Wireless local area network (WLAN) time division multiplexed (TDM) interframe space (IFS) time selection protocol

• US 8,483,190 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Donovan, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasraian, Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US11/321,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,749 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/318, 370/345, 370/346, 370/347, 370/350, 370/449, 370/450
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices comprises n RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon. A control module communicates with the RF transceiver, determines a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon, and selects one of a default IFS time and a second IFS time based on a data packet received.

Claims

1. A wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, the wireless network device comprising:

radio frequency (RF) transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon;

a control module that communicates with the RF transceiver, that determines a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon, and that selects one of a default interframe space (IFS) time and a second IFS time based on the group identifier and the station identifier of the wireless network device and a group identifier and a station identifier associated with a data packet received from a second wireless network device.

2. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

3. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein the control module determines a group identifier x and a station identifier y based on the beacon.

4. The wireless network device of claim 3 wherein the control module selects the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x-1 and a station identifier y.

5. The wireless network device of claim 3 wherein the control module selects the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier less than x and a station identifier y.

6. The wireless network device of claim 3 wherein the control module selects the default IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x and a station identifier other than y.

7. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein a group IFS time is based on the group identifier, a delta IFS time is based on the station identifier, and the default IFS time is a sum of the group IFS time and the delta IFS time.

8. The wireless network device of claim 1 wherein the device transmits a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

9. The wireless network device of claim 8 further comprising a power management module that transitions the wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

10. The wireless network device of claim 9 wherein the power management module transitions the wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

11. The wireless network device of claim 9 wherein the power management module transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after the RF transceiver transmits the data packet.

12. A wireless network comprising the wireless network device of claim 1 and further comprising a coordinator device that periodically transmits the beacon to the RF transceiver.

13. A wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, the wireless network device comprising:

transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving data packets and for periodically transmitting or receiving a beacon;

control means for communicating with the transmitting and receiving means, for determining a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon, and for selecting one of a default interframe space (IFS) time and a second IFS time based on the group identifier and the station identifier of the wireless network device and a group identifier and a station identifier associated with a data packet received from a second wireless network device.

14. The wireless network device of claim 13 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

15. The wireless network device of claim 13 wherein the control means determines a group identifier x and a station identifier y based on the beacon.

16. The wireless network device of claim 15 wherein the control means selects the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x-1 and a station identifier y.

17. The wireless network device of claim 15 wherein the control means selects the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier less than x and a station identifier y.

18. The wireless network device of claim 15 wherein the control means selects the default IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x and a station identifier other than y.

19. The wireless network device of claim 13 wherein a group IFS time is based on the group identifier, a delta IFS time is based on the station identifier, and the default IFS time is a sum of the group IFS time and the delta IFS time.

20. The wireless network device of claim 13 wherein the device transmits a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

21. The wireless network device of claim 20 further comprising power management means for transitioning the wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

22. The wireless network device of claim 21 wherein the power management means transitions the wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

23. The wireless network device of claim 21 wherein the power management means transitions the wireless network device to the inactive mode after the device transmits the data packet.

24. A method for transmitting and receiving data with a first wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices, the method comprising:

transmitting and receiving data packets;

periodically transmitting or receiving a beacon;

determining a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon; and

selecting one of a default interframe space (IFS) time and a second IFS time based on the group identifier and the station identifier of the wireless network device and a group identifier and a station identifier associated with a data packet received from a second wireless network device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the second IFS time is less than or equal to the default IFS time.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising determining a group identifier x and a station identifier y based on the beacon.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x-1 and a station identifier y.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the second IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier less than x and a station identifier y.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the default IFS time when the data packet is received from a second wireless network device having a group identifier x and a station identifier other than y.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein a group IFS time is based on the group identifier, a delta IFS time is based on the station identifier, and the default IFS time is a sum of the group IFS time and the delta IFS time.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprises transmitting a data packet after one of the default IFS time or the second IFS time.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising transitioning the first wireless network device between an active mode and an inactive mode.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of transitioning includes transitioning the first wireless network device to the active mode prior to a scheduled beacon time.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of transitioning includes transitioning the wireless network device to the inactive mode after transmitting the data packet.