Method and apparatus of connectivity recovery in wireless network

• US 8,903,318 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Adamovsky, Olga, Grabarnik, Maxim
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): COSME, NATASHA W
• Application Number:
  US13/795,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20130203354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A wireless communication device and a method of re-establishing a connection with a WPAN master device is presented. The method includes detecting that a first master station of a WPAN session which includes the first master device and one or more stations becomes unavailable, activating a master station application to become a second master station and sending one beacon to notify the stations of the session about the second master station connectivity parameters.

Claims

1. A method of re-establishing an association by a station configured to become a master station of a wireless personal area network (WPAN), the method comprising:

detecting by the station, which is associated with a WPAN association, that an active master station of the WPAN association leaves the association;

deciding to become a new master station according to a service set identifier (SSID) and an Identifier (ID) value assigned by a WPAN master during session creation of the WPAN association;

when becoming the new master station, sending one or more beacons that include a WPAN capabilities information element (IE) to notify one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters, wherein the WPAN capabilities IE includes the SSID and the ID value; and

creating a WPAN session with the one or more stations of the association.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with one or more stations of the association.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

becoming the new master station if no other master station is operating on the association.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein deciding comprises:

deciding to permit one of the one or more other stations to become the new master station of the association.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

becoming a client by disconnecting from the association; and

establishing a connection with the new master station as the client.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

triggering the one or more stations of the association to roam to the new master station.

7. A wireless communication device configured to become a master station of an association, the wireless communication device comprising:

a detector to detect that an active master station of the association leaves the association;

a controller to activate a master station module according a service set identifier (SSID) and an identifier (ID) value assigned by a wireless personal area network (WPAN) master during session creation of the association, when decided to become a new master station; and

a transmitter to send, when becoming the new master station, one or more beacons that include a WPAN capabilities information element (IE) to notify one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters, wherein the WPAN capabilities IE includes the SSID and the ID value in order to create a WPAN session with the one or more stations of the association.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7 comprising a receiver configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the controller is to annex one or more associated stations to the new master station.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein, when not becoming the new master station the controller is configured to:

prevent an unassociated station from joining the association;

become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and

establish a connection with another master station as the client.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein when becoming the new master station the controller is configured to:

inform the one or more associated stations on the new master station; and

trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the new master station.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein the controller includes a medium access controller.

13. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless communication device configured to become a master station of an association and perform as a client within association of a personal area network (WPAN), the wireless communication device comprising;

an antenna array to receive signals from an active master station;

a detector to detect that the active master station of the association leaves the association;

a controller to activate a master station module according to a service set identifier (SSID) and an identifier (ID) value assigned by a WPAN master during session creation of the association, when decided to become a new master; and

a transmitter to send, when becoming the new master station, one or more beacons that include a WPAN capabilities information element (IE) to notify one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters, wherein the WPAN capabilities IE includes the SSID and the ID value in order to create a WPAN session with the one or more stations of the association.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a receiver configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the controller is to annex one or more associated stations to the master station.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein, when not becoming the new master station, the controller is configured to:

become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association and establishing a connection with the master station as the client.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to:

trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.