Scheduled service periods in wireless mesh networks

• US 8,675,620 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Benveniste, Mathilde
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, JUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/417,708
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 370/203, 370204-215, 370229-253, 370310-337, 370338-350, 370/395.1, 370/395.3, 370/395.4, 370/395.41, 370/395.42, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/395.53, 370412-421, 370431-457, 370458-463, 370464-497, 370498-522, 370523-520, 370521-529
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product in which a computer system functions as a mesh point (MP) and provides scheduled service periods in wireless mesh networks is presented. The MP enters a light sleep mode. The MP determines peers of itself and determines beacons for the peers of itself. The MP then enters an Awake state for the beacons of its peers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method in which a computer system functions as a mesh point (MP) and said MP performs operations comprising:

entering a light sleep mode;

determining peers of said MP;

determining beacons for said peers of said MP; and

entering an Awake state multiple times during a period for said MP, said multiple awake states allowing said MP to hear said beacons of said peers, wherein said period for said MP starts at a beacon of said MP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a time said MP enters an Awake state is indicated in an Awake Window element in a beacon of said MP.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said MP sends buffered frames to peer MPs that are in an Awake state.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a first buffered frame in a service period must be acknowledged.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein when an acknowledgement is not received, said MP re-transmits once.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said MP remains in said Awake state until the later of the group consisting of an Awake Window end time when said MP is not receiving, and until said MP receives a frame with an End Of Service Period (EOSP) bit set.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein traffic travels in both directions for said MP.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for scheduling service periods in wireless mesh networks, the medium including instructions in which a computer system functions as a Mesh Point (MP), and wherein said MP performs operations comprising:

entering a light sleep mode;

determining peers of said MP;

determining beacons for said peers of said MP; and

entering an Awake state multiple times during a period for said MP, said multiple awake states allowing said MP to hear said beacons of said peers, wherein said period for said MP starts at a beacon of said MP.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further including instructions wherein a time said MP enters an Awake state is indicated in an Awake Window element in a beacon of said MP.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further including instructions wherein said MP sends buffered frames to peer MPs that are in an Awake state.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 further including instructions wherein a first buffered frame in a service period must be acknowledged.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further including instructions wherein when an acknowledgement is not received, said MP re-transmits once.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7 further including instructions wherein said MP remains in said Awake state until the later of the group consisting of an Awake Window end time when said MP is not receiving, and until said MP receives a frame with an End Of Service Period (EOSP) bit set.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein traffic travels in both directions for said MP.

13. A Mesh Point (MP) comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and

wherein the memory is encoded with an application providing scheduled service periods in wireless mesh networks, that when performed on the processor, provides a process for processing information, the process causing the MP to perform the operations of;

entering a light sleep mode;

determining peers of said MP;

determining beacons for said peers of said MP; and

entering an Awake state multiple times during a period for said MP, said multiple awake states allowing said MP to hear said beacons of said peers, wherein said period for said MP starts at a beacon of said MP.

14. The MP of claim 13 wherein a time said MP enters an Awake state is indicated in an Awake Window element in a beacon of said MP.

15. The MP of claim 13 wherein said MP sends buffered frames to peer MPs that are in an Awake state.

16. The MP of claim 15 wherein a first buffered frame in a service period must be acknowledged.

17. The MP of claim 16 wherein when an acknowledgement is not received, said MP re-transmits once.

18. The MP of claim 13 wherein said MP remains in said Awake state until the later of the group consisting of an Awake Window end time when said MP is not receiving, and until said MP receives a frame with an End Of Service Period (EOSP) bit set.

21. The MP of claim 13 wherein traffic travels in both directions for said MP.