Dynamic update of quality of service (QoS) parameter set

• US 20030214905A1
• Filed: 05/10/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, Eitan, Ophir, Lior
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0017 where the mode-switching is based on Quality of Service requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, the network comprising at least two devices, the quality of services defined at least in part by data communicated by a first of the devices to other devices in the network through one or more quality of service parameters. In accordance with the present invention, a change indicator is initialized at the start of a monitoring period. Then, during the monitoring period, the stored parameters are monitored for changes in those of thee stored parameters that define the quality of service. When a change is detected, the change indicator is updated in response and other devices in the network are periodically notified of the current value of the change indicator. The other devices are operable to update locally stored quality of service parameters in response to detecting a change in the change indicator.

Claims

1. A method of providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, the network comprising at least two devices, the quality of services defined at least in part by data communicated by a first of the devices to other devices in the network through one or more quality of service parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

initializing a change indicator at the start of a monitoring period;

during the monitoring period;

monitoring the stored parameters for changes in the stored parameters that define the quality of service;

updating the change indicator in response to the monitoring stepchange in the stored parameters that define the quality of service;

periodically notifying the other devices in the network of the change indicator, the other devices operable to update locally stored quality of service parameters in response to detecting a change in the change indicator.

3. A method of providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed by a quality of service coordinator.

2. A method of providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, the network comprising at least two devices, the quality of services defined at least in part by data communicated by a first of the devices to all other devices in the network through one or more stored parameters, the method comprising the steps of:

initializing a change indicator at the start of operation;

stroring the change indicatora monitoring period;

repeatedly during the monitoring period;

monitoring the received change indicator for changes in the quality of service requirements;

comparing the received change indicator to the most recently stored updating the change indicator in response to the monitoring step;

in response to detecting a change in the change indicator, updating the stored quality of service parameters, and storing the new change indicator.

4. A method of providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, according to claim 2 wherein the method is performed by a client in the network.

11. The method of providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the update of the quality of service parameters based on the change in the change indicator is performed no longer than a predefined time period after the reception of the new change indicator.

5. Apparatus for providing improved quality of service in a wireless local area network transmission system, the network comprising at least two devices, the quality of services defined at least in part by data communicated by a first of the devices to all other devices in the network through one or more stored parameters, the apparatus comprising:

a quality of service coordinator for initializing a change indicator at the start of operation;

memory for stroring the change indicator during a monitoring period;

the quality of service coordinator operable during the monitoring period and further comprising;

a frame processor for monitor the received change indicator for changes in the quality of service requirements;

a comparator for comparing the received change indicator to the most recently stored updating the change indicator in response to the monitoring step;

an updator operable, in response to detecting a change in the change indicator, to update the stored quality of service parameters, and to store the new change indicator.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the quality of service coordinator is an IEEE 802.11 compliant access point (AP).

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the quality of service coordinator is an IEEE 802.11e compliant hybrid coordinator (HC).

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the apparatus is a client in the network.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the client is an IEEE802.11 compliant station (STA).

10. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the client is an IEEE 802.11e compliant quality of service station (QSTA).

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the update of the quality of service parameters based on a detected change in the change indicator is performed for no longer than a predefined time period after the reception of the new change indicator.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the apparatus is a client in the network.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the client is an IEEE 802.11 compliant station (STA).

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the client is an IEEE 802.11e compliant quality of service station (QSTA).