Use of timing information for handling aggregated frames in a wireless network
View Patent ↗Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the use of timing or timing-related information for handling aggregated frames in a wireless network. According to an example embodiment, a plurality of frames may be received. An aggregated frame may be generated based on the plurality of received frames. A transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame may be determined based on a transmission lifetime of one or more of the received frames. In another example embodiment, a transmit timer may be determined for the aggregated frame, for example, based on the transmit timer for one or more of the received frames.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of frames;
generating an aggregated frame based on the plurality of received frames; and
determining a transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame based on a transmission lifetime of one or more of the received frames,
wherein a transmission attempt of the aggregated frame is canceled if the transmission attempt is not completed within a time period corresponding with the transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating comprises aggregating a plurality of received frames that are directed to a same destination and that are a same access category or traffic class.
3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising transmitting the aggregated frame within the transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises determining a transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame based on a remaining transmission lifetime of a newest or most recently received frame.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining comprises:
determining if a destination node for the aggregated frame is operating in a power save mode; and
determining a transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame based on a transmission lifetime of one or more of the received frames and based on whether or not the destination node for aggregated frame is operating in a power save mode.
6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising discarding the aggregated frame if the aggregated frame is not transmitted within the transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame.
7. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of frames;
determining a time-related parameter for one or more of the received frames, each time-related parameter being respectively associated with a transmission lifetime for one of the received frames;
generating an aggregated frame based on the plurality of received frames; and
determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame based on the time-related parameters for the one or more received frames,
wherein a transmission attempt of the aggregated frame is canceled if the transmission attempt is not completed within a time period corresponding with the time-related parameter for the aggregated frame.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the receiving comprises receiving a plurality of media access control (MAC) frames.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the receiving comprises receiving a plurality of media access control (MAC) service data units (MSDUs).
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining a time-related parameter for one or more of the received frames comprises initializing or starting a transmit timer for one or more of the received frame when the frame is received.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining comprises:
initializing or starting a transmit timer for each received frame when the frame is received; and
comparing the transmit timer for each received frame to a frame lifetime.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating comprises generating a aggregated media access control (MAC) frame by aggregating a plurality of received MAC frames.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame comprises selecting a time-related parameter for a newest or most recently received frame.
14. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame comprises selecting a time-related parameter for an access category of the plurality of received frames.
15. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame comprises calculating an average of the time-related parameters for the one or more received frames, the average being selected as the time-related parameter for the aggregated frame.
16. The method of claim 7 and further comprising discarding the aggregated frame if the time-related parameter for the aggregated frame meets a criteria.
17. The method of claim 7 and further comprising discarding the aggregated frame if the time-related parameter for the aggregated frame exceeds a frame lifetime.
18. The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining a time-related parameter for each of the received frames comprises initializing or starting a transmit timer for each of the received frames when the frame is received;
wherein the determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame comprises selecting the transmit timer for a newest or most recently received frame; and
further comprising discarding the aggregated frame if the transmit timer for the aggregated frame exceeds a frame lifetime.
19. An apparatus provided in a station for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a plurality of frames;
determine a time-related parameter for each of the received frames, each time-related parameter associated with a transmission lifetime for the received frame;
generate an aggregated frame based on the plurality of received frames; and
determine a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame based on the time-related parameters for each of the received frames,
wherein a transmission attempt of the aggregated frame is canceled if the transmission attempt is not completed within a time period corresponding with the determined time-related parameter for the aggregated frame.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a time-related parameter for each of the received frames including being configured to initialize or start a transmit timer for each of the received frames when the frame is received;
determine a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame including being configured to select the transmit timer for a newest or most recently received frame; and
discard the aggregated frame if the transmit timer for the aggregated frame exceeds a frame lifetime.
21. A computer readable medium having instructions capable of being executed by a processor stored thereon, the instructions, when executed, provide for:
receiving a plurality of frames;
determining a time-related parameter for each of the received frames, each time-related parameter associated with a transmission lifetime for the received frame;
generating an aggregated frame based on the plurality of received frames; and
determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame based on the respective time-related parameters for each of the received frames,
wherein a transmission attempt of the aggregated frame is canceled if the transmission attempt is not completed within a time period corresponding with the determined time-related parameter for the aggregated frame.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein determining a time-related parameter for each of the received frames comprises initializing or starting a transmit timer for each of the received frames,
wherein determining a time-related parameter for the aggregated frame comprises selecting the transmit timer for a newest or most recently received frame; and
the instructions, when executed, further provide for discarding the aggregated frame if the transmit timer for the aggregated frame exceeds a frame lifetime.
23. A method comprising:
receiving a plurality of frames, the plurality of frames having a common access category;
generating an aggregated frame based on the plurality of received frames; and
determining a transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame based on the common access category of the plurality of frames,
wherein a transmission attempt of the aggregated frame is canceled if the transmission attempt is not completed within a time period corresponding with the transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:
initiating a transmit timer for the aggregated frame upon aggregation of the plurality of frames; and
discarding the aggregated frame if the transmit timer exceeds the transmission lifetime before the aggregated frame is transmitted.
25. The method of claim 23 further comprising; initiating, with the transmission lifetime, a down-counting transmit timer for the aggregated frame; and
discarding the aggregated frame if the transmit timer expires before the aggregated frame is transmitted.