Link verification in a wireless network
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorRajeev Kumar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for verifying the status of a wireless connection between a wireless device and an access point are disclosed. If the number of missed beacon frames exceeds a threshold value, the wireless device transmits a link verification request to the access point. If the wireless device receives a response to the link verification request, the wireless device may verify the connection and then retrieve downlink data from the access point. If the wireless device does not receive a response, then the wireless device may terminate the wireless connection.
Claims31
A method of operating a wireless device associated with an access point in a wireless network, the method comprising:
- counting a number of missed beacon frames corresponding to the access point;
- comparing the number of missed beacon frames with a threshold value;
- transmitting a link verification request to the access point if the number of missed beacon frames equals the threshold value;
- listening for a response, from the access point, to the link verification request;
- and
- selectively terminating a connection with the access point in response to the listening.
A computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions that, when executed by a processor of a wireless device associated with an access point in a wireless network, causes the wireless device to:
- count a number of missed beacon frames corresponding to the access point;
- compare the number of missed beacon frames with a threshold value;
- transmit a link verification request to the access point if the number of missed beacon frames equals the threshold value;
- listen for a response, from the access point, to the link verification request;
- and
- selectively terminate a connection with the access point in response to the listening.
A wireless device, comprising:
- a receiver to receive beacon frames broadcast by an access point;
- a transmitter to transmit a link verification request to the access point;
- and
- a processor to:
- count a number of missed beacon frames corresponding to the access point;
- compare the number of missed beacon frames with a threshold value;
- transmit the link verification request to the access point if the number of missed beacon frames equals the threshold value;
- listen for a response, from the access point, to the link verification request;
- and
- selectively terminate a connection with the access point in response to the listening.
A wireless device, comprising:
- means for counting a number of missed beacon frames corresponding to an access point;
- means for comparing the number of missed beacon frames with a threshold value;
- means for transmitting a link verification request to the access point if the number of missed beacon frames equals the threshold value;
- means for terminating a connection with the access point if the wireless device does not receive a response to the link verification request from the access point;
- and
- means for verifying the connection with the access point if the wireless device receives the response to the link verification request from the access point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.