Event-based multichannel direct link

• US RE43,127 E1
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ozmo Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Wentink, Menzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US12/460,974
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-339
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/03 Reselecting a link using a direct mode connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 70/142 in Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN]

Abstract

Disclosed herein are exemplary techniques for the communication of information in a wireless system by using multiple wireless channels. A direct link between two or more wireless devices may be established by performing a direct link setup between two or more wireless devices using an access point, where the direct link setup is conducted over a base channel and the direct link is established on a parallel channel. The two or more wireless devices may switch to the parallel channel and use the established direct link to communicate information directly without the access point as an intermediary. In anticipation of a predetermined event, such as the transmission of a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) beacon frame by the access point, the two or more wireless devices may switch back to the base channel so that uplink, downlink and/or peer-to-peer information may be transmitted and/or received.

Claims

1. In an 802.11x wireless network comprising an access point logically connected to at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device, a A method of establishing a point-to-point connection directly between the a first wireless device and a second wireless devices device comprising:

sending a setup request frame from the first wireless device to the second wireless device on a first communication channel via the access point, the setup request frame including a proposed second communication channel;

sending a setup response frame from the second wireless device to the first wireless device on the first communication channel via the access point; and

communicating information directly between the first and second wireless devices on the second communication channel for a first time period.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

switching the first and second wireless devices from the second channel to the first channel in anticipation of a predetermined event; and

communicating information between the access point and at least one of the first and second wireless devices via the first channel for at least a portion of a second time period.

3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising:

switching the first and second wireless devices from the second channel to the first channel prior to the second time period.

4. The method as in claim 2, further comprising:

switching the first and second wireless devices from the second channel to a third channel; and

communicating, for a third time period, information directly between the first and second wireless devices the second channel.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein switching the wireless devices to the third channel comprises:

providing a setup confirmation from the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the access point, the setup confirmation confirming the suitability of a wireless direct link on the third channel;

switching the first wireless device to the third channel subsequent to the transmission of the setup confirmation; and

switching the second wireless device to the third channel subsequent to the receipt of the setup confirmation.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein establishing the second wireless direct link on the third channel comprises:

providing, on the second channel, a setup request from the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the access point, the setup request including one or more identifiers of the third channel; and

providing, on the second channel, an affirmative setup response from the second wireless device to the second wireless device via the access point in response to a receipt of the setup request at the second device;

wherein the setup confirmation is provided in response to a receipt of the affirmative setup response at the first wireless device.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the one or more identifiers of the third channel includes a center frequency and a channel width.

8. The method as in claim 7, further comprising:

scanning at least one channel to identify an unused channel, the unused channel being selected as the third channel.

9. The method as in claim 7, further comprising:

randomly selecting one of a plurality of channels as the third channel.

10. The method as in claim 2, wherein the predetermined event includes a substantially periodic event.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein the predetermined event includes a periodic transmission of an indication of information buffered at the access point, wherein at least a portion of the buffered information is intended for receipt by at least one of the first and second wireless devices.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the indication from the access point includes a delivery traffic indication map (TIM) beacon frame.

13. The method as in claim 10, wherein the predetermined event includes the delivery of broadcast and multicast data.

14. The method as in claim 1, wherein the second channel includes a base channel for communicating information between the access point to at least the first and second wireless devices.

15. In an 802.11x wireless network comprising an access point operably connected to at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device, a A method of establishing a direct point-to-point connection between the two wireless devices comprising:

providing information between the an access point and at least one of the a first wireless device and a second wireless devices device via a first channel for at least a portion of a first period;

providing a channel change request from the first wireless device to the second wireless device on the first channel;

providing an affirmative response to the channel change request from the second wireless device to the first wireless device on the first channel;

switching the second wireless device to a second channel subsequent to the receipt of the acknowledgement to the provision of the affirmative response to the channel change request;

switching the first wireless device to the second channel subsequent to the transmission of the acknowledgement to the receipt of the affirmative response to the channel change request; and

communicating information directly between the first and second wireless devices via the second channel for at least a portion of a second period,

wherein the 802.11x wireless network access point is configured to facilitate communications in an 802.11x protocol, and

wherein the first channel is different than the second channel.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the channel change request includes an indication of a proposed center frequency and channel width for the second channel and wherein the affirmative response to the channel change request includes an affirmation of the proposed center frequency and channel width for the second channel.

17. The method as in claim 15, wherein the information communicated during at least a portion of the second period includes information buffered at the access point during the first period and having at least one of the first and second wireless devices as an intended recipient.

18. The method as in claim 15, wherein the first and second wireless devices switch from the first channel to the second channel in anticipation of a predetermined event further comprising:

switching the first wireless device from the first channel to the second channel in anticipation of a predetermined event; and

switching the second wireless device from the first channel to the second channel in anticipation of the predetermined event.

19. The method as in claim 18, wherein the predetermined event includes a substantially periodic event.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the predetermined event includes a periodic transmission of an indication of information buffered at the access point, wherein at least a portion of the buffered information is intended for receipt by at least one of the first and second wireless devices.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the indication from the access point includes a delivery traffic indication map (TIM) frame.

22. In a wireless network having an access point, at least one A wireless device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a direct link module operably connected to the transceiver and configured to;

facilitate an establishment of a wireless direct link between the wireless device and another wireless device on the network via a second frequency channel;

communicate information with the other wireless device via the wireless direct link on the second frequency channel for at least a portion of a first period;

switch the transceiver from the second frequency channel to a base channel in anticipation of a predetermined event; and

communicate information with the an access point via the base channel for at least a portion of a second period,

wherein the second frequency channel is different than the base channel.

23. The wireless device as in claim 22, wherein the direct link module is adapted to facilitate the establishment of the wireless direct link by:

providing a channel setup request to the other wireless device via the access point and the base channel;

receiving an affirmative response to the setup request from the other wireless device via the base channel;

providing a setup confirmation to the other wireless device via the base channel; and

tuning the transceiver to the second channel subsequent to the provision of the setup confirmation.

24. The wireless device as in claim 23, wherein the setup request includes an indication of a proposed center frequency and channel width for the second channel.

25. The wireless device as in claim 22, wherein the direct link module is adapted to facilitate the establishment of the wireless direct link by:

receiving a channel setup request from the other wireless device via the access point and the base channel;

providing an affirmative response to the setup request to the other wireless device via the base channel;

receiving a setup confirmation from the other wireless device via the base channel; and

tuning the transceiver to the second channel subsequent to the receipt of the setup confirmation.

26. The wireless device as in claim 25, wherein the setup request includes an indication of a proposed center frequency and channel width for the second channel.

27. The wireless device as in claim 26, wherein the direct link module is adapted to facilitate the establishment of the wireless direct link by:

providing a channel change request to the other wireless device via the access point;

receiving an affirmative response to the channel request from the other wireless device via the access point;

tuning the transceiver to the second channel subsequent to the receipt of the affirmative response.

28. The wireless device as in claim 22, wherein the direct link module is adapted to facilitate the establishment of the wireless direct link by:

receiving a channel change request from the other wireless device via the access point;

providing an affirmative response to the channel request to the other wireless device via the access point; and

tuning the transceiver to the second channel subsequent to the provision of the affirmative response.

29. The wireless device as in claim 22, wherein the predetermined event includes a substantially periodic event.

30. The wireless device as in claim 29, wherein the predetermined event includes a periodic transmission of an indication of information buffered at the access point during the first period, wherein at least a portion of the buffered information is intended for receipt by at least one of the first and second wireless devices.

31. The wireless device as in claim 30, wherein the indication from the access point includes a delivery traffic indication map (TIM) frame.

32. The wireless device as in claim 22, further comprising:

at least one processor; and

wherein the direct link module includes executable instructions adapted to manipulate the processor to;

facilitate the establishment of the wireless direct link;

communicate information with the other wireless device via the wireless direct link;

switch the transceiver from the first channel to the base channel in anticipation of the predetermined event; and

communicate information with the access point via the wireless direct link on the base channel.

33. A wireless system comprising:

an access point; and

at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device;

wherein the first wireless device and the second wireless device are configured to;

communicate information via a wireless direct link on a first channel during at least a portion of a first period;

switch to a second channel in anticipation of a predetermined event; and

communicate information with the access point on the second channel during at least a portion of a second period,

wherein the first channel is different than the second channel.

34. The wireless system as in claim 33, wherein the predetermined event includes a substantially periodic event.

35. The wireless system as in claim 34, wherein the predetermined event includes a periodic transmission of an indication of information buffered at the access point during the first period, wherein at least a portion of the buffered information is intended for receipt by at least one of the first and second wireless devices.

36. The wireless system as in claim 35, wherein the indication from the access point includes a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) frame.

37. A wireless device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a direct link module operably connected to the transceiver and configured to;

provide a channel setup request to another wireless device via an access point (AP) on a base frequency channel of the AP;

receive an affirmative response to the setup request from the another wireless device via the AP on the base frequency channel;

provide a setup confirmation to the another wireless device via the AP on the base frequency channel; and

tune the transceiver to a second frequency channel after providing the setup confirmation, wherein the second frequency channel is different than the base frequency channel.

38. The wireless device of claim 37, wherein the setup confirmation includes power management information that, when decoded by the AP, instructs the AP to begin buffering packets destined for the wireless device.

39. The wireless device of claim 37, wherein the direct link module is further configured to, after tuning the transceiver to the second frequency channel, and prior to receiving an announcement frame from the another wireless device on the second frequency channel, scan the second frequency channel to determine a traffic level, and if excessive traffic is found, transmitting a frame suspending or canceling the direct link.

40. The wireless device of claim 37, wherein the channel setup request provided to the another wireless device via the AP is encapsulated inside a data frame using LLC encapsulation.

41. The wireless device of claim 37, wherein the direct link module is further configured to switch the transceiver from the second frequency channel to the base frequency channel in anticipation of a predetermined event.

42. The wireless device of claim 41, wherein the direct link module is further configured to, after switching the transceiver from the second frequency channel to the base frequency channel in anticipation of a predetermined event, receive buffered packets from the AP on the base frequency channel.

43. The wireless device of claim 41, wherein the direct link module is further configured to, after switching the transceiver from the second frequency channel to the base frequency channel in anticipation of a predetermined event, receive a delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) beacon frame from the AP on the base frequency channel.

44. The wireless device of claim 41, wherein the predetermined event is a substantially periodic event.

46. The wireless device of claim 38, wherein the affirmative response includes power management information that, when decoded by the AP, instructs the AP to begin buffering packets destined for the wireless device.

47. The wireless device of claim 38, wherein the direct link module is further configured to, after tuning the transceiver to the second channel, transmit an announcement frame to the another wireless device on the second channel.

45. A wireless device comprising:

a transceiver; and

a direct link module operably connected to the transceiver and configured to;

receive a channel setup request from another wireless device via an access point (AP) on a base channel of the AP;

provide an affirmative response to the channel setup request to the another wireless device via the AP on the base channel;

receive a setup confirmation from the another wireless device via the AP on the base channel; and

tune the transceiver to a second channel responsive to the receipt of the setup confirmation, wherein the second channel is different than the base channel.

48. A method of linking a first wireless device with a second wireless device comprising:

providing a channel setup request from the first wireless device to the second wireless device via an access point (AP) on a base channel of the AP;

receiving at the first wireless device an affirmative response to the channel setup request from the second wireless device via the AP on the base channel;

providing a setup confirmation from the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the AP on the base channel;

tuning the transceiver of the first wireless device to a second channel after providing the setup confirmation, wherein the second channel is different than the base channel; and

communicating with the second wireless device over the second channel.

49. A method of linking a first wireless device with a second wireless device comprising:

receiving a channel setup request at the first wireless device from the second wireless device via an access point (AP) on a base channel of the AP;

providing an affirmative response to the channel setup request from the first wireless device to the second wireless device via the AP on the base channel;

receiving a setup confirmation at the first wireless device from the second wireless device via the AP on the base channel;

tuning the transceiver to a second channel responsive to the receipt of the setup confirmation, wherein the second channel is different than the base channel; and

communicating with the second wireless device over the second channel.