METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED BASIC SERVICE SET TRANSITION FOR A HIGH THROUGHPUT WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK

• US 20070258384A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sammour, Mohammed, Rudolf, Marian, Levy, Joseph, Grandhi, Sudheer
• Application Number:
  US11/680,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258384A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes at least one high throughput-enabled access point (AP) and at least one high throughput-enabled station (STA). A STA and a target AP communicate high throughput-related information and the STA performs a basic service set (BSS) transition to the target AP based on the high throughput-related information. The high throughput-related information may be included in an IEEE 802.11r, 802.11k, or 802.11v signaling message. The STA may send measurement reports for an extended range and a normal range of an AP separately, or may send a combined measurement report for an extended range and a normal range of an AP. A network management entity may obtain current status information of the STA and the AP regarding high throughput capabilities, features and parameters and selectively enable and disable at least one of the high throughput capabilities, features and parameters of the STA and the AP.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including at least one high throughput-enabled access point (AP) and at least one high throughput-enabled station (STA), a method for enhanced basic service set (BSS) transition from a current AP to a target AP, the method comprising:

said at least one high throughput-enabled STA and a target high throughput-enabled AP communicating high throughput-related information; and

said at least one high throughput enabled STA performing a BSS transition to said target high throughput-enabled AP based on the communicated high throughput-related information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is communicated directly between said high throughput-enabled STA and said target high throughput-enabled AP.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is communicated via the current AP.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a beacon frame, a secondary beacon frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, a re-association request frame, a re-association response frame, an authentication request frame and an authentication response frame.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a data frame, a management frame, a control frame and an action frame.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11r related signaling message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11k related signaling message.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a measurement pilot frame, an AP channel request element, an AP channel report element, a neighbor report request frame, a neighbor report response frame, a neighbor report request element, and a neighbor report response element.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11v related signaling message.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a roaming management request frame, a roaming management request element, a roaming management response frame, and a roaming management response element.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information is IEEE 802.11n related information.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information includes at least one of availability of IEEE 802.11n services, availability of block acknowledgement (ACK) resources and pre-setup of block ACK agreements, setup of aggregated medium access control protocol data unit (A-MPDU) aggregation parameters, availability of power save multi-poll (PSMP) service, availability of automatic power save delivery (APSD) service and parameters, availability of extended range service, and availability of certain data rates.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information includes at least one of capabilities, features, and parameters of said high throughput-enabled STA and said target high throughput-enabled AP.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a frame aggregation format that allows aggregation of multiple medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) in one physical service data unit (PSDU).

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a frame aggregation format that allows aggregation of multiple medium access control (MAC) service data units (MSDUs) in one MAC protocol data unit (MPDU).

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a block acknowledgement mechanism.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates an N-Immediate block acknowledgement.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates an N-delayed block acknowledgement (BA) including a no acknowledgement on a BA or a BA request (BAR).

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates compressed bitmap block acknowledgement.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates implicit block acknowledgement request by asserting normal acknowledgement of a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) aggregated in a physical service data unit (PSDU).

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates long network allocation vector (NAV) reservation with contention free (CF)-end for NAV release.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates physical layer level spoofing.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) power save.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reduce multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates mechanisms to manage coexistence of 20 and 40 MHz channels.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates channel management and channel selection methods.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reduced inter-frame spacing (RIFS) protection.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates green field protection.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates power save multiple poll (PSMP).

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates multiple traffic identifier (TID) block acknowledgement.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates space time block coding (STBC) control frames.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates non-high throughput (HT) signal field (L-SIG) transmit opportunity protection.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a point of control and observation (PCO) capability.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates transmit beamforming capability.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates fast link adaptation.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates implicit feedback.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates channel state information (CSI) feedback.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates use of a zero length frame as a sounding frame.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates calibration support.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reverse direction support of responder'"'"'s data transfer.

41. The method of claim 1 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates antenna selection.

42. The method of claim 1 wherein said high throughput-enabled STA generates and sends measurement reports for an extended range and a normal range of said high throughput-enabled AP independently.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein said high throughput-enabled STA generates and sends a combined measurement report for an extended range and a normal range of said high throughput-enabled AP.

44. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a network management entity obtaining current status information of said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP regarding high throughput capabilities, features and parameters; and

the network management entity selectively enabling and disabling at least one of the high throughput capabilities, features and parameters of said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity is included in said high throughput-enabled AP.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity, said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP communicate via a layer 2 communication protocol retrieve the current status information.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity, said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP communicate via a layer 3 communication protocol retrieve the current status information.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the current status information is retrieved through a poll.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the current status information is retrieved through a periodical reporting.

50. The method of claim 44 wherein the current status information is retrieved in an un-solicited manner.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity, said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP communicate using a simple network management protocol (SNMP).

52. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity, said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP communicate using simple network management protocol (SNMP)-like messages, wherein SNMP messages are encapsulated into L2 frames by said high throughput-enabled AP for transmission between said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP and translated back and forth into SNMP messages in said high throughput-enabled AP for transmission between said high throughput-enabled AP and the network management entity.

53. The method of claim 44 wherein the network management entity, said high throughput-enabled STA and said high throughput-enabled AP communicate using Internet protocol (IP) units.

54. The method of claim 44 wherein the status information is collected via databases implemented on at least one of said high throughput-enabled STA, said high throughput-enabled AP and the network management entity.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the database is in a form of a management information base (MIB).

56. The method of claim 1 wherein the current AP and said target high throughput-enabled AP belong to the same extended service set (ESS).

57. The method of claim 1 wherein the current AP and said target high throughput-enabled AP belong to different extended service sets (ESSs).

58. A wireless communication system for enhanced basic service set (BSS) transition from a current access point (AP) to a target AP, the system comprising:

at least one high throughput-enabled AP configured to communicate high throughput-related information; and

at least one high throughput-enabled station (STA) configured to communicate high throughput-related information and perform a BSS transition to the target AP based on the communicated high throughput-related information.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is communicated directly between the STA and the target AP.

60. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is communicated between the STA and the target AP via the current AP.

61. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a beacon frame, a secondary beacon frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, a re-association request frame, a re-association response frame, an authentication request frame and an authentication response frame.

62. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a data frame, a management frame, a control frame and an action frame.

63. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11r related signaling message.

64. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11k related signaling message.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a measurement pilot frame, an AP channel request element, an AP channel report element, a neighbor report request frame, a neighbor report response frame, a neighbor report request element, and a neighbor report response element.

66. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in an IEEE 802.11v related signaling message.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the high throughput-related information is included in at least one of a roaming management request frame, a roaming management request element, a roaming management response frame, and a roaming management response element.

68. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information is IEEE 802.11n related information.

69. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information includes at least one of availability of IEEE 802.11n services, availability of block acknowledgement (ACK) resources and pre-setup of block ACK agreements, setup of aggregated medium access control protocol data unit (A-MPDU) aggregation parameters, availability of power save multi-poll (PSMP) service, availability of automatic power save delivery (APSD) service and parameters, availability of extended range service, and availability of certain data rates.

70. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information includes at least one of capabilities, features, and parameters of the AP and the STA.

71. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a frame aggregation format that allows aggregation of multiple medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs) in one physical service data unit (PSDU).

72. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a frame aggregation format that allows aggregation of multiple medium access control (MAC) service data units (MSDUs) in one MAC protocol data unit (MPDU).

73. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a block acknowledgement mechanism.

74. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates an N-immediate block acknowledgement.

75. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates an N-delayed block acknowledgement (BA) including a no acknowledgement on a BA or a BA request (BAR).

76. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates compressed bitmap block acknowledgement.

77. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates implicit block acknowledgement request by asserting normal acknowledgement of a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) aggregated in a physical service data unit (PSDU).

78. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates long network allocation vector (NAV) reservation with contention free (CF)-end for NAV release.

79. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates physical layer level spoofing.

80. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) power save.

81. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reduce multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capability.

82. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates mechanisms to manage coexistence of 20 and 40 MHz channels.

83. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates channel management and channel selection methods.

84. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reduced inter-frame spacing (RIFS) protection.

85. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates green field protection.

86. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates power save multiple poll (PSMP).

87. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates multiple traffic identifier (TID) block acknowledgement.

88. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates space time block coding (STBC) control frames.

89. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates non-high throughput (HT) signal field (L-SIG) transmit opportunity protection.

90. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates a point of control and observation (PCO) capability.

91. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates transmit beamforming capability.

92. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates fast link adaptation.

93. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates implicit feedback.

94. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates channel state information (CSI) feedback.

95. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates use of a zero length frame as a sounding frame.

96. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates calibration support.

97. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates reverse direction support of responder'"'"'s data transfer.

98. The system of claim 58 wherein the high throughput-related information indicates antenna selection.

99. The system of claim 58 wherein the STA generates and sends measurement reports for an extended range and a normal range of an AP independently.

100. The system of claim 58 wherein the STA generates and sends a combined measurement report for an extended range and a normal range of an AP.

101. The system of claim 58 further comprising:

a network management entity configured to obtain current status information of the STA and the AP regarding high throughput capabilities, features and parameters and selectively enable and disable at least one of the high throughput capabilities, features and parameters of the STA and the AP.

102. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity is included in the AP.

103. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity, the STA and the AP communicate via a layer 2 communication protocol retrieve the current status information.

104. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity, the STA and the AP communicate via a layer 3 communication protocol retrieve the current status information.

105. The system of claim 101 wherein the current status information is retrieved through a poll.

106. The system of claim 101 wherein the current status information is retrieved through a periodical reporting.

107. The system of claim 101 wherein the current status information is retrieved in an un-solicited manner.

108. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity, the STA and the AP communicate using a simple network management protocol (SNMP).

109. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity, the STA and the AP communicate using simple network management protocol (SNMP)-like messages, wherein SNMP messages are encapsulated into L2 frames by the AP for transmission between the STA and the AP and translated back and forth into SNMP messages in the AP for transmission between the AP and the network management entity.

110. The system of claim 101 wherein the network management entity, the STA and the AP communicate using Internet protocol (IP) units.

111. The system of claim 101 wherein the status information is collected via databases implemented on at least one of the STA, the AP and the network management entity.

112. The system of claim 111 wherein the database is in a form of a management information base (MIB).

113. The system of claim 58 wherein the current AP and the target AP belong to the same extended service set (ESS).

114. The system of claim 58 wherein the current AP and the target AP belong to different extended service sets (ESSs).