Method and system for multiband rate scaling

• US 8,374,100 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Stacey, Robert, Stephens, Adrian P., Srikanteswara, Srikathyayani, Cordeiro, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): RIYAMI, ABDULLAH A
• Application Number:
  US12/647,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20110158110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/310, 370/431, 370/437, 370/436, 370/441, 370/442, 370/464, 370/465, 370/329, 370/330, 370/332, 370/333, 370/334, 370/335, 370/341, 455/68, 455/113, 455/119, 455/126, 455/127.1, 455/452.1, 455/450, 455/433, 455/552.1, 455/509, 375/260, 714/712, 714/746
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• 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 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

A system and method for multiband rate scaling for communication, particularly wireless communication. A band is used as a parameter for wireless communication performance when a wireless communication channel has a plurality of available bands for communication. A selected communication band may be switched to another available communication band, where the switching may be based on a desired performance determination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving by a client device a first capability information element, which is broadcast by an access device, the first capability information element including a list of available bands used by the access device;

determining by the client device a plurality of available bands for wireless communication with the access device based on a matching between the list of available bands used by the access device and a list of available bands used by the client device;

transmitting to said access device a second capability information element including a list of the plurality of available bands;

communicating with said access device over a first band of said plurality of available bands;

monitoring at least one performance parameter of communication over said first band;

comparing a value of said performance parameter to a threshold value of said performance parameter; and

based on said comparison, selecting a second band of said plurality of available bands for communication with said access device, notifying said access device of said selection, and communicating with said access device over said second band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying said access device of said selection comprises communicating with said access device over a third band, different from said first and second bands.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said third band is reserved for communications regarding availability of said plurality of available bands.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying said access device of said selection comprises communicating with said access device over said first band.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising presenting to an upper layer control protocol of said client device a single media-access control (MAC) address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said threshold value of said performance parameter is dynamically changed by said client device, the method further comprising notifying the access device of changes in said threshold value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said threshold value of said performance parameter is dynamically changed by said access device, the method further comprising notifying the client device of changes in said threshold value.

8. A system comprising:

a client device capable of wirelessly communicating with an access device over a first plurality of bands, wherein said client device is to;

receive a capability information element, which is broadcast by an access device, the capability information element including a list of a second plurality of bands used by the access device;

determine a plurality of common bands available for wireless communication with said access device based on a matching between the first and second pluralities of bands;

communicate with said access device over a first band of said plurality of common bands;

notify said access device of at least one criterion for future switching between the first band and a second band of said plurality of common of bands; and

based on said criterion, switch to communicate with said access device over said second band.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said client device is to present to an upper layer control protocol of said client device a single media-access control (MAC) address.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said client device is to monitor at least one performance parameter of communication over said first band, to compare a value of said performance parameter to a threshold value of said performance parameter, and based on said comparison to switch to communicating with said access device over said second band.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said client device is to receive notification from said access device of a change to said threshold value of said performance.

9. The system of 8, wherein said client device is to notify said access device by communicating with said access device over a third band, different from said first and second bands.

10. The system of 8, wherein said client device is to notify said access device by communicating with said access device over said first band.