Indicating Status of Radio Resources in Wireless Network

• US 20120207036A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kneckt, Jarkko, Ong, Eng Hwee
• Granted Patent: US 8,767,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for indicating status of radio resources in a wireless network are provided. A requesting device transmits a resource request on a first radio channel to a responding device. The resource request includes a request to reserve the first radio channel between the requesting device and the responding device. The responding device transmits a resource response on the first radio channel in response to the resource request. The resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the requesting device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a requesting device, at least one resource request to a responding device, the resource request being transmitted on a first radio channel; and

receiving, by the requesting device, a resource response on the first radio channel from the responding device after the resource request;

wherein the resource request comprises a request to reserve the first radio channel between the requesting device and the responding device; and

the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the requesting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises at least one of an idle state and a busy state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource request is a request to send message, and

the resource response is a clear to send message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises information on clear channel assessment measurement results for the at least one second radio channel, based on a measurement performed by the responding device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, by the requesting device, at least one radio channel other than the first radio channel for reservation at least partly on the basis of the status information on the at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the resource request, and

transmitting a second resource request on the selected at least one channel and at least one other channel to reserve at least two radio channels for simultaneous data transfer between the requesting device and the responding device.

6. The method of any claim 1, wherein at least two radio channels are reserved for multi-channel operation by a transmission opportunity holder in a wireless local area network.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by a responding device, at least one resource request from a requesting device, the resource request being received on a first radio channel; and

transmitting, in response to the resource request by the responding device, a resource response on the first radio channel;

wherein the resource request comprises a request to reserve the first radio channel between the requesting device and the responding device; and

the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the requesting device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the status information comprises at least one of an idle state and a busy state.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the resource request is a request to send message, and

the resource response is a clear to send message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the status information comprises information on clear channel assessment measurement results for the at least one second radio channel, based on a measurement performed by the responding device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least two radio channels are reserved for multi-channel operation for a transmission opportunity holder in a wireless local area network.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to

cause transmission of at least one resource request to a responding device, the resource request being transmitted on a first radio channel; and

detect a resource response on the first radio channel from the responding device after the resource request;

wherein the resource request comprises a request to reserve the first radio channel; and

the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the status information comprises at least one of idle state and busy state.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the resource request is a request to send message, and

the resource response is a clear to send message.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the status information comprises information on clear channel assessment measurement results for the at least one second radio channel, based on a measurement performed by the responding device.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to select at least one radio channel other than the first radio channel for reservation at least partly on the basis of the status information on the at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the resource request, and

cause transmission of a second resource request on the selected at least one channel and at least one other channel to reserve at least two radio channels for simultaneous data transfer between the requesting device and the responding device.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is a wireless communications device configured to detect a transmission opportunity in a wireless local area network and reserve at least two radio channels for multi-channel operation.

18. An apparatus, comprising

at least one processor;

and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to;

detect at least one resource request received from a requesting device on a first radio channel; and

cause transmission of a resource response on the first radio channel in response to the resource request;

wherein the resource request comprises a request to reserve the first radio channel for the requesting device; and

the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the requesting device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the status information comprises at least one of idle state and busy state.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the resource request is a request to send message, and

the resource response is a clear to send message.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the status information comprises information on clear channel assessment measurement results for the at least one second radio channel, based on a measurement performed by the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is a wireless communications device configured to reserve at least two radio channels for multi-channel operation for a transmission opportunity holder in a wireless local area network.

23. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor;

and

at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to;

detect a resource response received on a first radio channel from a responding device;

wherein the resource response is a response to a first resource request for reserving the first radio channel between a requesting device and a responding device, and the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of a second radio channel not requested to be reserved; and

cause transmission of a second resource request for reserving at least one radio channel for data transfer between the communications device and a fourth device, wherein the at least one channel being reserved by the second resource request is selected based on the received resource response.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is the requesting device or another requesting device.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with an apparatus, the computer program code causing the apparatus to

cause transmission of at least one resource request to a responding device, the resource request being transmitted on a first radio channel;

and

detect a resource response on the first radio channel from the responding device after the resource request;

wherein the resource request comprises a request to reserve the first radio channel; and

the resource response comprises status information indicative of status of at least one second radio channel not requested to be reserved by the apparatus.

26. (canceled)