SIGNAL STRENGTH GUIDED INTRA-CELL UPSTREAM DATA FORWARDING

• US 20130235799A1
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ji, Lusheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Intra-cell upstream data forwarding is utilized in a wireless network such as a wireless local area network. A network forwarding path is determined based on the signal strength of an access point signal received at client stations within the network, referred to as the OASS. In particular embodiments, a station that is either originating or forwarding a frame inserts its own OASS into the frame before transmitting it and a client station that receives a frame forwards it only if its own OASS exceeds the frame-enclosed OASS, illustratively by at least a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless network comprising a first station and a plurality of second stations, the method being performed by a receiving one of the second stations that has received a message from a transmitting one of the second stations, the method comprising determining whether said receiving station should forward said message within the wireless network, said determining being based on an observed signal strength of a signal received by said receiving station from the first station.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said receiving station forwards said message within the wireless network only if a) said signal strength observed by said receiving station is greater than b) a signal strength of a signal received by said transmitting station from the first station.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein an indication that is a function of said signal strength b) is included in the received message.

4. The invention of claim 3 further comprising inserting in said message, prior to said receiving station forwarding said message, a signal strength indication that is a function of the strength of a signal that had been received by said receiving station from said first station.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said receiving station forwards said message unless it determines that another one of the second stations has forwarded the message within the network prior to a particular time period having elapsed after said receiving station receives said message, said particular time period having a duration that is a function of said s observed signal strength.

6. A receiving station for use in a wireless network that comprises a first station and a plurality of other stations, the receiving station being configured to carry out a determination as to whether said receiving station should forward, within the wireless network, a message that the receiving station has received from a transmitting one of the plurality of other stations, said determination being based on an observed signal strength of a signal received by said receiving station from the first station.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said receiving station is further configured to forward said message within the wireless network only if a) said signal strength observed by said receiving station is greater than b) a signal strength of a signal received by said transmitting station from the first station.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said receiving station is further configured to determine said signal strength b) from an indication included in the received message.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said receiving station is further configured to insert in said message, prior to said receiving station forwarding said message, a signal strength indication that is a function of the strength of a signal that had been received by said receiving station from said first station.

10. The invention of claim 6 wherein said receiving station is further configured to forward said message unless it determines that another one of said other stations has forwarded the message within the network prior to a particular time period having elapsed after said receiving station receives said message, said particular time period having a duration that is a function of said observed signal strength.

11. A receiving station for use in a wireless network that comprises a first station and a plurality of other stations, the receiving station including at least one processor and at least one tangible medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the receiving station to determine whether said receiving station should forward, within the wireless network, a message received from a transmitting one of the plurality of other stations, the determining being based on an observed signal strength of a signal received by said receiving station from the first station

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the receiving station to forward said message within the wireless network only if a) said signal strength observed by said receiving station is greater than b) a signal strength of a signal received by said transmitting station from the first station.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the receiving station to determine said signal strength b) from an indication included in the received message.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the receiving station to insert in said message, prior to said receiving station forwarding said message, a signal strength indication that is a function of the strength of a signal that had been received by said receiving station from said first station.

15. The invention of claim 11 wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the receiving station to to forward said message unless it determines that another one of said other stations has forwarded the message within the network prior to a particular time period having elapsed after said receiving station receives said message, said particular time period having a duration that is a function of said observed signal strength.