MXPA06008801A - Beaconing protocol for ad-hoc networks - Google Patents

Abstract

A distributed MAC protocol is provided that includes a superframe (102) having a slotted Beaconing Period (104) and a data transfer period (103). The provided superframe (102) comprises a plurality of medium access slots (107) and a plurality of medium access slots (107) is assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period (104). The Beaconing Period length (106) may be fixed or variable. The provided Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting (101) a Beaconing Period (104), joining an existing Beaconing Period (104) of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Description

CONTINUOUS SIGNALING PROTOCOL FOR AD-HOC NETWORKS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system and method for a continuous signaling protocol for Ad-Hoc networks. Wireless LANs are increasing in popularity and in order to support the demand for different types through a wireless medium, several "layered" solutions MAC have evolved including the old IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802. lie. As a result, there are several communication protocols to support ad-hoc connectivity in wireless networks such as the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols.

IBSS or IEEE 802: 15. These protocols are specified in the standard: IEEE Standard 802.11-1999 (Reaffirmed in 2003), Part 11: Media Access Control (MAC) of Wireless LANs and Layer Specifications Physics (PHY, for its acronym in English), 2003 edition, and the Standard of the IEEE 802.15.3-2003, Part 15.3: Control of Access to Wireless Media (MAC) or Physical Layer Specification (PH.Y) for Wireless Personal Area Networks High Speed (PAN, for its acronym in English), edition 2003, which are incorporated here as a reference in their entirety. The IEEE 802.11 standard defines two basic functions for accessing wireless media: The Coordination Function Ref .: 174043 from . Point (PCF) and the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF). The DCF is responsible for the asynchronous data services and manages the containment period during which the sending stations contend with each other for access using the access scheme for multiple access means by Carrier Detection with Collision Cancellation ( CSMA / CA, for its acronym in English). ~ "Wireless personal area networks (WPANs) communicate between competing nodes that are closer to each other compared to a typical wireless local area network (WLAN). WPAN may have a need for a zero infrastructure environment The OFDM Multi-Band Alliance (MBOA) also defines a MAC protocol for WPANs, see the Specification for Wireless Media Access Control (MAC) for MBOA High-Speed Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN), Technical Specification, Version 0.5, April 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The MBOA MAC protocol is distributed, i.e. They have the same protocol behavior and hardware / software capabilities, the MBOA MAC is based on media reservations by the devices, thereby eliminating detection times and collisions in the medium. In addition the MBOA MAC protocol eliminates any need for a network infrastructure by means of distribution functions across all nodes (devices) of a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and is based on the improved access mode to distributed channels (EDCA) of IEEE 802. lie. In the distributed MAC protocol of the MBOA there is no access point or central coordinator for a WPAN network. Synchronous, asynchronous, and isochronous data transfer is supported in the distributed MAC protocol of the MBOA. Isochronous is the time-dependent data transfer where there are certain time restrictions placed on the data supply. For example, an isochronous transport mechanism is required by multimedia streams to ensure that the data is delivered as fast as it is displayed and to ensure that the audio is synchronized with the video. In contrast, the asynchronous process comprises data streams that can be separated by random intervals, and the synchronous process, comprises data streams to be delivered only at regularly spaced predetermined intervals. The time restrictions of the isochronous service are not as restrictive as those of the synchronous service, but they are not as permissive as the asynchronous service. Two main problems still to be solved are the - energy management and synchronization. For example, a device should be able to sleep when traffic directed towards it is not expected. The mechanism provided in IEEE 802.11 IBSS is very inefficient and is deficient in efficient synchronization devices. In particular, it assumes that all devices perceive each other when, this does not always happen. There is a need for a distributed MAC protocol that provides efficient energy management and synchronization, and allows for a time reservation of the media. With reference to Figure 1 the present invention provided a distributed MAC protocol comprising a superframe structure 102, and procedures for using this superframe structure 102 which, among other advantages, improves power management and synchronization in ad-hoc networks. In accordance with the present invention, the provided MAC superframe structure includes a continuous signaling period BP 104 comprising a plurality of MAC 107 time slots, and a data transfer period 103. All ad-hoc network devices participate in the sending of signaling packages. Access to media in a MAS of the data transfer period is based on a improved access to distributed channels or EDCA mechanism, or distributed reservation mechanism. The technique used to maintain the coordination between the devices in communication in an ad-hoc network in accordance with the present invention is the periodic transmission of a signaling packet. The signaling packets provide the basic timing for the network including information related to isochronous reservations. The devices that wish to communicate must belong to the same group of signaling packets or a set of devices that are within a radio range of a given device and to that signaling packet during the same period of signaling packets (BP). in English) . Referring again to FIG. 1 in the distributed MAC protocol of the MBOA of the present invention, each superframe 102 comprises a plurality of media access time slots (MAS) 107. The MASs are divided among a signaling packet period 104 and a data transfer period 103, see also FIG. 2b. In order to transmit / receive signaling packets, the devices designate a period of time corresponding to a contiguous set 104 of time slots MAS 107 as a period of signaling packets (BP) 104 that is strictly reserved for the transmission and reception of signaling packets. The group of devices that share air time of signaling packets or BP 104 is called a group of signaling packets. That is, a group of signaling packets is defined locally with respect to a given device as a set of devices that synchronize their signaling packets in the same subset of media access time slots (MAS) 107 and which identifies this subset 104 of time slots MAS 107 as its BP 104. Consistent with the specification with the MBOA, a BP 104 is defined as eight contiguous MAS time intervals designated by the signaling packets of one or more devices such as the BP or the continuous signaling period at time intervals 104. According to a preferred embodiment, the number of time slots MAS 107 assigned to BP 104 can be fixed, for example it can be eight time intervals MAS or variable. The MBOA specifies the BP 104 with 24 time intervals of signaling packets, equivalent to eight timeslots MAS where each MAS comprises 3 timeslots of signaling packets, see Figure 2a. The number of time intervals of signaling packets may be variable, not fixed depending on the number of time slots MAS 107 assigned to the BP. A grouping is a set of devices within a radio range of a device and includes all devices within a group of signaling packets. A grouping can also include devices within a radio range belonging to another group of signaling packets. Therefore, the duration of BP 106 can be fixed or variable. If it is fixed, the corresponding fixed number of time interval of signaling packets 105 determines the maximum number of devices that can operate simultaneously in the same place and frequency. However, the duration of the time slot of signaling packets 202 is fixed and depends on the duration of the frame of signaling packets, ie the time required to transmit a frame of signaling packets. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be obvious from the following drawings and from the detailed description of the invention. Figure 1 illustrates a superframe structure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2a illustrates a period of continuous signaling at time intervals according to the present invention wherein a MAS comprises 3 time slots of signaling packets; Figure 2b illustrates a super-frame, in accordance with the present invention, comprising a plurality of MAS time intervals that are divided into a period of signaling packets and a period of data transfer; Figure 3 illustrates an architecture of a wireless communication system to which the embodiments of the present invention will be applied, and Figure 4 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a wireless device of the communication system of Figure 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention Figure 5 illustrates a Finite State Diagram (FSD) for the synchronization functionality of the continuous signaling protocol Figure 6 illustrates a Finite State Diagram (FSD) for the signaling packet collision and resolution protocol (BCRP) during the period of continuous signaling It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the following descriptions are provided for purposes of illustration and not for limitation. An expert understands that there are many variations that fall within the spirit of invention and scope of the appended claims. Excessive details of known functions and operations may be omitted from the present description in order not to obscure the present invention.

The present invention relates to ad-hoc networks in which the channel time is divided into_supertrames, each superframe starting with a BP. The BP is used to send signaling packets. Figure 1 illustrates a MAC 100 superframe structure in accordance with the present invention. In an ad-hoc network all devices participate in the sending of signaling packets. Each superframe structure MAC 100 comprises a sequence of at least one superframe 102 that additionally comprises a BP at time intervals 104 that starts at TBTT or at the Initial Time of Signaling Period (BPST) 101 and continues for a duration of BP at time intervals 106 and including a plurality of time slots of signaling packets 105 such that the new devices can join the network, the BPs at time intervals 104 are followed by a period of data transfer 103. The duration of BP 106 can be fixed or variable. As illustrated in Figure 2a, the time between each time slot of signaling packets 105 is larger than a short space between frames (SIFS) 203. The time slot MAS 107 is the basic communication unit. As illustrated in Figure 2b, a super-frame is preferably divided into 256 time slots MAS 107. Each MAS is 256 timesc duration giving as a result a superframe ratio of 65 msec. A time interval of MAS 107 can be used for EDCA, DRP (distributed reservation protocol for data transfer) or continuous signaling. Several types of MAS time slots are defined depending on how the time interval MAS 107 is used by the device or nearby devices. Table 1 summarizes the types of time intervals MAS. TABLE 1 - Definition of the Media Access Time Interval Type.

Before the communication can be established, a The device must create its own group of signaling packets or join a group of existing signaling packets. For each period of signaling packets, preferably eight consecutive time slots 107 are used as time intervals of signaling packets 105, where all devices, belonging to the group of signaling packets, transmit signaling packets. The initial time of the super-frame is determined by the start of the signaling packet period and is defined as the Target Signaling Packet Transmission Time (TBTT) in IEEE 802.11 and the Initial Time of the Signaling Packet. Signaling Packs (BPST) in the distributed MAC of the MBOA. In a preferred embodiment, a period of signaling packets 104 is defined to use eight time slots MAS 107. Each time slot of MAs 107 includes 3 time slots of signaling packets 107 separated by > SIFS, and therefore a period of signaling packets contains twenty-four time slots of signaling packets 105 in the distributed MAC of the MBOA. The number of time intervals can be variable as already indicated. The duration of the BP at time intervals 106 may be fixed or variable. If it is fixed the number of time intervals of signaling packets 105 is fixed and determines the maximum number of devices that can operate simultaneously in the same place and frequency. Finally, however, the duration of the time interval of signaling packets 202 depends on the duration of the frame of signaling packets. The super-frame 102 of the present invention further includes a data transfer period 103 which comprises the rest of the time slots MAS 107 of the superframe Í02, ie the time slots MAS of the super-frame which are not in the BP 10. During the data transfer period 103 of super-frame 102, the devices send and receive data either through a prioritized access channel-based containment called Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) or by using a access to channels based on the reservation called Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP, for its acronym in English). A signaling packet includes, but is not limited to, information such as: (1) Identification of the device and its capabilities; (2) Traffic identification map (TIM); (3) Field of occupation of time intervals of signaling packets; (4) Related polygonal networks; Y (5) Distributed reservations of the medium. This information may be transmitted in the form of information elements in the signaling packet as specified in the IEEE 802.11 or IEEE 802.15 standards. The use of the continuous signaling of the present invention includes but is not limited to: (1) Energy management; (2) Discovery of the device via rapid association; (3) Adsing messages by multiple jumps; and (4) Synchronization of multiple equal pairs (5) Distributed reservation of the medium Energy management: The present invention contributes to saving energy by means of each device. All devices wake up in TBTT or at the initial time of signaling packet period (BPST) to receive signaling packets. The devices that receive TIM adsed to them remain awake during the next period of containment of the superframe. The devices can sleep once the BP of the superframe is finished and the TIM is free. The devices can also sleep before the end of the superframe, once the superframe has received the "More Data" set to zero.

Discovery of the device via quick association: All devices send a signaling packet during the period of continuous signaling. The devices can be discovered in the time of a superframe once a signaling packet has been received. Addressing messages by multiple jumps: Signaling packages include information related to the surroundings of a device. This information included in the Signaling Packet Periods Occupancy Information (BPOIE) in the signaling packets, can be used to find the shortest, most economical path for a particular device. Synchronization: Each device explores the medium by signaling packets. If no signaling packet is received, the device finishes its own TBTT or BPST and transmits a first signaling packet, however, if a signaling packet is received, the device searches for an empty time slot in the packet period of signage and choose one, if one is available. Once a time interval is chosen, the device always sends its signaling packet in this same time interval, unless a collision is detected. If more than one signaling packet, then the device synchronizes with the fastest clock. It may be that two devices use the same time interval of signaling packets, and therefore a collision detection and resolution mechanism (BCRP) is needed. The devices transmit a "signaling packet time interval occupation" field (BP0IE) in their own signaling packets: (1) the "signaling packet time interval occupation" field includes information about the numbers of time slots and device IDs (DevIDs) of the received signaling packet; (2) if it detects a time slot of signaling packets in a signaling packet received as inactive or if a frame of signaling packets is incorrectly received by at least a predetermined number of times, the field of "occupation of time intervals of signaling packets" is considered empty or does not include information for the given time interval. When a device that sends signaling packets receives, for at least a predetermined number of times, fields of "occupation of time intervals of signaling packets" that do not include their own information of signaling packet time intervals or include a different DevID in the same time interval, the device looks for a new time slot of empty signaling packets. Distributed Medium Reservation: A device can announce in its signaling packet a particular time reservation of the data transfer period of the superframe. All devices receive this announcement upon receipt of the signaling packet and, therefore, are aware of the time reservation. The devices do not transmit during the reserved time of neighboring devices. The system and method of the present invention can be used for wireless personal area networks (WPAN) and local area networks (WLANs) 300 in which devices 301 comprise a MAC module. modified in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a representative wireless network to which the embodiments of the present invention will apply. In accordance with the principle of the present invention, there is provided a MAC 400 module, see Figure 4, configured to execute a continuous signaling protocol at time intervals in such a way that at least the functions of energy management are facilitated. of each device, distributed reservation and synchronization between the wireless devices of an ad hoc network. It should be noted that the network illustrated in Figure 3 is small only for purposes of illustration. In practice, WLANs or WPANs can include a much larger number of wireless devices that embody the present invention. Referring now to Figure 4, each device 301 in an ad-hoc network, as illustrated in Figure 3 may include a MAC 400 module with an architecture that is illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 4. Each device 301 may include a MAC module having a controller 402 coupled to at least one transmitter 401, a signaling packet processing component at timeslots 403 in accordance with the present invention, and a receiver 404. The transmitter 401 and the receiver 404 are coupled to an antenna 405. The signal packet processing component at timeslots 403 provides adaptive programming such that, for example, the duration of the signaling packet period is adapted to various communication protocols including IEEE 802. 11, Bluetooth, and any other protocol known in the art that supports ad-hoc wireless networks. By way of example only, in the IEEE 802.11 an IBSS is an ad-hoc network to which the present invention is applicable. An ad-hoc network is initiated by a given station (STA) configured for a ad-hoc "in search" operation of signaling packets containing a network name (SSID) that matches one that is configured. When the signaling packets with matching SSIDs are received by a given STA and are issued by another STA operating in the ad-hoc network mode, the given STA joins the network, i.e. WLAN, of another STA. When signaling packets with matching network names are not received, the STA will issue signaling packets on its own to establish an ad-hoc network that has the SSID configured. Referring now to Figure 5, a finite state diagram (FSD) is illustrated for a synchronization functionality of the signaling packet processing component at time intervals 403. A device wakes up before the TBTT 5'1 and / or carries out the verification of signaling packets 502. At least one signaling packet is received or no signaling packet and the transitions of the device are received from the verification status 502 to a check of the interval status of the device. signaling packet time 503 or an establishment status of an ad-hoc network 504, respectively. Once the state of time intervals of signaling packets 503 is in the device is changed to a synchronization state 506 if a time slot is available of empty signage packages. After synchronizing, the device can transmit data if the data is in the queue (507) or can sleep and wake up before the next TDTT or again BPST (501). If there is data in the queues (507), the device can sleep (505) once all the data has been provided. If there are no available time slots, the device can establish a second ad-hoc network with a new period of signaling packets (504), or you can sleep until the next super-frame (505). Alternatively, if the device does not receive a signaling packet, it can establish the ad-hoc network by setting the TBTT or BPST, etc. 504. Referring now to Figure 6, a finite state diagram (FSD) is illustrated for the detection and resolution of signaling packet collisions (BCRP) of the signaling packet processing component at time intervals 403. Assume that a device has performed the synchronization function of figure 5 and has established an ad-hoc network (504) or has been synchronized with an existing ad-hoc network (506). The BCRP FSD begins with a device that chooses an empty time slot 601 in the period of signaling packets. The device waits for the TBTT or BPST 602 and sends a signaling packet in the selected inactive time interval, including the calculated BPOIE of the previous superframe 603. During the period of continuous signaling, the device receives signaling packets, if any, from other devices in the group of signaling packets (BG) 604 and stores the DEVID of signaling packet transmitters 605 .. These DEVIDs, together with the numbers of time slots, are included "in the BP0IE in the transmitted signaling packet of the following super-frame 603. The BPOIEs of the received signaling packets are also decoded 606. In parallel, the device executes the operation of dialing active / inactive time slots 606. All time slots in which received signaling packets have been received or received in BPOIE are marked as active. The time intervals that were marked as active change to inactive if a signaling packet has not been received in "the time interval for a predetermined number N of consecutive superframes and the time interval information has not been included in the received BPOIEs. of any device in the same continuous signaling group for a predetermined number N of consecutive superframes The BCRP continues to examine the received BPOIEs If the device's own DEVID has been included in all received BPOIEs, the device proceeds to normal operation and wait for the next TBTT or BPST 602. If your own is missing DEVID of one or more BPOIE, the device increments a counter (which is maintained for each BP0IE), indicating the number of consecutive superframes that are missing its own DEVID from that particular BP0IE 6067. If the DEVID of a particular BPOIE has been missing during more than a predetermined number N of superframes, the device chooses a new time slot 601 and starts the process again. Otherwise, the device waits for the next TBTT or BPST 602. Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, those skilled in the art will understand that the superframe as described herein is illustrative and various changes and modifications may be made to the superframe and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt the teachings of the present invention to a particular situation without departing from its central scope, for example, the position of the Continuous Signaling Period may be different from the start example of a superframe. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments described as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention includes all modalities that fall within the scope of the invention. scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (19)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A method for a continuous signaling protocol for a device to participate in a network of ad-hoc communications devices, characterized in that it comprises the steps of : to. dividing the media access time into a periodic sequence of at least one superframe that starts at a given initial time and has a following superframe of the periodic sequence at any point in time; b. dividing the superframe into a period of signaling packets at time intervals having a plurality of contiguous time intervals followed by a period of data transfer; c. performing at least one of starting a new ad-hoc network by performing steps (a) - (f), occupying a time slot of inactive signaling packets of the plurality of time intervals of contiguous signaling packets, and - sleeping up to the beginning of the next period of continuous signaling and then waking up and repeating step "(c); d) continuously signaling an own signaling packet in that busy signaling packet time slot; e) receiving data transmissions from other devices during the data transfer period; f) transferring data from the other devices during the period of data transfer 2. The method of compliance with claim 1, characterized in that the continuous signaling step further comprises the step of: transmitting a signaling packet comprising less a set of information selected from the group consisting of identification information and device capabilities, a traffic identification map, a field of occupation of time intervals of signaling packets, a related polygon network, and distributed reservations of the medium. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized It also comprises the step of: receiving other signaling packets from other devices during the period of continuous signaling at time intervals of a super frame, those other signaling packets comprising at least one set of signals. information selected from the group consisting of identification information and device capabilities, a traffic identification map, a field of occupation of time intervals of signaling packets, a related polygon network, and distributed reservations of the medium; and wherein the continuous signaling stage further comprises the "" inclusion in the information of the signaling packet itself comprising at least one set of information selected from the group consisting of identification information and device capabilities, a traffic identification map. , a field of occupation of time intervals of signaling packets, a related polygon network, and distributed reservations of the medium. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises the step of discovering the other devices during the time of a superframe once the other signaling packets have been received. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: awakening at the beginning of the next super-frame; if a Traffic Identification Map of any of the other signaling packets received is directed to the device, perform the steps of: i. stay awake during the data transfer period of the superframe if the Traffic Identification Map is not clear, ii. sleep during the data transfer period of the superframe when the Traffic Identification Map is clear; and iii. sleep if a data frame is received during the data transfer period of the superframe with a "More Data" bit set to zero. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: receiving information in other signaling packets related to the surroundings of the device; and using the received information related to the surroundings of the device to find a transmission path based on criteria selected from the group consisting of few jumps and lower cost. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: from the occupation information - in the received signaling packet, determining for each time interval of signaling packets of that plurality of intervals of time of contiguous signaling packets if the time intervals of signaling packets is some inactive or incorrectly received; if, during a predetermined number of superframes, the time interval of signaling packets occupied by the device is determined to be one inactive, received incorrectly, or comprising information from another device then a collision is considered to have occurred in the time interval of signaling packets occupied by the device and the device performs step (c) to resolve the collision. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: the transfer stage additionally comprises transferring data during the period of data transfer corresponding to a reservation of the medium transmitted in its own signaling packet; and the stage of. Continuous signaling further comprises retaining the reservation of the medium until the data transfer ends. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the reservation of access to the medium during the data transfer period of a superframe is based on one of the reservation mechanisms selected from the group consisting of an improved mechanism for accessing the data. distributed channel and a distributed reservation mechanism. 10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: the super-frame comprises a first predetermined number of media access time slots having a first predetermined duration; the period of continuous signaling at time intervals comprises a second predetermined number of media access time slots such that each media access time interval consists of a third identical predetermined number of time intervals of signaling packets followed for a space greater than a fourth predetermined number; and the data transfer period comprises a remaining number of media access time slots equal to the difference between the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that: the first predetermined number is 256; the first predetermined duration is 256 usec in such a way that the superframe lasts for 65 milliseconds, - the second predetermined number is 24; • the third predetermined number is 3; and the fourth predetermined number is equal to the duration of a short space between frames. 12. A continuous signaling device at time intervals for an ad-hoc network device, characterized in that it comprises: a receiver for receiving signaling packets from other ad-hoc network devices; a transmitter for transmitting own signaling packets and data, - a signaling packet processing component at time intervals that processes received signaling packets and transfers received data and own signaling packets and own data transfers for transmission; a controller operatively connected to the signaling packet processing component at time intervals and configured to divide the medium into a sequence of at least one superframe comprising a period of continuous signaling at time intervals and a data transfer period , to process signaling packets and data received respectively therein, and to format and control own signaling packets that will be transmitted respectively therein; - the receiver and the transmitter are configured to respectively control the reception and transmission of signaling packets thereto during the period of continuous signaling at time intervals and for respectively controlling the reception and transmission of data during the period of data transfer. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that: the at least one superframe comprises a first predetermined number of media access time slots having a first predetermined duration; the period of continuous signaling at time intervals comprises a second predetermined number of media access time slots such that each media access time interval consists of a third identical predetermined number of time slots of signaling packets followed for a space greater than a fourth predetermined number; and the data transfer period comprises a remaining number of media access time slots equal to the difference between the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that: the first predetermined number is 256; the first predetermined duration is 256 usec such that the superframe has a duration of 65 milliseconds; the second predetermined number is 24; the third predetermined number is 3; and the fourth predetermined number is equal to the duration of a short space between frames. 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a signaling packet comprises at least one set of information selected from the group consisting of device identification and capabilities information, a traffic identification map, an occupation field of time intervals of signaling packets, information of related polygonal networks, and distributed reservations of the medium. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the controller is further configured to: wake up at the beginning of the next superframe; if a Traffic Identification Map of any received signaling packet is directed to the device: i. stay awake during the data transfer period of the superframe if the Traffic Identification Map is not clear, ii. sleep during the data transfer period of the superframe when the Traffic Identification Map is clear; Y iii. sleep if a data frame is received during the data transfer period of the superframe with a "More Data" bit set to zero. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the other devices are discovered during the time of a superframe once another signaling packet has been received. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that: information is received in other signaling packets that relate to the surroundings of the device; and the received information related to the surroundings of the device is used by the controller to direct the transmission of data through a trajectory based on a criterion selected from the group consisting of few jumps and lower cost. 19. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the controller is further configured to: determine from occupation information of the time slot in the received signaling packet, which signaling packet time intervals are inactive or not. has received incorrectly; if, during a predetermined number of consecutive superframes, the packet time interval of signaling occupied by the device is determined to be i-nactive, received incorrectly, or comprises information from another device, considering that a collision has occurred in the time interval of signaling packets occupied by the device, and directing the component of processing of signaling packets at time intervals to resolve the collision according to a predetermined collision resolution mechanism.