System and method to implement synchronous channel timing in a wireless communications network

• US 8,582,539 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jia, Zhanfeng, Julian, David Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Warner
• Application Number:
  US12/277,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 370/231, 370/235, 370/236, 370/326, 370/336, 370/345, 370/395.4, 370/442, 370/503
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1803 Stop-and-wait protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements

Abstract

A system and method to implement synchronous channel timing are disclosed. The method comprises establishing a session time interval. In addition, the method comprises establishing a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

establishing a session time interval at a wireless device;

establishing, at the wireless device, a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals at the wireless device;

transmitting the first data packet at the wireless device within the first time interval;

receiving at the wireless device, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establishing, at the wireless device, a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receiving the second data packet at the wireless device within the second time interval;

transmitting at the wireless device, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establishing a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scheduling, at the wireless device, at least one retransmission time interval within the first time interval for retransmitting the first data packet; and

allowing the retransmission of the first data packet at the wireless device within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

allowing the retransmission of the first data packet at the wireless device for a defined number of times selected based on at least one of specified power consumption, such that each retransmission occurs during a different time within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

retransmitting the first data packet at the wireless device within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval; and

receiving a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet at the wireless device within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a scheduled retransmission is canceled if the first acknowledgement message is received at the wireless device.

65. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are defined based on a specified type of data.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are defined based on a specified data rate.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are defined in cooperation with another wireless device.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are defined without coordinating with a central controller.

69. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scheduling, at the wireless device, at least one retransmission time interval within the first time interval for retransmitting the first data packet; and

allowing the retransmission of the first data packet at the wireless device within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval; and

receiving a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet at the wireless device within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining of the session and first time intervals depends on at least one characteristic of data carried by the synchronous channel.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one of:

a data rate, a type of data, or a quality of service.

72. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device negotiates with at least one other wireless device to define the session and first time intervals.

12. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising a processor adapted to:

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

transmit the first data packet within the first time interval;

receive a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receive the second data packet within a second time interval;

transmit a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further adapted to:

schedule at least one retransmission time interval within the first time interval for retransmitting the first data packet; and

retransmit the first data packet within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further adapted to retransmit the first data packet for a defined number of times selected based on at least one of specified power consumption, such that each retransmission occurs during a different time within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is further adapted to receive a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a scheduled retransmission is canceled if the first acknowledgement message is received.

23. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a session time interval and for establishing a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet and a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

means for transmitting data packets including the first data packet within the first time interval;

means for receiving a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK), wherein the means for receiving is configured to receive the second data packet within the second time interval; and

wherein the means for transmitting is configured to transmit a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK); and

means for establishing a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the means for establishing further schedules at least one retransmission time interval within the first time interval for retransmitting the first data packet; and

the means for transmitting further retransmits the first data packet within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for transmitting further retransmits the first data packet for a defined number of times selected based on at least one of specified power consumption, such that each retransmission occurs during a different time within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet is received within the at least one scheduled retransmission time interval.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a scheduled retransmission is canceled if the first acknowledgement message is received.

34. A headset, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the headset to transmit a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

transmit the first data packet within the first time interval;

receive a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receive the second data packet within a second time interval;

transmit a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a first transducer to generate a signal such that the generated signal is presented as data in the first data packet.

35. The headset of claim 34, wherein:

the headset further comprises a second transducer to process another signal represented by data in the second data packet.

36. A watch, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the watch to transmit a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

transmit the first data packet within the first time interval;

receive a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receive the second data packet within a second time interval;

transmit a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a user interface adapted to process an indication such that the processed indication is represented by data in the first data packet.

37. A sensing device, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the sensing device to transmit a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

transmit the first data packet within the first time interval;

receive a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receive the second data packet within a second time interval;

transmit a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a sensor adapted to generate sensed data represented by data of the first data packet.

38. A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to;

establish a session time interval at a wireless device; and

establish, at the wireless device, a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals at the wireless device;

transmit the first data packet at the wireless device within the first time interval;

receive at the wireless device, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish, at the wireless device, a second time interval within the session time interval for receiving a second data packet;

receive the second data packet at the wireless device within the second time interval;

transmit at the wireless device, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK); and

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

39. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

establishing a session time interval at a wireless device;

establishing, at the wireless device, a first time interval within the session time interval for receiving a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals at the wireless device;

receiving the first data packet at the wireless device within the first time interval;

transmitting at the wireless device, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establishing, at the wireless device, a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmitting the second data packet at the wireless device within the second time interval;

receiving at the wireless device, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establishing a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless device.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless device.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

46. A wireless communication apparatus for communicating via a synchronous channel, comprising a processor adapted to:

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for receiving a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

receive the first data packet within the first time interval;

transmit, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmit the second data packet within the second time interval;

receive, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK); and

establish the synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established when the synchronous channel is set up.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

51. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

52. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

53. A wireless communication apparatus for communicating via a synchronous channel, comprising:

means for establishing a session time interval and for establishing a first time interval within the session time interval for receiving a first data packet and a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

means for receiving data packets including the first data packet, the means for receiving further receives the first data packet within the first time interval, the means for receiving further receives a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet within the second time interval, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

means for transmitting a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet within the first time interval, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK), the means for transmitting is configured to transmit the second data packet within the second time interval; and

means for establishing a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the first data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the session time interval and the first time interval are established when the synchronous channel is set up.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the second data packet is adapted to indicate a boundary of the session time interval.

57. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein a sum of the first time interval and the second time interval substantially equals the session time interval.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the session time interval, the first time interval, and the second time interval are established to set up the synchronous channel with another wireless communication apparatus.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the second time interval immediately follows the first time interval.

60. A headset, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the headset to receive a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

receive the first data packet within the first time interval;

transmit, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmit the second data packet within the second time interval;

receive, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a first transducer to process a signal represented by data in the first data packet.

61. The headset of claim 60, further comprising:

a second transducer to generate signal such that the generated signal is presented as data in the second data packet.

62. A watch, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the watch to receive a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

receive the first data packet within the first time interval;

transmit, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmit the second data packet within the second time interval;

receive, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a user interface adapted to generate an indication represented by data in the first data packet.

63. A sensing device, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

establish a session time interval;

establish a first time interval within the session time interval for the sensing device to receive a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals;

receive the first data packet within the first time interval;

transmit, within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmit the second data packet within the second time interval;

receive, within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages; and

a sensor adapted to generate sensed data presented as data in the second data packet.

64. A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to;

establish a session time interval at a wireless device;

establish, at the wireless device, a first time interval within the session time interval for receiving a first data packet, wherein the establishment of the session and first time intervals comprises dynamically defining the intervals at the wireless device;

receive, at the wireless device, the first data packet within the first time interval;

transmit, at the wireless device and within the first time interval, a first acknowledgement message associated with the first data packet, said first acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK);

establish, at the wireless device, a second time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a second data packet;

transmit, at the wireless device the second data packet within the second time interval;

receive, at the wireless device and within the second time interval, a second acknowledgement message associated with the second data packet, said second acknowledgment message comprising an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK); and

establish a synchronous channel based on the first and second data packets and the first and second acknowledgement messages.