Devices, softwares and methods for advancing scheduling of next contention session upon premature termination of contention free exchange

• US 20020122409A1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Labs
• Inventors: Kandala, Srinivas
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Abstract

Devices, softwares and methods advance the scheduling of a next contention session upon premature termination of a contention free session. A Hybrid Coordinator detects when the exchange of wireless transmissions finishes before the contention free window is scheduled to end. Upon such detection, the Hybrid Coordinator transmits a notification to advance the scheduling of the next contention session. Upon sensing the notification, contention resumes by the participating peripherals.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a physical communication component; and

a processor coupled with the physical communication component, in which the processor is adapted to

receive contending requests for respective wireless transmissions through a medium;

schedule an ending time of a time window during which subsequent contending requests are impermissible;

communicate the scheduled ending time;

monitor the medium;

determine that one of the wireless transmissions through the monitored medium ended before the scheduled ending time; and

communicate that subsequent contending requests are permissible even if made before the scheduled ending time.

2. The device of claim 1, in which the processor is further adapted to:

detect an idle time in the medium; and

compare the idle time to a preset minimum time;

and in which the wireless transmission is determined to have ended if the idle time is longer than the preset minimum time.

3. The device of claim 2, in which the processor is further adapted to:

start an idle counter if the medium is detected to be idle.

4. The device of claim 2, in which

the preset minimum time equals a DIFS.

5. A device comprising:

a physical communication component; and

a processor coupled with the physical communication component, in which the processor is adapted to

receive data about a contention-free time window regarding a medium;

decode from the data a scheduled ending time of the time window;

then receive notification that contention will be permitted before the scheduled ending time; and

contend for the medium before the scheduled ending time pursuant to the notification.

6. The device of claim 5, in which

receiving notification includes receiving and interpreting a terminating frame.

7. The device of claim 5, in which the processor is further adapted to:

adjust a contention mechanism to prevent contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time; and

pursuant to the notification readjust the contention mechanism to enable contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time.

8. The device of claim 7, in which

adjusting the contention mechanism includes setting a counter to count down commensurately with the scheduled ending time, and

readjusting the contention mechanism includes advancing the counter to a smaller value.

9. The device of claim 8, in which

the smaller value is zero.

10. A device comprising:

means for receiving contending requests for respective wireless transmissions through a medium;

means for scheduling an ending time of a time window during which subsequent contending requests are impermissible;

means for communicating the scheduled ending time;

means for monitoring the medium;

means for determining that one of the wireless transmissions through the monitored medium ended before the scheduled ending time; and

means for communicating that subsequent contending requests are permissible even if made before the scheduled ending time.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

means for detecting an idle time in the medium; and

means for comparing the idle time to a preset minimum time;

and in which the wireless transmission is determined to have ended if the idle time is longer than the preset minimum time.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

means for starting an idle counter if the medium is detected to be idle.

13. The device of claim 11, in which

the preset minimum time equals a DIFS.

15. The device of claim 14, in which

the means for receiving notification includes receiving and interpreting a terminating frame.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

means for adjusting a contention mechanism to prevent contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time; and

means for readjusting the contention mechanism to enable contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time pursuant to the notification.

17. The device of claim 16, in which

the means for adjusting the contention mechanism includes means for setting a counter to count down commensurately with the scheduled ending time, and

the means for readjusting the contention mechanism includes means for advancing the counter to a smaller value.

18. The device of claim 17, in which

the smaller value is zero.

20. The article of claim 19, in which the instructions further result in:

detecting an idle time in the medium; and

comparing the idle time to a preset minimum time;

and in which the wireless transmission is determined to have ended if the idle time is longer than the preset minimum time.

21. The article of claim 20, in which the instructions further result in:

starting an idle counter if the medium is detected to be idle.

22. The article of claim 20, in which

the preset minimum time equals a DIFS.

24. The article of claim 23, in which

receiving notification includes receiving and interpreting a terminating frame.

25. The article of claim 23, in which the instructions further result in:

adjusting a contention mechanism to prevent contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time; and

pursuant to the notification readjusting the contention mechanism to enable contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time.

26. The article of claim 25, in which

adjusting the contention mechanism includes setting a counter to count down commensurately with the scheduled ending time, and

readjusting the contention mechanism includes advancing the counter to a smaller value.

27. The article of claim 26, in which

the smaller value is zero.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

detecting an idle time in the medium; and

comparing the idle time to a preset minimum time;

and in which the wireless transmission is determined to have ended if the idle time is longer than the preset minimum time.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

starting an idle counter if the medium is detected to be idle.

31. The method of claim 29, in which

the preset minimum time equals a DIFS.

14. A device comprising:

means for receiving data about a contention-free time window regarding a medium;

means for decoding from the data a scheduled ending time of the time window;

means for then receiving notification that contention will be permitted before the scheduled ending time; and

means for contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time pursuant to the notification.

19. An article comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, in which when the instructions are executed by at least one device, they result in;

receiving contending requests for respective wireless transmissions through a medium;

scheduling an ending time of a time window during which subsequent contending requests are impermissible;

communicating the scheduled ending time;

monitoring the medium;

determining that one of the wireless transmissions through the monitored medium ended before the scheduled ending time; and

communicating that subsequent contending requests are permissible even if made before the scheduled ending time.

23. An article comprising:

a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, in which when the instructions are executed by at least one device, they result in;

receiving data about a contention-free time window regarding a medium;

decoding from the data a scheduled ending time of the time window;

then receiving notification that contention will be permitted before the scheduled ending time; and

contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time pursuant to the notification.

28. A method comprising:

receiving contending requests for respective wireless transmissions through a medium;

scheduling an ending time of a time window during which subsequent contending requests are impermissible;

communicating the scheduled ending time;

monitoring the medium;

determining that one of the wireless transmissions through the monitored medium ended before the scheduled ending time; and

communicating that subsequent contending requests are permissible even if made before the scheduled ending time.

32. A method comprising:

receiving data about a contention-free time window regarding a medium;

decoding from the data a scheduled ending time of the time window;

then receiving notification that contention will be permitted before the scheduled ending time; and

contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time pursuant to the notification.

33. The method of claim 32, in which

receiving notification includes receiving and interpreting a terminating frame.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

adjusting a contention mechanism to prevent contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time; and

pursuant to the notification readjusting the contention mechanism to enable contending for the medium before the scheduled ending time.

35. The method of claim 34, in which

adjusting the contention mechanism includes setting a counter to count down commensurately with the scheduled ending time, and

readjusting the contention mechanism includes advancing the counter to a smaller value.

36. The method of claim 35, in which

the smaller value is zero.