Idle state management

• US 9,113,415 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tanach, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Khawar
• Application Number:
  US13/533,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20120269106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 370/311, 370/345, 370/445, 370/461, 370/469, 370/474, 370/316, 370/329, 370/338, 370/352, 370/389, 370/346, 455/574
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0232 according to average transmission signal activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatus and systems, as well as methods and articles, may operate to enter an idle state of a wireless device for a selected amount of time responsive to a combined clear channel assessment indication.

Claims

1. A wireless communications apparatus to communicate in a wireless communications network, including

a receiving chain for receiving a wireless signal;

a first modem for producing a first clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a first physical layer protocol status;

a second modem for producing a second clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a second physical layer protocol status;

a combination device for producing a combined clear channel assessment indicator from the first and second clear channel assessment indicators, wherein the combined clear channel assessment indictor is active if at least one of the first and second clear channel indicators is active and is not active if neither of the first and second clear channel indicators is active; and

an idle indication module containing hardware, the idle indication module to cause the wireless communications apparatus to refrain from transmitting if the combined clear channel assessment indicator is active; and

a filter for filtering the combined clear channel assessment indicator to remove glitches of more than a selected time period;

wherein said combined clear channel assessment indicator is produced by performing an OR operation between the first and second clear channel assessment indicators.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

at least one antenna for said receiving and transmitting.

3. A method of communicating in a wireless communications network, including

performing operations in a wireless communications device, the operations comprising:

receiving a wireless signal;

producing a first clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a first physical layer protocol status;

producing a second clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a second physical layer protocol status;

producing a combined clear channel assessment indicator from the first and second clear channel assessment indicators , wherein the combined clear channel assessment indictor is active if at least one of the first and second clear channel indicators is active and is not active if neither of the first and second clear channel indicators is active;

filtering the combined clear channel assessment indicator to remove glitches of more than a selected time period;

refraining from transmitting if the combined clear channel assessment indicator is active; and

triggering the idle state if both the first and second clear channel assessment indicators indicate no activity on the wireless communications channel for a certain amount of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said producing the combined clear channel assessment indicator comprises

determining if at least one of the first and second clear channel assessment indicators indicates activity on the wireless communications channel.

5. A communications device for communicating in a wireless communications network, the device containing means to:

receive a wireless signal;

produce a first clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a first physical layer protocol status;

produce a second clear channel assessment indicator that indicates a second physical layer protocol status;

produce a combined clear channel assessment indicator from the first and second clear channel assessment indicators, wherein the combined clear channel assessment indictor is active if at least one of the first and second clear channel indicators is active and is not active if neither of the first and second clear channel indicators is active;

filter the combined clear channel assessment indicator to remove glitches of more than a selected time period;

refrain from transmitting if the combined clear channel assessment indicator is active; and

trigger the idle state if both the first and second clear channel assessment indicators indicate no activity on the wireless communications channel for a certain amount of time.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the means to produce the combined clear channel assessment indicator comprise

means to determine if at least one of the first and second clear channel assessment indicators indicates activity on the wireless communications channel.