Apparatus for and method of synchronization and beaconing in a WLAN mesh network
First Claim
1. A method of synchronization in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points;
extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages, wherein said beacon information comprises a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset compared to the mesh timing synchronization function (TSF);
adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; and
selecting a beacon interval and DTIM period such that said mesh DTIM period is an integral multiple of said beacon interval.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel and useful synchronization mechanism that functions to provide a uniform time base for mesh points in a WLAN mesh based network. The invention enables timing synchronization to a common reference clock base by advertising the common TSF within beacon transmissions. All MPs in a mesh share a common DTIM interval. The synchronization mechanism enables the mesh points to avoid collisions in the generation and transmission of beacons. The TBTT offsets of the current MP and its neighbors are advertised in beacons so that neighboring MPs that hear the beacons can select non-overlapping TBTT offsets. Each MP receives one or more beacons from its neighbors and compares the timing of its neighbors to that of itself and adopts the highest TSF (i.e. the fastest) in the mesh. Eventually, all MPs in the mesh will adjust their timing to that of the MP with the fastest clock. The reception of beacons by MPs from its neighbors is also advertised. This allows for MPs to verify that the beacons they send are actually heard and are not in collision with beacon transmissions of other MPs.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of synchronization in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages, wherein said beacon information comprises a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset compared to the mesh timing synchronization function (TSF); adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; and selecting a beacon interval and DTIM period such that said mesh DTIM period is an integral multiple of said beacon interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of synchronization in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points, wherein said beacon information messages comprise mesh point control information which comprises a designated beacon broadcaster field adapted to indicate that the current beacon broadcaster is a designated beacon broadcaster; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; and selecting a beacon interval and DTIM period such that said mesh DTIM period is an integral multiple of said beacon interval.
-
-
10. A method of synchronization in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points, wherein said beacon information messages comprise mesh point control information which comprises a beacon broadcaster switch field adapted to indicate a change in the designated beacon broadcaster; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; and selecting a beacon interval and DTIM period such that said mesh DTIM period is an integral multiple of said beacon interval.
-
-
11. A method of synchronization in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points, wherein said beacon information messages comprise mesh point control information which comprises a beacon broadcaster power save state field adapted to indicate whether the beacon broadcaster is using a power save mode of operation; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; and selecting a beacon interval and DTIM period such that said mesh DTIM period is an integral multiple of said beacon interval.
-
-
12. A method of synchronization and collision avoidance in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages; adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; verifying receipt of beacons generated by said mesh point at said neighboring mesh points; if beacons generated by said mesh point are not being received at one or more neighboring mesh points, selecting a new target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset that is not in use by other mesh points such that said mesh DTIM period remains an integral multiple of said beacon interval; and advertising said new target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset in beacon information messages generated by said mesh point. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of synchronization and collision avoidance in a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh network incorporating a plurality of mesh points and having a mesh delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) period, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving beacon information messages at a mesh point from one or more neighboring mesh points, wherein said beacon information messages comprise mesh point control information which comprises a designated beacon broadcaster field adapted to indicate that the current beacon broadcaster is a designated beacon broadcaster; extracting beacon information associated with said neighbor mesh points from said beacon information messages; adopting timing of a fastest mesh point in said network in accordance with said beacon information; verifying receipt of beacons generated by said mesh point at said neighboring mesh points; if beacons generated by said mesh point are not being received at one or more neighboring mesh points, selecting a new target beacon transmission time (TBTT) offset that is not in use by other mesh points such that said mesh DTIM period remains an integral multiple of said beacon interval.
-
Specification