Adjusting operating windows of a dual-mode device operating as an access point and a wireless station in time division multiplexed manner

• US 9,913,159 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gainspan Corporation (Telit Communications PLC)
• Original Assignee: Gainspan Corporation (Telit Communications PLC)
• Inventors: Hiremath, Indudharswamy G, Narangaprath, Shyju
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASEFA, DEBEBE A
• Application Number:
  US14/753,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20160294713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2643 using time-division multiple access [TDMA] H04B7/2615, H04B7/2618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A dual-mode device may compute an expected time instance of arrival of a first beacon based on prior received beacons. If the first beacon is received at an actual time instance which is in variance with the expected time instance, the device re-computes a sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons and schedules a sequence of station windows, with each station window to cover the corresponding future time instance of the sequence of future time instances and to have a desired first period. The dual-mode device operates in station mode in the sequence of station windows and in the AP mode in a sequence of AP windows, wherein each station window of the sequence of station windows is operated alternately with each AP window of the sequence of AP windows in a TDM manner, with each AP window having a desired second period.

Claims

1. A method performed in a dual-mode device, said method comprising:

receiving a sequence of beacons while operating in a station mode with a first period, wherein said dual-mode device operates in an access point (AP) mode and said station mode in a time division multiplexed (TDM) manner, said dual-mode device operating in said AP mode with a second period, wherein said dual-mode device is capable of receiving beacons only when operating in said station mode but not said AP mode;

computing an expected time instance of arrival at said dual-mode device of a first beacon based on said sequence of beacons;

receiving said first beacon at said dual-mode device at an actual time instance which is in variance with said expected time instance;

re-computing a sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons based on the variance between the actual and expected time instances of arrival at said dual-mode device;

scheduling a sequence of station windows, with each station window to cover the corresponding future time instance of said sequence of future time instances and to have said first period; and

operating in said station mode in said sequence of station windows and in said AP mode in a sequence of AP windows, wherein each station window of said sequence of station windows is operated alternately with each AP window of said sequence of AP windows in said TDM manner, wherein each AP window has said second period, wherein said receiving of said first beacon, said re-computing, said scheduling and said operating are performed in said dual-mode device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said station windows has a start boundary and an end boundary, wherein said first period represents magnitude of time between said start boundary and said end boundary of respective station windows,

wherein said re-computing further comprises determining a magnitude of said variance, and

wherein said scheduling further comprises utilizing magnitude of said variance to set the start boundary of each of said sequence of station windows,

wherein said re-computing and said utilizing are also performed in said dual-mode device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said computing of said expected time instance is based on a first beacon interval value received as part of said sequence of beacons,

wherein said re-computing of said sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons is based on said actual time instance as a reference.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said sequence of beacons is received from a remote access point, wherein said remote access point measures said beacon interval period according to a first measurement locally in said remote access point,

wherein said dual-mode device measures said beacon interval period according to a second measurement locally in said dual-mode device,

wherein said remote access point determines said start boundary of each of said station windows based on said first measurement,

wherein said dual-mode device determines said end boundary of each of said station windows based on said second measurement, and

wherein said magnitude of said variance represents a difference in said first measurement and said second measurement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said remote access point, said first beacon, said sequence of beacons and said dual-mode device are in accordance with 802.11 standards,

wherein said remote access point and said station mode of said dual-mode device operate in a first basic service set (BSS), and

wherein said AP mode of said dual-mode device and a plurality of stations operate in a second BSS,

wherein said first measurement is based on a first timing synchronization function (TSF) timer and said second measurement is based on a second TSF timer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is later than said expected time instance, said method further comprising:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary aligned with a corresponding future time instance of one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is shorter than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start later than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is earlier than said expected time instance, said method further comprising:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary positioned to enable said intermediate station window to receive one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is longer than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start earlier than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.

8. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for enabling a dual-mode device to schedule operating windows, wherein execution of said one or more instructions by one or more processors contained in said dual-mode device enables said dual-mode device to perform the actions of:

receiving a sequence of beacons while operating in a station mode with a first period, wherein said dual-mode device operates in an access point (AP) mode and said station mode in a time division multiplexed (TDM) manner, said dual-mode device operating in said AP mode with a second period, wherein said dual-mode device is capable of receiving beacons only when operating in said station mode but not said AP mode;

computing an expected time instance of arrival at said dual-mode device of a first beacon based on said sequence of beacons;

receiving said first beacon at said dual-mode device at an actual time instance which is in variance with said expected time instance;

re-computing a sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons based on the variance between the actual and expected time instances of arrival at said dual-mode device;

scheduling a sequence of station windows, with each station window to cover the corresponding future time instance of said sequence of future time instances and to have said first period; and

operating in said station mode in said sequence of station windows and in said AP mode in a sequence of AP windows, wherein each station window of said sequence of station windows is operated alternately with each AP window of said sequence of AP windows in said TDM manner, wherein each AP window has said second period, wherein said receiving of said first beacon, said re-computing, said scheduling and said operating are performed in said dual-mode device.

9. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein each of said station windows has a start boundary and an end boundary, wherein said first period represents magnitude of time between said start boundary and said end boundary of respective station windows,

wherein said re-computing further comprises determining a magnitude of said variance, and

wherein said scheduling further comprises utilizing magnitude of said variance to set the start boundary of each of said sequence of station windows,

wherein said re-computing and said utilizing are also performed in said dual-mode device.

10. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein said computing of said expected time instance is based on a first beacon interval value received as part of said sequence of beacons,

wherein said re-computing of said sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons is based on said actual time instance as a reference.

11. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 10, wherein said sequence of beacons is received from a remote access point, wherein said remote access point measures said beacon interval period according to a first measurement locally in said remote access point,

wherein said dual-mode device measures said beacon interval period according to a second measurement locally in said dual-mode device,

wherein said remote access point determines said start boundary of each of said station windows based on said first measurement,

wherein said dual-mode device determines said end boundary of each of said station windows based on said second measurement, and

wherein said magnitude of said variance represents a difference in said first measurement and said second measurement.

12. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein said remote access point, said first beacon, said sequence of beacons and said dual-mode device are in accordance with 802.11 standards,

wherein said remote access point and said station mode of said dual-mode device operate in a first basic service set (BSS),

wherein said AP mode of said dual-mode device and a plurality of stations operate in a second BSS, and

wherein said first measurement is based on a first timing synchronization function (TSF) timer and said second measurement is based on a second TSF timer.

13. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is later than said expected time instance, said actions further comprises:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary aligned with a corresponding future time instance of one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is shorter than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start later than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is earlier than said expected time instance, said actions further comprises:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary positioned to enable said intermediate station window to receive one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is longer than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start earlier than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.

15. A dual-mode device comprising:

a processing block and a memory, said memory to store instructions which when retrieved and executed by said processing block causes said dual-mode device to perform the actions of;

receiving a sequence of beacons while operating in a station mode with a first period, wherein said dual-mode device operates in an access point (AP) mode and said station mode in a time division multiplexed (TDM) manner, said dual-mode device operating in said AP mode with a second period, wherein said dual-mode device is capable of receiving beacons only when operating in said station mode but not said AP mode;

computing an expected time instance of arrival at said dual-mode device of a first beacon based on said sequence of beacons;

receiving said first beacon at said dual-mode device at an actual time instance which is in variance with said expected time instance;

re-computing a sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons based on the variance between the actual and expected time instances of arrival at said dual-mode device;

scheduling a sequence of station windows, with each station window to cover the corresponding future time instance of said sequence of future time instances and to have said first period; and

operating in said station mode in said sequence of station windows and in said AP mode in a sequence of AP windows, wherein each station window of said sequence of station windows is operated alternately with each AP window of said sequence of AP windows in said TDM manner, wherein each AP window has said second period, wherein said receiving of said first beacon, said re-computing, said scheduling and said operating are performed in said dual-mode device.

16. The dual-mode device of claim 15, wherein each of said station windows has a start boundary and an end boundary, wherein said first period represents magnitude of time between said start boundary and said end boundary of respective station windows,

wherein said re-computing further comprises determining a magnitude of said variance, and

wherein said scheduling further comprises utilizing magnitude of said variance to set the start boundary of each of said sequence of station windows,

wherein said re-computing and said utilizing are also performed in said dual-mode device.

17. The dual-mode device of claim 16, wherein said computing of said expected time instance is based on a first beacon interval value received as part of said sequence of beacons,

wherein said re-computing of said sequence of future time instances of arrival of respective future beacons is based on said actual time instance as a reference.

18. The dual-mode device of claim 17, wherein said sequence of beacons is received from a remote access point, wherein said remote access point measures said beacon interval period according to a first measurement locally in said remote access point,

wherein said dual-mode device measures said beacon interval period according to a second measurement locally in said dual-mode device,

wherein said remote access point determines said start boundary of each of said station windows based on said first measurement,

wherein said dual-mode device determines said end boundary of each of said station windows based on said second measurement, and

wherein said magnitude of said variance represents a difference in said first measurement and said second measurement.

19. The dual-mode device of claim 18, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is later than said expected time instance, wherein said processing block causes said dual-mode device to further perform the actions of:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary aligned with a corresponding future time instance of one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is shorter than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start later than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.

20. The dual-mode device of claim 18, wherein said actual time instance of receiving said first beacon is earlier than said expected time instance, wherein said processing block causes said dual-mode device to further perform the actions of:

scheduling an intermediate station window before said sequence of station windows, wherein said intermediate station window has respective start and end boundaries, said intermediate station window'"'"'s start boundary positioned to enable said intermediate station window to receive one of said future beacons, wherein said first period corresponding to said intermediate station window is longer than said first period of said future sequence of station windows, and wherein a start boundary of a first AP window operating immediately after a first station window of said scheduled sequence of station windows is scheduled to start earlier than previously expected, by magnitude of said variance.