METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTENTION-BASED MEDIUM ACCESS SCHEMES FOR DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS TRANSMISSION WITH ASYMMETRIC ANTENNA SYSTEM (AAS) IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20100177719A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shao, Huai-Rong, Ngo, Chiu
• Granted Patent: US 8,385,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]

Abstract

A method and system for wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system is provided. A wireless station performs carrier sensing by sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions. Upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, the station transmits a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction, and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

a wireless station performing carrier sensing by sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions;

upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle;

transmitting a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction; and

transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein carrier sensing further comprises sensing the channel in a minimum number of receive directions which combined together cover a transmit direction in addition to expected receive directions.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

upon detecting the channel is idle;

transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

upon receiving a clear to send (CTS) frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting a frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction; and

transmitting a frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a frame preamble further comprises periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction.

8. A wireless station for asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication, comprising:

a transceiver configured for wireless communication over a wireless communication channel; and

a control module configured for sensing a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmitting via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction and transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

9. The wireless station of claim 8, wherein the control module is further configured for detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

10. The wireless station of claim 8, wherein the control module is further configured for sensing the channel in a minimum number of receive directions which combined together cover a transmit direction in addition to expected receive directions.

11. The wireless station of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon detecting the channel is idle, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

12. The wireless station of claim 11, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon receiving a clear to send (CTS) frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting a frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction, and transmitting a frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

13. The wireless station of claim 12, wherein the control module is further configured for maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

14. The wireless station of claim 8, wherein the control module is further configured for periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction.

15. A wireless asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

a transmitting wireless station and a receiving wireless station; and

the transmitting wireless station comprising a transceiver configured for wireless communication over a wireless communication channel, and a control module configured for sensing a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmitting via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to the receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction and transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the control module is further configured for detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

17. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the control module is further configured for sensing the channel in a minimum number of receive directions which combined together cover a transmit direction in addition to expected receive directions.

18. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon detecting the channel is idle, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

19. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the receiving wireless station further comprises a control module for transmitting a responsive clear to send (CTS) frame in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover its expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction.

20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the control module of the transmitting wireless station is further configured for, upon receiving a CTS frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting a frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction, and transmitting a frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the control modules of the transmitting and receive wireless stations are further configured for maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

22. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the control module of the transmitting wireless station is further configured for periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction.