RANDOMIZED BEACON TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20160323811A1
• Filed: 04/29/2015
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Barrett, Stephen John, Lepp, James Randolph Winter
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A deterministic random number generator at a first wireless communication node computes a pseudorandom number. The deterministic random number generator employs a same random number generation algorithm as a random number generator of a second wireless communication node. The first wireless communication node determines a timing of a randomized beacon transmission using the computed pseudorandom number.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

computing, by a deterministic random number generator at a first wireless communication node, a pseudorandom number, the deterministic random number generator employing the same random number generation algorithm as a random number generator of a second wireless communication node; and

determining, by the first wireless communication node, a timing of a randomized beacon transmission using the computed pseudorandom number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication node is a wireless access network node or a wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, by the first wireless communication node with another wireless communication node over a wireless link, a value associated the deterministic random number generator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the communicating of the value associated with the deterministic random number generator comprises communicating at least one of a value of a linear feedback shift register, a seed value, or a counter value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication node is a wireless local area network (WLAN) non-access point (AP) station (STA) that transitions from a power saving mode to an active receiving state at the timing determined using the computed pseudorandom number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication node is a WLAN AP.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication node is a WLAN non-AP STA that is associated with multiple APs on different channels, the method further comprising:

in response to the computed pseudorandom number, tuning a receiver of the first wireless communication node to a channel to receive the randomized beacon from an AP.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the pseudorandom number and determining the timing of the randomized beacon transmission are performed every periodic beacon transmission period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication node is a first access point, the method further comprising transmitting, by the first access point, the randomized beacon transmission to a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein starting transmitting the randomized beacon transmission is in response to:

receiving notification that the first access point has an overlapping beacon issue with at least a second access point.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the randomized beacon transmission is ceased in response to:

determining that the first access point is no longer associated with the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the timing of the randomized beacon transmission comprises determining a timing offset from a time at which a periodic beacon transmission is communicated.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the pseudorandom number by the deterministic random number generator comprises selecting a number within a specified range.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the pseudorandom number by the deterministic random number generator comprises using a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of an access point.

15. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless interface to communicate with a first access point; and

at least one processor configured to;

compute, by a deterministic random number generator, a pseudorandom number;

determine a timing of a randomized beacon transmission using the computed pseudorandom number; and

receive, from the first access point, the randomized beacon transmission according to the determined timing.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further:

determine whether a beacon overlapping issue exists between the first access point and at least another access point; and

in response to determining that the beacon overlapping issue exists, send, to one or more of the first access point and the at least another access point, an indication of the beacon overlapping issue.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein the determining of whether the beacon overlapping issue exists comprises:

computing timings of beacon transmissions from the first access point and the at least another access point; and

determining whether the beacon overlapping issue exists based on the computed timings.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to further:

determine whether the first access point is able to receive wireless signals transmitted by a second access point; and

in response to determining that the first access point is unable to receive wireless signals transmitted by the second access point, send an indication to at least one of the first and second access points to use a request to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) procedure for communicating data packets.

19. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein determining whether the first access point is able to receive wireless signals transmitted by the second access point comprises:

determining whether a basic service set identifier (BSSID) of the second access point is on a list, provided by the first access point, of BSSIDs which are within coverage of the first access point.

20. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein determining whether the first access point is able to receive wireless signals transmitted by the second access point comprises:

querying the first access point whether the first access point is able to receive wireless signals transmitted by the second access point.

21. An access point comprising:

a wireless interface to communicate with a wireless device; and

at least one processor configured to;

compute, by a deterministic random number generator, a random number;

determine a timing of a randomized beacon transmission using the computed random number; and

cause transmission, to the wireless device, the randomized beacon transmission according to the determined timing.