SYSTEM FOR DECENTRALIZING UPLINK NETWORK CONTROL AND MINIMIZING OVERHEAD IN RADIO FREQUENCY DATA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

Methods and apparatus are set forth which enable a radio frequency datacommunications network (1) to perform decentralized uplink network controlfunctions (decentralized away from the centralized general communications controller(GCC) level of the network hierarchy); (2) to minimize, or in some cases eliminate,the overhead expended in making power lever (signal strength) determinations andassessments at both the GCC and base station levels of the network hierarchy (for thepurpose of managing uplink communications); and (3) to allow individual subscriberradios (terminals) to dynamically determine the most desirable base station tocommunicate with when exchanging information a host computer via a shared RFcommunication channel (the link between a terminal and the base station).Additionally, an illustrative radio frequency data communication network, built inaccordance with the teachings of the invention as a modified version of an existingnetwork, is described where the modified network incorporates the aforementionedmethods and apparatus.