US 2013/0258928 A1 · Session recovery after network coordinator or AP restart for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Abstract

Session recovery after network coordinator or AP restart for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Restart or reset of a network coordinator (e.g., an access point (AP) or other network coordinator type device) may occur for various reasons (e.g., a power cycle or power failure, inadequate failover protection, scheduled or planned power outages such as for including network maintenance, software upgrades, etc.). Upon determination of network coordinator restarted or reset, a singular bit within a communication from the network coordinator indicates synchronization or not of the its timing synchronization function (TSF) (e.g., with other devices in the communication system, such as wireless stations (STAs), smart meter stations (SMSTAs), etc.). A given device (e.g., STA, SMSTA, etc.) can provide its current TSF to the network coordinator so that it can resynchronize, re-establish its scheduled for wake times of those devices (e.g., target wake times (TWTs)), etc.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

at least one communication interface to receive a first signal from an access point (AP);
and
a processor to:
analyze the first signal to determine whether or not the AP has undergone a restart or reset;
determine whether or not the first signal includes a request for a timing synchronization function (TSF) value from the apparatus based on a singular bit within the first signal being set to a predetermined value;
and
upon determination that the AP has undergone the restart or reset and upon determination that the first signal includes the request for the TSF value from the apparatus, generate a second signal that includes the TSF value from the apparatus;
and wherein:
the at least one communication interface to transmit a second signal to the AP;
the apparatus being one wireless station (STA) of a plurality of wireless stations (STAs);
before the AP has undergone the restart or reset, the plurality of STAs to awaken respectively at a first plurality of target wake times (TWTs) in accordance with a first schedule;
and
after the AP has undergone the restart or reset, the plurality of STAs to awaken respectively at a second plurality of TWTs in accordance with a second schedule.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Session recovery after network coordinator or AP restart for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Life of this patent

Session recovery after network coordinator or AP restart for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20