Systems and methods for fast initial network link setup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9445438-B2
Application number	US-201213662411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2012
Priority date	Oct 28, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

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 receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system. The method further includes identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message. The method also includes abstaining from sensing a medium based on the identified time slot and the identified back-off amount. The method further includes transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
receiving, at a wireless communication device from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining service in the wireless communication system, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services;
selecting, at the wireless communication device, a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;
storing in a queue for transmission, at the wireless communication device, a request message for requesting information to obtain the network service;
before transmission of the request message, receiving a second message comprising the information; and
removing the request message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

4. A wireless communication device configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the device comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, from a network service provider, a first message indicating a characteristic for each of one or more network services for obtaining service in the wireless communication system, wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services;
one or more processors configured to:
select a network service of the one or more network services to associate with based on the characteristics;
store in a queue for transmission a request message for requesting information to obtain the network service;
before transmission of the request message, receive a second message comprising the information; and
remove the request message from the queue when the second message comprises the information.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first message comprises a beacon.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first message indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

7. A method of reducing signaling in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
providing, at an access point, a network service configured to communicate via a plurality of channels;
determining, at the access point, a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;
transmitting, from the access point, a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service;
receiving, at the access point, a plurality of access requests for the network service from a plurality of devices;
determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time;
selecting whether to utilize a broadcast or unicast addressing mode for the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand or modifying a frequency of transmission of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand; and
transmitting, from the access point, the message at the frequency using the selected addressing mode.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

11. An access point configured to communicate via a plurality of channels, the access point comprising:
a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the network service comprising a load value for each of the plurality of channels;
a transmitter configured to transmit a message advertising the network service and indicating the characteristic of the network service; and
a receiver configured to receive a plurality of access requests for the network service from a plurality of devices,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests, wherein determining demand for the wireless communication comprises detecting a change in a number of access requests for the wireless communication over a period of time; and
select whether to utilize a broadcast or unicast addressing mode for the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand or modify a frequency of transmission of the message advertising the network service based on the determined demand, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the message at the frequency using the selected addressing mode.

12. The access point of claim 11 , wherein the characteristic for each of the one or more network services comprises a load value for each of the one or more network services.

13. The access point of claim 11 , wherein the message advertising the network service comprises a beacon.

14. The access point of claim 11 , wherein the message advertising the network indicates that no new associations with the network service are being accepted.

15. A method of reducing signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
receiving, at a terminal, a message including information for establishing a link with a device in the wireless communication system;
identifying, at the terminal, a time slot and a back-off amount within the identified time slot based on a value included in the received message, wherein identifying at least one of the time slot and the back-off amount comprises generating a random value, wherein the value comprises a random seed value;
abstaining from sensing a medium during the identified time slot for the identified back-off amount; and
transmitting an association request message to establish the link with the device during the identified time slot after expiration of the back-off amount.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device comprises an access point.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein transmitting the association request messages comprises transmitting a carrier sense multiple access message.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the message received comprises a beacon message.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the message received comprises a probe response.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the medium comprises a wireless communication medium.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the device comprises an access point.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein generating the random value is based on the included value and an identifier for the terminal.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the identifier for the terminal comprises a media access control identifier.

24. An apparatus configured to reduce signaling during link setup in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a message including information f

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Cherian George
• Abraham Santosh Paul
• Merlin Simone

Classifications

• H04W48/12

  using downlink control channel · CPC title

• H04W88/10

  adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points · CPC title

• H04W74/085 Primary

  collision avoidance · CPC title

• H04W48/08 Primary

  Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery (signalling during connection H04W76/00) · CPC title

• H04W48/18

  Selecting a network or a communication service · CPC title