Wireless local area network (WLAN) time division multiplexed (TDM) interframe space (IFS) time selection protocol

• US 9,301,247 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Donovan, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasraian, Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US13/934,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20130286915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/318, 370345-350, 370449-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• 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 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless network device in a wireless network that includes a plurality of wireless network devices comprises an RF transceiver that transmits and receives data packets and that periodically transmits or receives a beacon. A control module communicates with the RF transceiver, determines a group identifier and a station identifier based on the beacon, and selects one of a default IFS time and a second IFS time based on a data packet received.

Claims

1. A wireless network, comprising:

a first client station assigned to a first group of client stations, wherein the first client station is configured to i) receive a first data packet from a second client station assigned to a second group of client stations, ii) select, based on a determination of whether the first data packet was received from the second client station, between a first default interframe space (IFS) time and a second default IFS time, wherein the first default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the first client station and the second default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the second client station, wherein the first client station selects the first default IFS time if it is determined that the first data packet was not received within a first predetermined period and selects the second default IFS time if it is determined that the first data packet was received within the first predetermined period, and wherein the first default IFS time is different from the second default IFS time, and iii) transmit data subsequent to the selected one of the first default IFS time and the second default IFS time; and

a third client station assigned to the second group of client stations, wherein the third client station is configured to i) receive a second data packet from a fourth client station assigned to the first group of client stations, ii) select, based on a determination of whether the second data packet was received from the fourth client station, between a third default IFS time and a fourth default IFS time, wherein the third default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the third client station and the fourth default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the fourth client station, wherein the third client station selects the third default IFS time if it is determined that the second data packet was not received within a second predetermined period and selects the fourth default IFS time if it is determined that the first data packet was received within the second predetermined period, and wherein the third default IFS time is different from the fourth default IFS time, and iii) transmit data subsequent to the selected one of the third default IFS time and the fourth default IFS time.

2. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein

the first default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) a first group IFS time assigned to the first group of client stations, and ii) a first incremental IFS time assigned to the first client station, and

the second default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) a second group IFS time assigned to the second group of client stations, and ii) a second incremental IFS time assigned to the second client station, wherein the first group IFS time is different from the second group IFS time.

3. The wireless network of claim 2, wherein

the third default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) the second group IFS time assigned to the second group of client stations, and ii) a third incremental IFS time assigned to the third client station, and

the fourth default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) the first group IFS time assigned to the first group of client stations, and ii) a fourth incremental IFS time assigned to the fourth client station.

4. The wireless network of claim 3, wherein the first incremental IFS time is different from the fourth incremental IFS time.

5. The wireless network of claim 3, wherein i) each client station in the first group of client stations is assigned a respective station number, and ii) the first incremental IFS time and the fourth incremental IFS time correspond to the respective station numbers assigned to the first client station and the fourth client station.

6. The wireless network of claim 5, wherein the second client station has the same respective station number as the first client station.

7. The wireless network of claim 2, wherein the second group IFS time is greater than the first group IFS time.

8. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the first client station is configured to transmit a third data packet subsequent to the selected one of the first default IFS time and the second default IFS time.

9. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the first client station is configured to receive a beacon that assigns i) the first client station to the first group of client stations, and ii) a respective station number to the first client station.

10. A method, comprising:

assigning a first client station to a first group of client stations;

using the first client station,

receiving a first data packet from a second client station assigned to a second group of client stations,

selecting, based on a determination of whether the first data packet was received from the second client station, between a first default interframe space (IFS) time and a second default IFS time, wherein the first default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the first client station and the second default IFS time-corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the second client station, wherein the first default IFS time is selected if it is determined that the first data packet was not received within a first predetermined period and the second default IFS time is selected if it is determined that the first data packet was received within the first predetermined period, and wherein the first default IFS time is different from the second default IFS time, and

transmitting data subsequent to the selected one of the first default IFS time and the second default IFS time;

assigning a third client station to the second group of client stations; and

using the a third client station,

receiving a second data packet from a fourth client station assigned to the first group of client stations,

selecting, based on whether the second data packet was received from the fourth client station, between a third default IFS time and a fourth default IFS time, wherein the third default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the third client station and the fourth default IFS time corresponds to a default IFS time assigned to the fourth client station, wherein the third client station selects the third default IFS time if it is determined that the second data packet was not received within a second predetermined period and selects the fourth default IFS time if it is determined that the first data packet was received within the second predetermined period, and wherein the third default IFS time is different from the fourth default IFS time, and

transmitting data subsequent to the selected one of the third default IFS time and the fourth default IFS time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) a first group IFS time assigned to the first group of client stations, and ii) a first incremental IFS time assigned to the first client station; and

the second default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) a second group IFS time assigned to the second group of client stations, and ii) a second incremental IFS time assigned to the second client station, wherein the first group IFS time is different from the second group IFS time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the third default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) the second group IFS time assigned to the second group of client stations, and ii) a third incremental IFS time assigned to the third client station; and

the fourth default IFS time corresponds to a sum of i) the first group IFS time assigned to the first group of client stations, and ii) a fourth incremental IFS time assigned to the fourth client station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first incremental IFS time is different from the fourth incremental IFS time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein i) each client station in the first group of client stations is assigned a respective station number, and ii) the first incremental IFS time and the fourth incremental IFS time correspond to the respective station numbers assigned to the first client station and the fourth client station.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second client station has the same respective station number as the first client station.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second group IFS time is greater than the first group IFS time.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising, using the first client station, transmitting a third data packet subsequent to the selected one of the first default IFS time and the second default IFS time.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising, using the first client station, receiving a beacon that assigns i) the first client station to the first group of client stations, and ii) a respective station number to the first client station.