Communication between wireless devices capable of communicating using multiple MAC protocols

• US 9,402,231 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gainspan Corporation (Telit Communications PLC)
• Original Assignee: Gainspan Corporation (Telit Communications PLC)
• Inventors: Batra, Vishal, Vyas, Pankaj
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US14/514,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0222 in packet switched networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A first wireless device and a second wireless device are each capable of communicating using multiple MAC protocols. The first wireless device sets a first receiver to a power savings mode, the first receiver designed to operate according to a first MAC protocol. The first wireless device then receives, from the second wireless device, an indication on a second receiver corresponding to a second MAC protocol that data is available to be transmitted to the first wireless device from the second wireless device. In response to receipt of the indication, the first wireless sets the first receiver to an active mode, and receives the data from the second wireless device using the first receiver operating in accordance with the first MAC protocol. The second receiver consumes less power than the first receiver. Reduction of power consumption in the first wireless device may be achieved.

Claims

1. A method by which a first wireless device communicates with a second wireless device, both of said first wireless device and said second wireless device being enabled to communicate with each other using a first MAC protocol and a second MAC protocol, said method comprising:

transitioning, at a first time instance, to a power savings mode in the operation of a first receiver corresponding to said first MAC protocol, wherein said first receiver is incapable of receiving data in said power savings mode;

receive, at a second time instance, an indication on a second receiver corresponding to said second MAC protocol from said second wireless device, wherein said indication indicates that data is available to be transmitted to said first wireless device from said second wireless device;

in response to receipt of said indication, transitioning to an active mode in the operation of said first receiver and receiving data from said second wireless device using said first receiver operating in accordance with said first MAC protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first wireless device is a wireless station, said second wireless device is an access point, said first MAC protocol is according to IEEE 802.11 protocol, and said second receiver operates to consume lower energy in a duration between said first time instance and said second time instance compared to said first receiver in said active mode, such that power savings is obtained in durations when said access point has no data to transmit to said wireless station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second MAC protocol is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol, wherein said power savings mode comprises switching off said receiver between said first time instance and said second time instance.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a first signal indicating whether said first wireless device is allowed to transition to said power savings mode in the operation of said first receiver, wherein said transitioning to said power savings mode is permitted only if said first signal is received indicating that said first wireless device is allowed to transition to said power savings mode in the operation of said first receiver.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first signal is based on a button provided in said first wireless device, or based on communication with an application.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said second receiver is in said active mode listening for said indication in an entire duration between said first time instance and said second time instance.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said second receiver operates to be in said active mode in durations around respective ones of beacons transmitted by said first wireless device in accordance with said IEEE 802.11 protocol.

8. A method by which a second wireless device communicates with a first wireless device, both of said first wireless device and said second wireless device being enabled to communicate with each other using a first MAC protocol and a second MAC protocol, said method comprising:

receiving, at a first time instance, an indication that said first wireless device is transitioning to a power savings mode in the operation of a first receiver corresponding to said first MAC protocol, wherein said first receiver is incapable of receiving data in said power savings mode;

receiving a data unit for transmission to said first wireless device;

sending, at a second time instance, an indication using said second MAC protocol to said first wireless device, wherein said indication indicates that data is available to be transmitted to said first wireless device from said second wireless device;

after sending of said indication, transmitting said data unit to said first wireless device using said first MAC protocol.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first wireless device is a wireless station, said second wireless device is an access point, said first MAC protocol is according to IEEE 802.11 protocol, and said second receiver operates to consume lower energy in a duration between said first time instance and said time instance compared to said first receiver in said active mode such that power savings is obtained in durations when said access point has no data to transmit to said wireless station.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

negotiating with said first wireless device, using said first MAC protocol, capability to receive on the said second receiver of said first wireless device based on said second MAC protocol,

maintaining a list of all wireless devices which are presently in said power savings mode,

wherein, when a data unit is available for transmission to a corresponding wireless device, said second wireless unit inspects said list to check if said corresponding wireless device is present in said list, and sends, an indication using said second MAC protocol to said corresponding wireless device indicating that data is available to be transmitted to said corresponding wireless device from said second wireless device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said power savings mode comprises switching off said first receiver between said first time instance and said second time instance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said second receiver is in said active mode listening for said indication in an entire duration between said first time instance and said second time instance.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second receiver operates to be in said active mode in durations around respective ones of beacons transmitted by said first wireless device in accordance with said IEEE 802.11 protocol, wherein said second MAC protocol is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

14. A wireless device comprising:

a first transmitter and a first receiver, each operating according to a first MAC protocol;

a second transmitter operating according to a second MAC protocol;

a processor coupled to said first transmitter, said first receiver and said second transmitter, and operable to perform the actions of;

receiving at a first time instance, via said first receiver, an indication that a third receiver of an another wireless device is transitioning to a power savings mode, said indication being received from a third transmitter of said another wireless device, wherein each of said third receiver and said third transmitter operates according to said first MAC protocol, wherein said third receiver is incapable of receiving data in said power savings mode;

receiving a data unit for transmission to said another wireless device;

sending at a second time instance, via said second transmitter, an indication to a fourth receiver of said another wireless device, wherein said indication indicates that data is available to be transmitted to said another wireless device from said wireless device, wherein said fourth receiver operates according to said second MAC protocol; and

after sending of said indication, transmitting via said first transmitter, said data unit to said another wireless device, wherein said another wireless device receives said data unit via said third receiver.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein wireless device is an access point (AP), said another wireless device is a wireless station (STA), said first MAC protocol is according to IEEE 802.11 protocol, said second MAC protocol is according to Bluetooth low energy protocol, said first receiver and said first transmitter are respectively a WLAN receiver and a WLAN transmitter, said second receiver and said second transmitter are respectively a BLE transmitter and a BLE receiver,

wherein said third receiver operates to consume lower energy in a duration between said first time instance and said time instance compared when said third receiver in an active mode such that power savings is obtained in said another wireless device in durations when said AP has no data to transmit to said ATA.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said AP maintains a list of all STAs which are presently in said power savings mode,

wherein, when a data unit is available for transmission to a corresponding STA, said AP inspects said list to check if said corresponding STA is present in said list, and sends an indication via said second transmitter to a corresponding receiver of said corresponding STA,

wherein said indication indicates that data is available to be transmitted to said corresponding STA from said AP.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, wherein said power savings mode comprises switching off said third receiver for the duration between said first time instance and said second time instance,

wherein said fourth receiver operates to be in said active mode in durations around respective ones of beacons transmitted by said AP in accordance with said IEEE 802.11 protocol.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein said fourth receiver is in said active mode listening for said indication in an entire duration between said first time instance and said second time instance.

19. A first wireless device for communicating with a second wireless device, both of said first wireless device and said second wireless device being enabled to communicate with each other using a first MAC protocol and a second MAC protocol, said first wireless device comprising:

a first transmitter and a first receiver operable according to said first MAC protocol;

a second receiver operable according to said second MAC protocol;

a processor coupled to said first transmitter, said first receiver and said second receiver, and operable to perform the actions of;

transitioning, at a first time instance, to a power savings mode in the operation of said first receiver corresponding to said first MAC protocol, wherein said first receiver is incapable of receiving data in said power savings mode;

receiving, at a second time instance, an indication on said second receiver corresponding to said second MAC protocol from said second wireless device, wherein said indication indicates that data is available to be transmitted to said first wireless device from said second wireless device;

in response to receipt of said indication, transitioning to an active mode in the operation of said first receiver and receiving data from said second wireless device using said first receiver operating in accordance with said first MAC protocol.

20. The first wireless device of claim 19, wherein said first wireless device is a wireless station, said second wireless device is an access point, said first MAC protocol is according to IEEE 802.11 protocol, said second MAC protocol is according to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol,

wherein said second receiver operates to consume lower energy in a duration between said first time instance and said second time instance compared to said first receiver in said active mode, such that power savings is obtained in durations when said access point has no data to transmit to said wireless station.