US 10,757,638 B2 · Discovery channel for unlicensed frequency band

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for advertising operating channels that are being operated in an unlicensed frequency band. One or more access points (APs) may transmit discovery information on a dedicated discovery channel for the unlicensed frequency band. The discovery information may indicate at least one operating channel that is being used by an AP for providing wireless access. The discovery information also may include other information useful for a station (STA) to discover APs, operating channels, and operating parameters. The STA may monitor the dedicated discovery channel to obtain the discovery information without conducting an active scanning or passive scanning procedure.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method performed by a first access point (AP), the method comprising:

utilizing, from among a plurality of operating channels within an unlicensed frequency band, at least a first operating channel to provide wireless access to a first network using a first technology;
and
transmitting, during a first periodic interval specified in a first technology standard specification, first discovery information related to the first technology via a dedicated discovery channel specified in the first technology standard specification, the first discovery information including a first identifier of the first operating channel utilized by the first AP, wherein the dedicated discovery channel is different from the first operating channel, and wherein the dedicated discovery channel is shared with stations for transmission of second discovery information during a second periodic interval specified in a second technology standard specification different than the first technology standard specification, the second discovery information related to a second technology.

A first access point (AP), comprising:

a processor;
and
a memory coupled to the processor and having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor cause the first AP to:
utilize, from among a plurality of operating channels within an unlicensed frequency band, at least a first operating channel to provide wireless access to a network using a first technology;
and
transmit, during a first periodic interval specified in the first technology standard specification, first discovery information related to the first technology via a dedicated discovery channel specified in the first technology standard specification, the first discovery information including a first identifier of the first operating channel utilized by the first AP, wherein the dedicated discovery channel is different from the first operating channel, and wherein the dedicated discovery channel is shared with stations for transmission of second discovery information during a second periodic interval specified in a second technology standard specification different than the first technology standard specification, the second discovery information related to the second technology standard.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discovery channel for unlicensed frequency band

Life of this patent

Discovery channel for unlicensed frequency band

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26