# US 2014/0192716 A1 · Methods and Apparatuses for Managing Acknowledgements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192716 A1 - Document ID: US20140192716A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/146,897 - Filed: 2014-01-03 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Assignees: Broadcom Corporation - Applicants: Broadcom Corporation - Inventors: Anna PANTELIDOU; Timo Kalevi KOSKELA; Sami-Jukka HAKOLA; Samuli TURTINEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192716A1 ## CPC - H04W 28/02: Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control - H04L 1/1848: {Time-out mechanisms} - H04L 2001/0097: {Relays} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for designating an acknowledgment of data. A method and apparatus may designate a mode of operation, in a signal, for acknowledging receipt of data. The method and apparatus may assign an aggregation period, to the signal, including a time period in which one or more stations are designated to communicate one or more items of data to an intermediate node. The method and apparatus may also transmit the signal to enable the stations to detect the designated mode of operation and the time period of the assigned aggregation period in which to communicate the items of data to the intermediate node. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for designating an acknowledgement of content, the method comprising: designating a mode of operation, in a signal, for acknowledging receipt of data; assigning an aggregation period, to the signal, comprising a time period in which one or more stations are designated to communicate one or more items of data to an intermediate node; and causing transmission of the signal to enable the one or more stations to detect the designated mode of operation and the time period of the assigned aggregation period in which to communicate the items of data to the intermediate node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgement mode of operation in which the intermediate node is not required to acknowledge receipt of the items of data from the one or more stations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the delayed acknowledgement mode of operation denotes to the intermediate node to store the items of data received from the one or more stations until an acknowledgement is detected from, a destination node, denoting that the destination node received the items of data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the delayed acknowledgement mode of operation denotes to the one or more stations not to communicate additional data to the intermediate node before an acknowledgement is detected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the aggregation period further comprises assigning a time interval to receive communications of data from the intermediate node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the designated mode of operation is indicated in a bit; a first value of the bit indicates a first acknowledgement mode of operation; and a second value of the bit indicates a second acknowledgement mode of operation in which the intermediate node is not required to acknowledge receipt of the items of data from the one or more stations. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the designated mode of operation denotes that a destination node acknowledges receipt of the items of data from the intermediate node. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: causing transmission of an acknowledgement during the time interval to enable the one or more stations to detect the acknowledgement indicating that the data was received by a destination node. ### Claim at position 10 10-13. (canceled) ### Claim 14 An apparatus for designating an acknowledgement of content, the apparatus comprising: a processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, in which the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to at least: designate a mode of operation, in a signal, for acknowledging receipt of data; assign an aggregation period, to the signal, comprising a time period in which one or more stations are designated to communicate one or more items of data to an intermediate node; and cause transmission of the signal to enable the one or more stations to detect the designated mode of operation and the time period of the assigned aggregation period in which to communicate the items of data to the intermediate node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgement mode of operation in which the intermediate node is not required to acknowledge receipt of the items of data from the one or more stations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the delayed acknowledgement mode of operation denotes to the intermediate node to store the items of data received from the one or more stations until an acknowledgement is detected from, the apparatus, denoting that the apparatus received the items of data. ### Claim at position 14 17-54. (canceled) ### Claim 55 A method for detecting a designated acknowledgement of data, the method comprising: detecting, via a signal, a designated mode of operation for acknowledging receipt of data and an assigned aggregation period comprising a time period in which to communicate with one or more stations; and receiving one or more items of data from the one or more stations during the time period of the aggregation period. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, further comprising: determining not to acknowledge receipt of the one or more items of data in response to detecting that the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgment mode of operation denoting that an intermediate node is not required to acknowledge receipt of content from the stations. ### Claim 57 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, further comprising: detecting that the aggregation period further comprises an assigned time interval to enable transmission of content to a destination node; and enabling provision of the items of data received from the one or more stations to the destination node during the time interval. ### Claim 58 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, further comprising: detecting that a destination node is designated as acknowledging receipt of the items of data in response to determining that the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgment mode of operation. ### Claim 59 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, further comprising: enabling storage of the items of data until an acknowledgment is received from a destination node in response to detecting that the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgment mode of operation denoting to an intermediate node to store content received from the stations until the acknowledgement is received indicating that the destination node received the items of data. ### Claim 60 (canceled) ### Claim 61 (depends on 55) The method of claim 55, further comprising: enabling retransmission of an acknowledgement detected from a destination node in response to failing to receive additional data from the one or more stations upon expiration of a predetermined time period, the retransmission enables the one or more stations to detect the acknowledgment to trigger communications of the additional data. ### Claim at position 22 62-66. (canceled) ### Claim 67 An apparatus for detecting a designated acknowledgement of data, the apparatus comprising: a processing system comp sing at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, in which the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to at least: detect, via a signal, a designated mode of operation for acknowledging receipt of data and an assigned aggregation period comprising a time period in which to communicate with one or more stations; and receive one or more items of data from the one or more stations during the time period of the aggregation period. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: determine not to acknowledge receipt of the one or more items of data in response to detecting that the designated mode of operation comprises a delayed acknowledgment mode of operation denoting that the apparatus is not required to acknowledge receipt of content from the stations. ### Claim 69 (depends on 67) The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the processing system is arranged to cause the apparatus to: detect that the aggregation period further comprises an assigned time interval to enable transmission of content to a destination node; and enable provision of the items of data received from the one or more stations to the destination node during the time interval. ### Claim at position 26 70-127. (canceled)