DATA-RELATED TASK SUPPORT IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20110141966A1
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: RANTALA, Enrico, VIRTANEN, Sami, TURUNEN, Markku, TIRRONEN, Mikko, LEPPÄNEN, Kari, KASSLIN, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1263 Mapping of traffic onto schedule, e.g. scheduled allocation or multiplexing of flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal that is transmitted at a set interval. Various communication-related activities may be planned around an instance when a beacon signal is expected, or a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). While some networked apparatuses are active during every TBTT, other apparatuses may operate using a diluted beacon period that is an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval. Diluted beacon intervals may initiate periods of time during which apparatuses may become “aware” of other apparatuses. Awareness may comprise information related to communication configuration, apparatus status, and services offered by the various apparatuses in the network. Awareness information obtained during an awake window may also comprise information on data-related tasks that are pending in one or more apparatuses which may allow for the control of further data conveyance activities.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining awareness information in an apparatus by interacting with other apparatuses in a wireless network for at least a portion of an interval between network beacon signals during which the apparatus is permitted to communicate in the wireless network;

determining whether any data-related tasks are pending in the network by evaluating the awareness information in the apparatus; and

if data-related tasks are determined to be pending, supporting the pending data-related tasks by altering apparatus configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining awareness information further comprises updating synchronization information in the apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if any data-related tasks are pending comprises at least one of determining if data requested by the apparatus is available from another apparatus or if data has been requested from the apparatus by another apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering a doze state in the apparatus if no data-related tasks are determined to be pending.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to enter a data sub-mode in the existing communication protocol for some or all of the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the apparatus supports the data-related task by operating in the data sub-mode until the data-related task is complete or another network beacon signal is received in the apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the apparatus remains in an active state in the network for any time left in the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval after the data-related task is complete.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to establish a new connection utilizing a different wireless protocol.

9. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured to cause an apparatus to maintain awareness information by interacting with other apparatuses in a wireless network for at least a portion of an interval between network beacon signals during which the apparatus is permitted to communicate in the wireless network;

code configured to cause an apparatus to determine whether any data-related tasks are pending in the network by evaluating the awareness information in the apparatus; and

code configured to cause an apparatus to, if data-related tasks are determined to be pending, support the pending data-related tasks by altering apparatus configuration.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein maintaining awareness information further comprises updating synchronization information in the apparatus.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein determining if any data-related tasks are pending comprises at least one of determining if data requested by the apparatus is available from another apparatus or if data has been requested from the apparatus by another apparatus.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising entering a doze state in the apparatus if no data-related tasks are determined to be pending.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to enter a data sub-mode in the existing communication protocol for some or all of the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the apparatus supports the data-related task by operating in the data sub-mode until the data-related task is complete or another network beacon signal is received in the apparatus.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the apparatus remains in an active state in the network for any time left in the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval after the data-related task is complete.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to establish a new connection utilizing a different wireless protocol.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the device to perform at least the following;

maintain awareness information by interacting with other apparatuses in a wireless network for at least a portion of an interval between network beacon signals during which the apparatus is permitted to communicate in the wireless network;

determine whether any data-related tasks are pending in the network by evaluating the awareness information in the apparatus; and

if data-related tasks are determined to be pending, support the pending data-related tasks by altering apparatus configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein maintaining awareness information further comprises updating synchronization information in the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein determining if any data-related tasks are pending comprises at least one of determining if data requested by the apparatus is available from another apparatus or if data has been requested from the apparatus by another apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising entering a doze state in the apparatus if no data-related tasks are determined to be pending.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to enter a data sub-mode in the existing communication protocol for some or all of the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus supports the data-related task by operating in the data sub-mode until the data-related task is complete or another network beacon signal is received in the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus remains in an active state in the network for any time left in the remaining portion of the network beacon signal interval after the data-related task is complete.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein altering the apparatus configuration comprises causing the apparatus to establish a new connection utilizing a different wireless protocol.