Methods and apparatus for providing silence periods in directional communications networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
- receiving, by a first apparatus, information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions;
receiving an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe;
broadcasting, by the first apparatus, information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission;
initiating, by the first apparatus, the listening period, wherein during the listening period the first apparatus is configured to cease a current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication;
determining whether the request is received during the listening period; and
transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period.
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Abstract
A method of facilitating a silence period in a directional communication network is provided. The method may comprise initiating, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate a new communication, determining whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode, and transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.
12 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
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receiving, by a first apparatus, information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions; receiving an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe; broadcasting, by the first apparatus, information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission; initiating, by the first apparatus, the listening period, wherein during the listening period the first apparatus is configured to cease a current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication; determining whether the request is received during the listening period; and transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product, comprising:
a tangible computer-readable storage device comprising code executable to; receive, by a first apparatus, information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions; receive an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe; broadcast, by the first apparatus, information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission; initiate, by the first apparatus, the listening period, wherein during the listening period the first apparatus is configured to cease a current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication; determine whether the request is received during the listening period; and transmit a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period.
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20. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
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means for receiving information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions; means for receiving an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe; means for broadcasting information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission; means for initiating the listening period, wherein during the listening period the apparatus is configured to cease a current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication; means for determining whether the request is received during the listening period; and means for transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A station, comprising:
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an antenna; a processing system coupled with the antenna configured to; receive information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions; receive an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe; initiate the listening period, wherein during the listening period the processor configures the station to cease a current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication; and determine whether the request is received during the listening period; and a transmitter configured to; transmit, via the antenna, a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period; and broadcast, via the antenna, information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission.
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39. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
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a processing system configured to; receive information from a network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions; receive an assignment of a listening period from the network, wherein the listening period comprises a portion of the superframe; initiate a listening period, wherein during the listening period the apparatus is configured to cease current directional communication and listen in an omni-directional manner for a request to initiate a new communication; and determine whether the request is received during the listening period; and a transmitter configured to; transmit a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the listening period; and broadcast information regarding the listening period using a beacon transmission. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification