Systems and Methods for Indicating Buffered Data at an Access Point with Efficient Beacon Handling
First Claim
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1. A method for indicating buffered data comprising:
- broadcasting a beacon frame comprising a traffic indication map (TIM) element,wherein the TIM element is placed near the beginning of the beacon frame;
said TIM element comprising a bitmap control field comprising an offset and a partial virtual bitmap field indicative of the stations having buffered data awaiting.
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Abstract
Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for indicating buffered data comprising:
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broadcasting a beacon frame comprising a traffic indication map (TIM) element, wherein the TIM element is placed near the beginning of the beacon frame; said TIM element comprising a bitmap control field comprising an offset and a partial virtual bitmap field indicative of the stations having buffered data awaiting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method in a station for retrieving buffered data from an access point comprising:
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partially receiving a beacon frame, said partially receiving comprising receiving a TIM element comprising a partial virtual bitmap and a check beacon indication element; if the partial virtual bitmap is indicative that the access point has buffered data for the station, receiving the buffered data; and if the check beacon indication indicates a critical or significant change in the beacon frame, receiving the remainder of the beacon frame. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An access point comprising:
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a processor; a wireless network interface device; and a memory comprising instructions; said instructions causing the processor to cause the wireless network interface device to broadcast beacon frame comprising a TIM element, wherein the TIM element is placed near the beginning of the beacon frame; said TIM element comprising a bitmap control field comprising an offset and a partial virtual bitmap field indicative of the stations having buffered data awaiting. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification