Method for generation of beacons by a base station in a wireless communications network

• US 8,391,261 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Unbehaun, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US12/808,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20100296501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370328-339, 370347-350
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention, which relates to a method for the generation of beacons by a base station in a wireless communications network, consisting of at least one base station and at least one station, the beacons being generated repeatedly at time intervals, is based on the object of specifying a method with which the generation of the beacons can be tailored to needs, achieving a reduction of the energy demand and the emissions, and an improvement in the security. According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the generation of the beacons is started with a switching on of the base station and is ended after the expiry of a wait time t_w0 in the event that no station is connected to the base station, and in that the generation of the beacons is started by a receipt of a probe request from a station of the communications network and is ended after the expiry of a wait time t_w1 in the event that no station is connected to the base station.

Claims

1. Method for generation of beacons by a base station in a wireless communications network, consisting of at least one base station and at least one station, the beacons being repeatedly generated at time intervals, the method comprising:

starting the generation of the beacons with a switching on of the base station and ending the generation of the beacons after the expiry of a wait time t_w0 in the event that no station is connected to the base station;

starting the generation of the beacons by a receipt of a probe request from a station of the communications network and ending the generation of the beacons after the expiry of a wait time t_w1 in the event that no station is connected to the base station, wherein the wait time t_w0 and t_w1 are different; and

setting the wait time t_w0 and t_w1 such that a temporary interruption of the connection between a station and the base station does not lead to the cessation of the generation of the beacons.

2. Method according claim 1, characterized in that starting the generation of the beacons by the receipt of the probe request includes only starting the generation of the beacons by the receipt of the probe request from the station in the communications network if the probe request is from a known station, identifiable by a MAC address of the station.