Techniques for dynamic resource allocation

• US 9,844,068 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Trainin, Solomon, Liondas, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, THAI D
• Application Number:
  US15/005,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 370347-348, 370376, 3703954-39543
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed that dynamically allocate communications resources in a wireless communications network, such as a wireless personal area network (WPAN). For instance, a wireless communications device may obtain a resource allocation. This resource allocation includes a time slot (e.g., a TDMA time slot) within a wireless communications medium. The device determines a first portion of the time slot in which it intends to transmit data. Also, the wireless communications device relinquishes a second portion of the time slot that occurs after the first portion of the time slot. Based on this relinquishment, a central controller device may reallocate the second portion of the time slot.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver to receive a transmission indicating a resource allocation, wherein the resource allocation comprises a time duration within a wireless communications medium; and

a control module to determine, based at least in part on the resource allocation and a usage portion of the time duration for data transmission or data reception, a relinquishment of a portion of the time duration;

wherein the transceiver is to send, to a remote device;

a transmission indicating the relinquishment, wherein the transceiver is to send the transmission indicating the relinquishment prior to the relinquished portion; and

a data transmission in a second time duration prior to the relinquished portion of the time duration, the data transmission comprising millimeter wave signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a central controller device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is to refrain from transmitting data during the relinquished portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more antennas to provide directional beamforming.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a host module to perform operations of a user application.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the user application is a variable bit rate (VBR) application.

7. A method, comprising:

obtaining a resource allocation for a wireless communications device, the resource allocation comprising a time duration within a wireless communications medium;

relinquishing a portion of the time duration based at least in part on the resource allocation and a usage portion of the time duration for data transmission or data reception,

wherein relinquishing the portion of the time duration comprises sending a transmission indicating the relinquishment to a remote device, wherein the transmission indicating the relinquishment is sent prior to the relinquished portion; and

transmitting data in a second time duration prior to the relinquished portion of the time duration, the data transmission comprising millimeter wave signals.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the relinquished portion of the time duration is a final portion of the time duration.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising refraining from transmitting data during the relinquished portion.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting data in the time duration prior to the relinquished portion of the time duration comprises performing directional beamforming of the millimeter wave signals.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising performing operations of a user application.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user application is a variable bit rate (VBR) application.

13. An article comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to:

obtain a resource allocation for a wireless communications device, the resource allocation comprising a time duration within a wireless communications medium;

relinquish a portion of the time duration based at least in part on the resource allocation and a usage portion of the time duration for data transmission or data reception,

wherein relinquishing the portion of the time duration comprises sending a message indicating the relinquishment to a remote device, wherein the message is sent prior to the relinquished portion; and

transmit data in a second time duration prior to the relinquished portion of the time duration, the data transmission comprising millimeter wave signals.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations of a user application.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the user application is a variable bit rate (VBR) application.

16. The article of claim 13, wherein the relinquished portion of the time duration is a final portion of the time duration.

17. The article of claim 13, wherein the non-transitory machine-accessible medium having stored thereon further instructions that, when executed by the one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to refrain from transmitting data during the relinquished portion.

18. The article of claim 13, wherein the non-transitory machine-accessible medium having stored thereon further instructions that, when executed by the one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform directional beamforming of the millimeter wave signals.