Channel allocation method, communication system, and wireless communication apparatus in wireless network

• US 20030060207A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Mitsuhiro, Sugaya, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release

Abstract

In a wireless communication system with a periodical frame structure, as a method for transmitting information using an allocated channel over a plurality of frames by a single channel allocation request, an allocated channel is released when transmission is terminated or when a communication apparatus is disconnected from a network, and a channel can be allocated over a plurality of continuous frames.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses, among which wireless communication is performed using a predetermined frame period set by network broadcast information, wherein:

the wireless communication apparatuses each transmit a channel allocation request to a control station by using part of the frame period;

the control station transmits channel allocation information in response to the channel allocation request from each of the wireless communication apparatuses;

the wireless communication apparatuses each perform wireless communication using a channel allocated by the control station; and

a channel is allocated over a plurality of frames by a single channel allocation request.

2. A wireless communication method using a predetermined frame period set by network broadcast information, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a channel allocation request to a control station from a wireless communication apparatus belonging to a wireless network formed by the control station;

receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus, channel allocation information from the control station; and

performing wireless communication using a channel allocated by the control station,

wherein a channel is allocated over a plurality of frames by a single channel allocation request.

3. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the channel allocated by the channel allocation request is continuously allocated to transmission by the wireless communication apparatus until a channel release request is made.

4. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the channel allocated by the channel allocation request is continuously allocated to transmission by the wireless communication apparatus as long as the wireless communication apparatus that has made the channel allocation request exists in the wireless network formed by the control station.

5. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the channel allocation request comprises information concerning a time limit for releasing the allocated channel.

6. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the channel allocation request comprises information representing that the channel allocation request is a continuous channel allocation request over a plurality of frames.

7. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein the channel allocation request comprises information concerning the amount of information to be sent, and the number of continuous frames allocated by the channel allocation request is determined by the information.

8. A wireless communication method according to claim 2, wherein, when a continuous channel over a plurality of frames is allocated by the control station, information is transmitted and received in the allocated channel even when a network broadcast signal transmitted by the control station in each frame is not received.

9. A wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication using a predetermined frame period set by network broadcast information, comprising:

a wireless communication unit for transmitting a channel allocation request for transmitting information on an allocated channel and for receiving channel allocation information from a control station; and

a controller for controlling the wireless communication unit, whereby information transmission is performed using part of the frame period based on the channel allocation information,

wherein a channel is allocated over a plurality of frames by a single channel allocation request.

10. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when there is no information to be transmitted, the controller controls the wireless communication unit to transmit a channel release request.

11. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the channel allocation request comprises information concerning a time limit for releasing the allocated channel.

12. A wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication using a predetermined frame period set by network broadcast information, comprising:

means for managing, as a control station, a wireless network formed by a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses;

means for receiving a channel allocation request from each of the wireless communication apparatuses belonging to the network; and

means for allocating part of the frame period to the wireless communication apparatus that has transmitted the channel allocation request,

wherein a channel is allocated over a plurality of frames by a single channel allocations request.

13. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving a channel release request from each of the wireless communication apparatuses in the network;

means for changing channel allocation in the frame period by the channel release request; and

means for transmitting changed channel allocation information to the wireless communication apparatuses belonging to the network.

14. A wireless communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the channel allocated by the channel allocation request is continuously allocated to the wireless communication apparatus as long as the wireless communication apparatus that has made the channel allocation request exists in the wireless network managed by the control station.