Systems and methods for retrieving buffered data from an access point

• US 8,849,315 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wentink, Menzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US11/954,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• Field of Search: 455/571, 455/574
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods for retrieving data from an access point within a wireless communications system are described. At least one embodiment includes a method for retrieving buffered data in a wireless communication system. In accordance with some embodiments, the method comprises transmitting a paging request to a plurality of access points while in a low power mode, receiving a Paging Indication element or a TIM Response element while remaining in low power mode, and exiting low power mode if buffered data is present and retrieving the buffered data. The Paging Indication element or TIM Response element indicates whether buffered data is present.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving buffered data in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting a Paging Request frame to request a Paging Indication element to one or a plurality of access points while in a low power mode in which a beacon frame is unable to be detected;

receiving the Paging Indication element or a TIM Response element while remaining in low power mode, wherein the Paging Indication element or the TIM Response element indicates whether the buffered data is present; and

exiting the low power mode if the buffered data is present and retrieving the buffered data, wherein transmitting the Paging Request frame while in the low power mode is performed according to a pre-determined frequency, wherein the pre-determined frequency is derived based on a required level of responsiveness to incoming unicast traffic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting another Paging Request frame if the Paging Indication element is not received within a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Paging Request frame request is a TIM request sent to a particular access point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the Paging Request frame is a PS-Poll sent to a particular access point, and wherein the Paging Indication element is a short No-ACK Data frame with at least one of a More Data (MD) bit and an End of Service Period (EOSP) bit set.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the Paging Request frame comprises sending the Paging Request frame to the plurality of access points within a pre-defined Paging Group in order to request the Paging Indication element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the Paging Request frame is performed independent of time intervals designated for receiving beacons.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the Paging Indication element comprises receiving a TIM and a timestamp, wherein the TIM indicates presence of the buffered data for a station, and wherein the timestamp is used by the station to synchronize a TSF (timing synchronization function) timer.

8. A method for retrieving buffered data in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a paging request from a station in low power mode that is not enabled to receive a beacon frame; and

in response to the paging request, sending a TIM response to the station if the buffered data is present, wherein sending the TIM response is performed according to a no ACK policy so that the station remains in the low power mode, wherein receiving the paging request from the station in the low power mode is performed according to a pre-determined frequency, wherein the pre-determined frequency is derived based on a required level of responsiveness to incoming unicast traffic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the paging request is a TIM request sent to a particular access point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the TIM response to the station comprises sending the TIM response after a SIFS (short interface frame) time interval to indicate whether the buffered data is present.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein sending the TIM response after the SIFS time interval is performed if the paging request was received through a unicast address.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the TIM response to the station comprises sending the TIM response after a pre-determined backoff period if the paging request was received through a broadcast address.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein sending the TIM response comprises sending a TIM and a timestamp, wherein the TIM indicates presence of the buffered data for the station, and wherein the timestamp is used by the station to synchronize a TSF (timing synchronization function) timer.

14. A wireless communication system for retrieving buffered data, the system comprising:

a station configured to transmit a paging request frame to request a Paging Indication element while in a low power mode, the station not configured to receive a beacon frame in the low power mode, to determine whether the buffered data is available for the station; and

one or more access points configured to receive the paging request frame from the station and send one of a TIM element and a Paging Indication element to the station if the buffered data is available, wherein the one or more access points send either the TIM element or the Paging Indication element based on information being requested from the one or more access points by the station, wherein transmission of the paging request frame while in a low power mode is performed according to a pre-determined frequency, wherein the pre-determined frequency is derived based on a required level of responsiveness to incoming unicast traffic.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the station requests the TIM element if the station is currently associated with an access point, and wherein the station requests the Paging Indication element if the station is not currently associated with an access point.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the station sends the paging request frame to only one access point if the station is requesting the TIM element, and wherein the station sends the paging request frame to multiple access points if the station is requesting the Paging Indication element.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the access point is further configured to send the Paging Indication element a SIFS (short interface frame) time interval after receiving the paging request frame if the paging request frame was received through a unicast address, and wherein the access point is further configured to send the Paging Indication element after a predetermined backoff period if the paging request frame was received through a broadcast address.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the station is configured to transmit the TIM element independent of time intervals designated for receiving beacons from an access point.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the access point (AP) is configured transmit the TIM element according to a no ACK policy to allow the station to stay in the low power mode while receiving the TIM element.