Methods and Apparatuses for Operating a Wireless System with Devices in Power Save Mode using Traffic Indication Map Beacons

• US 20180184445A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Larmo, Anna, Amin, Parth, Badihi, Behnam, Del Carpio Vega, Luis Felipe
• Granted Patent: US 10,568,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for scheduling Traffic Indication Map beacons (101, 102), in a radio network node (70) of a communication network (100). The method comprises determining a traffic load of the radio network node and scheduling, based on the determined traffic load, at least a first transmission time instance for a first TIM beacon of said TIM beacons and a second transmission time instance for a second TIM beacon of said TIM beacons.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for scheduling Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons in a radio network node of a communication network, the method comprising:

determining a traffic load of the radio network node; and

scheduling, based on the determined traffic load, at least a first transmission time instance for a first TIM beacon and a second transmission time instance for a second TIM beacon, wherein the first TIM beacon comprises a first group identity and the second TIM beacon comprises a second group identity and the first group identity.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising associating the first TIM beacon with a first time interval and associating the second TIM beacon with a second time interval.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval are of different length.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the second group identity in the second TIM beacon is replaced by the first group identity.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising transmitting a third TIM beacon after the first and second transmission time instances, wherein the third TIM beacon comprising the first group identity.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the second TIM beacon comprises a time offset indicating a transmission time instance of a consecutive TIM beacon comprising the second group identity.

27. A method performed by a wireless device in a communication network, wherein the method is performed between receiving two consecutive full Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons, the method comprising:

receiving, from a radio network node, a first TIM beacon comprising a first group identity and a bit corresponding to a first Association Identifier (AID);

transmitting, in response to the received first TIM beacon, a control frame to the radio network node, indicating that the wireless device is available to receive data;

receiving, from the radio network node, a second TIM beacon comprising the first or a second group identity, and a bit corresponding to a second AID; and

transmitting, in response to the received second TIM beacon, a control frame to the radio network node, indicating that the wireless device is available to receive data.

28. A method performed by a wireless device in a communication network, wherein the method is performed between receiving two consecutive full Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons, the method comprising:

receiving, from a radio network node, a first short TIM beacon, comprising a first group identity and a time offset indicating a transmission time instance of a second short TIM beacon comprising the first group identity; and

receiving, from a radio network node, at the transmission time instance indicated by the time offset, the second short TIM beacon comprising the first group identity.

29. A radio network node configured for scheduling Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons, the radio network node comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor whereby the radio network node is operative to;

determine a traffic load of the radio network node; and

schedule, based on the determined traffic load, at least a first transmission time instance for a first TIM beacon and a second transmission time instance for a second TIM beacon, wherein the first TIM beacon comprises a first group identity and the second TIM beacon comprises a second group identity and the first group identity.

30. The radio network node according to claim 29, wherein the radio network node is operative to associate the first TIM beacon with a first time interval and associate the second TIM beacon with a second time interval.

31. The radio network node according to claim 30, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval are of different length.

32. The radio network node according to claim 29, wherein the second group identity in the second TIM beacon is replaced by the first group identity.

33. The radio network node according to claim 29, wherein the radio network node is operative to transmit a third TIM beacon after the first and second transmission time instances, wherein the third TIM beacon comprises the first group identity.

34. The radio network node according to claim 29, wherein the second TIM beacon comprises a time offset indicating a transmission time instance of a consecutive TIM beacon comprising the second group identity.

35. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor whereby the wireless device is operative to, between receiving two consecutive full Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons;

receive, from a radio network node, a first TIM beacon comprising a first group identity and a bit corresponding to a first Association Identifier (AID);

transmit, in response to the received first TIM beacon, a control frame to the radio network node, indicating that the wireless device is available to receive data;

receive, from the radio network node, a second TIM beacon comprising the first or a second group identity, and a bit corresponding to a second AID; and

transmit, in response to the received second TIM beacon, a control frame to the radio network node, indicating that the wireless device is available to receive data.

36. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor whereby the wireless device is operative to, between receiving two consecutive full Traffic Indication Map (TIM) beacons;

receive, from a radio network node, a first short TIM beacon, comprising a first group identity and a time offset indicating a transmission time instance of a second short TIM beacon comprising the first group identity; and

receive, from a radio network node, at the transmission time instance indicated by the time offset, the second short TIM beacon comprising the first group identity.