Flexible control channels for unplanned wireless networks

Abstract

A wireless node configured to communicate with a remote node using a timeslot structure. The timeslot structure includes a plurality of data channels and a plurality of control channels, wherein each of the control channels comprises a plurality of control units. The wireless node is further configured to assign any one of a plurality of control messages for the data channels to any one of the control units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 a processing system configured to communicate with a remote node using a timeslot structure having a plurality of data channels and a plurality of control channels, wherein each of the control channels comprises a plurality of control units, the processing system being further configured to assign any one of a plurality of control messages for the data channels to any one of the control units.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the data and control channels comprise time division multiplexed channels. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each of the control channels comprises an OFDM symbol having a plurality of tones, and wherein each of the control units comprises a portion of the tones for one of the control channels. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the control messages comprises a request to transmit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the control messages comprises a grant in response to a transmit request. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the control messages comprises an acknowledgement that a transmission has been successfully received. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a first one of the control channels precedes a second one of the control channels in a timeslot, and wherein the processing system is further configured to assign one of the control messages to the second one of the control channels as a function of the processing capability of a transmitting remote node. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is further configured to, in one timeslot, receive on a first one of the control channels and transmit on a second one of the control channels. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is further configured to switch between a first mode comprising transmitting on the data channels in every other timeslot and a second mode comprising transmitting on the data channels in consecutive timeslots. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit on first and second ones of the control channels in at least one of said every other timeslot in the first mode, and wherein the processing system is further configured to, in at least one of said consecutive timeslots, receive on the first one of the control channels and transmit on the second one of the control channels during the second mode. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one of the control messages comprises a request for a collision avoidance mode of transmission. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit said one of the control messages on one of the control channels, the processing system being further configured to communicate all other control messages with a remote node on one or more different control channels during at least one timeslot following said one of the control messages. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the processing system is further configured to receive said one of the control messages on a first one of the control channels, the processing system being further configured to avoid using a second one of the control channels for communicating control messages with a remote node during at least one timeslot following the message. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processing system is further configured to transmit one of the control messages on at least two of the control channels in one timeslot. 
     
     
         15 . A method of communications, comprising:
 communicating with a remote node using a timeslot structure having a plurality of data channels and a plurality of control channels, wherein each of the control channels comprises a plurality of control units and each of the control units is capable of carrying any one of a plurality of control messages for the data channels; and   assigning one of the control messages to one of the control units.   
     
     
         16 . A computer-program product for wireless communications comprising:
 a machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processing system:   communicate with a remote node using a timeslot structure having a plurality of data channels and a plurality of control channels, wherein each of the control channels comprises a plurality of control units; and   assign any one of a plurality of control messages for the data channels to any one of the control units.