Method and apparatus for storing mobile station physical measurements and MAC performance statistics in a management information base of an access point

• US 20060018284A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dick, Stephen G., Rahman, Shamim Akbar, Hunkeler, Teresa Joanne, Rudolf, Marian
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/24 with feedback of measurements to the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and wireless communication system for requesting and obtaining transmit power control (TPC) information. The system includes at least one access point (AP) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When the AP decides to adapt the transmit power level of the WTRU, the AP transmits a TPC request frame to the WTRU. In response to receiving the TPC request frame, the WTRU performs one or more physical measurements and sends a TPC report frame back to the AP.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including at least one access point (AP), at least one network management entity (NME) and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a method of making physical parameter measurement data of the WTRU accessible to the NME, the method comprising:

(a) the AP transmitting a first message to the WTRU requesting that the WTRU measure and report at least one specific physical parameter;

(b) in response to receiving the first message, the WTRU measuring the at least one specific physical parameter and transmitting a second message including data associated with the at least one specific physical parameter measurement to the AP; and

(c) the AP storing the specific physical parameter measurement data in the MIB such that the data is available to the at least one NME.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU comprises a media access control (MAC) layer management entity (MLME).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates the transmit power level of the WTRU.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates link margin of the WTRU.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates clear channel assessment (CCA) of the WTRU.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates perceived signal-to-noise indication (PSNI) of the WTRU.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the WTRU.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates received channel power indication (RCPI) of the WTRU.

10. A wireless communication system comprising:

(a) at least one access point (AP) including a first management entity, a management information base (MIB) and a second management entity;

(b) at least one network management entity (NME); and

(c) at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein;

(i) the AP transmits a first message to the WTRU requesting that the WTRU measure and report at least one specific physical parameter;

(ii) in response to receiving the first message, the WTRU measures the at least one specific physical parameter and transmits a second message including data associated with the at least one specific physical parameter measurement to the AP; and

(iii) the AP stores the specific physical parameter measurement data in the MIB such that the data is available to the at least one NME.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the wherein WTRU comprises a media access control (MAC) layer management entity (MLME).

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication system is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates the transmit power level of the WTRU.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates link margin of the WTRU.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates clear channel assessment (CCA) of the WTRU.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates perceived signal-to-noise indication (PSNI).

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the WTRU.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the specific physical parameter measurement data indicates received channel power indication (RCPI) of the WTRU.