Limited-Use Data Rates in a Wireless Local Area Network

• US 20070297357A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited, Mcmaster University
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited, Mcmaster University
• Inventors: Todd, Terence Douglas, Kezys, Vytas, Smadi, Mohammed N.A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

A wireless access point advertises data rates that it supports. A mobile station is permitted to communicate with the access point at one or more of the lower data rates only if the mobile station satisfies one or more conditions.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless access point, the method comprising:

advertising data rates that are supported by said wireless access point; and

permitting a mobile station to conduct communications with said access point at one or more lower data rates of said advertised data rates only if said mobile station satisfies one or more conditions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more conditions includes that said mobile station has an active real time connection in progress.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more conditions includes that said mobile station has an active voice connection in progress.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more conditions includes that said mobile station is about to perform a handoff to another network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said other network is a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

recognizing from signaling with said mobile station that said mobile station is about to perform said handoff.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

advertising said one or more conditions.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with said mobile station at said one or more lower data rates when said mobile station is unable to communicate with said access point at a higher data rate than said one or more lower data rates.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting a duration of said communications.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

advertising a permitted duration of said communications.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

informing said mobile station how much time of said duration remains.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting a duration of said communications to an amount of time that is sufficient for said mobile station to perform a handoff from said access point to another network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said other network is a cellular network.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile station for permission to communicate with said access point at one of said one or more lower data rates; and

informing said mobile station whether said permission has been granted.

15. A method in a mobile station, the method comprising:

signaling to an access point that a handoff of said mobile station from said access point to another type of network is imminent; and

requesting from said access point permission to communicate with said access point at a limited-use supported data rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said wireless network is a cellular network.

17. A wireless access point comprising:

a wireless communication interface through which said access point is able to communicate with a mobile station associated with said access point;

a processor coupled to said wireless communication interface; and

a memory coupled to said processor to store indications of one or more limited-use supported data rates, indications of one or more conditions, an indication of a duration of time, and code which, when executed by said processor, permits said mobile station, if said conditions are met, to communicate with said access point at said data rates for said duration of time after said executable code has determined that said mobile station is not able to communicate with said access point at a higher data rate.

18. The wireless access point of claim 17, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, recognizes from a transmission received from said mobile station via said interface that said conditions are met, prior to permitting said mobile station to communicate with said access point at said data rates for said duration of time.

19. The wireless access point of claim 17, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, transmits via said interface a management frame having incorporated therein an indication of said one or more limited-use supported data rates.

20. The wireless access point of claim 17, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, incorporates in said management frame an indication of said one or more conditions.

21. The wireless access point of claim 17, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, incorporates in said management frame an indication of said duration of time.

22. The wireless access point of claim 17, wherein said limited-use supported data rates, said conditions and said duration are configurable.