SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FAST INITIAL NETWORK LINK SETUP

• US 20130107703A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Merlin, Simone
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. Various processes for reducing the initial link set up time are described. In one aspect a method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system. The method further includes identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message. The method also includes abstaining from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount. The method further includes transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

Claims

1. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless communication device from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining the network service in the wireless communication system;

selecting, at the wireless communication device, a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;

queuing for transmission, at the wireless communication device, a first message for requesting information to obtain the network service;

before transmission of the message, receiving a second message comprising the information; and

removing the message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

5. A wireless communication device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining the network service in the wireless communication system;

one or more processors configured to;

select a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;

queue for transmission a first message for requesting information to obtain the network service;

before transmission of the message, receive a second message comprising the information; and

remove the message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

9. A method of reducing signaling in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

providing, at an access point, a network service configured to communicate via a plurality of channels;

determining, at the access point, a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;

transmitting, from the access point, a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service;

receiving, at the access point, a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices;

determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests; and

modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time.

14. An access point configured to communicate via a plurality of channels, the access point comprising:

a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service; and

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests; and

modify a broadcast of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand.

15. The access point of claim 14, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

16. The access point of claim 14, wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

17. The access point of claim 14, wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

18. The access point of claim 14, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time.

19. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message;

abstaining from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount; and

transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the device comprises an access point.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the association request messages comprises transmitting a carrier sense multiple access message.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the message received comprises a beacon message.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the message received comprises a probe response.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the medium comprises a wireless communication medium.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein generating the random value is based on the included value and an identifier for the terminal.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the identifier for the terminal comprises a media access control identifier.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein the device comprises an access point.

29. An apparatus configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

a processor configured to;

identify a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message; and

abstain from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the apparatus comprises a terminal.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the device comprises an access point.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the association request message comprises carrier sense multiple access message.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the message received comprises a beacon message.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the message received comprises a probe response.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the medium comprises a wireless communication medium.

36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein generating the random value is based on the included value and an identifier for the terminal.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the identifier for the terminal comprises a media access control identifier.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

40. An apparatus for reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

means for identifying a time slot and a back-off amount based on a value included in the received message; and

means for establishing the link with the device, the means configured to;

abstain from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount; and

transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

41. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of an apparatus in a wireless communication system, the instructions causing the apparatus to:

receive a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

identify a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message;

abstain from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount; and

transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

42. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

generating, at a device, a value identifying a time period for a plurality of terminals to transmit association request messages, the association request messages requesting a link with the device;

transmitting a message including the value to the terminals; and

receiving, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from one of the terminals.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the random seed value is generated based on an identifier for the device.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the value comprises a contention window.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the contention window is generated based on one or more of a size of the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the device, a load of the wireless communication system, a load of the device, a service level associated with the terminal, time information, and date information.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the contention window is generated based on current values.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the contention window is generated based on an analysis of previously stored values.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the message comprises a beacon signal.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein the message comprises a probe response.

52. The method of claim 42, wherein the value is included in a header of the message.

53. The method of claim 42, wherein the value is included in the body of the message.

54. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

receiving, outside the identified time period, another association request message including information for establishing the link from another terminal; and

transmitting an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.

55. A device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

a processor configured to generate a value identifying a time period for a plurality of terminals to transmit association request messages to the device, the association request messages for establishing a link with the device;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message including the value to the terminals; and

a receiver configured to receive, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from one of the terminals.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the device comprises an access point.

57. The device of claim 55, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the random seed value is generated based on an identifier for the device.

59. The device of claim 55, wherein the value comprises a contention window.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein the contention window is generated based on one or more of a size of the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the device, a load of the wireless communication system, a load of the device, a service level associated with the terminal, time information, and date information.

61. The device of claim 60, wherein the contention window is generated based on current values.

62. The device of claim 60, wherein the contention window is generated based on an analysis of previously stored values.

63. The device of claim 55, wherein the message comprises a beacon signal.

64. The device of claim 55, wherein the message comprises a probe response.

65. The device of claim 55, wherein the value is included in a header of the message.

66. The device of claim 55, wherein the value is included in the body of the message.

67. The device of claim 55, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, outside the identified time period, another association request message for establishing the link from another terminal, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.

68. A device for reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

means for generating a value identifying a time period for terminals to transmit association request messages to establish a link with the device;

means for transmitting a message including the value to the terminals; and

means for receiving, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from a terminal to establish the link between the device and the terminal.

69. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a device in a wireless communication system, the instructions causing the device to:

generate a value identifying a time period for terminals to transmitting association request messages to establish a link with the wireless communication system via the device;

transmit a message including the value to the terminals; and

receive, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from a terminal to establish the link between the device and the terminal.