Routing multiple data streams simultaneously in wireless networks
First Claim
1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a wireless communication circuit configured for wirelessly communicating with other wireless communication stations;
(b) a computer processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; and
(c) a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions executable by the computer processor;
(d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the computer processor, perform steps comprising;
(i) communicating with the other wireless communication stations utilizing a routing protocol;
(ii) performing primary path discovery for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable source wireless communication station by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a primary route flag and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability information, or sending a conventional (non-extended) routing request (RREQ) for a source wireless communication station which is only single-input-single-output (SISO) capable, in establishing communications from the source wireless communication station to a destination wireless communication station, through intermediate wireless communication stations;
(iii) receiving an extended routing reply (RREP), to an extended routing request (RREQ), from the destination wireless communication station if the destination wireless communication station is multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable, or receiving a conventional (non-extended) routing reply (RREP) if either a conventional (non-extended) routing request (RREQ) was sent or if the destination wireless communication station is only single-input-single-output (SISO) capable, whereby a single stream data transmission can commence;
(iv) performing secondary path discovery, in response to receiving an extended routing reply from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable destination wireless station, by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a secondary route flag and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability information in establishing communications along a secondary path;
(v) determining by intermediate wireless communication stations taking a localized action in recognizing that secondary path segments are not part of the primary path and adjusting a path cost metric to secure said secondary path as independent of said primary path, and adjusting the cost metric in response to determining signal processing capability, comprising determining if those stations are either single-input-single-output (SISO) or multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable; and
(vi) transmitting data from the source wireless communication station on the primary and the secondary path simultaneously, toward the destination wireless communication station, when both the source wireless communication station and the destination wireless communication station are configured for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for routing multiple data streams simultaneously through independent routes between multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) stations in a mesh network. The disclosed feature allows transmission of multiple data streams via multiple routes from a source station (STA) to a destination station (STA), which are both MIMO capable, even though the relay STAs in between can be a single-input-single-output (SISO) STA. An extended routing request (RREQ) and routing reply (RREP) frames are utilized which provide a primary and secondary flag indication, which is utilized in combination with advanced programming for setting path cost metrics to assure independence of primary and secondary routes.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a wireless communication circuit configured for wirelessly communicating with other wireless communication stations; (b) a computer processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; and (c) a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions executable by the computer processor; (d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the computer processor, perform steps comprising; (i) communicating with the other wireless communication stations utilizing a routing protocol; (ii) performing primary path discovery for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable source wireless communication station by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a primary route flag and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability information, or sending a conventional (non-extended) routing request (RREQ) for a source wireless communication station which is only single-input-single-output (SISO) capable, in establishing communications from the source wireless communication station to a destination wireless communication station, through intermediate wireless communication stations; (iii) receiving an extended routing reply (RREP), to an extended routing request (RREQ), from the destination wireless communication station if the destination wireless communication station is multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable, or receiving a conventional (non-extended) routing reply (RREP) if either a conventional (non-extended) routing request (RREQ) was sent or if the destination wireless communication station is only single-input-single-output (SISO) capable, whereby a single stream data transmission can commence; (iv) performing secondary path discovery, in response to receiving an extended routing reply from the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable destination wireless station, by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a secondary route flag and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability information in establishing communications along a secondary path; (v) determining by intermediate wireless communication stations taking a localized action in recognizing that secondary path segments are not part of the primary path and adjusting a path cost metric to secure said secondary path as independent of said primary path, and adjusting the cost metric in response to determining signal processing capability, comprising determining if those stations are either single-input-single-output (SISO) or multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable; and (vi) transmitting data from the source wireless communication station on the primary and the secondary path simultaneously, toward the destination wireless communication station, when both the source wireless communication station and the destination wireless communication station are configured for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a wireless communication circuit configured for wirelessly communicating with other wireless communication stations; (b) a computer processor coupled to said wireless communication circuit; and (c) a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions executable by the computer processor; (d) wherein said instructions, when executed by the computer processor, perform steps comprising; (i) communicating with the other wireless communication stations utilizing a routing protocol; (ii) performing primary path discovery for a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable source wireless communication station by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a primary route indicator and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capability information, or sending a conventional (non-extended) routing request (RREQ) for a source wireless communication station which is only single-input-single-output (SISO) capable, in establishing communications from the source wireless communication station to the destination wireless communication station, through intermediate wireless communication stations; (iii) wherein performing primary and secondary path discovery is performed in response to utilizing extended routing request (RREQ) and extended routing reply (RREP) information elements sent to neighboring stations, which extend the conventional RREQ and RREP information elements by adding a routing flag indicating a selection between a primary routing path and a secondary routing path, and utilizing different sequence identifiers than a non-extended routing request (RREQ) and non-extended routing reply (RREP), allowing stations to distinguish whether conventional or extended routing messages are being communicated; (iv) receiving an extended routing reply (RREP) from the destination wireless communication station which indicates that the destination wireless communication station is capable of performing multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications; (v) performing secondary path discovery, in response to the destination wireless communication station being capable of performing multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications, by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a secondary route indicator and MIMO capability information in establishing communications along a secondary path with the destination wireless communication station; (vi) wherein intermediate wireless communication stations receiving an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a secondary route indicator, perform adjusting path cost for an independent next hop and broadcasting this extended routing request (RREQ) to neighboring stations if no previous routing reply (RREP) was received with the same addressing as the received extended routing request (RREQ); (vii) determining by intermediate stations taking a localized action in recognizing that secondary path segments are not part of the primary path and adjusting a path cost metric to secure said secondary path as independent of said primary path, and adjusting the cost metric according to whether stations along that route are single-input-single-output (SISO) or multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable; and (viii) transmitting data from the source wireless communication station on the primary and the secondary path simultaneously, toward the destination wireless communication station, when both the source wireless communication station and the destination wireless communication station are configured for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for wireless communication between stations, comprising:
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(a) communicating with the other wireless communication stations utilizing a routing protocol which controls a wireless communication circuit having a transmitter and receiver; (b) performing primary path discovery by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a primary route indicator and MIMO capability information in establishing communications from the source wireless communication station to destination wireless communication station, through intermediate wireless communication stations; (c) receiving an extended routing reply (RREP) from the destination wireless communication station which indicates that the destination wireless communication station is capable of performing multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications; (d) performing secondary path discovery, in response to the destination wireless communication station being capable of performing multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications, by sending an extended routing request (RREQ) containing a secondary route indicator and MIMO capability information in establishing communications along a secondary path with the destination wireless communication station; (e) determining by intermediate stations that secondary path segments are not part of the primary path and adjusting a path cost metric to secure said secondary path as independent of said primary path, and adjusting the cost metric according to whether stations along that route are single-input-single-output (SISO) or multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) capable; and (f) transmitting data from the source wireless communication station on the primary and the secondary path simultaneously, toward the destination wireless communication station, when both the source wireless communication station and the destination wireless communication station are configured for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communications.
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Specification