Quiet periods for detecting wireless devices

• US 20070165586A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Staccato Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Staccato Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, James, Kumar, Nishant, Long, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/605,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]

Abstract

A communication is received that includes information regarding a quiet period on a wireless logical channel. During the quiet period, transmissions are refrained from occurring on the wireless logical channel. At least one device performs a process to detect wireless devices, if any, on the wireless logical channel during at least part of the quiet period.

Claims

1. A method for creating a quiet period, comprising:

receiving a communication that includes information regarding a quiet period on a wireless logical channel; and

during the quiet period, refraining from transmitting on the wireless logical channel, wherein at least one device performs a process to detect wireless devices, if any, on the wireless logical channel during at least part of the quiet period.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication includes a beacon.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information is included in a quiet period information element (IE).

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes one or more slots during which the quiet period occurs.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes a time to live.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising in the event the communication is not received within a time threshold, deciding to initiate the quiet period by transmitting the communication.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising in the event the communication is received, acting as a reflector by forwarding the information regarding the quiet period.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the quiet period is a first quiet period and the wireless logical channel is a first wireless logical channel; and

there is a second quiet period on a second wireless logical channel during which a receiving device that receives a second communication regarding the second quiet period refrains from transmitting on the second wireless logical channel.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first wireless logical channel and the second wireless logical channel are not orthogonal to each other.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the first quiet period and the second quiet period overlap temporally.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein in the event the first quiet period and the second quiet period do not overlap temporally then the method further comprises:

at one or more devices associated with the first quiet period, determining whether to move the first quiet period;

at one or more devices associated with the second quiet period, determining whether to move the second quiet period; and

moving the first quiet period and/or the second quiet period so that the first quiet period and the second quiet period overlap temporally.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

at one or more devices associated with either the first quiet period or the second quiet period, determining that a time threshold to move the other quiet period has been exceeded; and

moving said either first quiet period or second quiet period so that the first quiet period and the second quiet period overlap.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication is transmitted by a device operating according to a first wireless specification and the communication is received by a device operating according to a second wireless specification.

14. A system for creating a quiet period, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a communication that includes information regarding a quiet period on a wireless logical channel; and

a transmitter configured to refrain from transmitting on the wireless logical channel during the quiet period, wherein at least one device performs a process to detect wireless devices, if any, on the wireless logical channel during at least part of the quiet period.

15. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising in the event the communication is not received within a time threshold, deciding to initiate the quiet period by transmitting the communication.

16. A system as recited in claim 14 further comprising in the event the communication is received, acting as a reflector by forwarding the information regarding the quiet period.

17. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the quiet period is a first quiet period and the wireless logical channel is a first wireless logical channel; and

there is a second quiet period on a second wireless logical channel during which a receiving device that receives a second communication regarding the second quiet period refrains from transmitting on the second wireless logical channel.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first quiet period and the second quiet period overlap temporally.

19. A computer program product for creating a quiet period, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a communication that includes information regarding a quiet period on a wireless logical channel; and

during the quiet period, refraining from transmitting on the wireless logical channel, wherein at least one device performs a process to detect wireless devices, if any, on the wireless logical channel during at least part of the quiet period.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, the computer program product further comprising computer instructions for deciding to initiate the quiet period by transmitting the communication, in the event the communication is not received within a time threshold.

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, the computer program product further comprising computer instructions for acting as a reflector by forwarding the information regarding the quiet period, in the event the communication is received.

22. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein:

the quiet period is a first quiet period and the wireless logical channel is a first wireless logical channel; and

there is a second quiet period on a second wireless logical channel during which a receiving device that receives a second communication regarding the second quiet period refrains from transmitting on the second wireless logical channel.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein the first quiet period and the second quiet period overlap temporally.