Target wake time (TWT) within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

• US 20130188541A1
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fischer, Matthew James
• Granted Patent: US 9,049,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/38 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 of the wireless resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Target wake time (TWT) within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within communication systems including different respective devices therein (e.g., wireless stations (STAs), smart meter stations (SMSTAs), etc.), coordination is made with respect to those devices awakening from less than full power state (e.g., from sleep, reduce functionality, power saving state, etc.). A TWT information element (IE) may be included within a frame or a signal corresponding to or based on that frame that is transmitted from one device to other device(s). One or more respective future targeted times (e.g., which may be based on a timing synchronization function (TSF) reference time) at which device(s) may awaken from less than full power state may be included within the TWT IE. Over time, different respective TWT IEs may be provided from various devices, such that respective targeted awake times may be modified dynamically for any given device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a baseband processing module to generate a frame, during association between the apparatus and at least one of a plurality of wireless communication devices that is initiated by the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices, such that the frame to direct communication medium access for the plurality of wireless communication devices, the frame including a target wake time (TWT) information element (IE) therein to direct a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from less than full power state at a first future targeted time and to direct a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at a second future targeted time; and

a radio to transmit the frame or a signal corresponding to the frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first future targeted time and the second future targeted time indicated as being an absolute time in reference to or a relative time in reference to a timing synchronization function (TSF) reference time within a communication system including the apparatus and the plurality of wireless communication devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the baseband processing module to generate at least one additional frame to direct communication medium access for the plurality of wireless communication devices, the at least one additional frame including at least one additional TWT IE therein to direct the first or the second of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at at least one additional future targeted time; and

the radio to transmit at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to at least one additional frame to the first or the second of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to provide a suggestion or a demand for the first future targeted time or the second future targeted time via at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to the at least one additional frame transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to the apparatus; and

based on the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time, the baseband processing module to generate the frame including the TWT IE therein such that the future targeted time is either the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time or an alternative time relative to the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus being an access point (AP); and

at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices being a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a baseband processing module to generate a frame to direct communication medium access for a plurality of wireless communication devices, the frame including a target wake time (TWT) information element (IE) therein to direct at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from less than full power state at a future targeted time; and

a radio to transmit the frame or a signal corresponding to the frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the future targeted time indicated as being an absolute time in reference to or a relative time in reference to a timing synchronization function (TSF) reference time within a communication system including the apparatus and the plurality of wireless communication devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the baseband processing module to generate at least one additional frame to direct communication medium access for the plurality of wireless communication devices, the at least one additional frame including at least one additional TWT IE therein to direct the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices or at least one additional one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at at least one additional future targeted time; and

the radio to transmit at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to at least one additional frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the frame including the TWT IE therein to direct a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at a first future targeted time and to direct a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at a second future targeted time.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the baseband processing module to generate the frame during association between the apparatus and at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices that is initiated by the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to provide a suggestion or a demand for the future targeted time via at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to the at least one additional frame transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to the apparatus; and

based on the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time, the baseband processing module to generate the frame including the TWT IE therein such that the future targeted time is either the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time or an alternative time relative to the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the apparatus being an access point (AP); and

at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices being a wireless station (STA) and at least one other of the plurality of wireless communication devices being a smart meter station (SMSTA).

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the apparatus being an access point (AP); and

the plurality of wireless communication devices being a plurality of wireless stations (STAs) or a plurality of smart meter stations (SMSTAs).

14. A method for operating a communication device, the method comprising:

generating a frame to direct communication medium access for a plurality of wireless communication devices, the frame including a target wake time (TWT) information element (IE) therein to direct at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from less than full power state at a future targeted time; and

operating a radio of the communication device to transmit the frame or a signal corresponding to the frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the future targeted time indicated as being an absolute time in reference to or a relative time in reference to a timing synchronization function (TSF) reference time within a communication system including the communication device and the plurality of wireless communication devices.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating at least one additional frame to direct communication medium access for the plurality of wireless communication devices, the at least one additional frame including at least one additional TWT IE therein to direct the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices or at least one additional one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at at least one additional future targeted time; and

operating the radio to transmit at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to at least one additional frame to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

the frame including the TWT IE therein to direct a first of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at a first future targeted time and to direct a second of the plurality of wireless communication devices to awaken from the less than full power state at a second future targeted time.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating the frame during association between the communication device and at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices that is initiated by the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

operating at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to provide a suggestion or a demand for the future targeted time via at least one additional frame or at least one additional signal corresponding to the at least one additional frame transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices to the communication device; and

based on the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time, generating the frame including the TWT IE therein such that the future targeted time is either the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time or an alternative time relative to the suggestion or the demand for the future targeted time.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the communication device being an access point (AP); and

at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices being a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA).