METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL FOR UNIFORM MULTIPLE ACCESS POINTS COVERAGE IN WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

• US 20150288427A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaofei, Zhang, Guodong, Oteri, Oghenekome, Xia, Pengfei
• Granted Patent: US 10,305,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0491 using two or more sectors, i.e. sector diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1268 of uplink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1273 of downlink data flows
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and apparatus may be used in multi-AP and multi-wireless transmit/receive unit joint transmissions. The apparatus may be configured to transmit a joint transmission request on a first medium, and receive a joint transmission response on the first medium. In response, the apparatus my perform a joint transmission negotiation on a second medium and transmit data on the second medium based on the joint transmission negotiation. The apparatus may be configured to perform coordinated sectorized or beamformed transmissions through access point (AP)/PCP negotiations. The apparatus may provide an indication of support for joint transmission and coordinated sectorized or beamformed transmissions. The method and apparatus may also implement multi-AP/WTRU request-to-send (RTS)/clear-to-send (CTS) procedures. The apparatus may be configured to perform coordinated sectorized or beamforming grouping.

Claims

1. A method for use in an IEEE 802.11 wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for coordinated sectorized operation, the method comprising:

generating a message that includes an indication that the IEEE 802.11 WTRU supports sectorized operation;

transmitting the message to an associated access point (AP);

reporting interference associated with a plurality of sectors to the associated AP; and

receiving data packets in a sectorized transmission from the associated AP based on a transmission schedule derived from the reported interference, wherein the transmission schedule includes an assignment of a sector associated with the AP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data packets are received in a joint transmission from a plurality of APs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data packets are received in a joint transmission from the associated AP and an assistant WTRU.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a second message that includes an indication of whether joint transmission is supported; and

transmitting the second message to the associated AP.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a request to the associated AP to participate in a joint transmission.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting an assistant WTRU to participate in an uplink joint transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a multi-AP request to send (MRTS); and

transmitting a multi-AP clear to send (MCTS).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the data packets are received on a condition that the MCTS was transmitted.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the AP is grouped with a second AP based on spatial separation.

10-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An IEEE 802.11 wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured for coordinated sectorized or beamforming operation, the WTRU comprising:

a processor configured for generating a message that includes an indication that the IEEE 802.11 WTRU supports sectorized operation;

a transmitter configured for transmitting the message to an associated access point (AP);

the transmitter further configured for reporting interference associated with a plurality of sectors to the associated AP; and

a receiver configured for receiving data packets in a sectorized transmission from the associated AP based on a transmission schedule derived from the reported interference, wherein the transmission schedule includes an assignment of a sector associated with the AP.

20. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 further comprising:

the processor further configured for generating a second message that includes an indication of whether joint transmission is supported; and

the transmitter further configured for transmitting the second message to the associated AP.

21. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 wherein the data packets are received in a joint transmission from a plurality of APs.

22. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 wherein the data packets are received in a joint transmission from the associated AP and an assistant WTRU.

23. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 further comprising:

the transmitter further configured to transmit a request to the associated AP to participate in a joint transmission.

24. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 further comprising:

the processor further configured to select an assistant WTRU to participate in an uplink joint transmission.

25. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 further comprising:

the receiver further configured to receive a multi-AP request to send (MRTS); and

the transmitter further configured to transmit a multi-AP clear to send (MCTS).

26. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 25 wherein the data packets are received on a condition that the MCTS was transmitted.

27. The IEEE 802.11 WTRU of claim 19 wherein the AP is grouped with a second AP based on spatial separation.

28. A method for use in an IEEE 802.11 wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for coordinated sectorized operation, the method comprising:

generating a message that includes an indication that the IEEE 802.11 WTRU supports sectorized operation; and

transmitting the message to an associated access point (AP).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the message is transmitted during association with the AP.