Communication system, communication apparatus and communication method, and computer program

• US 8,320,288 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakoda, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, KENNY S
• Application Number:
  US12/597,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/318, 455/574
• US Class Current: 370/311
• 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 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

To suitably suppress distribution delay at the time of multi-hop communication or broadcast transfer while including a communication station in a power-saving state.

First, STA-A immediately transmits broadcast data to STA-B which is running in an active mode, and subsequently, executes transmission of a beacon at a TBTT when STA-C operates a receiver, and then transmits the broadcast data to the STA-C. Thus, the broadcast data can be distributed to the STA-B which is running in the active mode with the minimum delay, and on the other hand, the broadcast data is distributed to the STA-C which is running in a sleep mode in a sure manner while generating a delay quantity of only T0.

Claims

1. A communication system characterized in being made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner,

wherein at least a part of the communication stations are power-saving communication stations which operate in a sleep mode where a transmitter and a receiver are operated in an intermittent manner, and at least a part of the other communication stations are power-saving assistance stations having capabilities to communicate with said power-saving communication stations;

and

wherein at least a part of said power-saving assistance stations have a low-delay broadcast distribution function to execute data transmission each time each of the communication stations serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver, at the time of broadcast data distribution.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in comprising:

means configured to mutually notify communication station attributes regarding whether or not each communication station is a power-saving communication station, whether or not each communication station is a power-saving assistance station, or whether or not each communication station has the low-delay broadcast distribution function.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, characterized in being the communication stations which have notified the communication station attributes mutually determining whether to enter into a communication state based on matching results of the mutual communication station attributes.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, characterized in the power-saving communication stations selecting not to enter into a communication state with a communication station which is not a power-saving assistance station, or the communication stations which are not a power-saving assistance station selecting not to enter into a communication state with a power-saving communication station.

5. The communication system according to claim 3, characterized in the power-saving communication stations selecting whether to enter into a communication state with a power-saving assistance station having no low-delay broadcast distribution function while taking into consideration restrictions relating to distribution delay imposed on the system.

6. A communication apparatus which executes data communication under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, characterized in comprising:

communication means configured to execute transmission/reception with said communication environment;

communication control means configured to control a communication operation by said communication means;

power-saving assistance means configured to recognize that each adjacent communication station operates in a sleep mode for operating a transmitter and a receiver in an intermittent manner; and

low-delay broadcast distribution means configured to execute data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver at the time of executing broadcast data distribution as to the plurality of communication stations.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in further comprising:

notifying means configured to mutually notify an adjacent communication station of communication station attributes regarding whether or not the self station operates in the sleep mode for operating the transmitter and the receiver intermittently, whether or not the self station includes said power-saving assistance means, or whether or not the self station includes the low-delay broadcast distribution means.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in said communication control means determining whether to enter into a communication state with each adjacent communication station based on matching results of the mutual communication station attributes.

9. A communication apparatus characterized in executing data communication under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, comprising:

communication means configured to execute transmission/reception with said communication environment;

communication control means configured to control a communication operation by said communication means; and

notifying means configured to mutually notify an adjacent communication station of communication station attributes regarding whether or not the self station is a power-saving communication station which operates in a sleep mode for operating the transmitter and the receiver of said communication means intermittently, whether or not the self station is a power-saving assistance station which can handle data communication with a communication station which operates in a sleep mode, or whether or not the self station has a low-delay broadcast distribution function for executing data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver;

wherein said communication control means determine whether to enter into a communication state with each adjacent communication station based on matching results of the mutual communication station attributes.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in said communication control means determining to enter into a communication state with a communication station having said low-delay broadcast distribution function at the time of the self station operating in the sleep mode.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in said communication control means determining to enter into a communication state with a communication station not having said low-delay broadcast distribution function when restrictions are not imposed on broadcast data delay under said communication environment.

12. A communication method characterized in being arranged to execute data communication under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, comprising:

a power-saving assistance step arranged to recognize that each adjacent communication station operates in a sleep mode for operating a transmitter and a receiver intermittently; and

a low-delay broadcast distribution step arranged to execute data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver at the time of executing broadcast data distribution as to the plurality of communication stations.

13. A communication method characterized in being arranged to execute data communication under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, comprising:

a notifying step arranged to mutually notify an adjacent communication station of communication station attributes regarding whether or not the self station is a power-saving communication station which operates in the sleep mode for operating a transmitter and a receiver intermittently, whether or not the self station is a power-saving assistance station which can handle data communication with a communication station which operates in a sleep mode, or whether or not the self station has a low-delay broadcast distribution function for executing data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver; and

a determining step arranged to determine whether to enter into a communication state with each adjacent communication station based on matching results of the mutual communication station attributes at the time the self station operating in the sleep mode;

wherein, in said determining step, determination is made to enter into a communication state with a communication station having said low-delay broadcast distribution function, and also to enter into a communication state with a communication station not having said low-delay broadcast distribution function when restrictions are not imposed on broadcast data delay under the communication environment.

14. A computer program characterized in being described in a computer-readable format store in a non-transitory computer readable medium so as to execute processing for executing data communication on a computer under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, causing said computer to execute:

a power-saving assistance procedure arranged to recognize that each adjacent communication station operates in a sleep mode for operating a transmitter and a receiver intermittently; and

a low-delay broadcast distribution procedure arranged to execute data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver at the time of executing broadcast data distribution as to the plurality of communication stations.

15. A computer program characterized in being described in a computer-readable format store in a non-transitory computer readable medium so as to execute processing for executing data communication on a computer under a communication environment made up of a plurality of communication stations which operate in an autonomous distributed manner, causing said computer to execute:

a notifying procedure arranged to mutually notify an adjacent communication station of communication station attributes regarding whether or not the self station is a power-saving communication station which operates in a sleep mode for operating a transmitter and a receiver intermittently, whether or not the self station is a power-saving assistance station which can handle data communication with a communication station which operates in the sleep mode, or whether or not the self station has a low-delay broadcast distribution function for executing data transmission each time each communication station serving as a transmission destination enters into an active state for activating the receiver; and

a determining step arranged to determine whether to enter into a communication state with each adjacent communication station based on matching results of the mutual communication station attributes at the time the self station operating in the sleep mode;

wherein, in said determining procedure, determination is made to enter into a communication state with a communication station having said low-delay broadcast distribution function, and also to enter into a communication state with a communication station not having said low-delay broadcast distribution function when restrictions are not imposed on broadcast data delay under said communication environment.