Direct link setup mechanisms for wireless LANs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A client station comprising:
- a communication circuit of the client station toestablish an infrastructure mode wireless connection with a wireless client through a wireless access point, andestablish a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection with the wireless client; and
a control circuit of the client station toselect either an infrastructure mode or a DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based on at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode wireless connection and the DLS mode wireless connection, andcause the client station to enter a power save mode when the DLS mode is selected,wherein the communication circuit exchanges frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode,wherein the control circuit negotiates a communications schedule directly with the wireless client based on a common timer synchronization function (TSF) received from beacon signals transmitted by the wireless access point,wherein the communications schedule includes a series of communication windows for communication between the client station and the wireless client using the DLS mode wireless connection,wherein the communication windows are separated by fixed time intervals,wherein the communications schedule specifies a start time and a communication interval, andwherein the client station and the wireless client leave the power save mode at the start time, communicate during one of the communication windows, and then resume the power save mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise a communication circuit to establish an infrastructure mode wireless connection with a wireless client through a wireless access point, and to establish a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection with the wireless client; and a control circuit to select either infrastructure mode or DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based on at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode and DLS mode wireless connections; wherein the communication circuit exchanges frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode.
14 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A client station comprising:
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a communication circuit of the client station to establish an infrastructure mode wireless connection with a wireless client through a wireless access point, and establish a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection with the wireless client; and a control circuit of the client station to select either an infrastructure mode or a DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based on at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode wireless connection and the DLS mode wireless connection, and cause the client station to enter a power save mode when the DLS mode is selected, wherein the communication circuit exchanges frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode, wherein the control circuit negotiates a communications schedule directly with the wireless client based on a common timer synchronization function (TSF) received from beacon signals transmitted by the wireless access point, wherein the communications schedule includes a series of communication windows for communication between the client station and the wireless client using the DLS mode wireless connection, wherein the communication windows are separated by fixed time intervals, wherein the communications schedule specifies a start time and a communication interval, and wherein the client station and the wireless client leave the power save mode at the start time, communicate during one of the communication windows, and then resume the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A client station comprising:
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communication means of the client station for establishing an infrastructure mode wireless connection with a wireless client through a wireless access point, and establishing a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection with the wireless client; and control means of the client station for selecting either an infrastructure mode or a DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based on at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode wireless connection and the DLS mode wireless connection, and causing the client station to enter power a save mode when the DLS mode is selected, wherein the communication means exchanges frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode, wherein the control means negotiates a communications schedule directly with the wireless client based on a common timer synchronization function (TSF) received from beacon signals transmitted by the wireless access point, wherein the communications schedule includes a series of communication windows for communication between the client station and the wireless client using the DLS mode wireless connection, wherein the communication windows are separated by fixed time intervals, wherein the communications schedule specifies a start time and a communication interval, and wherein the client station and the wireless client leave the power save mode at the start time, communicate during one of the communication windows, and then resume the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method comprising:
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establishing an infrastructure mode wireless connection between a client station and a wireless client through a wireless access point, and establishing a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection between the client station and the wireless client; negotiating a communications schedule directly with the wireless client based on a common timer synchronization function (TSF) received from beacon signals transmitted by the wireless access point; selecting either an infrastructure mode or a DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode wireless connection and the DLS mode wireless connection, and causing the client station to enter a power save mode when the DLS mode is selected based on the communications schedule; and
thenexchanging frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode, wherein the communications schedule includes a series of communication windows for communication between the client station and the wireless client using the DLS mode wireless connection, wherein the communication windows are separated by fixed time intervals, wherein the communications schedule specifies a start time and a communication interval, and wherein the client station and the wireless client leave the power save mode at the start time, communicate during one of the communication windows, and then resume the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A computer program that is tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium and is executable by a processor, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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establishing an infrastructure mode wireless connection between a client station and a wireless client through a wireless access point, and for establishing a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection between the client station and the wireless client; negotiating a communications schedule directly with the wireless client based on a common timer synchronization function (TSF) received from beacon signals transmitted by the wireless access point; selecting either an infrastructure mode or a DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode wireless connection and the DLS mode wireless connection, and for causing the client station to enter a power save mode when the DLS mode is selected based on the communications schedule; and
thenexchanging frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode, wherein the communications schedule includes a series of communication windows for communication between the client station and the wireless client using the DLS mode wireless connection, wherein the communication windows are separated by fixed time intervals, wherein the communications schedule specifies a start time and a communication interval, and wherein the client station and the wireless client leave the power save mode at the start time, communicate during one of the communication windows, and then resume the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification