Multiple broadcast channels for wireless networks

• US 7,711,004 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Xu, Xiaode
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaidi; Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US11/379,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 370200-253, 370272-309, 370431-546
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An access point of a wireless network broadcasts directory information including a schedule on a first broadcast channel about media programs being broadcast on other channels by the access point. The broadcast on the first channel provides for sleep-mode clients to receive the broadcast. A client receives the schedule, and in order to receive a particular media program at a scheduled time switches to a particular one of the other channels and to wakeup state to receive a particular program.

Claims

1. A method in an access point of a wireless network, the method comprising:

(a) wirelessly broadcasting, on a first wireless network channel, directory information about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels, including a schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication such that power saving can be implemented on any client associated with the access point and such that a power-save client station can receive the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program; and

(b) wirelessly broadcasting the one or more media programs on the one or more other wireless network channels according to the schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the one or more other wireless network channels not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic can be broadcast by the access point on the one or more channels according to the directory information.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein each media program includes one or more of a text message, a voice message, and a video message.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard, wherein the broadcast-buffered indication is a delivery traffic indication map element.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one station of the access point is a power save station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, and wherein the broadcasting on the first wireless network channel occurs lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication for any power save station, such that any power save client station that is in sleep mode is able to receive the broadcast of the directory information.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(c) receiving an indication from a particular client station that the particular client station will be receiving a particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

(d) one or more of authenticating, authorizing, and accounting for the particular client station'"'"'s receiving the broadcast.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the programs for broadcasting in (b) are streamed from a program content server, the method further comprising storing in the access point a data structure containing the correspondence between programs being streamed from the program content server to the access point, and the wireless network channels in which the programs are broadcast by the access point.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein in the case there is a charge for the particular media program, and the particular media program is sent encrypted, (d) includes sending the particular client station a decryption key for decrypting the particular media program.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the directory information includes for each media program a title, the start time of the media program, the wireless network channel number for the broadcast, the repetition interval specifying how often the media program is to be repeated, and the case that there is a charge for the media program, the charge for the program.

10. A method in a client station of an access point of a wireless network, the method comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, on a first wireless network channel, directory information broadcast from the access point about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels by the access point, including a schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication broadcast from the access point, such that in the case the client station is a power save client station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the client station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, the client station can receive the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including one or more of video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program;

(b) scheduling receiving of a particular media program on a particular wireless network channel according to the schedule of the media programs, the particular wireless network channel being different than the first wireless network channel; and

(c) receiving the particular media program broadcast on the particular wireless network channel by the access point, the wireless broadcasting on the particular wireless network channel not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic is broadcast on the one or more channels according to the directory information.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein each media program includes one or more of a text message, a voice message, and a video message.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein at least the client station is a power save station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, wherein the broadcasting on the first wireless network channel occurs lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication for any power save station such that the power save client station as well as other power save stations can receive the directory information broadcast according to a broadcast power save mechanism, and wherein the scheduling of (b) includes scheduling to be in the wakeup state to receive the particular media program on the particular wireless network channel.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

(d) transmitting an indication to the access point of the particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

(e) one or more of authenticating, authorizing, and accounting for the client station'"'"'s receiving the broadcast.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein in the case that there is a charge for the particular media program, and the particular media program is sent encrypted, (I) receiving a decryption key for decrypting the particular media program.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

prior to the transmitting of the indication in (d), providing a user with at least some of the directory information on a user interface; and

accepting via the user interface one or more selected programs from the user, including the particular program.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the directory information includes for each media program a title, the start time of the media program, the wireless network channel number for the broadcast, the repetition interval specifying how often the media program is to be repeated, and in the case that there is a charge for the media program, the charge for the program.

18. An apparatus in an access point of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly broadcasting, the means for wirelessly broadcasting configured to wirelessly broadcast, on a first wireless network channel, directory information about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels, including a schedule of the media programs; and

further to wirelessly broadcast the one or more media programs on the one or more other wireless network channels according to the schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication such that power saving can be implemented on any client associated with the access point and such that a power-save client station can receive the directory information, the wireless broadcasting on the one or more other wireless network channels not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic can be broadcast by the access point on the one or more channels according to the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein each media program includes one or more of a text message, a voice message, and a video message.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the wireless network conforms to the IEEE 802.11 standard, wherein the broadcast-buffered indication is a delivery traffic indication map element.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one station of the access point is a power save station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions, and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, and wherein the means for broadcasting is arranged, in operation to wirelessly broadcast on the first wireless network channel lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication for any power save station, such that any power save client station that is in sleep mode is able to receive the broadcast of the directory information.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving, arranged to receive an indication from a particular client station that the particular client station will be receiving a particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

means for carrying out one or more of authenticating, authorizing, and accounting for the particular client station'"'"'s receiving the broadcast.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein the programs for broadcasting by the means for broadcasting are streamed from a program content server, the apparatus further comprising means for storing in the access point a data structure containing the correspondence between programs being streamed from the program content server to the access point, and the wireless network channels in which the programs are broadcast by the access point.

25. An apparatus in a client station of an access point of a wireless network, the apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving, arranged in operation to wirelessly receive, on a first wireless network channel, directory information broadcast from the access point about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels by the access point, including a schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication broadcast from the access point, such that in the case the client station is a power save client station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the client station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, the client station can receive the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic one or more of video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program; and

means for scheduling the means for wirelessly receiving to receive a particular media program on a particular wireless network channel according to the schedule of the media programs, the particular wireless network channel being different than the first wireless network channel,

wherein the means for wirelessly receiving is further configured, in operation to receive the particular media program broadcast on the particular wireless network channel by the access point, the wireless broadcasting on the particular wireless network channel not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic is broadcast on the one or more channels according to the directory information.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein each media program includes one or more of a text message, a voice message, and a video message.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising:

means for transmitting, arranged in operation to transmit an indication to the access point of the particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

means for presenting information to a user, arranged in operation to provide, prior to the transmitting of the indication, at least some of the directory information to the user;

means for accepting information from a user, arranged, on operation on a user interface providing; and

means for accepting information from the user, arranged, in operation, to accept one or more selected programs from the user, including the particular program.

29. A computer-readable storage medium on which are encoded instructions that when executed by at least one processor of a processing system in an access point of a wireless network, cause the access point to implement a method comprising:

(a) wirelessly broadcasting, on a first wireless network channel, directory information about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels, including a schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication such that power saving can be implemented on any client associated with the access point and such that a power-save client station can receive the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program; and

(b) wirelessly broadcasting the one or more media programs on the one or more other wireless network channels according to the schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the one or more other wireless network channels not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic can be broadcast by the access point on the one or more channels according to the directory information.

30. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one station of the access point is a power save station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, and wherein the broadcasting on the first wireless network channel occurs lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication for any power save station, such that any power save client station that in sleep mode is able to receive the broadcast of the directory information.

31. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, the method further comprising:

(c) receiving an indication from a particular client station that the particular client station will be receiving a particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

32. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, the method further comprising:

(d) one or more of authenticating, authorizing, and accounting for the particular client station'"'"'s receiving the broadcast.

33. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 31, wherein the programs for broadcasting in (b) are streamed from a program content server, the method further comprising storing in the access point a data structure containing the correspondence between programs being streamed from the program content server to the access point, and the wireless network channels in which the programs are broadcast by the access point.

34. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 32, wherein in the case that there is a charge for the particular media program, and the particular media program is sent encrypted, (d) includes sending the particular client station a decryption key for decrypting the particular media program.

35. A computer-readable storage medium on which are encoded instructions that when executed by at least one processor of a processing system in a client station of an access point of a wireless network, cause the client station to implement a method comprising:

(a) wirelessly receiving, on a first wireless network channel, directory information broadcast from the access point about one or more media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels by the access point, including a schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication broadcast from the access point, such that in the case the client station is a power save client station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the client station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, the client station can receive the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including one or more of video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the staff time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast, is to occur a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program;

(b) scheduling receiving of a particular media program on a particular wireless network channel according to the schedule of the media programs, the particular wireless network channel being different than the first wireless network channel; and

(c) receiving the particular media program broadcast on the particular wireless network channel by the access point, the wireless broadcasting on the particular wireless network channel not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic is broadcast on the one or more channels according to the directory information.

36. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 35, wherein at least the client station is a power save station that alternates between a wakeup state during which the station can wirelessly receive downlink transmissions and a doze state during which the station cannot receive downlink transmissions, wherein the broadcasting on the first wireless network channel occurs lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication for any power save station such that the power save client station as well as other power save stations can receive the directory information broadcast according to a broadcast power save mechanism, and wherein the scheduling of (b) includes scheduling to be in the wakeup state to receive the particular media program on the particular wireless network channel.

37. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 35, the method further comprising:

(d) transmitting an indication to the access point of the particular media program according to the schedule in the information about the programs.

38. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, the method further comprising:

(e) one or more of authenticating, authorizing, and accounting for the client station'"'"'s receiving the broadcast.

39. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, the method further comprising:

prior to the transmitting of the indication in (d), providing a user with at least some of the directory information on a user interface; and

accepting via the user interface one or more selected programs from the user, including the particular program.

40. A method in a wireless network comprising:

in an access point of a wireless network, sending broadcasts of directory information including a schedule on a first wireless network channel about media programs being broadcast on one or more other wireless network channels by the access point, the wireless broadcasting on the first wireless network channel being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication such that power saving can be implemented on any client associated with the access point and such that a power-save client station can receive the directory information; and

wirelessly broadcasting the media programs in the one or more other wireless network channels according to the schedule of the media programs, the wireless broadcasting on the one or more other wireless network channels not being lined up with beacon frames containing a broadcast-buffered indication, such that the time-sensitive traffic can be broadcast by the access point on the one or more channels according to the directory information,

wherein at least one media program includes time-sensitive traffic including video and/or audio, and

wherein the directory information includes for each program information indicative of at least one of;

the start time, length of the to-be-broadcast program, repetition rate or period, the wireless network channel on which the broadcast is to occur, a description such as a title and a classification on the type of program, and/or, in the case that the program is one for which a user is charged, the charge for receiving the program.

41. A method as recited in claim 40, further comprising:

in a client station of the access point, the client station having a doze state and a wakeup state, receiving the directory information including the schedule; and

, in order to receive a particular media program at a scheduled time, switching to a particular one of the other wireless network channels and to wakeup state to receive a particular program.