Simultaneous transmissions during a transmission opportunity

• US 8,355,389 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kasslin, Mika, Kneckt, Jarkko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/722,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/445, 370/447, 370/461
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/083 for increasing network speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enhance capacity of a wireless communication network through spatial reuse of the shared communication medium, using an autonomous parallel operation without central coordination and header frames. Example embodiments of the invention include a signaling method that defines and sets up a Simultaneous Transmissions mode between two pairs of devices to reuse a transmission opportunity (TXOP). In example embodiments of the invention, an arrangement may be made between device pairs (each pair comprising a transmitter device and a receiver device) to allow selected pairs to communicate at a same time. The example signaling method defines example signaling for setting up simultaneous transmitter/receiver pairs in a network and operating the transmitter/receiver pairs in simultaneous transmission. If a device in a setup pair detects some other transmission than that is not allowed by one of its device pair arrangements, the device ceases its transmission.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

participating by a first device in establishment of a first device pair with a second device;

participating by the first device in establishment of a simultaneous transmissions mode between the first device pair, and a second device pair including a third and fourth devices;

wirelessly receiving by the first device a portion of a first packet from the third device that was transmitted by the third device and destined for the fourth device, the portion of the first packet containing a length value and a wireless transmission rate value for the first packet;

calculating by the first device, a remaining duration for the first packet based on the length and transmission rate values;

generating by the first device, a second packet to be transmitted by the first device and destined for the second device, having a duration that fits within and is less than or equal to the calculated remaining duration of the first packet; and

wirelessly transmitting by the first device, the second packet destined for the second device to fit within the calculated remaining duration of the first packet.

2. The method of claim 1, said establishing step further comprising:

detecting by the first device in a wireless medium, that it is occasionally delayed in beginning transmissions to the second device, because the third device is an occasional user of the wireless medium;

determining by the first device from addresses in packets received from the third device that the third device is transmitting its packets destined for the fourth device and a criterion that the second device does not receive packets transmitted by the third device or the link performance is poor between the second device and the third device;

establishing by the first device, the first device pair with the second device by determining that the second device has a capability to participate as a receiver device with the first device being a transmitter device in the first device pair, in the simultaneous transmissions mode; and

transmitting by the first device, a request to the third device to set up the simultaneous transmissions mode between the first device pair and a second device pair of the third device as a transmitter and the fourth device as a receiver, if the criterion is satisfied.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating by the first device, the second packet to include a delay duration value to cause the second device to delay transmitting any packet until after the calculated remaining duration of the first packet has elapsed.

4. The method of claim 1, said establishing step further comprising:

forming by the first device, the first device pair with the second device in a coverage area and channel of the first device;

detecting by the first device, the second device pair including the third device in the first device'"'"'s coverage area and channel, the third device paired with the fourth device;

transmitting by the first device, a simultaneous transmissions request to the third device, if the second device does not receive packets transmitted by the third device or the link performance is poor between the second device and the third device; and

receiving by the first device, a simultaneous transmissions response from the third device, indicating that the third device has formed the second pair with the fourth device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising;

monitoring by the first device, the second device using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmitting by the first device, a second wireless message destined for the second device during the transmission of the first wireless message from the third device destined for the fourth device, the second wireless message indicating a duration during which no messages are received from the second device after forming the first device pair with the second device.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising;

monitoring by the first device, the second device and the third device and competing for transmission resources using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmitting by the first device a second wireless message destined for the second device, the second wireless message indicating a duration during which no messages are received from the second device, after receiving by the first device, a first wireless message from the third device.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising;

storing by the first device, an allowed pairs information including identities of the devices in the first pair and the devices in the second pair, following receiving the simultaneous transmissions response from the third device.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting by the first device, a first simultaneous transmissions indication to the third device, indicating successful transmissions from the first device to the second device;

receiving by the first device, a second simultaneous transmissions indication from the third device, indicating successful transmissions from the third device to the fourth device; and

determining by the first device from the first and second simultaneous transmission indications, whether to continue the simultaneous transmissions mode.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting by the first device, the second wireless message during the transmission by the third device of the first message formed as a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), without receiving any messages from the second device during a duration indicated in the first wireless message of the third device, to reuse transmission resources in a coverage area of the third device.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring by the first device, the second device and competing for transmission resources, using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmitting by the first device, the second wireless message destined for the second device without receiving any messages from the second device during a duration indicated in the second wireless message, after forming the first device pair with the second device;

wherein the third device and the fourth device initially compete for transmission resources using the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the second device pair and subsequently the third device transmits the first wireless message destined for the fourth device, after forming the second device pair with the fourth device.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring by the first device, the third device;

detecting by the first device, the third device using excessive transmission resources in the operating channel of the first device; and

transmitting by the first device, the simultaneous transmissions request to the third device to enable simultaneous transmissions with the third device.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

inferring from a receipt by the first device of a simultaneous transmissions response from the third device, that the third device has verified that simultaneous transmissions to the fourth device are possible to perform.

13. A device, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

participate by the device, which is a first device, in establishment of a first device pair with a second device;

participate by the first device in establishment of a simultaneous transmissions mode between the first device pair, and a second device pair including a third and fourth devices;

wirelessly receive by the first device a portion of a first packet from the third device that was transmitted by the third device and destined for the fourth device, the portion of the first packet containing a length value and a wireless transmission rate value for the first packet;

calculate by the first device, a remaining duration for the first packet based on the length and transmission rate values;

generate by the first device, a second packet to be transmitted by the first device and destined for the second device, having a duration that fits within and is less than or equal to the calculated remaining duration of the first packet; and

wirelessly transmit by the first device, the second packet destined for the second device, to fit within the calculated remaining duration of the first packet.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

detect by the first device in a wireless medium, that it is occasionally delayed in beginning transmissions to the second device, because the third device is an occasional user of the medium;

determine by the first device from addresses in packets received from the third device that the third device is transmitting its packets destined for the fourth device and a criterion that the second device does not receive packets transmitted by the third device or the link performance is poor between the second device and the third device;

establish by the first device, the first device pair with the second device by determining that the second device has a capability to participate as a receiver device with the first device being a transmitter device in the first device pair, in the simultaneous transmissions mode; and

transmit by the first device, a request to the third device to set up the simultaneous transmissions mode between the first device pair and a second device pair of the third device as a transmitter and the fourth device as a receiver.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

generate by the first device, the second packet to include a delay duration value to cause the second device to delay transmitting any packet until after the calculated remaining duration of the first packet has elapsed.

16. The device of claim 13, said establishing step further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

form by the first device, the first device pair with the second device in a coverage area and channel of the first device;

detect by the first device, the second device pair including the third device in the first device'"'"'s coverage area and channel, the third device paired with the fourth device;

transmit by the first device, a simultaneous transmissions request to the third device, if the second device does not receive packets transmitted by the third device or the link performance is poor between the second device and the third device; and

receive by the first device, a simultaneous transmissions response from the third device, indicating that the third device has formed the second pair with the fourth device.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

monitor by the first device, the second device using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmit by the first device, a second wireless message destined for the second device during the transmission of the first wireless message from the third device destined for the fourth device, the second wireless message indicating a duration during which no messages are received from the second device after forming the first device pair with the second device.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

monitor by the first device, the second device and the third device and compete for transmission resources using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmit by the first device a second wireless message destined for the second device, the second wireless message indicating a duration during which no messages are received from the second device, after receiving by the first device, a first wireless message from the third device.

19. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

store by the first device, an allowed pairs information including identities of the devices in the first pair and the devices in the second pair, following receiving the simultaneous transmissions response from the third device.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

transmit by the first device, a first simultaneous transmissions indication to the third device, indicating successful transmissions from the first device to the second device;

receive by the first device, a second simultaneous transmissions indication from the third device, indicating successful transmissions from the third device to the fourth device; and

determine by the first device from the first and second simultaneous transmission indications, whether to continue the simultaneous transmissions mode.

21. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

transmit by the first device, the second wireless message during the transmission by the third device of the first message formed as a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), without receiving any messages from the second device during a duration indicated in the first wireless message of the third device, to reuse transmission resources in a coverage area of the third device.

22. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

monitor by the first device, the second device and compete for transmission resources, using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the first device pair with the second device; and

transmit by the first device, the second wireless message destined for the second device without receiving any messages from the second device during a duration indicated in the second wireless message, after forming the first device pair with the second device;

wherein the third device and the fourth device initially compete for transmission resources using the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance access method, prior to forming the second device pair and subsequently the third device transmits the first wireless message destined for the fourth device, after forming the second device pair with the fourth device.

23. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

monitor by the first device, the third device;

detect by the first device, the third device using excessive transmission resources in the operating channel of the first device; and

transmit by the first device, the simultaneous transmissions request to the third device to enable simultaneous transmissions with the third device.

24. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device at least to;

infer from a receipt by the first device of a simultaneous transmissions response from the third device, that the third device has verified that simultaneous transmissions to the fourth device are possible to perform.

25. A computer readable non-transitory medium storing program instructions, which when executed by a computer processor, perform the steps of:

participating by a first device in establishment of a first device pair with a second device;

participating by the first device in establishment of a simultaneous transmissions mode between the first device pair, and a second device pair including a third and fourth devices;

wirelessly receiving by the first device a portion of a first packet from the third device that was transmitted by the third device and destined for the fourth device, the portion of the first packet containing a length value and a wireless transmission rate value for the first packet;

calculating by the first device, a remaining duration for the first packet based on the length and transmission rate values;

generating by the first device, a second packet to be transmitted by the first device and destined for the second device, having a duration that fits within and is less than or equal to the calculated remaining duration of the first packet; and

wirelessly transmitting by the first device, the second packet destined for the second device to fit within the calculated remaining duration of the first packet.