Systems and methods for beacon timing adjustment in wireless networks

• US 9,544,811 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Elallam, Ahmed
• Application Number:
  US14/067,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20140140208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for communicating in a wireless network are provided. In some aspects, an access point for wireless communication a receiver configured to receive information identifying a beacon timing of a second access point. The access point further includes a processor configured to adjust a beacon timing of the access point based on the received information identifying the beacon timing of the second access point and a transmitter configured to transmit a beacon according to the adjusted beacon timing of the access point.

Claims

1. A first access point for wireless communication, the first access point comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first beacon in accordance with a first beacon transmission timing; and

a processor configured to adjust the first beacon transmission timing based at least in part on information indicative of a second beacon transmission timing of a second access point, such that the adjusted first beacon transmission timing is at least a particular distance in time away from the second beacon transmission timing,

and to maintain the first beacon transmission timing if the time between the first beacon transmission timing and the second beacon transmission time is larger than the particular distance,

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a second beacon according to the adjusted first beacon transmission timing.

2. The first access point of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to receive the information indicative of the second beacon transmission timing via a data message from a wireless communication device in communication with at least the first access point and the second access point.

3. The first access point of claim 2, wherein:

the transmitter is further configured to transmit a request frame to the wireless communication device requesting information identifying the second beacon transmission timing, and wherein

the receiver is further configured to receive, after transmitting the request frame, the data message from the wireless communication device.

4. The first access point of claim 1, wherein the information indicative of the second beacon transmission timing further comprises an indication of a time offset between a third beacon received by a wireless communication device from the first access point and a fourth beacon received by the wireless communication device from the second access point.

5. The first access point of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the first beacon transmission timing by applying a time shift to the first beacon transmission timing.

6. The first access point of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a notification to at least one of the second access point or a wireless communication device in communication with the first access point and the second access point, the notification indicating:

a predetermined time when the first access point will adjust the first beacon transmission timing, and

the adjusted beacon transmission timing.

7. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting, by a first access point, a first beacon in accordance with a first beacon transmission timing;

adjusting, by the first access point, the first beacon transmission timing based at least in part on information indicative of a second beacon transmission timing of a second access point, such that the adjusted first beacon transmission timing is at least a particular distance in time away from the second beacon transmission timing;

maintaining the first beacon transmission timing if the time between the first beacon transmission timing and the second beacon transmission time is larger than the particular distance; and

transmitting a second beacon according to the adjusted first beacon transmission timing.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the information indicative of the second beacon transmission timing via a data message from a wireless communication device in communication with at least the first access point and the second access point.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first access point, a request frame to the wireless communication device, the request frame requesting information identifying the second beacon transmission timing; and

receiving after transmitting the request frame, the data message from the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information indicative of a second beacon transmission timing further comprises an indication of a time offset between a third beacon received by a wireless communication device from the first access point and a fourth beacon received by the wireless communication device from the second access point.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting the first beacon transmission timing by applying at least one of a time shift to the first beacon transmission timing.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to at least one of the second access point or a wireless communication device in communication with the first access point and the second access point, the notification indicating;

a predetermined time when the first access point will adjust the first beacon transmission timing of the first access point, and

the adjusted first beacon transmission timing.

13. A first access point for wireless communication, the first access point comprising:

means for transmitting a first beacon in accordance with a first beacon transmission timing;

means for adjusting the first beacon transmission timing based at least in part on information indicative of a second beacon transmission timing of a second access point, such that the adjusted first beacon transmission timing is at least a particular distance in time away from the second beacon transmission timing;

means for maintaining the first beacon transmission timing if the time between the first beacon transmission timing and the second beacon transmission time is larger than the particular distance; and

means for transmitting a second beacon according to the adjusted first beacon transmission timing.

14. The first access point of claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving the information indicative of the second beacon transmission timing via a data message from a wireless communication device in communication with at least the access point and the second access point.

15. The first access point of claim 14, further comprising:

means for transmitting a request frame to the wireless communication device requesting information identifying the second beacon transmission timing; and

means for receiving after transmitting the request frame, the data message from the wireless communication device.

16. The first access point of claim 13, wherein the information indicative of the second beacon transmission timing further comprises an indication of a time offset between a third beacon received by a wireless communication device from the first access point and a fourth beacon received by the wireless communication device from the second access point.