Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communication transition in a radio communication system

• US 20060079241A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Faccin, Stefano, Edney, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for requesting, and allocating communication resources at a new fixed-site transceiver of a radio communication system, such as a new access point of a wireless local area network. A resource information container is formed that is structured to include information elements that identify, amongst other things, resource requirements of a mobile unit. The information elements of a resource information container include a root node, one or more leaf nodes, and, selectably, one or more group nodes. The resource information container is communicated prior to commencement of transition procedures to early-reserve or determine availability of resources at a new access point.

Claims

1. A method of transitioning from a first access point to a second access point in a network system, comprising:

discovering the second access point while communicatively coupled with the first access point;

generating a data structure that specifies a requested resource;

transmitting the data structure to the second access point before transitioning from a first access point to a second access point; and

determining to invoke a transition procedure based on a response to the data structure; and

transmitting a reassociation request including a resource information container that indicates a commitment to use the requested resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein discovering the second access point comprises receiving a beacon signal from the second access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a data structure further comprises generating a resource information container that includes a plurality of information elements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the resource information container further comprises generating the resource information container including a root information element and at least one data information element and associated resource information element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the resource information element specifies the requested resource.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data information element specifies whether the requested resource is mandatory.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the resource information container further comprises generating the resource information container including a root information element and an associated plurality of resource information elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of resource information elements are hierarchically arranged and each of the plurality of resource information elements specify a respective quality of service of the requested resource.

9. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for performing a method of generating a resource information container comprising:

a root information element that includes a field having an identifier of an access point;

a data information element that includes a control options field; and

a resource information element associated with the data information element that specifies a requested resource, wherein the resource information container includes an indicator of whether the requested resource is mandatory.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the indicator is included in a field of the control options field.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the resource information container further includes a plurality of resource information elements associated with the data information element that each specify a respective quality of service value of the requested resource.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the indicator specifies whether at least one of the plurality of resource information elements specifies a required quality of service value of the requested resource.

13. A method of facilitating a fast transition of a mobile station in a network system, between a first access point to a second access point comprising:

receiving by the second access point a resource information container that specifies a requested resource before transitioning from the first access point to the second access point;

performing an evaluation of whether the requested resource is available to be allocated;

determining whether to allocate the requested resource based on the evaluation; and

transmitting a response to an originator of the data structure, wherein the response includes an indication of whether the requested resource was allocated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising allocating the requested resource in response to determining the requested resource is available to be allocated.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an association request from the originator subsequent to transmitting the response that includes an index to the resource information container; and

returning an association response to the originator.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the requested resource includes a quality of service level of the requested resource.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for facilitating a fast transition of a mobile station in a network system, comprising:

first instructions that receive a data structure that specifies a requested resource;

second instructions that perform an evaluation of whether the requested resource is available to be allocated;

third instructions that determine whether to allocate the requested resource based on the evaluation; and

fourth instructions that transmit a response to an originator of the data structure, wherein the response includes an indication of whether the requested resource was allocated.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising fifth instructions that allocate the requested resource in response to the third instructions determining the requested resource is available to be allocated.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sixth instructions that receive a reassociation request from the originator subsequent to the fourth instructions transmitting the response; and

seventh instructions that return a reassociation response to the originator.

20. A mobile station adapted to perform communications in a network system, comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive data on a radio link; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled with the transceiver and configured to generate a data structure that specifies a requested resource, convey the data structure to the transceiver for transmission on the radio link, receive a response to the data structure, and determine whether to invoke a transition procedure based on the response.

21. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the data structure comprises a resource information container that includes a plurality of information elements.

22. The mobile station of claim 21, wherein the resource information container further comprises a root information element and at least one data information element and associated resource information element.

23. The mobile station of claim 22, wherein the resource information element specifies the requested resource and the data information element specifies whether the requested resource is mandatory.

24. The mobile station of claim 21, wherein the resource information container further comprises a root information element and an associated plurality of resource information elements.

25. The mobile station of claim 24, wherein the plurality of resource information elements are hierarchically arranged and each of the plurality of resource information elements specify a respective quality of service of the requested resource.

26. An access point adapted to facilitate a fast transition of a mobile station in a network system, comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit and receive data on a radio link; and

a processing unit communicatively coupled with the transceiver and configured to receive a data structure that specifies a requested resource, perform an evaluation of whether the requested resource is available to be allocated, determine whether to allocate the requested resource based on the evaluation, and convey a response addressed to an originator of the data structure, wherein the response includes an indication of whether the requested resource was allocated.

27. The access point of claim 26, wherein the processing unit allocates the requested resource in response to determining the requested resource is available to be allocated.

28. The access point of claim 27, wherein the transceiver receives a reassociation request from the originator subsequent to the processing unit conveying the response, and wherein the processing unit generates a reassociation response addressed to the originator in response to the transceiver receiving the reassociation request.