Device synchronization on a communication network

• US 20060268891A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Heidari-Bateni, Ghobad, Czaja, Stanislaw
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.400
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method to enable scheduling communications activities for an electronic communication device configured to communicate across a communication network is provided. The method comprises the steps of scheduling a communication activity during a scheduling window such that the communication activity is scheduled to occur toward the end of a communication window; entering a power-save mode after the scheduling step; and transitioning from the power-save mode prior to the scheduled communication activity. In one embodiment the method can further include a step of conducting the scheduled communication activity and transitioning back to the power-save mode after a next communication activity is scheduled or be implemented to allow the step of conducting the scheduled communication activity and transitioning back to the power-save mode at the end of the next communication window. In one embodiment the transitioning step comprises the steps of awakening from the power-save mode and synchronizing with the communication network, wherein synchronizing can comprise the step of synchronizing with electronic communication device associated with the communication network.

Claims

1. A method of scheduling communications activities for an electronic communication device configured to communicate across a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

scheduling a communication activity during a scheduling window;

entering a power-save mode after the scheduling step; and

transitioning from the power-save mode to conduct the scheduled communication activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step is performed such that the communication activity is scheduled to occur toward the end of a communication window.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling step is performed such that the communication activity is scheduled to occur in temporal proximity to at least one other network activity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of conducting the scheduled communication activity and transitioning back to the power-save mode after a next communication activity is scheduled.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of conducting the scheduled communication activity and transitioning back to the power-save mode at the end of the next communication window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning step comprises the steps of awakening from the power-save mode and synchronizing with the communication network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said synchronizing comprises the step of synchronizing with electronic communication device associated with the communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scheduling is performed by a first electronic communication device associated with the communication network and includes a step of scheduling a synchronization period for synchronization with the communication network, and the method further comprises the steps of:

the first electronic communication device requesting assistance in synchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, and

the first electronic communication device relinquishing the scheduled synchronization period to the second electronic communication device to communicate information used for resynchronization.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the synchronization period and the communication activity are scheduled in successive time slots.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second electronic communication devices use a distributed reservation protocol reservation to coordinate their slots.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scheduling is performed by a first electronic communication device associated with the communication network and further comprises the step of scheduling a synchronization period for synchronization, and the method further comprises the step of the first electronic communication device requesting assistance in resynchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, wherein the second electronic communication device transmits dummy frames during the synchronization period to assist in synchronization.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scheduling is performed by a first electronic communication device associated with the communication network and the scheduled period includes time at the beginning of the period for assisting a second electronic communication device with resynchronization.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scheduling is performed by a first electronic communication device associated with the communication network and the scheduled period includes time at the beginning of the period for receiving assistance with resynchronization from a second electronic communication device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second electronic communication devices communicate regarding resynchronization through private handshaking.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the power-save mode is at least one of a sleep mode and a deep-sleep mode.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling window is a beacon period.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication window is a superframe.

18. A method of scheduling a communication activity comprising the steps of scheduling a network communication activity to satisfy a quality of service parameter, entering a power-save mode between successive scheduled network activities, and exiting the power-save mode to conduct the scheduled network activity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the network communication activity comprises a plurality of communication intervals distributed in time and the electronic communication device enters the power-save mode between the successive communication intervals.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the network communication activity comprises a scheduling activity and a communication activity and the electronic communication device enters the power-save mode between the scheduling activity and the communication activity.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur at or near the end of a communication window.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur in temporal proximity to at least one other network activity.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur in temporal proximity to a network scheduling activity.

24. An electronic communication device configured for communication across a communication network, comprising:

communication control logic configured to provide communication across the communication network;

scheduling control logic configured to schedule the communication across the communication network;

power control logic configured to cause the electronic communication device to enter a power-save mode after the communication is scheduled and to transition from the power-save mode prior to the scheduled communication activity.

25. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling control logic is configured to schedule the communication at the end of a communication window.

26. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling control logic is configured to schedule the communication in temporal proximity to at least one other network activity.

27. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the control logic comprises at least one of hardware, software and a combination of hardware and software.

28. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the power control logic is configured to transition from the power-save mode for the scheduled communication activity and to transition back to the power-save mode after a next communication activity is scheduled.

29. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the communication control logic is configured to conduct the scheduled communication activity and the power control logic is configured to transition back to the power-save mode at the end of the next communication window.

30. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the power control logic is configured to transition the electronic communication device from the power-save mode in time to synchronize the electronic communication device with the communication network.

31. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling control logic is further configured to schedule a synchronization period for synchronization with the communication network, request assistance in synchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, and relinquish the scheduled synchronization period to the second electronic communication device to communicate information used for resynchronization.

32. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling control logic is further configured to schedule a synchronization period for synchronization with the communication network, offer assistance in synchronization to a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, and relinquish the scheduled synchronization period to the second electronic communication device to communicate information used for resynchronization.

33. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling control logic is further configured to schedule a synchronization period for synchronization with the communication network, request assistance in resynchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network to enable the electronic communication device to receive dummy frames from the second electronic communication device during the synchronization period to assist in synchronization.

34. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the power-save mode is at least one of a sleep mode and a deep-sleep mode.

35. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the power control logic is configured to power down the communication control logic while leaving a clock running.

36. The electronic communication device of claim 24, wherein the scheduling is performed during a scheduling window.

37. The electronic communication device of claim 25, wherein the communication window is a superframe.

38. An electronic communication device configured for communication across a communication network, comprising:

means for communicating with at least one other electronic communication device across the communication network;

means for scheduling the communication across the communication network;

means for entering a power-save mode after the communication is scheduled and for transitioning from the power-save mode prior to the scheduled communication activity.

39. In a distributed wireless communication network, a method of scheduling a communication activity for an electronic communication device associated with the network, the network temporally organized into communication windows for network activities, a communication window comprising a scheduling window and a plurality of media access slots, the method comprising the steps of:

a first electronic communication device scheduling a network communication activity for a communication window, the scheduling occurring during the scheduling window associated with that communication window, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur in one or more media access slots in temporal proximity to a second network activity;

the first electronic communication device entering a power-save mode after the communication activity and second network activity are conducted; and

the first electronic communication device remaining in the power-save mode until prior to a next scheduled network activity.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur at or near the end of the communication window;

the first electronic communication device enters a power-save mode after the communication activity is scheduled; and

the first electronic communication device remains in the power-save mode until prior to the scheduled communication activity.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur at or near the beginning of the communication window;

the first electronic communication device enters a power-save mode after the communication activity is conducted; and

the first electronic communication device remains in the power-save mode until prior to a next scheduling activity.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of scheduling includes a step of scheduling one or more media access slots prior to the scheduled communication activity for synchronization of the first electronic communication device with the communication network, and the method further comprises the steps of:

the first electronic communication device requesting assistance in synchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, and

the first electronic communication device relinquishing the scheduled synchronization slots to the second electronic communication device to communicate information used for synchronization.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of scheduling includes a step of scheduling one or more media access slots prior to the scheduled communication activity for synchronization of the first electronic communication device with the communication network, and the method further comprises the steps of:

the first electronic communication device offering assistance in synchronization to a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, and

the first electronic communication device relinquishing the scheduled synchronization slots to the second electronic communication device to communicate information used for synchronization.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the synchronization period and the communication activity are scheduled in successive media access slots.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the first and second electronic communication devices use a distributed reservation protocol reservation to coordinate their slots.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of scheduling further comprises the step of scheduling a synchronization period comprising one or more media access slots, and the method further comprises the step of the first electronic communication device requesting assistance in resynchronization from a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, wherein the second electronic communication device transmits dummy frames during the synchronization period to assist in synchronization.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of scheduling further comprises the step of scheduling a synchronization period comprising one or more media access slots, and the method further comprises the step of the first electronic communication device offering assistance in resynchronization to a second electronic communication device associated with the communication network, wherein the second electronic communication device transmits dummy frames during the synchronization period to assist in synchronization.

48. In a communication network, a method of scheduling a communication activity comprising the steps of:

an electronic communication device scheduling a network communication activity for a communication window, the scheduling performed so as to satisfy one or more quality of service parameters associated with the communication network;

the electronic communication device entering a power-save mode between successive scheduled network activities; and

the electronic communication device exiting the power-save mode to conduct the scheduled network activity.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the network communication activity comprises a plurality of communication intervals distributed in time and the electronic communication device enters the power-save mode between the successive communication intervals.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the network communication activity comprises a scheduling activity and a communication activity and the electronic communication device enters the power-save mode between the scheduling activity and the communication activity.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the communication activity is scheduled to occur at or near the end of a communication window.

52. In a distributed wireless communication network, a method of scheduling a communication activity for an electronic communication device associated with the network, the network temporally organized into superframes for network activities, a superframe comprising a scheduling window and a plurality of media access slots, the method comprising the steps of:

a first electronic communication device reserving a network communication activity time slot comprising one or more media access slots during a superframe, the reservation made on behalf of a second electronic communication device,

the first electronic communication device communicating information regarding the reservation to the second electronic communication device; and

the reservation including a reservation of one or more additional media access slots for device synchronization.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the reservation is communicated through handshaking between the first and second electronic communication devices.