SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION OF UNCOMPRESSED VIDEO HAVING A RELAY DEVICE FOR POWER SAVING

• US 20080134271A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Singh, Harkirat, Shao, Huai-Rong, Ngo, Chiu, Qin, Xiangping
• Granted Patent: US 8,826,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/50 at the moment of starting communication in a multiple access environment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for achieving power saving for a portable device in a wireless network for transmitting audio/video (A/V) data is disclosed. An optimal transmit power level is selected by transmitting multiple probe messages by a portable device at increasing transmit power levels until a response to one of the probe messages is received within a preset allowed response time. A relay node is selected by a portable device for receiving compressed A/V data, uncompressing the compressed A/V data, and transmitting the uncompressed A/V data to an intended receiver.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an optimal transmit power level for audio/video (A/V) data transmissions by a portable device in a wireless network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first probe message one or more times at a first transmit power level;

transmitting a second probe message one or more times at a second transmit power level that is greater than the first transmit power level, if a response to the first probe message is not received within a preset allowed response time;

receiving a response to the second probe message; and

selecting an optimal transmit level for subsequent A/V data transmission based at least partly on the second transmit power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first probe message is transmitted a preset number of times if no response to an initial transmission of the first probe message is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the response to the second probe message is from an alternating current (AC) powered device or an intended receiver of the A/V data.

4. A portable wireless communications apparatus for audio/video (A/V) data transmission in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to select an optimal transmit power level at least partly by transmitting a plurality of probe messages transmitted at increasing discrete transmit power levels until a response message for one of the probe messages is received within a preset allowed response time;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the plurality of probe messages;

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive the response message from a responding station in the wireless network; and

a memory for storing a value or a bit corresponding to the selected optimal transmit power level.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processor is further configured to retransmit a first probe message a preset number of times at one discrete transmit power level before incrementing the transmit power level for a subsequent probe message.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the responding station is an alternating current (AC) powered device in the wireless network.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the responding station is an intended receiver of the A/V data.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portable device is battery powered.

9. A method of audio/video (A/V) data communication between a portable device and an intended receiver in a wireless network, the method comprising:

preparing a data packet that includes compressed A/V data;

selecting a relay node capable of receiving the compressed data and relaying uncompressed A/V data to the intended receiver in the wireless network; and

transmitting the data packet that includes the compressed A/V data to the relay node.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting the relay node comprises:

identifying a candidate station;

transmitting a relay request message requesting the candidate station to become the relay node;

receiving a relay response message from the candidate station; and

selecting the candidate station as the relay node based at least partly on the relay response message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the candidate station is based at least partly on one or more of criteria including:

AC power capability;

speed of data reception or transmission;

video decoding capability; and

data storage capability.

12. The method of claim 10 further selecting an optimal transmit power level to communicate with the candidate station by transmitting a plurality of probe messages transmitted at increasing discrete transmit power levels until a response message for one of the probe messages is received within a preset allowed response time.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the compressed A/V data is transmitted to the relay node in a current superframe, the current superframe comprising a beacon, a contiguous reserved period, and one or more non-contiguous reserved periods.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the compressed A/V data is transmitted during the contiguous reserved period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the portable device goes into a power-saving sleep state when the compressed A/V data is fully transmitted before the end of the contiguous reserved period.

16. A portable wireless communications apparatus for audio/video (A/V) data transmission in a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

prepare a data packet that includes compressed A/V data,

select a relay node capable of receiving the compressed data and relaying uncompressed A/V data to the intended receiver, and

transmit the compressed A/V data to the relay node; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the data packet that includes the compressed A/V data to the relay node.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a candidate station for a relay node;

send a relay request message to the candidate station requesting the candidate station to become the relay node;

receive a relay response message from the candidate station; and

select the candidate station as the relay node.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the candidate station based on one or more of criteria including:

AC power capability;

speed of data reception or transmission;

video decoding capability; and

data storage capability.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to select an optimal transmit power level to communicate with the candidate station by transmitting a plurality of probe messages transmitted at increasing discrete transmit power levels until a response message for one of the probe messages is received within a preset allowed response time.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the portable wireless communications apparatus is battery powered.

21. A method of relaying audio/video (A/V) data between a portable device and an intended receiver in a wireless network, the method comprising:

accepting a request from a portable device to become a relay node for relaying A/V data between the portable device and an intended receiver;

receiving compressed A/V data from the portable device;

uncompressing the compressed A/V data by the relay node; and

transmitting the uncompressed A/V data to the intended receiver.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the reception of the compressed A/V data and the transmission of the uncompressed A/V data occur within the same superframe cycle.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission of the uncompressed A/V data occur after a delay of one or more superframe cycles from the reception of the compressed A/V data.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the relay node reserves bandwidth for the A/V data communication between the portable device and the relay node, and between the relay node and the intended receiver.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising backing-up the compressed A/V data in a data storage device by the relay node.