METHOD AND APPARATUS OF CONNECTIVITY RECOVERY IN WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20150055601A1
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Adamovsky, Olga, Grabarnik, Maxim
• Application Number:
  US14/528,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

A wireless communication device and a method of re-establishing a connection with a WPAN master device is presented. The method includes detecting that a first master station of a WPAN session which includes the first master device and one or more stations becomes unavailable, activating a master station application to become a second master station and sending one beacon to notify the stations of the session about the second master station connectivity parameters.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the wireless communication device comprising:

a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;

a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from one or more other master stations;

a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;

a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the wireless communication device to provide the wireless communication device with master station capabilities based on the comparison result; and

a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1 wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 3 wherein, while annexing, the medium access controller is configured to:

report to the master station the associated stations;

prevent an unassociated station from joining the association;

become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and

establish a connection with the master station as the client.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 3, wherein while annexing the medium access controller is configured to:

notify the one or more associated stations on the master station; and

trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.

6. A wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless communication device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) configured to act as both, a master station and a client within association of a personal area network (WPAN), the wireless communication device comprising;

a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;

a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from the other master stations;

a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;

a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the wireless communication device to provide the wireless communication device with a master station capabilities based on the comparison result; and

a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about said wireless communication device master station connectivity parameters, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 6, wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein, while annexing, the controller is configured to:

report to the master station the associated stations;

prevent an unassociated station from joining the association;

become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and

establishing a connection with the master station as the client.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein while annexing the controller is able to:

inform the one or more associated stations on the master station; and

trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.

11. A station configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the wireless communication station comprising:

a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;

a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from one or more other master stations;

a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;

a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the station to provide said station with master station capabilities based on the comparison result;

a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID; and

an antenna array operably coupled to the transmitter and the receiver.

12. The station of claim 11, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

13. The station of claim 11, wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station.

14. The station of claim 13 wherein, while annexing, the medium access controller is configured to:

report to the master station the associated stations;

prevent an unassociated station from joining the association;

become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and

establish a connection with the master station as the client.

15. The station of claim 14, wherein while annexing the medium access controller is configured to:

notify the one or more associated stations on the master station; and

trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.

16. A method of re-establishing a session of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) by a wireless communication device comprising:

detecting that a master station of an association becomes unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;

detecting that one or more other master stations operate on the association;

receiving timing synchronization values from one of the one or more other master stations;

comparing the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;

becoming a new master station according to the comparison result;

sending one or more beacons that include a WPAN capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters wherein the WPAN capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID; and

creating a WPAN session with the one or more stations of the association.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein detecting comprises:

becoming the new master station if no other master station is operating on the association.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein deciding comprises:

deciding to permit one of the one or more other stations to become a master station of the association; and

annexing one or more associated stations to the master station.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein annexing comprises:

reporting to the master station the associated stations;

preventing an unassociated station from joining the association;

becoming a client by disconnecting from the association; and

establishing a connection with the master station as the client.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein annexing comprises:

informing the one or more associated stations on the master station; and

triggering the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.