Speed frame exchange within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

• US 20140185473A1
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Chiu Ngok Eric, Fischer, Matthew James
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A signaling protocol allows for speed frame exchange between different wireless communication devices within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communication system. A listening wireless communication device analyzes state of speed frame indicator bits within frames transmitted from a first other wireless communication device to determine the entire radio frame exchanges between that first other wireless communication device and a second other wireless communication device. The second other wireless communication device may be a hidden node relative to the listening wireless communication device such that all or less than all transmissions from the hidden node are received by the listening device. The listening wireless communication device determines the status of the communication medium (e.g., the air in the context of a wireless communication system), so that it can transmit successfully without interfering with any ongoing communications between the first and second other wireless communication devices.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive one or more frames transmitted from a first other wireless communication device to a second other wireless communication device, wherein the second other wireless communication device is out of range of communication with the wireless communication device; and

a processor configured to;

interpret the one or more frames to determine characteristics of communication between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

determine when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting based on the characteristics of communication; and

indicate that a communication channel is unavailable when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the communication comprising one or more of:

a single frame exchange between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

symmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

asymmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

frame length of the a frame transmitted by the second other wireless communication device;

channel allocation of the communication channel between the first and second other wireless communication devices; and

transmit power of at least one of the first and second other wireless communication devices.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to interpret the one or more frames by interpreting state of speed frame indicator bits within the one or more frames, wherein the state of the speed frame indicator bits indicate one or more of:

an additional frame to be transmitted, a last frame to be transmitted, a type of frame being transmitted, reservation of a communication medium for some period of time.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of speed frame indicator bits including one media access control (MAC) header bit and two physical layer (PHY) header bits.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting by interpreting an acknowledgement indication bit field within the one or more frames transmitted from the first other wireless communication device.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine when the first other wireless communication device is likely to transmit at least one additional frame by interpreting a more data bit field within the one or more frames transmitted from the first other wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first other wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device comprising:

a smart meter station (SMSTA) that operates in sleep state relatively more than in awake state; and

the SMSTA enters the sleep state after completion of the plurality of frame exchanges.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of the wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device including a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA); and

the first other wireless communication device including an access point (AP).

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive one or more frames transmitted from a first other wireless communication device to a second other wireless communication device; and

a processor configured to identify frame exchanges between the first other wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device, wherein the frame exchanges include the one or more frames and at least one frame transmitted from the second other wireless communication device to the first other wireless communication device, and wherein the at least one frame transmitted from the second other wireless communication device is identified based on state of speed frame indicator bits contained in the one or more frames.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

based on the state of the speed frame indicators, determine a type of the at least one frame transmitted from the second other wireless communication device to the first other wireless communication device;

determining first state of the plurality of speed frame indicator bits within a first frame of the plurality of frames; and

determine second state of the plurality of speed frame indicator bits within a second frame of the plurality of frames.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of speed frame indicator bits includes one media access control (MAC) header bit, and wherein, within one of the plurality of frames:

a first state of the one MAC header bit indicates the first other wireless communication device to transmit at least one additional frame to the second other wireless communication device; and

a second state of the one MAC header bit indicates the one of the plurality of frames is a last frame transmitted from the first other wireless communication device to the other second wireless communication device.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of speed frame indicator bits includes two physical layer (PHY) header bits, and wherein, within one of the plurality of frames:

a first state of the two PHY header bits reserves a communication medium for at least one of the plurality of frame exchanges between the first other wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device; and

a second state of the two PHY header bits indicates an acknowledgement frame to be received by the first other wireless communication device after transmission of the one of the plurality of frames.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one of the wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device including a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA); and

the first other wireless communication device including an access point (AP).

14. A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, receiving one or more frames transmitted from a first other wireless communication device to a second other wireless communication device, wherein the second other wireless communication device is out of range of communication with the wireless communication device;

interpreting the one or more frames to determine characteristics of communication between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

determining when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting based on the characteristics of communication; and

indicating that a communication channel is unavailable when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the characteristics of the communication comprising one or more of:

a single frame exchange between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

symmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

asymmetrical multiple frame exchanges between the first and the second other wireless communication devices;

frame length of the a frame transmitted by the second other wireless communication device;

channel allocation of the communication channel between the first and second other wireless communication devices; and

transmit power of at least one of the first and second other wireless communication devices.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

interpreting the one or more frames by interpreting state of speed frame indicator bits within the one or more frames, wherein the state of the speed frame indicator bits indicate one or more of;

an additional frame to be transmitted, a last frame to be transmitted, a type of frame being transmitted, reservation of a communication medium for some period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of speed frame indicator bits including one media access control (MAC) header bit and two physical layer (PHY) header bits.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining when the second other wireless communication device is likely transmitting by interpreting an acknowledgement indication bit field within the one or more frames transmitted from the first other wireless communication device; and

determining when the first other wireless communication device is likely to transmit at least one additional frame by interpreting a more data bit field within the one or more frames transmitted from the first other wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first other wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device comprising:

a smart meter station (SMSTA) configured to operate in sleep state relatively more than in awake state; and

the SMSTA configured to enter the sleep state after completion of the plurality of frame exchanges.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

at least one of the wireless communication device and the second other wireless communication device including a wireless station (STA) or a smart meter station (SMSTA); and

the first other wireless communication device including an access point (AP).