Power saving frame transmission method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- wireless computing stations, each of the stations utilizing a power save mode and a wake mode; and
an access point transmitting a wireless signal including schedule data on a wireless communication channel, the schedule data indicative of a service period start time and a service period interval for each of the stations,wherein each of the stations switch from the power save mode to the wake mode at a corresponding service period start time and remain in the wake mode for a corresponding service period interval, andwherein, during the corresponding service period interval, each of the stations communicates frames with the access point,wherein a wireless medium is maintained in an idle state during a time prior to an initiation of the service period, andwherein the wireless medium is maintained idle in a contention-free mode of operation of the system.
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Abstract
A method that enables the power saving frame transmission comprising an AP informing a plurality of stations within its range in a WLAN about a plurality of scheduled service periods during which the AP has access to a channel in a scheduled service time, receiving the information about the plurality of scheduled service periods by the plurality of stations and deciding about initiating or not initiating a frame transmission, whether or not an acknowledgement and an immediate response expected from other APs pertaining to said WLAN are received prior to a subsequent scheduled service time, wherein the frame is transmitted in a cooperative frame transmission scenario.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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wireless computing stations, each of the stations utilizing a power save mode and a wake mode; and an access point transmitting a wireless signal including schedule data on a wireless communication channel, the schedule data indicative of a service period start time and a service period interval for each of the stations, wherein each of the stations switch from the power save mode to the wake mode at a corresponding service period start time and remain in the wake mode for a corresponding service period interval, and wherein, during the corresponding service period interval, each of the stations communicates frames with the access point, wherein a wireless medium is maintained in an idle state during a time prior to an initiation of the service period, and wherein the wireless medium is maintained idle in a contention-free mode of operation of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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wireless computing stations, each of the stations utilizing a power save mode and a wake mode; and an access point transmitting a wireless signal including schedule data on a wireless communication channel, the schedule data indicative of a service period start time and a service period interval for each of the stations, wherein each of the stations switch from the power save mode to the wake mode at a corresponding service period start time and remain in the wake mode for a corresponding service period interval, and wherein, during the corresponding service period interval, each of the stations communicates frames with the access point, wherein a wireless medium is maintained in an idle state during a time prior to an initiation of the service period, and wherein, when the access point uses a hybrid coordination function (HCF) controlled channel access (HCCA) mechanism, the access points waits for a point coordination function (PCF) interframe spacing (PIFS) after the corresponding service period start time before transmitting a frame.
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9. A method, comprising:
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receiving, in a wireless station of a plurality of wireless stations a wireless network, schedule information identifying at least one service period; maintaining a wireless medium idle during a time prior to an initiation of the at least one service period; and sending a frame on the wireless medium after a start of the at least one service period, the sending of the frame occurring without a procedure for contending for the wireless medium being performed, wherein the wireless medium is maintained idle in a contention-free mode of operation of the network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
- receiving, in a wireless station of a plurality of wireless stations a wireless network, schedule information identifying at least one service period;
maintaining a wireless medium idle during a time prior to an initiation of the at least one service period; and sending a frame on the wireless medium after a start of the at least one service period, the sending of the frame occurring without a procedure for contending for the wireless medium being performed, wherein the wireless station receives the schedule information from an access point, and the access point transmits the schedule information without waiting for another frame to complete transmission through the wireless medium, and wherein the access point uses a hybrid coordination function (HCF) controlled channel access (HCCA) mechanism, the access point waiting for a point coordination function (PCF) interframe spacing (PIFS) after the corresponding service period start time before transmitting the frame.
- receiving, in a wireless station of a plurality of wireless stations a wireless network, schedule information identifying at least one service period;
Specification