Method and apparatus for an ad-hoc wireless communications system
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a memory for storing a sequence list;
a receiver for receiving a first signal indicating transfer of control of a shared medium from a first remote station with an associated station identifier in the sequence list; and
a transmitter for transmitting on the shared medium subsequent to receiving the signal, and for transmitting a second signal indicating transfer of control of the shared medium to a second remote station with an associated station identifier in the sequence list subsequent to expiration of a time allotment for control of the shared medium,wherein the second signal comprises a token selected from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list,wherein the second remote station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station,wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An IBSS that allows token passing for round-robin service of QoS flows is disclosed (an RRBSS). The RRBSS permits low-latency, reduced contention, distributed scheduling useful in any ad hoc network, but particularly suitable for high data rates. Distributed scheduled access is provided for flows through a round-robin token passing service discipline. STAs follow a round-robin order, or list, and are able to communicate with round-robin transmit opportunities during a defined period. Each STA in the list transmits a respective token to transfer access to the shared medium to the next STA in the RR List. The sequence is terminated with an end token. STAs maintain station identifiers and list updates are maintained with a sequence identifier. Techniques are disclosed to add and remove STAs to the sequence; establish connectivity lists (receive and forward), and maintain other sequence parameters such as bandwidth management and TXOP duration. Various other aspects are also disclosed.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing a sequence list; a receiver for receiving a first signal indicating transfer of control of a shared medium from a first remote station with an associated station identifier in the sequence list; and a transmitter for transmitting on the shared medium subsequent to receiving the signal, and for transmitting a second signal indicating transfer of control of the shared medium to a second remote station with an associated station identifier in the sequence list subsequent to expiration of a time allotment for control of the shared medium, wherein the second signal comprises a token selected from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list, wherein the second remote station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of sharing a common medium comprising:
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forming a sequence list comprising one or more station identifiers; and transmitting a token from a first station to a second station, in accordance with the sequence list, to pass control of the common medium from the first station to the second station, wherein transmitting the token comprises transmitting a token selected from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list, wherein the second station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method comprising:
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transmitting a token from a first station with access to a shared medium to a second station according to a list of one or more stations sharing the shared medium in sequence, wherein transmitting the token comprises transmitting a token selected from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list; and transferring control of the shared access to the second station after the token is transmitted, wherein the second station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A basic service set (BSS) comprising:
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a plurality of stations sharing access to a common medium; and token-passing means for sequential service of flows from one or more of the plurality of stations according to a list comprising identifiers corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of stations, wherein the token passing means is configured to select a token to pass from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the list, wherein a receiving station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message.
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37. In a wireless network, comprising one or more stations sharing a common medium, a method comprising:
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accessing the medium in a series of time segments, the segments delineated by a first signal; transmitting a second signal on the shared medium from a first station after a first delay following the transmission of the first signal, the first delay less than one or more second delays employed by one or more remote stations, wherein first station transmits after the first delay based on the first station having a token for accessing the medium and wherein the one or more second delays is associated with one or more alternate common medium access types, the second signal comprising a token message for transferring control of the shared medium to a second station, wherein the token message comprises a list of one or more stations sharing the medium; wherein a receiving station receives the token comprising a sequence list, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. An apparatus comprising:
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means for forming a sequence list comprising one or more station identifiers; and means for transmitting a token from a first station to a second station, in accordance with the sequence list, to pass control of a common medium from the first station to the second station, wherein the token transmitting means is configured to select a token from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list, wherein the second station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message.
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40. An apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting a token from a first station with access to a shared medium to a second station according to a list of one or more stations sharing the shared medium in sequence, wherein the token transmitting means is configured to select a token from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the list of one or more stations; and means for transferring control of the shared access to the second station after the token is transmitted, wherein the second station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message.
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41. Non-transitory computer readable media operable to perform:
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forming a sequence list comprising one or more station identifiers; and transmitting a token from a first station to a second station, in accordance with the sequence list, to pass control of a common medium from the first station to the second station, wherein transmitting the token comprises transmitting a token selected from a plurality of token messages and wherein the selected token comprises the sequence list, wherein the second station receives the token, selects a station identifier for a monitoring station and transmits an add message comprising a new sequence list, the new sequence list comprising the station identifier for the monitoring station, wherein the add message is transmitted subsequent to transmission by a third remote station of a token indicating the end to a period of transmissions associated with the sequence list, when the transmission from the third station is received and decoded by the station transmitting the add message.
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Specification