Mediatek Corporation

Mediatek Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Rongsheng Huang

Jianhan Liu

Chao-Chun Wang

Tianyu Wu

Li-Chun Ko

James June-Ming Wang

Chih-Shi Yee

Gabor Bajko

Ching-Hwa Yu

Li Ma

A backward compatible frame reuse mechanism that allows new information to be defined a reused frame without causing any incorrect operation in a legacy receive device. To generate a reused frame, a portion of the frame in the first format is masked with a predetermined masking sequence (PMS) and thereby redefined as new fields in a second format. When a device that supports the reuse scheme receives a frame that possible is a reused frame, the device checks the potentially reused portion according to the first format after de-masking and also checks according to the second format without de-masking. Based on the check results, the device selects a format to resolve the frame. A legacy device receiving the reused frame only checks the reused portion without de-masking, which results in a certain check error and makes the device discard the frame without any harmful operation.

Backward compatible frame reuse by using predetermined masking sequence

Systems and methods of mesh network communication enabling a relay node to autonomously select a packet propagation mechanism. Upon receiving a packet, which may carry an indication for flooding propagation as set by the edge node originating the packet, or carry no specification for any propagation mode, the relay node determines whether the packet is eligible for routing-propagation based on a number of factors, such as whether there is an existent valid route from the source node to the destination node, whether the packet is originated from a friend edge node, and whether a route discovery process has been initiated. Accordingly, the relay node may change the indication to routing propagation and forward it by routing-relaying. Thus, the packet can be propagated over the mesh network by routing propagation, despite the initial setting for flooding propagation as specified by the edge node or no setting by the edge node.

Hybrid flood-relaying and routing mesh networks

Methods of establishing a bidirectional route between a route originator node and a route destination node in a wireless mesh network include the route originator node broadcasting a route request message to relay nodes in the network. The route request message identifies the route destination node as the final destination for the route request message and also identifies a transmitted power level. The relay nodes determine whether the link with the route originator node is bidirectional using the transmitted power level and the received signal strength to determine the power loss over the link and then by comparing its transmission power level to that power loss. The relay node forwards the route request message when the first link is bidirectional. This process is repeated at each node that receives the route request message until the route request message reaches the route destination mode.

Symmetric route establishment with bidirectional links for wireless mesh networks

A wireless communication device, serving as a destination node of one or more data packets propagated in a wireless mesh network, is provided. The wireless communication device includes a wireless transceiver and a controller. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception in the wireless mesh network. The controller selects a first relay node to serve as a friend node for the wireless communication device and to store the data packets which arrive when the wireless communication device operates in a sleep mode, and broadcast, via the wireless transceiver, a notification message in the wireless mesh network when selecting a second relay node to serve as the friend node for the wireless communication device.

Apparatuses and methods for handovers in a wireless mesh network

A unified channel contention scheme is proposed such that spatial reuse can be enabled by a wireless station (STA) when a basic service set (BSS) color of a received signal cannot be resolved. If the detected frame is an intra-BSS frame, then the STA should not contend the channel for the PPDU duration. If the detected frame is an inter-BSS frame, then the STA uses OBSS Packet Detection (OBSS-PD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. Furthermore, when BSS color cannot be resolved, channel contention schemes for WiFi signal and non-WiFi signal are differentiated. If the received signal is detected as WiFi signal, then the STA uses WiFi-SIG Detection (WD) level as the CCA level for channel contention. If the received signal is detected as non-WiFi signal, then the STA uses Non-WiFi-SIG Detection (NWD) level as the CCA level for channel contention.

Enhanced channel contention schemes for high-efficiency WLAN

A method of improved allocation of uplink resources in an OFDMA network is proposed. A wireless communications station (an AP) reserves both dedicated resource and contention resource for uplink OFDMA operation for a list of communications devices (STAs). The AP can switch between random access operation and non-random access operation without the need for any special protection mechanisms. In the event of an increase in uplink OFDMA frame collisions the AP can switch from random operation to non-random operation to reduce the number of collisions. In the event of a decrease in uplink OFDMA frame collisions the AP can switch from non-random operation to random operation to reduce required AP processing. The AP can also dynamically control a STA access probability to reduce the number of collisions by reducing the number of uplink OFDMA frames each STA transmits.

Allocation of uplink resources in orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless networks

Methods and apparatus are provided for a many to one communication protocol. In one novel aspect, a modified CTS is sent by a receiving wireless communications station in response to a regular RTS. The modified CTS includes an indication for an uplink MU operation. In one embodiment, a modified CTS indicates a restricted access window (RAW) followed by RAW parameter set (RPS). In one embodiment, a subset of wireless communications devices associated with the receiving wireless communications station sends modified PS-poll with uplink data indication. Such PS-poll traffic is protected from passerby wireless communications devices from an OBSS. The receiving wireless communications station sends a modified resource-allocation map frame followed by a regular CTS frame. The subsets of wireless communications devices send their uplink data based on the received resource allocation map. The RTS-originating wireless station either sends its data frame earlier or concurrently with other wireless communications devices.

Many to one communications protocol

A method of managing BSS network loading is proposed. An access point (AP) transmits BSS session time and data limit element in beacon or probe response frame or a response frame to a service request frame. The AP determines the session time and data limit according to the network load and AP resourced. The AP adjusts the session time and data limit dynamically. An STA decides whether to join a specific BSS based on the BSS session time and the BSS session data limit. AP encourages or discourages the STA to join the BSS by increasing or reducing the session time and data limit. The per-AP loading will be distributed according to AP's capabilities.

Basic service set load management

A spatial reuse prioritized channel access scheme is proposed to enhance the average throughput per station in a wireless network by optimizing spatial reuse. Spatial reuse capability (SRC) is defined as a monotonically decreasing function of co-channel interference signal strength from OBSSs. Higher spatial reuse capability can be transformed into higher data rate or less usage of airtime by using higher MCS or less interferences to OBSSs by reducing TX power. By allowing the stations that have larger spatial reuse capability to have higher probability to win channel access contention, the overall network throughput is enhanced.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Rongsheng Huang