Apparatus and methods for two or more delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) periods in wireless networks

• US 20060126533A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Wang, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,420,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A single access point may manage two or more wireless networks, each having a network name. The access point may be configured to store delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period values on a per network name basis. A processor of the access point may manage, on a per network name basis, timing of transmission of delivery traffic indication messages.

Claims

1. An access point configurable to support two or more wireless network names, the access point comprising:

a processor to manage, on a per wireless network name basis, timing of transmission of delivery traffic indication messages to wireless client devices belonging to wireless networks managed by said access point.

2. The access point of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory to store for each of said network names a respective delivery traffic indication message period value associated therewith.

3. The access point of claim 2, wherein said access point is to transmit a separate sequence of beacon frames for each of said networks, and beacon frames of a particular sequence for a particular network include said delivery traffic indication message period value associated with said network name for said particular network.

4. The access point of claim 2, wherein said access point is to transmit a single sequence of beacon frames for one of said networks and is not to transmit sequences of beacon frames for others of said networks, and wherein said access point is to inform a client device of a delivery traffic identification message period value associated with a particular network name during an association process for said wireless network having said particular network name.

5. The access point of claim 1, wherein said access point is 802.11a-enabled.

6. The access point of claim 1, wherein said access point is 802.11b-enabled.

7. The access point of claim 1, wherein said access point is 802.11g-enabled.

8. A wireless system comprising:

an access point configurable to support at least a first wireless network name and a second wireless network name;

a first wireless client device configurable to belong to a first wireless network having said first name; and

a second wireless client device configurable to belong to a second wireless network having said second name,

wherein said access point includes a processor to manage, on a per wireless network name basis, timing of transmission of delivery traffic indication messages to wireless client devices belonging to wireless networks managed by said access point.

9. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein said access point further includes:

a memory to store a first delivery traffic indication message period value associated with said first name and a second delivery traffic indication message period value associated with said second name.

10. The wireless system of claim 9, wherein said first value is different from said second value.

11. The wireless system of claim 9, wherein said access point is to transmit, for said first network, a first sequence of beacon frames that include said first value, and said access point is to transmit, for said second network, a second sequence of beacon frames that include said second value.

12. The wireless system of claim 9, wherein said access point is to transmit a single sequence of beacon frames for said first network and is not to transmit a sequence of beacon frames for said second network, and wherein said access point is to inform a wireless client device of said second value during an association process for said second network.

13. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein said access point and said wireless client devices are 802.11a-enabled.

14. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein said access point and said wireless client devices are 802.11b-enabled.

15. The wireless system of claim 8, wherein said access point and said wireless client devices are 802.11g-enabled.

16. A method comprising:

transmitting delivery traffic indication messages for a first wireless network managed by an access point according to a first period of beacon intervals; and

transmitting delivery traffic indication messages for a second wireless network managed by said access point according to a second, different period of beacon intervals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein beacon frames for said first network are transmitted separately from beacon frames for said second network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said beacon frames for said first network include a value representing said first period and said beacon frames for said second network include a value representing said second period.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein beacon frames are transmitted for said first network and not for said second network, the method further comprising:

informing a wireless client device of said second period during an association process for said second network.

20. A method comprising:

configuring an access point supporting two or more wireless network names to store delivery traffic indication message periods on a per wireless network name basis.