Cooperative wireless communications, such as cooperative medium access control for example
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting data from a source wireless LAN device to a destination wireless LAN device, the method comprising:
- a) determining a first time needed to transmit the data from the source wireless LAN device directly to the destination wireless LAN device;
b) determining a second time needed to transmit the data from the source wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via an intermediate wireless LAN device;
c) determining whether or not the second time is less than the first time; and
d) if the second time is determined to be less than the first time, then transmitting the data from the source wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via the intermediate wireless LAN device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When it is advantageous to do so, a wireless LAN station sends data packets to a destination station via an intermediate station, instead of to the destination station directly. That is, the intermediate station, which serves as a helper to the source, forwards packets received from the source station to the intended destination station. This cooperative data transmission approach can result in system performance improvement, as long as the total time consumed by two-hop transmission (i.e., transmission via the helper station) is less than direct transmission. Such a determination may be made using rate information stored at each station. Specifically, using the rate information, signaling needed to set up a transmission, the amount of data to be transmitted, etc., transmitting the data directly and via a help station may be compared.
34 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting data from a source wireless LAN device to a destination wireless LAN device, the method comprising:
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a) determining a first time needed to transmit the data from the source wireless LAN device directly to the destination wireless LAN device;
b) determining a second time needed to transmit the data from the source wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via an intermediate wireless LAN device;
c) determining whether or not the second time is less than the first time; and
d) if the second time is determined to be less than the first time, then transmitting the data from the source wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via the intermediate wireless LAN device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for use by a listening wireless LAN device that hears a transmission from a sending wireless LAN device, for discovering wireless LAN conditions, the method comprising:
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a) estimating a channel condition between the sending wireless LAN device and the listening wireless LAN device, wherein the channel condition includes a data rate; and
b) storing the data rate, in association with an identifier of the sending wireless LAN device, as a data rate between the sending wireless LAN device and the listening wireless LAN device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless LAN device comprising:
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a) means for determining a first time needed to transmit data from the wireless LAN device directly to a destination wireless LAN device;
b) means for determining a second time needed to transmit the data from the wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via an intermediate wireless LAN device;
c) means for determining whether or not the second time is less than the first time; and
d) means for transmitting the data from the wireless LAN device to the destination wireless LAN device via the intermediate wireless LAN device if the second time is determined to be less than the first time. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification