Method and system for contention-based medium access schemes for directional wireless transmission with asymmetric antenna system (AAS) in wireless communication systems

• US 8,385,362 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shao, Huai-Rong, Ngo, Chiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Juntima, Nittaya
• Application Number:
  US12/628,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]

Abstract

A method and system for wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system is provided. A wireless station performs carrier sensing by sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions. Upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, the station transmits a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction, and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

carrier sensing, by a wireless station sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions, wherein carrier sensing further comprises sensing the wireless communication channel in a minimum number of receive directions for covering a transmit direction;

upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle;

transmitting a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction; and

transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction,

wherein the minimum number of receive directions combined together cover the transmit direction in addition to an expected receive direction.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon detecting the channel is idle;

transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

upon receiving a clear to send (CTS) frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting the frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction; and

transmitting the frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the frame preamble further comprises periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

7. A wireless station for asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over a wireless communication channel; and

a control module that senses a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmits via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction, wherein the wireless channel is sensed in a minimum number of receive directions for covering a transmit direction,

wherein the receive directions combined together cover the transmit direction in addition to an expected receive direction.

8. The wireless station of claim 7, wherein the control module is further configured for detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

9. The wireless station of claim 7, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon detecting the channel is idle, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

10. The wireless station of claim 9, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon receiving a clear to send (CTS) frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting the frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction, and transmitting the frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

11. The wireless station of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured for maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

12. The wireless station of claim 7, wherein the control module is further configured for periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

13. A wireless asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

a transmitting wireless station and a receiving wireless station; and

the transmitting wireless station comprising a transceiver configured for wireless communication over a wireless communication channel, and a control module that senses a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmits via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to the receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction, wherein the wireless communication channel is sensed in a minimum number of receive directions for covering a transmit direction,

wherein the minimum number of receive directions combined together cover the transmit direction in addition to an expected receive direction.

14. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the control module is further configured for detecting if an acknowledgment (ACK) is received from the receiving wireless station, indicating that the transmission was successful.

15. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the control module is further configured for, upon detecting the channel is idle, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame on the channel to the receiving wireless station in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the receiving wireless station further comprises a control module for transmitting a responsive clear to send (CTS) frame in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover its expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the control module of the transmitting wireless station is further configured for, upon receiving a CTS frame from the receiving wireless station in response to the RTS frame, transmitting the frame preamble to the receiving wireless station in the minimum number of transmit directions which cover the expected receive direction in addition to the expected transmit direction, and transmitting the frame payload to the receiving wireless station in the expected transmit direction only.

18. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the control modules of the transmitting and receive wireless stations are further configured for maintaining a Short Inter-Frame Space period between transmission of an RTS frame and a CTS frame in a transmission direction.

19. The communication system of claim 13, wherein the control module of the transmitting wireless station is further configured for periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

20. A method of wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

a wireless station performing carrier sensing by sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions;

upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle;

transmitting a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction;

periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction; and

transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the minimum number of transmit directions cover the expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

22. A wireless station for asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over a wireless communication channel; and

a control module that senses a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmits via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction, periodically transmits a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction, and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction.

23. The wireless station of claim 22, wherein the minimum number of transmit directions cover the expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

24. A method of wireless communication in an asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication system, comprising:

carrier sensing, by a wireless station sensing a wireless communication channel for ongoing communications in one or more directions, wherein carrier sensing further comprises sensing the wireless communication channel in a minimum number of receive directions for covering a transmit direction;

upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle;

transmitting a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction; and

transmitting a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction,

wherein transmitting the frame preamble further comprises periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.

25. A wireless station for asymmetric antenna system (AAS) communication, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over a wireless communication channel; and

a control module that senses a wireless communication channel via the transceiver for ongoing communications in one or more directions, and upon detecting that the wireless communication channel is idle, transmits via the transceiver a frame preamble on the channel to a receiving wireless station in more than one transmit direction and transmits a frame payload on the channel to the receiving wireless station in one transmit direction, wherein the wireless channel is sensed in a minimum number of receive directions for covering a transmit direction,

wherein the control module is further configured for periodically transmitting a frame mid-amble in a minimum number of transmit directions which cover an expected receive direction in addition to an expected transmit direction.