Multiple protocol wireless communications in a WLAN

• US 20050180368A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moorti, R. Tushar, Hansen, Christopher J., Fischer, Matthew J., Trachewsky, Jason A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,680,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method for multiple protocol wireless communications begins by determining protocols of wireless communication devices within a proximal region. The method then continues by determining whether the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of a like protocol. The method continues by, when the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are not of a like protocol, selecting a protocol of the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on a protocol ordering to produce a selected protocol. The method continues by utilizing the selected protocol by the wireless communication devices within the proximal region to set up a wireless communication within the proximal region.

Claims

1. A method for multiple protocol wireless communications, the method comprises:

determining protocols of wireless communication devices within a proximal region;

determining whether the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of a like protocol;

when the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are not of a like protocol, selecting a protocol of the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on a protocol ordering to produce a selected protocol; and

utilizing the selected protocol by the wireless communication devices within the proximal region to set up a wireless communication within the proximal region.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the wireless communication is set up using the selected protocol, utilizing, by a wireless communication device of the wireless communication devices, the protocol of the wireless communication device for a data transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol ordering comprises:

an ordering of the protocols based on legacy ordering of wireless communication devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol ordering comprises:

an ordering of the protocols based on a transmission efficiency ordering of the protocols.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the protocols comprise wireless local area network communication formats in accordance with at least one of:

IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n and further versions of the IEEE 802.11.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal region comprises at least one of:

coverage area of a basic service set;

coverage area of an ad-hoc network; and

coverage area of the basic service set and at least a portion of at least one neighboring basic service set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected protocol comprises at least one of:

a first frame format that includes a legacy header and a Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer partitioning field;

a second frame format that includes a physical (PHY) layer backward compatible header; and

a third frame format that includes a current version header and the MAC layer partitioning field.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the protocols comprises:

determining frequency band of use of each of the wireless communication devices; and

based on the frequency band, determining wireless local area network communication format of each of the wireless communication devices.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

monitoring data transmissions within the proximal region for unacknowledged data transmissions;

comparing the unacknowledged data transmission with a transmission failure threshold;

when the comparing the unacknowledged data transmission with the transmission failure threshold is unfavorable, selecting another one of the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on the protocol ordering to produce another selected protocol; and

utilizing the another selected protocol by the wireless communication devices within the proximal region to set up the wireless communication within the proximal region.

10. A method for a wireless communication device to participate in multiple protocol wireless communications, the method comprises:

affiliating with an access point utilizing a protocol of the wireless communication device;

receiving a selected protocol from the access point;

determining whether the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device are of a like protocol; and

when the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device are not of the like protocol;

utilizing the selected protocol to set up a wireless communication; and

utilizing the protocol of the wireless communication device for the wireless communication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device comprise wireless local area network communication formats in accordance with at least one of:

IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n and further versions of the IEEE 802.11.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected protocol comprises at least one of:

a first frame format that includes a legacy header and a Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer partitioning field;

a second frame format that includes a physical (PHY) layer backward compatible header; and

a third frame format that includes a current version header and the MAC layer partitioning field.

13. A wireless local area network (WLAN) comprises:

at least one access point; and

a plurality of wireless communication devices;

wherein each of the least one access points includes a processing module and memory, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

determining protocols of the plurality of wireless communication devices within a proximal region of the access point;

determining whether the protocols of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of a like protocol; and

when the protocols of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the proximal region are not of a like protocol, selecting a protocol of the protocols of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on a protocol ordering to produce a selected protocol; and

wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices includes a station processing module and station memory, wherein the station memory includes operational instructions that cause the station processing module to utilize the selected protocol within the proximal region to set up a wireless communication within the proximal region.

14. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the station memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the station processing module to:

when the wireless communication is set up using the selected protocol, utilize the protocol of the wireless communication device for a data transmission.

15. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the protocol ordering comprises:

an ordering of the protocols based on legacy ordering of wireless communication devices.

16. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the protocol ordering comprises:

an ordering of the protocols based on a transmission efficiency ordering of the protocols.

17. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the protocols comprise wireless local area network communication formats in accordance with at least one of:

IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n and further versions of the IEEE 802.11.

18. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the proximal region comprises at least one of:

coverage area of a basic service set;

coverage area of an ad-hoc network; and

coverage area of the basic service set and at least a portion of at least one neighboring basic service set.

19. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the selected protocol comprises at least one of:

a first frame format that includes a legacy header and a Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer partitioning field;

a second frame format that includes a physical (PHY) layer backward compatible header; and

a third frame format that includes a current version header and the MAC layer partitioning field.

20. The WLAN of claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module of the access point to determine the protocols by:

determining frequency band of use of each of the wireless communication devices; and

based on the frequency band, determining wireless local area network communication format of each of the wireless communication devices.

21. The WLAN of claim 13 further comprises:

the memory further including operational instructions that cause the processing module of the access point to;

monitor data transmissions within the proximal region for unacknowledged data transmissions;

compare the unacknowledged data transmission with a transmission failure threshold; and

when the comparing the unacknowledged data transmission with the transmission failure threshold is unfavorable, select another one of the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on the protocol ordering to produce another selected protocol; and

the station memory further including operational instructions that cause the station processing module to utilize the another selected protocol to set up the wireless communication within the proximal region.

22. A wireless communication device comprises:

a radio transceiver;

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

affiliate, via the radio transceiver, with an access point utilizing a protocol of the wireless communication device;

receive, via the radio transceiver, a selected protocol from the access point;

determine whether the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device are of a like protocol; and

when the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device are not of the like protocol;

utilize the selected protocol to set up a wireless communication; and

utilize the protocol of the wireless communication device for the wireless communication.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 22, wherein the selected protocol and the protocol of the wireless communication device comprise wireless local area network communication formats in accordance with at least one of:

IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n and further versions of the IEEE 802.11.

24. The wireless communication device of claim 22, wherein the selected protocol comprises at least one of:

a first frame format that includes a legacy header and a Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer partitioning field;

a second frame format that includes a physical (PHY) layer backward compatible header; and

a third frame format that includes a current version header and the MAC layer partitioning field.

25. A method for a wireless communication device to participate in multiple protocol wireless communications, the method comprises:

receiving a frame via a wireless channel;

when a selected protocol is not of a like protocol of the wireless communication device, utilizing the selected protocol to interpret at least a portion of wireless communication set up information of the frame;

based on the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information, determining whether a remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device; and

when the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device, processing the remainder of the frame based in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

interpreting a header of the frame for conformity with a legacy physical layer format to provide the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information; and

when the header of the frame does not conform with the legacy physical layer format, determining that the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the legacy physical layer format includes at least one of IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g and wherein the protocol of the wireless communication device includes IEEE 802.11 n.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

interpreting the frame for conformity with a legacy Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer format to provide the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information; and

when the header of the frame does not conform with the legacy MAC layer format, determining that the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the legacy physical layer format includes at least one of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g and wherein the protocol of the wireless communication device includes IEEE 802.11n.

30. A wireless communication device comprises:

a radio transceiver;

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a frame via a wireless channel;

when a selected protocol is not of a like protocol of the wireless communication device, utilize the selected protocol to interpret at least a portion of wireless communication set up information of the frame;

based on the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information, determine whether a remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device; and

when the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device, process the remainder of the frame based in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 30, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

interpret a header of the frame for conformity with a legacy physical layer format to provide the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information; and

when the header of the frame does not conform with the legacy physical layer format, determine that the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

32. The wireless communication device of claim 31, wherein the legacy physical layer format includes at least one of IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g and wherein the protocol of the wireless communication device includes IEEE 802.11n.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 30, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

interpret the frame for conformity with a legacy Media-Specific Access Control (MAC) layer format to provide the interpreting of the at least a portion of the wireless communication set up information; and

when the header of the frame does not conform with the legacy MAC layer format, determine that the remainder of the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 33, wherein the legacy physical layer format includes at least one of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, and IEEE 802.11g and wherein the protocol of the wireless communication device includes IEEE 802.11n.

35. A method for a wireless communication device to participate in multiple protocol wireless communications, the method comprises:

determining whether a selected protocol is of a like protocol of the wireless communication device;

when the selected protocol is not of the like protocol of the wireless communication device, formatting a portion of wireless communication set up information in accordance with the selected protocol to produce legacy formatted set up information;

formatting remainder of the wireless communication set up information in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted set up information;

formatting data in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted data; and

transmitting a frame containing the legacy formatted set up information, the current formatted set up information, and the current formatted data.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprises:

when the selected protocol is of the like protocol of the wireless communication device, formatting the wireless communication set up information in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted set up information;

formatting the data in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted data; and

transmitting the frame containing the current formatted set up information and the current formatted data.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprises:

the wireless communication set up information including a short training sequence field, a plurality of long training sequence fields, and a high data throughput service field; and

the data includes a plurality of data symbol fields.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprises:

the portion of the wireless communication set up information includes a short training sequence field, a long training sequence field, and a service field;

the remainder of the wireless communication set up information includes a plurality of supplemental long training sequences and a high data throughput service field; and

the data includes a plurality of data symbol fields.

39. A wireless communication device comprises:

a radio transceiver;

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

determine whether a selected protocol is of a like protocol of the wireless communication device;

when the selected protocol is not of the like protocol of the wireless communication device, format a portion of wireless communication set up information in accordance with the selected protocol to produce legacy formatted set up information;

format remainder of the wireless communication set up information in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted set up information;

format data in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted data; and

transmit a frame containing the legacy formatted set up information, the current formatted set up information, and the current formatted data.

40. The wireless communication device of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

when the selected protocol is of the like protocol of the wireless communication device, format the wireless communication set up information in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted set up information;

format the data in accordance with the protocol of the wireless communication device to produce current formatted data; and

transmit the frame containing the current formatted set up information and the current formatted data.

41. The wireless communication device of claim 40 further comprises:

the wireless communication set up information including a short training sequence field, a plurality of long training sequence fields, and a high data throughput service field; and

the data includes a plurality of data symbol fields.

42. The wireless communication device of claim 39 further comprises:

the portion of the wireless communication set up information includes a short training sequence field, a long training sequence field, and a service field;

the remainder of the wireless communication set up information includes a plurality of supplemental long training sequences and a high data throughput service field; and

the data includes a plurality of data symbol fields.