in the plurality of nodes, wherein the map includes information allowing access to at least the first node to transmit reservation requests in at least two slots of a frame, along with information identifying the first node and assigning one of the at least two slots where the first node can transmit requests exclusively from the first node; and   transmitting from the first node a reservation request in one of the at least two slots in response to the information provided in the map.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the map further includes information identifying a first frequency for a first one of the slots and a second frequency for a second one of the slots, wherein the first frequency comprises a common frequency received by the controller and another one of the controllers, and the second frequency comprises a non-common frequency received only by the first controller. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant from the first communication controller in response to the reservation request transmitted from the first node, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   transmitting the data as a packet message containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the map information includes a first frequency for receiving the reservation request signal, a second frequency for transmitting the grant signal, and a third frequency for transmission of the data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the two slots identified by the map include a first slot where the first node can transmit a random access request, and a second slot exclusively assigned to the first node for transmitting a reservation request. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant from the first communication controller in response to the reservation request, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   transmitting packet data containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the first slot and the second slot wherein the first node can transmit requests are separate from one or more slots where the data can be transmitted.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a grant from the first communication controller in response to the reservation request, the grant allowing the first node to transmit data; and   transmitting packet data containing alphanumeric characters from the first node in response to the grant,   wherein the first node selectively transmits the data in a series of contiguous slots over a range of multiple frequencies.