METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BLUETOOTH (BT) DELAYED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (ACK)

• US 20090067396A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,686,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1854 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and system for Bluetooth (BT) delayed acknowledgment is presented. Aspects of the system may include an initiator device, such as a WLAN access point (AP), which enables transmission of a protocol data unit, such as a BlockAckReq frame, to a responder device, such as a Smartphone, via a first network, for example a WLAN. The Smartphone may be equipped with capabilities that enable communication via WLAN and Bluetooth networks. The AP may wait to receive a response protocol data unit, such as a BlockAck frame, via the first network (WLAN) for a response time duration. The response time duration may be based on the communication slot time duration for communication by the Smartphone on a second network, for example a BT piconet. The communication slot time duration may correspond to the time duration for a BT slot.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information in a wireless communication method, the method comprising:

transmitting a protocol data unit to a responder device via a first network;

waiting to receive a response protocol data unit via said first network for a response time duration, wherein said response time duration is based on a communication slot time duration for communication by said responder device on a second network; and

transmitting an acknowledgment protocol data unit to said responder device via said first network in response to a received said response protocol data unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first network is a wireless local area network and said second network is a Bluetooth network.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising receiving a management action frame via said wireless local area network from said responder device, which indicates that said responder device is able to communicate via said wireless local area network and is able to communicate via said Bluetooth network.

4. The method according to claim 2, comprising transmitting one or more data frames to said responder device via said wireless local area network.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising transmitting said protocol data unit under one of the following conditions:

subsequent to transmitting said one or more data frames or prior to transmitting at least a portion of said one or more data frames.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said transmitted protocol data unit is a block acknowledgment request frame, which indicates an acknowledgment policy of no acknowledgment.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said transmitted block acknowledgment request frame comprises a request that said responder device transmit said response protocol data unit via said wireless local area network.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said response protocol data unit is a block acknowledgment frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating with networking devices other than said responder device via said wireless local area network during said response time duration.

10. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable transmission of a protocol data unit to a responder device via a first network;

said one or more circuits enable waiting to receive a response protocol data unit via said first network for a response time duration, wherein said response time duration is based on a communication slot time duration for communication by said responder device on a second network; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission of an acknowledgment protocol data unit to said responder device via said first network in response to a received said response protocol data unit.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said first network is a wireless local area network and said second network is a Bluetooth network.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable reception of a management action frame via said wireless local area network from said responder device, which indicates that said responder device is able to communicate via said wireless local area network and is able to communicate via said Bluetooth network.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of one or more data frames to said responder device via said wireless local area network.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of said protocol data unit under one of the following conditions:

subsequent to transmission of said one or more data frames or prior to transmission of at least a portion of said one or more data frames.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said transmitted protocol data unit is a block acknowledgment request frame, which indicates an acknowledgment policy of no acknowledgment.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitted block acknowledgment request frame comprises a request that said responder device transmit said response protocol data unit via said wireless local area network.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said response protocol data unit is a block acknowledgment frame.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein said one or more circuits enable communication with networking devices other than said responder device via said wireless local area network during said response time duration.

19. A method for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting a protocol data unit to a responder device via a first network;

waiting to receive a response protocol data unit via said first network for a determined transmit request wait time duration;

waiting for a backoff time duration when said response protocol data unit is not received during said determined transmit request wait time duration, wherein said backoff time duration is based on a communication slot time duration for communication by said responder device on a second network; and

transmitting one or more data frames to said responder device via said first network in response to a received said response protocol data unit.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said first network is a wireless local area network and said second network is a Bluetooth network.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising receiving a management action frame via said wireless local area network from said responder device, which indicates that said responder device is able to communicate via said wireless local area network and is able to communicate via said Bluetooth network.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said response protocol data unit is a clear to send frame.

23. The method according to claim 19, comprising transmitting said protocol data unit to said responder device subsequent to an end of said waiting said backoff time duration.

24. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

one or more circuits that enable transmission of a protocol data unit to a responder device via a first network;

said one or more circuits enable waiting to receive a response protocol data unit via said first network for a determined transmit request wait time duration;

said one or more circuits enable waiting for a backoff time duration when said response protocol data unit is not received during said determined transmit request wait time duration, wherein said backoff time duration is based on a communication slot time duration for communication by said responder device on a second network; and

said one or more circuits enable transmission of one or more data frames to said responder device via said first network in response to a received said response protocol data unit.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said first network is a wireless local area network and said second network is a Bluetooth network.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said one or more circuits enable reception of a management action frame via said wireless local area network from said responder device, which indicates that said responder device is able to communicate via said wireless local area network and is able to communicate via said Bluetooth network.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein said response protocol data unit is a clear to send frame.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of said protocol data unit to said responder device subsequent to an end of said waiting said backoff time duration.