METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SILENCE PERIODS IN DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

• US 20110122849A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Taghavi Nasrabadi, Mohammad H., Sampath, Hemanth, Abraham, Santosh P., Jain, Avinash
• Granted Patent: US 9,247,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method of facilitating a silence period in a directional communication network is provided. The method may comprise initiating, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate a new communication, determining whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode, and transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

initiating, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate a new communication;

determining whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode; and

transmitting a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received request further comprises a broadcast beacon.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmission comprises transmitting the response to the broadcast beacon when the first apparatus is in a non-listening period mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises transmitting during the listening period mode of either the first apparatus or during a listening period of a second apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating, by the first apparatus, with a network in which listening mode information of the first apparatus is used.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmission of the response comprises transmitting the listening mode information to the second apparatus to allow the second apparatus to associate with the network without selecting an overlapping listening period mode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the listening mode information comprises a number of apparatuses associated with the network and listening period mode times and lengths for each associated apparatus of a listening period.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the listening mode information further comprises device identifying information of the first apparatus.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising broadcasting the listening mode information using a beacon transmission by the first apparatus.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a probe request from a second apparatus; and

transmitting the listening mode information using a probe response by the first apparatus in response to the probe request received from the second apparatus.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving time synchronization information from a second apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the second apparatus had obtained the time synchronization information through a GPS based protocol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring to receive the request comprises using a quasi-omni directional receive antenna, wherein the quasi-omni directional antenna is operable to receive over an arc region defined by the first apparatus.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring to receive comprises receiving by rotating a receiving beam of a receive antenna of the first apparatus, wherein the receive antenna is operable to change beam directions.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein a time period is defined for each apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the time period for each apparatus is included in the listening mode information.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network as a portion of the superframe common to all apparatuses associated with the network.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network:

as a portion of the superframe, at a random portion of the superframe, by dividing the superframe into multiple subdivisions for request and response periods, or by dividing the superframe into multiple time slots.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission is transmitted using an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises a direct transmission intended for another apparatus.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the listening period mode further comprises continuing transmission of another portion of current communication wherein the another portion comprises a response message generated in response to the request message received during the listening period mode.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises all communications transmitted or received by the first apparatus.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code executable to;

initiate, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate a new communication;

determine whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode; and

transmit a response if the request to initiate a new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

22. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for initiating, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises means for ceasing at least a portion of current communication and means for configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate a new communication;

means for determining whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode; and

means for transmitting a response to the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the received request further comprises a broadcast beacon.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting the response to the broadcast beacon when the first apparatus is in a non-listening period mode.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting during the listening period mode of either the first apparatus or during a listening period of a second apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising means for associating, by the first apparatus, with a network in which listening mode information of the first apparatus is used.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting the listening mode information to the second apparatus to allow the second apparatus to associate with the network without selecting an overlapping listening period mode.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the listening mode information comprises a number of apparatuses associated with the network and listening period mode times and lengths for each associated apparatus of a listening period.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the listening mode information further comprises device identifying information of the first apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for broadcasting the listening mode information using a beacon transmission by the first apparatus.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving a probe request from a second apparatus; and

means for transmitting the listening mode information using a probe response by the first apparatus in response to the probe request received from the second apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for receiving time synchronization information from a second apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the second apparatus had obtained the time synchronization information through a GPS based protocol.

33. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for configuring further comprises means for using a quasi-omni directional receive antenna, wherein the quasi-omni directional antenna is operable to receive over an arc region defined by the first apparatus.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for configuring further comprises means for receiving by rotating a receiving beam of a receive antenna of the first apparatus, wherein the receive antenna is operable to change beam directions.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a time period is defined for each apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the time period for each apparatus is included in the listening mode information.

36. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network as a portion of the superframe common to all apparatuses associated with the network.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network:

as a portion of the superframe, at a random portion of the superframe, by dividing the superframe into multiple subdivisions for request and response periods, or by dividing the superframe into multiple time slots.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the listening mode information is transmitted using an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises a direct transmission intended for another apparatus.

40. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the listening mode further comprises continuing transmission of another portion of current communication wherein the another portion comprises a response message generated in response to the request message received during the listening period mode.

41. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises all communications transmitted or received by the first apparatus.

42. A station, comprising:

an antenna;

a processing system coupled to the antenna configured to;

initiate, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate the new communication; and

determine whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode; and

a transmitter configured to;

transmit a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

43. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

initiate, by a first apparatus, a listening period mode, wherein the listening period mode comprises ceasing at least a portion of current communication and configuring the first apparatus to receive a request to initiate the new communication; and

determine whether a request is received during a time period in the listening period mode; and

a transmitter configured to;

transmit a response if the request to initiate the new communication is received during the time period in the listening period mode.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the received request further comprises a broadcast beacon.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the response to the broadcast beacon when the first apparatus is in a non-listening period mode.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit during the listening period mode of either the first apparatus or during a listening period of a second apparatus.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the processing system is configured to associate with a network in which listening mode information of the first apparatus is used.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the listening mode information to the second apparatus to allow the second apparatus to associate with the network without selecting an overlapping listening period mode.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the listening mode information comprises a number of apparatus associated with the network and listening period mode times and lengths for each associated apparatus of a listening period.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the listening mode information further comprises device identifying information of the first apparatus.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the transmitter is further configured to broadcast the listening mode information using a beacon transmission by the first apparatus.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a receiver configured to:

receive a probe request from a second apparatus; and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the listening mode information using a probe response by the first apparatus in response to the probe request received from the second apparatus.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a receiver configured to receive time synchronization information from a second apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the second apparatus had obtained the time synchronization information through a GPS based protocol.

54. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a receiver configured to receive using a quasi-omni directional receive antenna, wherein the quasi-omni directional antenna is operable to receive over an arc region defined by the first apparatus.

55. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a receiver configured to receive by rotating a receiving beam of a receive antenna of the first apparatus, wherein the receive antenna is operable to change beam directions.

56. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein a time period is defined for each apparatus associated with the network, and wherein the time period for each apparatus is included in the listening mode information.

57. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network as a portion of the superframe common to all apparatuses associated with the network.

58. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first apparatus receives information from the network defining a superframe duration, wherein the superframe is a time interval between beacon transmissions, and wherein the listening period mode is assigned by the network:

as a portion of the superframe, at a random portion of the superframe, by dividing the superframe into multiple subdivisions for request and response periods, or by dividing the superframe into multiple time slots.

59. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit using an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

60. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises a direct transmission intended for another apparatus.

61. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the listening mode further comprises continuing transmission of another portion of current communication wherein the another portion comprises a response message generated in response to the request message received during the listening period mode.

62. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the portion of current communication ceased comprises all communications transmitted or received by the first apparatus.