Method and apparatus for efficient addressing and power savings in wireless communications

• US 8,639,257 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sammour, Mohammed, Grandhi, Sudheer A., Chandra, Arty
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US13/036,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for addressing groups of stations in wireless communications by assigning the stations into a number of groups. Group information may be signaled to each station and a group identifier may be indicated in a frame. The group information may be applied to a performance enhancement, for example power savings for the station, wherein the station enters a power saving mode on a condition that the station determines that it is not a member of the group.

Claims

1. A wireless station (STA) comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an indication of at least one assigned group from an access point (AP), wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a data frame, wherein the data frame includes a data packet and a group identifier to enable the STA to determine that the data packet is intended for the assigned at least one assigned group; and

a processor configured to determine whether the group identifier received in the data frame corresponds to the at least one assigned group, and wherein the processor is further configured to enter a power saving mode on a condition that the group identifier received in the data frame does not correspond to the at least one assigned group.

2. The STA of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a data frame that includes an indication of a destination of the data frame, and wherein the processor is further configured to enter a power saving mode on a condition that the indication of the destination of the data frame is not the STA.

3. The STA of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a data frame that includes an indication of a destination of the data frame, and wherein the processor is further configured to enter a power saving mode on a condition that the indication of the destination of the data frame is the AP.

4. The STA of claim 1, wherein the at least one assigned group is based on a traffic utilization of each one of a plurality of STAs.

5. The STA of claim 1, wherein the at least one assigned group is based on a power level.

6. A method for use in a wireless station (STA), the method comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one assigned group from an access point (AP);

receiving a data frame, wherein the data frame includes a data packet and a group identifier to enable the STA to determine that the data packet is intended for the assigned at least one assigned group;

determining whether the group identifier received in the data frame corresponds to the at least one assigned group; and

entering a power saving mode on a condition that the group identifier received in the data frame does not correspond to the at least one assigned group.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a data frame that includes an indication of a destination of the data frame; and

entering a power saving mode on a condition that the indication of the destination of the data frame is not the STA.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a data frame that includes an indication of a destination of the data frame; and

entering a power saving mode on a condition that the indication of the destination of the data frame is the AP.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one assigned group is based on a traffic utilization of each one of a plurality of STAs.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one assigned group is based on a power level.

11. An access point (AP) comprising:

a processor configured to assign a station (STA) to at least one of a plurality of groups;

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the STA, an indication of the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups;

wherein the processor is configured to generate a data frame including a data packet destined to the STA, and a group identifier associated with one of the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups; and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the data frame including the data packet and the group identifier, to the STA, to enable the STA to determine that the data packet is intended for the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups.

12. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to assign the at least one of the plurality of groups based on a traffic utilization of each one of a plurality of STAs.

13. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to assign the at least one of the plurality of groups based on a power level.

14. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to assign the STA to more than one group.

15. The AP of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to assign the STA to at least one of the plurality of groups based on a quality of service requirement.

16. A method for use in an access point (AP), the method comprising:

assigning a station (STA) to at least one of a plurality of groups;

transmitting, to the STA, an indication of the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups;

generating a data frame including a data packet destined to the STA, and a group identifier associated with one of the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups; and

transmitting the data frame to the STA, wherein the data frame includes the data packet and the group identifier, to enable the STA to determine that the data packet is intended for the assigned at least one of the plurality of groups.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of groups is assigned based on a traffic utilization of each one of a plurality of STAs.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of groups is assigned based on a power level.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the STA is assigned to more than one group.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the STA is assigned to at least one of the plurality of groups based on a quality of service requirement.

21. An access point (AP) comprising:

a processor configured to assign a station (STA) to a group;

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the STA, an indication of the assigned groups;

wherein the processor is configured to generate a data frame including a data packet destined to the STA and a group identifier associated with the assigned group; and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the data frame to the STA.