Method and system for efficient addressing and power savings in wireless systems

• US 20060252443A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sammour, Mohammed, Chandra, Arty, Grandhi, Sudheer A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for addressing groups of stations in a wireless communication system begins by assigning the stations in the system into a number of groups. A group identifier is signaled to each station and the group identifier is indicated in a frame for each group that has data in the frame. The addressing method can be applied to power savings for the station, wherein the station enters a power saving mode if the group identifier for the station is not present in the frame.

Claims

1. A method for addressing groups of stations in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

assigning the stations in the system into a number of groups;

signaling a group identifier to each station; and

indicating the group identifier in a frame for each group that has data in the frame.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on their respective medium access control addresses.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on applying a function to a medium access control address of each station.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the function is a hashing function.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on a traffic utilization value of each station.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the assigning step is used to balance a traffic load in the system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the assigning step is dynamically performed to organize the stations into different groups to balance the traffic load in the system.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar frame aggregation requirements.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar data rates.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar power levels.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar quality of service requirements.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar application requirements.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar radio resource management requirements.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the assigning step includes assigning a station into more than one group.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signaling step includes sending a message to a station, the message containing the group identifier.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the message is an existing message selected from the group consisting of:

initiator aggregation control frame, responder aggregation control frame, ready to send frame, clear to send frame, modulation coding scheme request frame, modulation coding scheme feedback frame, block acknowledgement request frame, block acknowledgement frame, association request frame, association response frame, re-association request frame, re-association response frame, contention-free poll frame, and quality of service poll frame.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the message is a group assignment message.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating step includes using a field in the frame to include the group identifier.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the field includes a bitmap, the position of each bit in the bitmap identifies a group number, and the value of the bit indicates whether the group has data in the frame.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicating step includes using a field in the frame to indicate which groups do not have data in the frame.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sending an acknowledgement message from the station indicating that the group identifier was received by the station.

22. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

requesting by a station to be re-assigned to a different group.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the requesting step is performed when the station indicates a low power condition.

24. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

assigning the stations in the system into a number of groups;

signaling a group identifier to each station;

indicating the group identifier in a frame for each group that has data in the frame; and

entering a power saving mode by a station if the group identifier for the station is not present in the frame, thereby saving power.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on their respective medium access control addresses.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on applying a function to a medium access control address of each station.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the function is a hashing function.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on a traffic utilization value of each station.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar frame aggregation requirements.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar data rates.

31. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar power levels.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar quality of service requirements.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar application requirements.

34. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning the stations based on similar radio resource management requirements.

35. The method according to claim 24, wherein the assigning step includes assigning a station into more than one group.

36. The method according to claim 24, wherein the signaling step includes sending a message to a station, the message containing the group identifier.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the message is an existing message selected from the group consisting of:

initiator aggregation control frame, responder aggregation control frame, ready to send frame, clear to send frame, modulation coding scheme request frame, modulation coding scheme feedback frame, block acknowledgement request frame, block acknowledgement frame, association request frame, association response frame, re-association request frame, re-association response frame, contention-free poll frame, and quality of service poll frame.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the message is a group assignment message.

39. The method according to claim 24, wherein the indicating step includes using a field in the frame to include the group identifier.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the field includes a bitmap, the position of each bit in the bitmap identifies a group number, and the value of the bit indicates whether the group has data in the frame.

41. The method according to claim 24, wherein the indicating step includes using a field in the frame to indicate which groups do not have data in the frame.

42. The method according to claim 24, wherein the station remains in the power saving mode for at least a portion of the frame.

43. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of:

requesting by a station to be re-assigned to a different group.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the requesting step is performed when the station indicates a low power condition.

45. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

indicating a traffic direction in a frame, the traffic direction indicating the frame destination; and

entering a power saving mode by a station if the traffic direction is not to the station, thereby saving power.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the station remains in the power saving mode for at least a portion of the frame.

47. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving and decoding a frame at a station until the station decodes a power saving indicator; and

entering a power saving mode by the station if the power saving indicator indicates that the station can use the power saving mode.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the station remains in the power saving mode for at least a portion of the frame.

49. The method according to claim 47, further comprising the step of:

negotiating between an access point and the station that the station can use the power saving mode.

50. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

sending timing information to a station in a frame, the timing information occupying a portion of the frame;

entering a power saving mode by the station based on the timing information;

exiting the power saving mode by the station based on the timing information; and

receiving and decoding a portion of the frame by the station after exiting the power saving mode.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the timing information indicates when the station should exit the power saving mode.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the timing information includes an absolute time when the station should exit the power saving mode.

53. The method according to claim 51, wherein the timing information includes a relative time when the station should exit the power saving mode.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the relative time is a fraction of the frame duration.

55. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

providing listening instructions for a frame, the listening instructions including an indication of how much of a frame is to be decoded by a station that is not an intended receiver of the frame;

including the listening instructions in the frame;

transmitting the frame to a station;

receiving the frame at the station;

decoding the listening instructions at the station; and

decoding the frame at the station based on the listening instructions, wherein the station enters a power saving mode after decoding the portion of the frame indicated by the listening instructions, whereby the station saves power.

56. A method for enabling power savings in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

sending a first frame from a station to an access point (AP), the first frame including a request from the station to opt out of a transmission type;

sending at least one second frame from the AP;

receiving the second frame at the station;

decoding the transmission type of the second frame by the station; and

entering a power saving mode by the station if the transmission type of the second frame is the transmission type that the station has opted out from.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein the transmission type is an aggregation scheme.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the aggregation scheme is multiple receiver aggregation.

59. The method according to claim 57, wherein the aggregation scheme is medium access control service data unit aggregation.

60. The method according to claim 56, wherein the transmission type is a bursting scheme.

61. The method according to claim 56, wherein the first frame is dynamically generated by the station, based on a battery level of the station.

62. The method according to claim 56, wherein the first frame is a standalone frame.

63. The method according to claim 56, wherein the first frame is part of an existing frame, selected from the group consisting of:

an association frame, a reassociation frame, a capability frame, and a preference frame.

64. The method according to claim 56, further comprising the step of:

acknowledging the request by the AP.