KEEP-ALIVE FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20090067407A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Julian, David Jonathan, Jia, Zhanfeng
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1863 comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports arrangements for detecting or preventing errors by carrying supervisory signal the return channel H04L1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A transmitting device transmits data to one or more receiving devices. At least one of the receiving devices transmits a keep-alive to the transmitting device. The keep-alive is transmitted at a reduced rate relative to the data transmission rate. In some implementations multiple receiving devices may transmit keep-alives. In these cases, each receiving device may transmit its keep-alives according to a schedule to prevent or reduce the likelihood of overlapping keep-alives. In some implementations a receiving device may be selected to transmit keep-alives. Here, if the selected receiving device stops transmitting keep-alives another receiving device is selected to transmit keep-alives. Through the use of the above techniques, the transmitting device need not keep track of which receiving devices are listening to the data transmission. Rather, the transmitting device may simply stop transmitting in the event that it no longer receives keep-alives.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

transmitting packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

receiving keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

determining, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the packets are transmitted at substantially regular intervals of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the at least one wireless device is no longer listening to the data stream;

wherein the determination of whether to continue to transmit packets comprises determining to terminate the data stream.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one wireless device comprises a plurality of wireless devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the subset comprises one of the wireless devices.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising specifying which of the wireless devices is to transmit keep-alive messages.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that keep-alive messages are no longer being received from the subset;

designating another subset of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages; and

receiving keep-alive messages from the another subset at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising defining a transmission schedule for each of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmission schedule designates that the wireless devices transmit keep-alive messages at different times.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset for each of the wireless devices.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmission schedule comprises at least one probability criterion for use by the wireless devices to determine whether to transmit keep-alive messages.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising waking from a power save state at designated times to receive the keep-alive messages.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate that the subset is expected to continue to listen for packets.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates that the subset has received and is expected to continue to receive packets.

17. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

a receiver configured to receive keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

a keep-alive processor configured to determine, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the packets are transmitted at substantially regular intervals of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the keep-alive processor is further configured to determine that the at least one wireless device is no longer listening to the data stream; and

the determination of whether to continue to transmit packets comprises determining to terminate the data stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one wireless device comprises a plurality of wireless devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the subset comprises one of the wireless devices.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a keep-alive device selector configured to specify which of the wireless devices is to transmit keep-alive messages.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the keep-alive processor is further configured to determine that keep-alive messages are no longer being received from the subset;

the apparatus further comprises a keep-alive device selector configured to designate another subset of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages; and

the receiver is further configured to receive keep-alive messages from the another subset at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a keep-alive scheduler configured to define a transmission schedule for each of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmission schedule designates that the wireless devices transmit keep-alive messages at different times.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset for each of the wireless devices.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmission schedule comprises at least one probability criterion for use by the wireless devices to determine whether to transmit keep-alive messages.

30. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a mode controller configured to enable at least a portion of the apparatus to wake from a power save state at designated times to receive the keep-alive messages.

31. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate that the subset is expected to continue to listen for packets.

32. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates that the subset has received and is expected to continue to receive packets.

33. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for transmitting packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

means for receiving keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

means for determining, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the packets are transmitted at substantially regular intervals of time.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the means for determining further determines that the at least one wireless device is no longer listening to the data stream; and

the determination of whether to continue to transmit packets comprises determining to terminate the data stream.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one wireless device comprises a plurality of wireless devices.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the subset comprises one of the wireless devices.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising means for specifying which of the wireless devices is to transmit keep-alive messages.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

the means for determining further determines that keep-alive messages are no longer being received from the subset;

the apparatus further comprises means for designating another subset of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages; and

the means for receiving further receives keep-alive messages from the another subset at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising means for defining a transmission schedule for each of the wireless devices to transmit keep-alive messages.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transmission schedule designates that the wireless devices transmit keep-alive messages at different times.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset for each of the wireless devices.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the transmission schedule comprises at least one probability criterion for use by the wireless devices to determine whether to transmit keep-alive messages.

46. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising means for waking from a power save state at designated times to receive the keep-alive messages.

47. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate that the subset is expected to continue to listen for packets.

48. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates that the subset has received and is expected to continue to receive packets.

49. A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

transmit packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

receive keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

determine, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device.

50. A headset for wireless communication, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

a receiver configured to receive keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate;

a transmission controller configured to determine, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device; and

a transducer adapted to provide an audio output based on data received via the receiver.

51. A watch for wireless communication, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

a receiver configured to receive keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate;

a transmission controller configured to determine, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device; and

a user interface adapted to provide an indication based on data received via the receiver.

52. A sensing device for wireless communication, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit packets to at least one wireless device, wherein the packets are transmitted in accordance with a packet rate;

a receiver configured to receive keep-alive messages from a subset of the at least one wireless device, wherein the keep-alive messages are received at a rate that is less than the packet rate;

a transmission controller configured to determine, based on the received keep-alive messages, whether to continue transmitting packets to the least one wireless device; and

a sensor adapted to provide data to be transmitted via the transmitter.

53. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate; and

transmitting keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the packets are received at substantially regular intervals of time.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising determining whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on receipt of a message from the wireless device authorizing transmission of the keep-alive messages.

58. The method of claim 53, further comprising receiving an indication from the wireless device that designates the rate for the transmission of the keep-alive messages.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the keep-alive messages are transmitted based on a transmission schedule received from the wireless device.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the transmission schedule defines different keep-alive transmission times for different wireless devices that are configured to transmit keep-alive messages.

62. The method of claim 53, further comprising determining whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on a probability parameter.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the determination of whether to transmit the keep-alive messages comprises determining to not transmit a given one of the keep-alive messages based on comparison of the probability parameter with a probability threshold.

64. The method of claim 53, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate an expectation to continue to listen for packets.

65. The method of claim 53, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates receipt of packets and an expectation to continue to receive packets.

66. The method of claim 53, further comprising determining whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether at least one packet has successfully been received within a defined period of time.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the defined period of time comprises a window associated with a defined number of packets.

68. The method of claim 53, further comprising determining whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether a verifiable portion of at least one packet has been received within a defined period of time.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the verifiable portion comprises at least a portion of a header or at least a portion of a preamble.

70. The method of claim 53, further comprising waking from a power save state at designated times to transmit the keep-alive messages.

71. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate; and

a transmitter configured to transmit keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

73. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the packets are received at substantially regular intervals of time.

74. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

75. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a keep-alive controller configured to determine whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on receipt of a message from the wireless device authorizing transmission of the keep-alive messages.

76. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a keep-alive controller configured to receive an indication from the wireless device that designates the rate for the transmission of the keep-alive messages.

77. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the keep-alive messages are transmitted based on a transmission schedule received from the wireless device.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the transmission schedule defines different keep-alive transmission times for different wireless devices that are configured to transmit keep-alive messages.

80. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a keep-alive controller configured to determine whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on a probability parameter.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the determination of whether to transmit the keep-alive messages comprises determining to not transmit a given one of the keep-alive messages based on comparison of the probability parameter with a probability threshold.

82. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate an expectation to continue to listen for packets.

83. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates receipt of packets and an expectation to continue to receive packets.

84. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a keep-alive controller configured to determine whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether at least one packet has successfully been received within a defined period of time.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the defined period of time comprises a window associated with a defined number of packets.

86. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a keep-alive controller configured to determine whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether a verifiable portion of at least one packet has been received within a defined period of time.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the verifiable portion comprises at least a portion of a header or at least a portion of a preamble.

88. The apparatus of claim 71, further comprising a mode controller configured to enable at least a portion of the apparatus to wake from a power save state at designated times to transmit the keep-alive messages.

89. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate; and

means for transmitting keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the packets comprise multicast packets.

91. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the packets are received at substantially regular intervals of time.

92. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the packets comprise a portion of a data stream.

93. The apparatus of claim 89, further comprising means for determining whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on receipt of a message from the wireless device authorizing transmission of the keep-alive messages.

94. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the means for receiving receives an indication from the wireless device that designates the rate for the transmission of the keep-alive messages.

95. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the keep-alive messages are transmitted based on a transmission schedule received from the wireless device.

96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the transmission schedule comprises a packet period and a packet offset.

97. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the transmission schedule defines different keep-alive transmission times for different wireless devices that are configured to transmit keep-alive messages.

98. The apparatus of claim 89, further comprising means for determining whether to transmit the keep-alive messages based on a probability parameter.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the determination of whether to transmit the keep-alive messages comprises determining to not transmit a given one of the keep-alive messages based on comparison of the probability parameter with a probability threshold.

100. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the keep-alive messages indicate an expectation to continue to listen for packets.

101. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein each of the keep-alive messages indicates receipt of packets and an expectation to continue to receive packets.

102. The apparatus of claim 89, further comprising means for determining whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether at least one packet has successfully been received within a defined period of time.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the defined period of time comprises a window associated with a defined number of packets.

104. The apparatus of claim 89, further comprising means for determining whether to transmit one of the keep-alive messages based on whether a verifiable portion of at least one packet has been received within a defined period of time.

105. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein the verifiable portion comprises at least a portion of a header or at least a portion of a preamble.

106. The apparatus of claim 89, further comprising means for waking from a power save state at designated times to transmit the keep-alive messages.

107. A computer-program product for wireless communication, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes executable by at least one computer to;

receive packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate; and

transmit keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate.

108. A headset for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate;

a transmitter configured to transmit keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

a transducer adapted to provide an audio output based on data received via the receiver.

109. A watch for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate;

a transmitter configured to transmit keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

a user interface adapted to provide an indication based on data received via the receiver.

110. A sensing device for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive packets from a wireless device, wherein the packets are received in accordance with a packet rate;

a transmitter configured to transmit keep-alive messages to the wireless device at a rate that is less than the packet rate; and

a sensor adapted to provide data to be transmitted via the transmitter.