Systems and methods for fast initial network link setup

• US 9,402,243 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Cherian, George, Abraham, Santosh Paul, Merlin, Simone
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Kan
• Application Number:
  US13/662,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130107788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370329-342
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. Various processes for reducing the initial link set up time are described. In one aspect, a method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a message advertising wireless communication from an access point. The method further includes receiving a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices. The method further includes determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests. The method further includes modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand.

Claims

1. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting a message advertising wireless communication from an access point;

receiving a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices;

determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, the determining demand comprising detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and

modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand, the modifying comprising increasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is an increased number of access requests, and the modifying further comprising decreasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is a decreased number of access requests.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication is disabled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises:

identifying a time of day; and

obtaining the demand based on the identified time of day.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message advertising the wireless communication comprises a beacon message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises compressing the beacon message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein compressing the beacon message comprises shortening the beacon message such that the compressed beacon message has a bit length that is less than an uncompressed beacon message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein shortening the beacon message comprises at least one of:

removing a field from the beacon message and reducing the number of bits included in a field of the beacon message.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the beacon message comprises an authentication challenge value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the authentication challenge value is included in an information element of the beacon message.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the beacon message comprises the authentication challenge value in an information element of the beacon message.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises broadcasting the beacon message at a lower power than a previously broadcast beacon message.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises broadcasting the beacon message at a lower priority than a previously broadcast beacon message.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises delaying the beacon broadcast while processing other messages.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises increasing a modulation coding scheme rate identified in the message advertising the wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises decreasing a modulation coding scheme rate identified in the message advertising the wireless communication.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises multicasting the message advertising the wireless communication to plurality of devices.

17. A device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a message advertising wireless communication;

a receiver configured to receive a plurality of access requests for the wireless communication from a plurality of devices; and

a processor configured to;

determine demand for the wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, the demand determination comprising detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and

modify a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand, the modification comprising increasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is an increased number of access requests, and the modification further comprising decreasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is a decreased number of access requests.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication is disabled.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises:

identifying a time of day; and

obtaining the demand based on the identified time of day.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the message advertising the wireless communication comprises a beacon message.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises compressing the beacon message.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein compressing the beacon message comprises shortening the beacon message such that the compressed beacon message has a bit length that is less than an uncompressed beacon message.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein shortening the beacon message comprises at least one of:

removing a field from the beacon message or reducing the number of bits included in a field of the beacon message.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein the beacon message comprises an authentication challenge value.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the authentication challenge value is included in an information element of the beacon message.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the beacon message comprises the authentication challenge value in an information element of the beacon message.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises broadcasting the beacon message at a lower power than a previously broadcast beacon message.

28. The device of claim 20, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises broadcasting the beacon message at a lower priority than a previously broadcast beacon message.

29. The device of claim 20, wherein modifying the broadcast of the beacon message comprises delaying the beacon broadcast while processing other messages.

30. The device of claim 17, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises increasing a modulation coding scheme rate identified in the message advertising the wireless communication.

31. The device of claim 17, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises decreasing a modulation coding scheme rate identified in the message advertising the wireless communication.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein modifying the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication further comprises multicasting the message advertising the wireless communication to plurality of devices.

33. An apparatus for reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a message advertising wireless communication;

means for receiving a plurality of access requests for the wireless communication from a plurality of devices;

means for determining demand for the wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, the means for determining demand comprising detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and

means for modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand, the means for modifying comprising increasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is an increased number of access requests, and the modifying further comprising decreasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is a decreased number of access requests.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor of a device in a wireless communication system, the instructions causing the device to:

transmit a message advertising wireless communication;

receive a plurality of access requests for the wireless communication from a plurality of devices;

determine demand for the wireless communication, the demand determination comprising detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and

modify the broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based in part on the determined demand information, the modification comprising increasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is an increased number of access requests, and the modification further comprising decreasing a number of times the message advertising the wireless communication is broadcast when the change detected is a decreased number of access requests.