Method and Apparatus for Determining Channel Bandwidth

• US 20110305288A1
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Liu, Yong, Ramamurthy, Harish, Banerjea, Raja
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0204 of multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0224 using sounding signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/70 Routing based on monitoring results
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/001 the frequencies being arranged in component carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0098 Signalling of the activation or deactivation of component carriers, subcarriers or frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

In a method implemented in a communication device an available bandwidth for transmitting one or more data frames is determined, wherein the available bandwidth corresponds to a first composite communication channel comprising a plurality of communication channels. A control frame to indicate a request to transmit via the first composite communication channel is generated, wherein the control frame includes a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating the bandwidth of the first composite channel. The control frame is transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header is duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite communication channel.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a communication device, the method comprising:

determining an available bandwidth for transmitting one or more data frames, wherein the available bandwidth corresponds to a first composite communication channel comprising a plurality of communication channels;

generating a control frame to indicate a request to transmit via the first composite communication channel, wherein the control frame includes a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating the bandwidth of the first composite channel; and

causing the control frame to be transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header is duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite communication channel.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response frame transmitted in response to the control frame;

decoding at least a portion of a header of the response frame in a bandwidth portion of the response frame;

extracting information from the portion of header of the response frame that indicates a bandwidth of a second composite communication channel via which the response frame was transmitted;

determining a third composite communication channel based on the bandwidth of the second composite communication channel; and

causing one or more data frames to be transmitted via the third composite communication channel.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least two of i) the first composite communication channel, ii) the second composite communication channel, and iii) the third composite communication channel are the same composite communication channel.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least two of i) the first composite communication channel, ii) the second composite communication channel, and iii) the third composite communication channel are different composite communication channels.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the control frame is a request to send (RTS) frame; and

the response frame is a clear to send (CTS) frame.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the third composite communication channel is for transmitting in a transmit opportunity period (TXOP); and

causing the one or more data frames to be transmitted via the third composite communication channel comprises causing the one or more data frames to be transmitted during the TXOP.

7. A communication device, comprising:

a network interface configured to

determine an available bandwidth for transmitting one or more data frames, wherein the available bandwidth corresponds to a first composite communication channel comprising a plurality of communication channels,

generate a control frame to indicate a request to transmit via the first composite communication channel, wherein the control frame includes a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating the bandwidth of the first composite channel, and

cause the control frame to be transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header is duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite communication channel.

8. A communication device according to claim 7, wherein the network interface is configured to:

decode at least a portion of a header of a received response frame in a bandwidth portion of the response frame, wherein the response frame has been transmitted in response to the control frame,

extract information from the portion of header of the response frame that indicates a bandwidth of a second composite communication channel via which the response frame was transmitted,

determine a third composite communication channel based on the bandwidth of the second composite communication channel, and

cause one or more data frames to be transmitted via the third composite communication channel.

9. A communication device according to claim 8, wherein at least two of i) the first composite communication channel, ii) the second composite communication channel, and iii) the third composite communication channel are the same composite communication channel.

10. A communication device according to claim 8, wherein at least two of i) the first composite communication channel, ii) the second composite communication channel, and iii) the third composite communication channel are different composite communication channels.

11. A communication device according to claim 8, wherein:

the control frame is a request to send (RTS) frame; and

the response frame is a clear to send (CTS) frame.

12. A communication device according to claim 8, wherein:

the third composite communication channel is for transmitting in a transmit opportunity period (TXOP); and

the network interface is configured to cause the one or more data frames to be transmitted during the TXOP.

13. A method implemented in a communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a control frame including a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating a bandwidth of a first composite channel, the control frame having been transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header having been duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite channel;

decoding at least the portion of the header of the control frame in one of the bandwidth portions of the first composite channel;

extracting information from the portion of header of the control frame that indicates a bandwidth of the first composite communication channel;

determining a second composite communication channel based on the bandwidth of the first composite communication channel;

generating a response frame that indicates the second composite communication channel; and

in response to the control frame, causing the response frame to be transmitted.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first composite communication channel and the second composite communication channel are the same composite communication channel.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the first composite communication channel and the second composite communication channel are different composite communication channels.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the control frame is a request to send (RTS) frame; and

the response frame is a clear to send (CTS) frame.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the control frame is formatted according to a first communication protocol; and

the portion of the header of the control frame is formatted so that a device configured to operate according to a second communication protocol, but not configured to operate according to the first communication protocol, is capable of at least partially decoding the portion of the header.

18. A communication device, comprising:

a network interface configured to

decode at least a portion of a header of a received control frame in one of a plurality of bandwidth portions of a first composite channel, wherein the control frame has been transmitted via a first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header has been duplicated in the plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite channel,

extract information from the portion of header of the control frame, wherein the extracted information indicates a bandwidth of the first composite channel,

determine a second composite communication channel based on the bandwidth of the first composite communication channel,

generate a response frame that indicates the second composite communication channel, and

in response to the control frame, cause the response frame to be transmitted.

19. A communication device according to claim 18, wherein the first composite communication channel and the second composite communication channel are the same composite communication channel.

20. A communication device according to claim 18, wherein the first composite communication channel and the second composite communication channel are different composite communication channels.

21. A communication device according to claim 18, wherein:

the control frame is a request to send (RTS) frame; and

the response frame is a clear to send (CTS) frame.

22. A communication device according to claim 18, wherein:

the control frame is formatted according to a first communication protocol; and

the portion of the header of the control frame is formatted so that a device configured to operate according to a second communication protocol, but not configured to operate according to the first communication protocol, is capable of at least partially decoding the portion of the header.