METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEVICE DISCOVERY IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20080176561A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• 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 8,135,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and a system for device discovery in wireless communication. One implementation involves scanning one or more wireless channels to discover a partner wireless station for a new transmission, by detecting peak energy and beacons on each scanned channel. If a beacon is not detected, then selecting the clearest channel among the scanned channels, and transmitting beacons on the clearest channel. Upon detecting a beacon from a partner station, establishing association with the partner station and selecting a wireless data channel for communication with the partner station. Another implementation involves discovering a partner wireless station to establish a data channel for communication with a discovering station that is associated with a coordinator station, and transmitting a bandwidth reservation request to the coordinator to reserve channel time for control message exchange between the discovering station and the partner station.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

performing device discovery by scanning a wireless control channel to discover a wireless partner station for a new transmission; and

upon detecting a beacon from a partner station, establishing association with the partner station and selecting a wireless data channel for communication with the partner station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the control channel comprises a default control channel;

establishing association with the partner station further includes communicating capability information and channel occupation information with the partner station; and

selecting a wireless data channel further includes selecting a wireless data channel based on the capability information and the channel occupation information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing device discovery further includes:

(a) scanning one or more wireless channels to discover a wireless partner station by detecting peak energy and beacons on each scanned channel; and

(b) if a beacon is not detected, then selecting the clearest channel among the scanned channels, and transmitting beacons on the clearest channel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b) further includes:

detecting a response to said beacons sent on the clearest channel; and

if a response is not detected, then selecting a next clearest channel and transmitting beacons on the next clearest channel.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of performing bandwidth reservation on the selected data channel for ad-hoc communication with the partner station.

6. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

a discovering station associated to a coordinator, transmitting a beacon on a control channel including coordinator channel reservation schedule information and infrastructure mode information; and

a partner wireless station outside coverage of the coordinator receiving the beacon and transmitting a response beacon on the control channel, for establishing communication with the discovering station on a wireless data channel.

7. The method of claim 6 further including:

the discovering station transmitting beacons randomly within unreserved channel time blocks, and transmitting a bandwidth reservation request to the coordinator to reserve a control channel time for control message exchange between the discovering station and the partner station.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

if the reservation request is denied, then disassociating the discovering station from the coordinator and transmitting a control channel recommendation to the partner station.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of:

upon detecting a recommended control channel confirmation from the partner station, transmitting beacons to the partner station on the recommended control channel to establish a data channel between the discovering station and the partner station.

10. A wireless communication station, comprising:

a communication module configured for performing device discovery by scanning a wireless control channel to discover a wireless partner station for a new transmission; and

a convergence module configured such that upon detecting a beacon from a partner station, the convergence module establishes association with the partner station and selecting a wireless data channel for communication with the partner station.

11. The wireless communication station of claim 10, wherein:

the control channel comprises a default control channel; and

the convergence module is further configured for communicating capability information and channel occupation information with the partner station, and selecting a wireless data channel based on the capability information and the channel occupation information.

12. The wireless communication station of claim 11, wherein the communication module is configured for performing device discovery by scanning one or more wireless channels to discover a wireless partner station by detecting peak energy and beacons on each scanned channel, and if a beacon is not detected, then selecting the clearest channel among the scanned channels, and transmitting beacons on the clearest channel.

13. The wireless communication station of claim 12, wherein the communication module is further configured for detecting a response to said beacons sent on the clearest channel, and if a response is not detected, then selecting a next clearest channel and transmitting beacons on the next clearest channel.

14. The wireless communication station of claim 13, wherein the convergence module is further configured for performing bandwidth reservation on the selected data channel for ad-hoc communication with the partner station.

15. A wireless communication station, comprising:

a communication module configured such that when the station is associated to a coordinator, the communication module transmits a beacon on a control channel including coordinator channel reservation schedule information and infrastructure mode information; and

a convergence module configured for receiving a response from a partner wireless station outside coverage of the coordinator, for establishing communication with the partner station on a wireless data channel.

16. The wireless communication station of claim 15, wherein the communication module is further configured for transmitting beacons randomly within unreserved channel time blocks, and transmitting a bandwidth reservation request to the coordinator to reserve a control channel time for control message exchange between the discovering station and the partner station.

17. The wireless communication station of claim 16, wherein the communication module is configured such that if the reservation request is denied, then the communication module disassociates a wireless communication station from the coordinator and transmits a control channel recommendation to the partner station.

18. The wireless communication station of claim 17, wherein the communication module is further configured such that, upon detecting a recommended control channel confirmation from the partner station, the communication module transmitting beacons to the partner station on the recommended control channel to establish a data channel between the discovering station and the partner station.

19. The wireless station of claim 18, wherein the data channel comprises a 60 GHz frequency band communication channel.

20. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless discovering station and a wireless partner station;

the discovering station comprising;

a communication module configured for performing device discovery by scanning a wireless control channel to discover a wireless partner station for a new transmission; and

a convergence module configured such that upon detecting a beacon from a partner station, the convergence module establishes association with the partner station and selecting a wireless data channel for communication with the partner station.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the control channel comprises a default control channel; and

the convergence module is further configured for communicating capability information and channel occupation information with the partner station, and selecting a wireless data channel based on the capability information and the channel occupation information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the communication module is configured for:

performing device discovery by scanning one or more wireless channels to discover a wireless partner station by detecting peak energy and beacons on each scanned channel, and if a beacon is not detected, then selecting the clearest channel among the scanned channels, and transmitting beacons on the clearest channel; and

detecting a response to said beacons sent on the clearest channel, and if a response is not detected, then selecting a next clearest channel and transmitting beacons on the next clearest channel.

23. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless discovering station, a wireless partner station and a coordinator; and

the discovering station comprising;

a communication module configured such that when the station is associated to a coordinator, the communication module transmits a beacon on a control channel including coordinator channel reservation schedule information and infrastructure mode information; and

a convergence module configured for receiving a response from a partner wireless station outside coverage of the coordinator, for establishing communication with the partner station on a wireless data channel.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the communication module is further configured for transmitting beacons randomly within unreserved channel time blocks, and transmitting a bandwidth reservation request to the coordinator to reserve a control channel time for control message exchange between the discovering station and the partner station.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the communication module is configured such that:

if the reservation request is denied, then the communication module disassociates a wireless communication station from the coordinator and transmits a control channel recommendation to the partner station; and

upon detecting a recommended control channel confirmation from the partner station, the communication module transmitting beacons to the partner station on the recommended control channel to establish a data channel between the discovering station and the partner station.