Systems and methods for fast initial network link setup

• US 9,445,438 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Merlin, Simone
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaidi, Iqbal
• Application Number:
  US13/662,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 370252-255, 370328-339, 370469-477
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. Various processes for reducing the initial link set up time are described. In one aspect a method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system. The method further includes identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message. The method also includes abstaining from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount. The method further includes transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

Claims

1. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless communication device from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining service in the wireless communication system, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services;

selecting, at the wireless communication device, a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;

storing in a queue for transmission, at the wireless communication device, a request message for requesting information to obtain the network service;

before transmission of the request message, receiving a second message comprising the information; and

removing the request message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

4. A wireless communication device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive, from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining service in the wireless communication system, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services;

one or more processors configured to;

select a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;

store in a queue for transmission a request message for requesting information to obtain the network service;

before transmission of the request message, receive a second message comprising the information; and

remove the request message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

7. A method of reducing signaling in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

providing, at an access point, a network service configured to communicate via a plurality of channels;

determining, at the access point, a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;

transmitting, from the access point, a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service;

receiving, at the access point, a plurality of access requests for the network service from a plurality of devices;

determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time;

selecting whether to utilize a broadcast or unicast addressing mode for the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand or modifying a frequency of transmission of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand; and

transmitting, from the access point, the message at the frequency using the selected addressing mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

11. An access point configured to communicate via a plurality of channels, the access point comprising:

a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service; and

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of access requests for the network service from a plurality of devices,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and

select whether to utilize a broadcast or unicast addressing mode for the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand or modify a frequency of transmission of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the message at the frequency using the selected addressing mode.

12. The access point of claim 11, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

13. The access point of claim 11, wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

14. The access point of claim 11, wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

15. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value, wherein the value comprises a random seed value;

abstaining from sensing a medium during the identified time slot for the identified back-off amount; and

transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the device comprises an access point.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the association request messages comprises transmitting a carrier sense multiple access message.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the message received comprises a beacon message.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the message received comprises a probe response.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the medium comprises a wireless communication medium.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the device comprises an access point.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the random value is based on the included value and an identifier for the terminal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifier for the terminal comprises a media access control identifier.

24. An apparatus configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

a processor configured to;

identify a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value, wherein the value comprises a random seed value; and

abstain from sensing a medium during the identified time slot for the identified back-off amount; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus comprises a terminal.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the device comprises an access point.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the association request message comprises carrier sense multiple access message.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the message received comprises a beacon message.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the message received comprises a probe response.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the medium comprises a wireless communication medium.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein generating the random value is based on the included value and an identifier for the terminal.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the identifier for the terminal comprises a media access control identifier.

33. An apparatus for reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

means for identifying a time slot and a back-off amount based on a value included in the received message, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value, wherein the value comprises a random seed value; and

means for establishing the link with the device, the means configured to;

abstain from sensing a medium during the identified time slot for the identified back-off amount; and

transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of an apparatus in a wireless communication system, the instructions being configured to cause the apparatus to:

receive a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;

identify a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value, wherein the value comprises a random seed value;

abstain from sensing a medium during the identified time slot for the identified back-off amount; and

transmit an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

35. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

generating, at a device, a value identifying a time period for a plurality of terminals to transmit association request messages to the device, the association request messages requesting a link with the device;

transmitting a message including the value to the terminals;

receiving, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from one of the terminals;

receiving, outside the identified time period, another association request message including information for establishing the link from another terminal; and

transmitting an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the random seed value is generated based on an identifier for the device.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the value comprises a contention window.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the contention window is generated based on one or more of a size of the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the device, a load of the wireless communication system, a load of the device, a service level associated with the terminal, time information, and date information.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the contention window is generated based on current values.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the contention window is generated based on an analysis of previously stored values.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the message comprises a beacon signal.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the message comprises a probe response.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the value is included in a header of the message.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the value is included in the body of the message.

46. A device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

a processor configured to generate a value identifying a time period for a plurality of terminals to transmit association request messages to the device, the association request messages for establishing a link with the device;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message including the value to the terminals; and

a receiver configured to receive, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from one of the terminals;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive, outside the identified time period, another association request message for establishing the link from another terminal, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the device comprises an access point.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein the value comprises a random seed value.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the random seed value is generated based on an identifier for the device.

50. The device of claim 46, wherein the value comprises a contention window.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein the contention window is generated based on one or more of a size of the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the wireless communication system, a number of terminals accessing the device, a load of the wireless communication system, a load of the device, a service level associated with the terminal, time information, and date information.

52. The device of claim 51, wherein the contention window is generated based on current values.

53. The device of claim 51, wherein the contention window is generated based on an analysis of previously stored values.

54. The device of claim 46, wherein the message comprises a beacon signal.

55. The device of claim 46, wherein the message comprises a probe response.

56. The device of claim 46, wherein the value is included in a header of the message.

57. The device of claim 46, wherein the value is included in the body of the message.

58. A device for reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

means for generating a value identifying a time period for terminals to transmit association request messages to the device, the association request messages requesting to establish a link with the device;

means for transmitting a message including the value to the terminals;

means for receiving, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from a terminal to establish the link between the device and the terminal;

means for receiving, outside the identified time period, another association request message including information for establishing the link from another terminal; and

means for transmitting an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.

59. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a device in a wireless communication system, the instructions configured to cause the device to:

generate a value identifying a time period for terminals to transmitting association request messages to the device to establish a link with the wireless communication system via the device;

transmit a message including the value to the terminals; and

receive, during the identified time period, an association request message for establishing the link from a terminal to establish the link between the device and the terminal;

receive, outside the identified time period, another association request message including information for establishing the link from another terminal; and

transmit an association response message to the other terminal including another value indicating the association request message was transmitted outside the identified time period.