BSS/PBSS support and schedule-free networking in 60GHz

• US 9,007,967 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cordeiro, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaur, Pamit
• Application Number:
  US12/630,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/311, 370/324, 370/328
• US Class Current: 370/310
• 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 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a network coordinator module configured to coordinate operation in one or more wireless network architecture modes and configured to communicate to a network station an active mode of the one or more wireless network architecture modes that is active for communication; and a scheduler module that is configured to schedule communication to the network station.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a network coordinator module configured to coordinate operation in one or more wireless network architecture modes and configured to communicate to a network station an active wireless network architecture mode of the one or more wireless network architecture modes that is active for communication, wherein the one or more wireless network architecture modes each indicates a structural configuration of a wireless network in which a central station facilitates communication among network stations of the wireless network or a network station directly communicates with another network station or a combination thereof; and

a scheduler module that is configured to schedule communication to the network station

where the network coordinator module, the scheduler module, or both are arranged to transmit a beacon frame having an information bit-field that has a first value if the network coordinator module transmits the beacon frame, a second value if the network coordinator module transmits the beacon frame and is configured to act as an access point, and a third value if any network station in addition to the network coordinator module can transmit the beacon frame.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directionality module that is configured to directionally operate in a 60 GHz network architecture.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wireless network architecture modes include infrastructure mode, a mode associated with network operation in the millimeter wave band or at around 60 GHz frequency, independent basic service set (BSS) mode, Personal BSS (PBSS) mode, and ad hoc mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the network station is a wireless device that is arranged to operate in the infrastructure mode and enable connection with a wireless access point.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information bit-field is configured to identify an operational setting of the network architecture.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operational setting is in the millimeter wave band.

7. A system comprising:

a wireless apparatus including network coordinator module configured to coordinate operation in one or more wireless network architecture modes and a scheduler module that is configured to schedule communication, wherein the one or more wireless network architecture modes each indicates a structural configuration of a wireless network in which a central station facilitates communication among network stations of the wireless network or a network station directly communicates with another network station or a combination thereof;

a network station configured to receive communication from the wireless apparatus to determine which wireless network architecture mode of the one or more wireless network architecture modes is active for communication;

wherein the wireless apparatus is arranged to transmit a beacon frame having an information bit-field that has a first value if the wireless apparatus transmits the beacon frame, a second value if wireless apparatus transmits the beacon frame is configured to act as an access point, and a third value if any network station in addition to the wireless apparatus can transmit the beacon frame.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless apparatus includes a directionality module that is configured to directionally operate in a 60 GHz network architecture.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the one or more wireless network architecture modes includes an infrastructure mode and an ad hoc mode.