High speed media access control with legacy system interoperability

• US 8,842,657 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walton, Jay Rodney, Ketchum, John W., Nanda, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, CHANDRAHAS B
• Application Number:
  US10/964,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,632 Days
• Field of Search: 370/442, 370/445, 370/448, 370/468, 370/348
• US Class Current: 370/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links

Abstract

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that is backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect a first signal is transmitted according to a legacy transmission format to reserve a portion of a shared medium, and communication according to a second transmission format transpires during the reserved portion. In another aspect, a communication device may contend for access on a legacy system, and then communicate according to a new class communication protocol with one or more remote communication devices during the access period. In another aspect, a device may request access to a shared medium according to a legacy protocol, and, upon grant of access, the device may communicate with or facilitate communication between one or more remote stations according to a new protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a signal over a transmission channel, according to a first transmission format, for reserving the transmission channel for a duration, and for transmitting over the transmission channel according to a second transmission format during the reserved duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first transmission format, and includes at least one interval according to the second transmission format; and

a receiver for receiving over the transmission channel according to the second transmission format during the reserved duration; and

wherein the first transmission format is a legacy transmission format of the second transmission format, and wherein the second transmission format is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first transmission format is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a transmission format defines the contents of each transmitted packet, the first and second transmission formats defining different contents for respective packets.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting over a transmission channel according to at least a portion of a first communication format and for transmitting according to a second communication format;

a receiver for receiving according to the second communication format; and

means for reserving the transmission channel using the portion of the first communication format to reserve a duration for communication according to the second transmission format during the reserved duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first transmission format, and includes at least one interval according to the second transmission format; and

wherein the first transmission format is a legacy transmission format of the second transmission format, and wherein the second transmission format is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first transmission format is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

3. A wireless communication system comprising:

means for transmitting a signal over a transmission channel, according to a first transmission format, for reserving the transmission channel for a duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first transmission format, and includes at least one interval according to the second transmission format; and

means for communicating according to the second transmission format during the reserved duration; and

wherein the first transmission format is a legacy transmission format of the second transmission format, and wherein the second transmission format is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first transmission format is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

4. A method for interoperation on a transmission channel between one or more devices communicating according to a first transmission format and one or more devices communicating according to a second transmission format, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal on the transmission channel, according to a first transmission format, for reserving the transmission channel for a duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first transmission format, and includes at least one interval according to the second transmission format; and

communicating according to the second transmission format during the reserved duration; and

wherein the first transmission format is a legacy transmission format of the second transmission format, and wherein the second transmission format is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first transmission format is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising contending for access according to the first transmission format prior to transmitting the signal for reserving.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

requesting access to the transmission channel; and

receiving an allocation in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal reserved duration is a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) according to an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal establishes a contention free period.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting a signal for reserving the transmission channel for a duration further comprises transmitting a Request To Send (RTS) message, the RTS message indicating a transmission duration.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting a signal for reserving the transmission channel for a duration further comprises transmitting a Clear To Send (CTS) message, the CTS message indicating a transmission duration.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the first transmission format is an IEEE 802.11 format.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the second transmission format comprises a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) frame interval comprising:

a pilot;

a consolidated poll, the consolidated poll comprising a plurality of polls consolidated into a single message;

zero or more access point to remote station frames in accordance with the consolidated poll;

zero or more remote station to access point frames in accordance with the consolidated poll;

zero or more remote station to remote station frames in accordance with the consolidated poll; and

zero or more random access segments in accordance with the consolidated poll.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

means for allocating a first duration for communication on a transmission channel according to a first one of a plurality of communication formats; and

means for allocating a second duration for communication on the transmission channel according to a second one of a plurality of communication formats,

wherein the first duration includes the second duration; and

wherein the first one of a plurality of communication formats includes a legacy transmission format of the second one of a plurality of communication formats, and wherein the second one of a plurality of communication formats is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first one of a plurality of communication formats is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for spatial processing.

16. Non-transitory computer readable media embodying instructions which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following steps:

allocate a first duration for communication on a transmission channel according to a first one of a plurality of communication formats; and

allocate a second duration for communication on the transmission channel according to a second one of a plurality of communication formats,

wherein the first duration includes the second duration; and

wherein the first one of a plurality of communication formats includes a legacy transmission format of the second one of a plurality of communication formats, and wherein the second one of a plurality of communication formats is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first one of a plurality of communication formats is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the execution of said instructions cause the processor to perform the following steps:

transmitting a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) frame interval comprising a consolidated poll;

transmitting one or more frames in accordance with the consolidated poll; and

receiving one or more frames in accordance with the consolidated poll.

18. A method for communication on a transmission channel, comprising:

allocating a first duration for communication on the transmission channel according to a first one of a plurality of communication formats; and

allocating a second duration for communication on the transmission channel according to a second one of a plurality of communication formats,

wherein the first duration includes the second duration; and

wherein the first one of a plurality of communication formats includes a legacy transmission format of the second one of a plurality of communication formats, and wherein the second one of a plurality of communication formats is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first one of a plurality of communication formats is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least one of the plurality of communication formats comprises spatial processing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one of the plurality of communication formats comprising spatial processing is a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication format.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the MIMO communication format is a Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) communication format.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the plurality of communication formats comprises a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) frame interval comprising:

a pilot;

a consolidated poll; and

one or more frames in accordance with the consolidated poll.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more frames comprises remote station to access point communication.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more frames comprises remote station to remote station communication.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more frames comprises random access to the transmission channel.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein one or more frames comprises access point to remote station communication.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein one of plurality of communication formats is substantially the same as an 802.11 CAP format.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein one of plurality of communication formats is substantially the same as a SCAP format.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising allocating a series of one or more third durations for communication on the transmission channel according to a the first one of the plurality of communication formats and a series of one or more fourth durations for communication on the transmission channel according to a second one of the plurality of communication formats, the series of third durations and series of fourth durations interspersed.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the interspersing is selected to provide a maximum time interval between ones of the series of third durations.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the first duration comprises one or more SCAP intervals.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second duration comprises one or more 802.11 EDCA intervals.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising establishing a contention free period for the first duration.

34. The method of claim 18, further comprising establishing a contention period for the second duration.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein one of plurality of communication formats is substantially the same as an 802.11 EDCA format.

36. A method for communication on a transmission channel, comprising:

transmitting a beacon according to a first communication protocol;

contending for access to the transmission channel according to the first communication protocol; and

communicating on the transmission channel according to a second communication protocol during the contended access,

wherein the contended access comprises a contention period including at least one interval according to the second communication protocol; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

establishing a contention free period; and

allocating polls according to the first communication protocol during the contention free period.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein:

a first access point establishes the contention free period; and

a second access point contends for access according to the first communication protocol and communicates with one or more remote stations according to the second communication protocol during the contended access.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

contending for a second access to the transmission channel according to the first communication protocol; and

communicating on the transmission channel according to the first communication protocol during the second contended access.

40. A device, operable with an access point, the access point establishing a contention free period and a contention period in accordance with a first communication protocol, the device comprising:

means for contending for access to a transmission channel according to the first communication protocol during the contention period,

wherein the contended access comprises a contention period including at least one interval according to the second communication protocol;

a transmitter for transmitting on the transmission channel in accordance with a second communication protocol during the contended access; and

a receiver for receiving on the transmission channel in accordance with the second communication protocol during the contended access; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

41. Non-transitory computer readable media embodying instructions which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following steps:

contending for access to a transmission channel according to a first communication protocol; and

communicating on the transmission channel according to a second communication protocol during the contended access,

wherein the contended access comprises a contention period including at least one interval according to the second communication protocol; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

42. A wireless communication system comprising:

a device for;

contending for access to a transmission channel according to a first communication protocol; and

transmitting a signal on the transmission channel according to the first communication protocol to reserve the transmission channel for a duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first communication protocol, and includes at least one interval according to a second transmission protocol;

a first remote station for transmitting a pilot on the transmission channel in accordance with the second communication protocol; and

a second remote station for;

measuring the pilot and determining feedback therefrom; and

transmitting the feedback on the transmission channel to the first remote station; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

43. The wireless communication system of claim 42, wherein the first remote station further transmits data on the transmission channel according to the second communication protocol to the second remote station in accordance with the feedback.

44. A method for communication on a transmission channel, comprising:

contending for access to the transmission channel according to a first communication protocol;

transmitting a signal according to the first communication protocol to reserve the transmission channel for a duration,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first communication protocol, and includes at least one interval according to a second transmission protocol;

transmitting a pilot from a first remote station to a second remote station in accordance with the second communication protocol;

measuring the pilot at the second remote station and determining feedback therefrom;

transmitting the feedback from the second remote station to the first remote station; and

transmitting data according to the second communication protocol from the first remote station to the second remote station in accordance with the feedback; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

45. A wireless communication system, operable with a transmission channel for receiving and transmitting, comprising:

a first access point for communication over the transmission channel according to a first communication format; and

a second access point for communication over the transmission channel according to a second communication format, the second access point operable to transmit a signal in accordance with the first communication format to reserve a duration on the transmission channel for communication according to the second communication format,

wherein the reserved duration corresponds to an interval according to the first communication protocol, and includes at least one interval according to the second transmission format; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.

46. An apparatus, comprising:

means for contending for access to a transmission channel according to a first communication protocol; and

means for communicating on the transmission channel according to a second communication protocol during the contended access,

wherein the contended access comprises a contention period including at least one interval according to the second communication protocol; and

wherein the first communication protocol is a legacy transmission format of the second communication protocol, and wherein the second communication protocol is an IEEE 802.11(e) format and the first communication protocol is one of an IEEE 802.11(a), (b), and (g) format.