Channel efficient tune away procedure

• US 9,629,058 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hafiz, Sheikh, Gao, Xuanning, Kharia, Yash
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US14/985,149
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 455438
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for wireless communication are described. A wireless station (STA) may receive a frame from an access point (AP) reserving a channel for a time period. The frame may include an information field associated with a tune away procedure performed by the AP during the time period. The STA may perform, based on the information field, direct communications with a neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a mobile device, comprising:

receiving, from an access point (AP), a clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frame reserving a channel for a time period, the CTS-S frame comprising a power management field associated with a tune-away procedure performed by the AP during the time period, wherein the AP is not communicating on the channel during the time period; and

performing, based at least in part on the power management field, direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the AP, a second frame releasing the channel, the second frame conveying an indication that the AP has completed the tune-away procedure.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a channel access procedure on the channel prior to performing the direct communications with the neighboring device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the AP is a mobile hotspot.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the AP is a Wi-Fi AP.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing direct communications with the neighboring device comprises:

streaming content to the neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the channel is a Wi-Fi display channel.

8. A mobile device for wireless communications, comprising:

a frame reservation manager to receive, from an access point (AP), a clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frame reserving a channel for a time period, the frame comprising power management field associated with a tune-away procedure performed by the AP during the time period, wherein the AP is not communicating on the channel during the time period; and

a direct communication manager to perform, based at least in part on the power management field, direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the direct communication manager receives, from the AP, a second frame releasing the channel, the second frame conveying an indication that the AP has completed the tune-away procedure.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the direct communication manager performs a channel access procedure on the channel prior to performing the direct communications with the neighboring device.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the AP is a mobile hotspot.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the AP is a Wi-Fi AP.

13. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the direct communication manager to perform direct communications with the neighboring device is to stream content to the neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the channel is a Wi-Fi display channel.

15. A method for wireless communication at a mobile device, comprising:

receiving, from an access point (AP), a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frames reserving a channel, each CTS-S frame reserving the channel for at least one time period;

determining that the AP is performing a tune-away procedure during a predetermined number of the time periods; and

performing a direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device based at least in part on the AP performing the tune-away procedure during the predetermined number of time periods.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the AP is performing the tune-away procedure during the predetermined number of time periods comprises:

determining that the AP has not transmitted on the channel.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that the AP has communicated on the channel during at least one of the time periods; and

refraining from performing the direct communications with the neighboring device based at least in part on the determining that the AP has communicated.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the AP is a serving AP.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the AP is a non-serving AP.

20. A mobile device for wireless communication, comprising:

a frame reservation manager to receive, from an access point (AP), a plurality of clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frames reserving a channel, each CTS-S frame reserving the channel for at least one time period;

a channel tune away manager to determine that the AP is performing a tune-away procedure during a predetermined number of the time periods; and

a direct communication manager to perform a direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device based at least in part on the AP performing the tune-away procedure during the predetermined number of time periods.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the channel tune away manager to determine that the AP is performing the tune-away procedure during the predetermined number of time periods is to determine that the AP has not transmitted on the channel.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the channel tune away manager is to determine that the AP has communicated on the channel during at least one of the time periods;

and

wherein the direct communication manager is to refrain from performing the direct communications with the neighboring device based at least in part on the determining that the AP has communicated.

23. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the AP is a serving AP.

24. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the AP is a non-serving AP.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, from the AP, a second frame releasing the channel, the second frame conveying an indication that the AP has completed the tune-away procedure.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

performing a channel access procedure on the channel prior to performing the direct communications with the neighboring device.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the AP is a mobile hotspot.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the AP is a Wi-Fi AP.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein performing direct communications with the neighboring device comprises:

streaming content to the neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the channel is a Wi-Fi display channel.

25. A method for wireless communication at a mobile device, comprising:

receiving, from an access point (AP) and after receiving a clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frame, a broadcast action frame reserving a channel for a time period, the broadcast action frame comprising a power management field associated with a tune-away procedure performed by the AP during the time period, wherein the AP is not communicating on the channel during the time period; and

performing, based at least in part on the power management field, direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

32. A mobile device for wireless communications, comprising:

a frame reservation manager to receive, from an access point (AP) and after receiving a clear-to-send (CTS) to self (CTS-S) frame, a broadcast action frame reserving a channel for a time period, the broadcast action frame comprising a power management field associated with a tune-away procedure performed by the AP during the time period, wherein the AP is not communicating on the channel during the time period; and

a direct communication manager to perform, based at least in part on the power management field, direct communications between the mobile device and a neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the direct communication manager receives, from the AP, a second frame releasing the channel, the second frame conveying an indication that the AP has completed the tune-away procedure.

34. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the direct communication manager performs a channel access procedure on the channel prior to performing the direct communications with the neighboring device.

35. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the AP is a mobile hotspot.

36. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the AP is a Wi-Fi AP.

37. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the direct communication manager to perform direct communications with the neighboring device is to stream content to the neighboring device on the channel during the time period.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, wherein the channel is a Wi-Fi display channel.