Method and system for media synchronization in QoS-enabled wireless networks
First Claim
1. In a QoS-enabled wireless network comprising an access point including a link-layer synchronization mechanism enabled to synchronize corresponding traffic streams, a method for synchronizing a first stream and a second stream, the method comprising:
- transmitting, to the access point, a first link-layer QoS request for the first stream; and
transmitting, to the access point,.a second link-layer QoS request for the second stream, wherein the second QoS request identifies the first stream and includes at least one synchronization parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system directed to negotiating and triggering media stream synchronization at the link layer in a QoS-enabled 802.11 WLAN, or other wireless, network. In one implementation, the present invention allows for improved performance of streaming network applications, such as video conferencing, over wireless links. In one implementation, the present invention also provides an optional mechanism whereby a mobile station can signal a need for on-the-fly throttling, if an application on the mobile detects that there is a need for better synchronization of two streams, such as a lower priority stream to a higher priority stream.
59 Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a QoS-enabled wireless network comprising an access point including a link-layer synchronization mechanism enabled to synchronize corresponding traffic streams, a method for synchronizing a first stream and a second stream, the method comprising:
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transmitting, to the access point, a first link-layer QoS request for the first stream; and
transmitting, to the access point,.a second link-layer QoS request for the second stream, wherein the second QoS request identifies the first stream and includes at least one synchronization parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a QoS-enabled wireless network comprising an access point including a link layer synchronization mechanism enabled to synchronize corresponding traffic streams, an apparatus for synchronizing a first stream and a second stream, comprising
a wireless network interface; -
a processor;
a memory;
a wireless network interface driver-application, stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the wireless network interface to transmit, to the access point, a first link-layer QoS request for the. first stream; and
transmit, to the access point, a second link-layer QoS request for the second stream, wherein the second QoS request identifies the first stream and includes at least one synchronization parameter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a QoS-enabled wireless network comprising an access point including a link layer synchronization mechanism enabled to synchronize corresponding traffic streams, an apparatus for synchronizing a first stream and a second stream, comprising
means for wirelessly communicating with an access point associated with a QoS-enabled wireless network; - for transmitting, to the access point, a first link-layer QoS request for the first stream; and
for transmitting, to the access point, a second link-layer QoS request for the second stream, wherein the second QoS request identifies the first stream and includes at least one synchronization parameter.
- for transmitting, to the access point, a first link-layer QoS request for the first stream; and
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18. An apparatus for synchronizing traffic streams over a wireless link, comprising
a wireless network interface for communication with a mobile station; -
a processor;
a memory; and
an access point application comprising a link-layer QoS module and a link layer synchronization module, the access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the apparatus to receive a first link-layer QoS request identifying a first stream receive a second link-layer QoS request identifying a second stream, and including synchronization parameters comprising an identifier corresponding to the first stream, and a synchronization constraint; and
enforce the synchronization constraint on the first and second streams. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a QoS-enabled access point including a link layer synchronization mechanism enabled to synchronize corresponding traffic streams, a method for synchronizing a first stream and a second stream, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a mobile station, a first link-layer QoS request identifying a first stream receiving, from the mobile station, a second link-layer QoS request identifying a second stream, and including synchronization parameters comprising an identifier corresponding to the first stream, and a synchronization constraint; and
enforcing the synchronization constraint on the first and second streams. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for synchronizing traffic streams over a wireless link, comprising
means for communicating with a first network; -
means for wirelessly communicating with a mobile station;
for receiving a first link-layer QoS request identifying a first stream;
for receiving a second link-layer QoS request identifying a second stream, and including synchronization parameters comprising an identifier corresponding to the first stream, and a synchronization constraint; and
means for enforcing the synchronization constraint on the first and second streams.
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Specification