Abstract:
A method for accessing a wireless local area network (WLAN) channel and providing quality of service (QoS) for voice in a system supporting both voice and data services. Under the method, a communication device (302, 303) contends for a medium (channel). Upon identifying a transmit opportunity, the device transmits a voice packet to an access point (AP) (304) and polls the AP for downlink traffic. A low power implementation is feasible because the communication device can sleep, wake up to contend for the medium, transmit a voice packet to the AP, request a voice packet from the AP, transmit an acknowledgement, and go back to sleep.
Abstract:
A mobile station (106) establishes a real time communication link via an access point (102) for carrying voice or other time-sensitive data. A WLAN subsystem (204) of the mobile station is normally kept in a low power state. Upon initiating a communication link the mobile station signals to the acces s point that unscheduled power save delivery mode will be used (614), and the access point reserves resources to assure the necessary quality of service. The mobile station initiates a frame transaction by first powering up the WL AN subsystem (712), acquiring the WLAN channel (407), and transmitting a pollin g frame. Upon successful receipt of the polling frame the access point prepare s to reply with an aggregate response. The aggregate response commences by transmitting all data in an aggregate buffer, including both reserved and unreserved data buffers. Upon successful receipt of the aggregate response, the mobile station places the WLAN subsystem back into a low power state.
Abstract:
A method for accessing a wireless local area network (WLAN) channel and providing quality of service (QoS) for voice in a system supporting both voice and data services. Under the method, a communication device (302, 303) contends for a medium (channel). Upon identifying a transmit opportunity, the device transmits a voice packet to an access point (AP) (304) and polls the AP for downlink traffic. A low power implementation is feasible because the communication device can sleep, wake up to contend for the medium, transmit a voice packet to the AP, request a voice packet from the AP, transmit an acknowledgement, and go back to sleep.
Abstract:
An access point ( 11 ) for a wireless local area network ( 10 ) transmits a beacon message during a service interval period ( 21 ). This beacon message identifies, in a preferred embodiment, those subscriber units to whom the access point will shortly be transmitting data. Subscriber units that are not identified in the beacon message and that do not have data themselves to transmit to the access point can implement a power conservation mode of operation until the next beacon message. Subscriber units that have data, such as voice information, to transmit can utilize the beacon message contents to at least estimate a likely time by when the access point will have concluded making its transmissions to the subscriber units. That estimated time can then be used to facilitate scheduling a time at which a given subscriber unit will contend for an opportunity to transmit its data to the access point. In a preferred embodiment, this scheduled transmission time can potentially occur either during a contention window that follows the service interval period or during a dynamic contention window that follows the transmissions of the access point and concludes with the conclusion of the service interval period. Subscriber units can then use intervening periods of time to effect their power conservation schemes of choice.
Abstract:
A method of communicating within a mesh network comprises scheduling a mesh access reservation time period for transmission of one or more frames by the mesh device on a channel. During the scheduled mesh access reservation time period: contention for the channel is performed with one or more other mesh devices in the network; and at least one frame is transmitted when the mesh device wins the contention. After the scheduled mesh access reservation time period: when one or more frames scheduled for transmission during the scheduled mesh access reservation time period remain to be transmitted; contention for the channel continues; and the one or more frames are transmitted when the mesh device wins the contention for the channel and when another mesh device has not reserved the channel for the time period.
Abstract:
A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes an access point (102) and a mobile station (106). The mobile station can operate in a low power mode by shutting down a WLAN subsystem (204) of the mobile station. While the mobile station is in a low power mode, the access point buffers data received at the access point destined for the mobile station (706). The mobile station wakes up to initiate a service period by transmitting a trigger frame to the access point, and identifies a traffic stream to be serviced in the presently initiated service period. The access point begins transmitting response frames to the mobile station, identifying the traffic stream requested by the mobile station, and in at least one response frame, the access point may indicate the buffer status of another traffic stream associated with the mobile station to allow the mobile station to make decisions regarding data retrieval and power save state.
Abstract:
In a wireless network, a device monitors (310) at least one parameter that indicates collision status in the network; compares (320) the at least one parameter to a predefined control frame threshold that is based on a criterion other than packet-size; and activates (330) a control frame feature in the device for sending a control frame prior to data transmission, when the at least one parameter exceeds the control frame threshold. In an 802.11 network, the control frames are RTS (request-to-send) and CTS (clear-to-send) frames. The parameters being monitored can include: a number of acknowledgement and RTS frames detected from a hidden terminal, when the device is in a backoff state; a number of retransmission attempts by the device; and a collision rate determined and transmitted by another device in the wireless network to which the device intends to send data.
Abstract:
A method of communicating within a mesh network comprises scheduling a mesh access reservation time period for transmission of one or more frames by the mesh device on a channel. During the scheduled mesh access reservation time period: contention for the channel is performed with one or more other mesh devices in the network; and at least one frame is transmitted when the mesh device wins the contention. After the scheduled mesh access reservation time period: when one or more frames scheduled for transmission during the scheduled mesh access reservation time period remain to be transmitted; contention for the channel continues; and the one or more frames are transmitted when the mesh device wins the contention for the channel and when another mesh device has not reserved the channel for the time period.
Abstract:
A method for accessing a wireless local area network (WLAN) channel and providing quality of service (QoS) for voice in a system supporting both voice and data services. Under the method, a communication device (302, 303) contends for a medium (channel). Upon identifying a transmit opportunity, the device transmits a voice packet to an access point (AP) (304) and polls the AP for downlink traffic. A low power implementation is feasible because the communication device can sleep, wake up to contend for the medium, transmit a voice packet to the AP, request a voice packet from the AP, transmit an acknowledgement, and go back to sleep.
Abstract:
In a wireless network, a device monitors (310) at least one parameter that indicates collision status in the network; compares (320) the at least one parameter to a predefined control frame threshold that is based on a criterion other than packet-size; and activates (330) a control frame feature in the device for sending a control frame prior to data transmission, when the at least one parameter exceeds the control frame threshold. In an 802.11 network, the control frames are RTS (request-to-send) and CTS (clear-to-send) frames. The parameters being monitored can include: a number of acknowledgement and RTS frames detected from a hidden terminal, when the device is in a backoff state; a number of retransmission attempts by the device; and a collision rate determined and transmitted by another device in the wireless network to which the device intends to send data.