Flexible multicast and/or broadcast listening intervals

• US 20070127478A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kneckt, Jarkko, Jokela, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for communicating information between two nodes, points or terminals in a wireless local area network (WLAN), where a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling is allowed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network. The two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN. The AP and the STA can indicate its capability to support a flexible multicast and broadcast listening interval by using new fields in Beacon and Probe Response frames and in (Re)Association Request Frames. The multicast and broadcast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating information between two nodes, points or terminals in a wireless local area network (WLAN); and

allowing a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the AP and the STA can indicate its capability to support a flexible multicast and broadcast listening interval by using new fields in Beacon and Probe Response frames and in (Re)Association Request Frames.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the multicast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein during this signalling phase, the listening interval for the multicast and broadcast service can be agreed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the STA can propose a listen interval based on the multicast and broadcast service characteristic and the AP can either accept the proposal or define a new listen interval.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the AP can also advertise the active listening intervals by sending a Multicast Service Info information element is each Beacon and Probe Response frame.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein, by using this element, the AP can also indicate whether there are buffered broadcast data (Buffered Broadcast Data) and/or buffered multicast traffic belonging to certain multicast group (Buffered Traffic Indication).

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises implementing the step of the method via a computer program running in a processor, controller or other suitable module in one or more network nodes, points, terminals or elements in the wireless LAN network.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein multicast or broadcast traffic is transmitted using a ‘

More Data’

bit to indicate the first node, point or terminal has buffered data from the same multicast or broadcast address.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the second node, point or terminal uses the More Data bit indication to return to power save state.

9. A wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:

two nodes or points that communicate information between the same, the two nodes or points having modules configured for allowing a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

10. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 9, wherein the two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN.

11. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 10, wherein the AP and the STA can indicate its capability to support a flexible multicast and broadcast listening interval by using new fields in Beacon and Probe Response frames and in (Re)Association Request Frames.

12. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 9, wherein the multicast and broadcast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.

13. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 9, wherein during this signalling phase, the listen interval for the multicast and broadcast service can be agreed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

14. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 10, wherein the STA can propose a listening interval based on the multicast and broadcast service characteristic and the AP can either accept the proposal or define a new listen interval.

15. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 14, wherein the AP can also advertise the active listen intervals by sending a Multicast Service Info information element is each Beacon and Probe Response frame.

16. A wireless local area network (WLAN) according to claim 15, wherein, by using this element, the AP can also indicate whether there are buffered broadcast data (Buffered Broadcast Data) and/or buffered multicast traffic belonging to certain multicast group (Buffered Traffic Indication).

17. A first node, point or terminal comprising:

one or more modules configured for communicating information to a second node, point or terminal in a wireless local area network (WLAN); and

a module configured for allowing a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

18. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 17, wherein the two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN.

19. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 18, wherein the AP and the STA can indicate its capability to support flexible multicast and broadcast listening interval by using new fields in Beacon and Probe Response frames and in (Re)Association Request Frames.

20. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 17, wherein the multicast and broadcast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.

21. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 17, wherein during this signalling phase, the listening interval for the multicast and broadcast service can be agreed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

22. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 18, wherein the STA can propose a listening interval based on the multicast and broadcast service characteristic and the AP can either accept the proposal or define a new listen interval.

23. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 22, wherein the AP can also advertise the active listening intervals by sending Multicast Service Information element is each Beacon and Probe Response frame.

24. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 23, wherein, by using this element, the AP can also indicate whether there are buffered broadcast data (Buffered Broadcast Data) and/or buffered multicast traffic belonging to certain multicast group (Buffered Traffic Indication).

25. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 17, wherein multicast or broadcast traffic is transmitted using a ‘

More Data’

bit to indicate the first node, point or terminal has buffered data from the same multicast or broadcast address.

26. A first node, point or terminal according to claim 25, wherein the second node, point or terminal uses the More Data bit indication to return to power save state.

27. A computer program product with a program code, which program code is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out the steps of a method comprising allowing a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network, when the computer program is run in a module of either a first node, point or terminal, such as an Access Point (AP), a second node, point or terminal, such as a station (STA), or some combination thereof.

31. Apparatus comprising:

means for communicating information between two nodes, points or terminals in a wireless local area network (WLAN); and

means for allowing a variable multicast and/or broadcast listening interval and associated signalling between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the two nodes, points or terminals include an access point (AP) or other suitable network node or terminal and a station (STA) or other suitable network node or terminal in the WLAN.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the multicast service is setup by using Multicast and Broadcast Service Setup signalling.

34. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein during this signalling phase, the listening interval for the multicast service can be agreed between the two nodes, points or terminals in the wireless LAN network.