Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140071955 | Dynamic Sounding Control In Wifi - A method of performing dynamic sounding in a wireless communication device includes determining whether to perform sounding based on an age of current channel state information (CSI). An achievable throughput can be recorded as a reference throughput after performing the sounding. A current achievable throughput can be compared with the reference throughput. A CSI timestamp can be reset when the current throughput is above the reference throughput by a first predetermined amount, thereby prolonging a lifespan of the current CSI. The CSI timestamp can be reduced when the current throughput is below the reference throughput by a second predetermined amount, thereby reducing the lifespan of the current CSI. | 03-13-2014 |
20140092819 | Scheduling Transmission For Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output Data - An access point determines the buffered data for each station of a plurality of stations in a BSS and groups the stations with similar station characteristics. The transmission time to the stations in a group can be apportioned. The groups can be ordered based on station characteristics and a transmission history. A sounding for a group can be performed based on the order. The MU-MIMO transmission for the group can be performed until a first condition is met. If the first condition is met, then the sounding and the MU-MIMO transmission for a next group can be performed, according to the order, until a second condition is met. The first condition can include an apportioned transmission time having expired and/or the buffers for the group being flushed. The second condition can include new data having been buffered by the AP and/or all buffered data having been transmitted. | 04-03-2014 |
20140133303 | Multicast Rate Control - A method of providing multicast rate control in a wireless communication device can include transmitting data frames to a plurality of stations in a multicast group with a first data rate. Acknowledgements (ACKs) can then be requested from a first subset of the plurality of stations. Frame losses can be determined using the ACKs from the first subset. A second data rate can be determined based on the frame losses with the first subset. A second subset of the plurality of stations can be selected based on the frame losses with the first subset. Data frames can be transmitted to the plurality of stations with the second data rate. Notably, ACKs only from the second subset of the plurality of stations are requested. Frame losses for the second subset can be determined using those ACKs. A current data rate can be adjusted based on the frame losses for the subset and at least one predetermined threshold. Data frames can be transmitted to the plurality of stations using the adjusted data rate. | 05-15-2014 |
20140153458 | POWER SAVING MODES IN WIRELESS DEVICES - Various aspects of apparatus for accessing a network through a wireless access point and methods of power savings for such apparatus include scheduling a sleep state interval, entering a sleep state at the beginning of the scheduled sleep interval, and buffering data during the sleep state for transmission following the sleep state. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153459 | POWER SAVING MODES IN WIRELESS DEVICES - Various aspects of apparatus for accessing a network through a wireless access point and methods of power savings for such apparatus include autonomously alternating between a listen state and the sleep state during a time period in which no data is detected from the remote apparatus, and progressively increase the sleep state interval during the time period for at least a portion of the time period. | 06-05-2014 |
20140153460 | POWER SAVING MODES IN WIRELESS DEVICES - Various aspects of apparatus for accessing a network through a wireless access point and methods of power savings for such apparatus include operating in a sleep state, and scheduling one or more sleep state intervals for operating in the sleep state during a time period, wherein the scheduled one or more sleep state intervals are based on one or more wireless transmission parameters. | 06-05-2014 |
20140160947 | Method And System for Unified Rate Adaptation For SU-BF And MU-MIMO Operation - A method of providing rate adaptation in a multi-user wireless communication system including single-user beamforming (SU-BF) and multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) is described. In this method, a master rate, which is a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for the SU-BF, is determined. An MCS for each transmit mode is derived from the master rate using a rate mapping. Using the results from the mapping, the master rate, instead of the MCS for each transmit mode, is tracked. In one embodiment, a mapping calibration is periodically performed. | 06-12-2014 |
20140211642 | Method And System For Boosting Transmission Settings Based On Signal To Interference And Noise Ratio - A method of performing transmission from an access point (AP) in a wireless communication system provides transmission setting adjustment after sounding. In this method, stations associated with the AP and having transmission data can be identified. Transmission to those stations can be performed using a predetermined transmission setting. For a first transmission after a sounding, the predetermined transmission setting can be boosted. For any transmission other than the first transmission after the sounding, a current or adjusted transmission setting can be used based on a detected PER during transmission. An adjusted transmission setting can be an MCS rate, a user-level (SU-BF, 2U-MIMO, or 3U-MIMO), or an aggregated MAC protocol data unit (AMPDU) aggregation level. A single transmission setting or a combination of settings can be used. The method can be used with any transmission setting(s), including those mapped from the Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR). | 07-31-2014 |
20140219110 | Method And System For Dynamic AMPDU Duration Control In A Wireless Communication System - A method of providing aggregated MAC protocol data unit (AMPDU) duration control in a wireless communication device includes setting an AMPDU duration. Pass/fail statistics are collected for each MPDU of an AMPDU in a time window, W. A packet error rate (PER) difference is calculated between first and last sets of MPDUs for each AMPDU in the window. An average PER difference is calculated across all AMPDUs in the window. When the average PER difference is greater than a first threshold, then the AMPDU duration is decreased. When the difference is less than a second threshold, then the AMPDU duration is increased. When the difference is within the first and the second thresholds, then the method returns to the step of collecting for a next time window. The AMPDU duration can also be adjusted based on detected Doppler and line-of-sight transmissions. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219111 | Method And System For Dual-Mode Rate Control In A Wireless Communication System - A method of performing dual-mode rate control for an access point in a wireless communication system includes a single-user mode of operation and a multi-user mode of operation. In the single-user mode, a basic rate for a station is determined based on channel conditions. In the multi-user mode, a rate for a plurality of stations is determined using tracking. The tracking includes performing a sounding for the plurality of stations. An initial multi-user current rate is then set equal to a function of a number of users and the basic rate. A transmission is sent to the plurality of stations using the current rate. A packet error rate (PER) is detected during transmission to the plurality of stations. The current rate is adjusted based on the PER. After rate adjustment, either sounding is triggered or the method returns to sending a transmission using the current rate. | 08-07-2014 |
20140254349 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEAMLESS DATA STREAM TRANSFER DURING BAND SWITCH BETWEEN WIRELESS STATIONS - One innovation includes an apparatus, for wirelessly communicating with a communication system via a first wireless channel and a second wireless channel, including a memory unit that is configured to store a first data packet and a second data packet, the first data packet and the second data packet have consecutive sequence numbers. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to retrieve the first data packet and the second data packet from the memory unit, a transceiver that is configured to transmit the first data packet to the communication system via the first channel, to receive a first acknowledgement from the communication system and to transmit the second data packet to the communication system via the second channel after the processor detects that the first acknowledgement comprises a positive acknowledgement of the first reception information. | 09-11-2014 |
20140254408 | RATE CONTROL ASSOCIATED WITH FRAME AGGREGATION - MAC layer frame aggregation and block acknowledgement are used in some WLAN technologies to improve efficiency of a communications channel by reducing PHY layer overhead. A frame aggregation window size defines how many MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) are included in an aggregated MPDU (AMPDU) frame. The frame aggregation window for a subsequent AMPDU frame is typically dependent upon the characteristics of the block acknowledgement—such as the number of non-acknowledged (NAK) MPDUs or the position of a hole in the previous AMPDU frame. A small frame aggregation window size may impact throughput especially at higher transmission rates. In this disclosure a transmission rate may be determined based, at least in part, on a projected frame aggregation window size resulting from a block acknowledgement. The frame aggregation feedback (e.g. block acknowledgement) may be used by a rate control module to determine a transmission rate that optimizes frame aggregation efficiency. | 09-11-2014 |
20140254424 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING RATE CONTROL BASED ON PACKET AGGREGATION CONSIDERATIONS - Various aspects of the disclosure described herein provide for optimizing rate control during a selection of a communications profile from a set of communications profiles by taking into account effective frame aggregation size as a function of packet error rate (PER). An expected throughput may also be determined for each communications profile and updated after each transmission so that a communications profile having the highest expected throughput may be chosen for a particular frame transmission. | 09-11-2014 |
20140269358 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STATISTICALLY PROFILING CHANNELS IN MIMO COMMUNICATIONS - Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a statistical profile of a MIMO channel. Packets of information may be transmitted over an interval of time to a plurality of stations using a plurality of MIMO modes. Each packet may be binned and a goodput value corresponding to the bin, the station and the MIMO mode may be determined stored. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269377 | Methods Permitting A Wireless System Receiver To Determine And Report Channel Conditions To A System Transmitter - A method of providing feedback on channel observations to a transmitter includes observing a channel at a receiver based on received signals from the transmitter and determining whether a packet error rate (PER) is rising based on the observing. The receiver determines whether a rising PER is caused by channel noise or interference, and transmits a message to the transmitter indicating the cause of the rising PER. The cause may be encoded in reserved bits of a block acknowledgement (BA) frame or an Acknowledge (ACK) frame, or in a modulation coding scheme (MCS) used to transmit the message. The cause may be detected in response to SNR/RSSI level of received signals, or a number of receiver restarts. The transmitter may change the transmit rate adaptation algorithm to use a lower MCS if channel noise causes the rising PER, and a higher MCS if interference causes the rising PER. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269468 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS BAND SWITCHING - Systems and methods are disclosed for coordinating operation on multiple frequency bands between two or more multiple concurrent band (MCB) devices. The band switch protocols may include sending information on a second band after a communications link has been established on a first band. The receiving device may treat the transmission of the frame on the new band as a message to switch bands, such that the transmitting and receiving devices may conduct subsequent communications on the new band. Further, the band switch protocols allow for seamless operation over the band switch event. As a result, a frequency band having desired performance characteristics may be selected dynamically. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269655 | Dynamic Rate Control In WiFi Systems - A wireless device is configured to switch data rates to account for temporary channel conditions or device configuration errors. Pre-selected data rates, more likely to achieve maximum goodput, are stored in a data rate table. The data rate table contains candidate data rates for each pre-selected data rate in the data rate table. When probe transmissions using the preselected data rates fail, dynamic rate probing is utilized to determine a possible cause and extent of the problem. The dynamic rate probing scheme transmits probe transmissions using the candidate data rates and tracks success or failure of these probe transmissions. An analysis of the probe transmissions is used to indicate a possible cause and/or extent of the problematic condition and to determine whether there is a need to reconfigure the data rates in the data rate table. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269961 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING SOUNDING INTERVAL - Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing the sounding interval in a MIMO communications system. Following a channel sounding protocol, net throughput may be estimated over time. The sounding interval may correspond to the period of time between the end of the sounding protocol and a time when the estimated net throughput is maximized. Estimating net throughput may involve estimating the number of bits that may be successfully transmitted divided by the time required to transmit. The number of bits that may be successfully transmitted may be estimated from a statistical channel profile including goodput. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269962 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING SU AND MU MIMO TRAFFIC - Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling SU and MU traffic in a MIMO communications system. Net goodput may be estimated for a station using a plurality of MIMO modes and a transmission to the station may be scheduled using one of the MIMO modes based, at least in part, on the estimated net goodput. Estimating net goodput may include determining a number of bits that may be successfully transmitted to the station using the MIMO mode divided by a time required to transmit the number of bits plus the sounding time. Further, the number of bits that may be successfully transmitted to the station may be based on the number of packets that may be delivered over the upcoming sounding interval and statistically determined goodput for each MIMO mode. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269964 | SMART ANTENNA ARRAY CONFIGURATION FOR MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT COMMUNICATIONS - An access point can include an array of antennas and a smart antenna selector. The smart antenna selector is configured to select a subset of antennas from the antenna array for use in multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU MIMO) data transmissions. Stations that are communicatively coupled to the access point can be selected for inclusion in a multi-user group based, at least in part, on performance measurements of the stations. Performance measurements are determined directly and indirectly from data transmissions sent in response to sounding packets. Antennas for use in MU MIMO data transmissions are selected for the antenna array based, at least in part, on previous antenna selections used for single user data transmissions. | 09-18-2014 |
20140341098 | ACCESS POINT RESPONSE TO PS-POLL - Methods, systems, and devices are described for power conservation in a wireless communications system through efficient transmissions and acknowledgements of information between an AP and a station. The time between a determination by a station to enter a power saving mode and entering network sleep mode by the station may be reduced through a transmission, by an AP, of an MPDU to the station successive to an SIFS after transmission of an acknowledgement to the station of a PS-Poll frame from the station. The time to enter a power saving mode by a station may also be reduced through transmission of A-MPDUs in which a last MPDU of the A-MPDU has an indicator bit cleared to indicate no additional data is to be transmitted. An AP may prevent a retransmission of an MPDU to the station in the absence of an acknowledgement from the station, to further enhance efficiency. | 11-20-2014 |
20140341099 | ACCESS POINT RESPONSE TO PS-POLL - Methods, systems, and devices are described for power conservation in a wireless communications system through efficient transmissions and acknowledgements of information between an AP and a station. The time between a determination by a station to enter a power saving mode and entering network sleep mode by the station may be reduced through a transmission, by an AP, of an MPDU to the station successive to an SIFS after transmission of an acknowledgement to the station of a PS-Poll frame from the station. The time to enter a power saving mode by a station may also be reduced through transmission of A-MPDUs in which a last MPDU of the A-MPDU has an indicator bit cleared to indicate no additional data is to be transmitted. An AP may prevent a retransmission of an MPDU to the station in the absence of an acknowledgement from the station, to further enhance efficiency. | 11-20-2014 |
20150023245 | MULTI-BAND MANAGEMENT OF WIRELESS RELAYING NETWORKS - Methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications in which first type of traffic may be transmitted from a gateway access point (AP) directly to a station. Beacon signals transmitted to the station are transmitted as part of the first type of traffic. A second type of traffic may be transmitted from the gateway AP to the station via at least one relay AP. The first type of traffic may include low-throughput traffic and may be transmitted over a long-range radio link (e.g., 2 GHz band link or sub-1 GHz band link). The second type of traffic may include high-throughput traffic and may be transmitted over at least one short-range radio link (e.g., 5 GHz band link). The gateway AP may receive low-throughput traffic directly from the station and high-throughput traffic from the station via the at least one relay AP. | 01-22-2015 |