WLAN TDM protocol

• US 20070165556A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Donovan, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A first wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices comprises an RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon. A control module communicates with the RF transceiver, determines a transmission position m and a default IFS time based on the beacon, selects a second IFS time when the RF transceiver receives a data packet from a second wireless network device having a transmission position m−1, and selects the default IFS time when the RF transceiver does not receive a data packet from the second wireless network device.

Claims

1. A first wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, comprising:

an RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon; and

a control module that communicates with the RF transceiver, that determines a transmission position m and a default IFS time based on the beacon, that selects a second IFS time when the RF transceiver receives a data packet from a second wireless network device having a transmission position m−

1, and that selects the default IFS time when the RF transceiver does not receive a data packet from the second wireless network device.

2. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

3. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein the RF transceiver transmits a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

4. The wireless network device of claim 3 further comprising a power management module that transitions the wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

5. The wireless network device of claim 4 wherein the power management module transitions the wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

6. The wireless network device of claim 5 wherein the power management module transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after the RF transceiver transmits the data packet.

7. A wireless network comprising the wireless network device of claim 4 and further comprising N−

1 wireless network devices wherein the power management module transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after all of the N wireless network devices transmit a data packet.

8. A wireless network comprising the wireless network device of claim 1 and further comprising a coordinator device that periodically transmits the beacon to the RF transceiver.

9. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein m=2 and the second IFS time is equal to a default IFS time of the second wireless network device.

10. A first wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, comprising:

transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving data packets and for periodically transmitting or receiving a beacon; and

control means for communicating with the transmitting and receiving means, for determining a transmission position m and a default IFS time based on the beacon, for selecting a second IFS time when the transmitting and receiving means receives a data packet from a second wireless network device having a transmission position m−

1, and for selecting the default IFS time when the transmitting and receiving means does not receive a data packet from the second wireless network device.

11. The wireless network device of claim 10 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

12. The wireless network device of claim 10 wherein the transmitting and receiving means transmits a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

13. The wireless network device of claim 12 further comprising power management means for transitioning the wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

14. The wireless network device of claim 13 wherein the power management means transitions the wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

15. The wireless network device of claim 14 wherein the power management means transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after the transmitting and receiving means transmits the data packet.

16. A wireless network comprising the wireless network device of claim 13 and further comprising N−

1 wireless network devices wherein the power management means transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after all of the N wireless network devices transmit a data packet.

17. The wireless network device of claim 10 wherein m=2 and the second IFS time is equal to a default IFS time of the second wireless network device.

18. A method for transmitting and receiving data with a first wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, comprising:

transmitting and receiving data packets;

periodically transmitting or receiving a beacon;

determining a transmission position m and a default IFS time based on the beacon;

selecting a second IFS time when the first wireless network device receives a data packet from a second wireless network device having a transmission position m−

1; and

selecting the default IFS time when the first wireless network device does not receive a data packet from the second wireless network device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising transitioning the first wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of transitioning includes transitioning the first wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of transitioning includes transitioning the first wireless network device to the inactive mode after the first wireless network device transmits the data packet.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the wireless network includes N wireless network devices, the method further comprising transitioning the first wireless network device to the inactive mode after all of the N wireless network devices transmit a data packet.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein m=2 and the second IFS time is equal to a default IFS time of the second wireless network device.