METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED FRAME SYNCHRONIZATION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK
A wireless network uses an improved frame structure to increase timing acquisition capabilities as well as reduction of spectral lines. In one aspect, the frame packet can be used to communicate the different modes of operation under which the packet was created.
1 . A method of communication, comprising:
generating a packet having a header that comprises location information of the packet with respect to a beacon; and
transmitting the packet, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information indicates a time offset to a location within the superframe.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to an end of the superframe.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to a start of the superframe.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the location information comprises duration information for the superframe.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted by a single device.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the single device is a PNC.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet is generated and transmitted by a first device and the beacon is transmitted by a second device.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second device is configured as a PNC.
10 . A communication apparatus, comprising:
means for generating a packet having a header that comprises location information of the packet with respect to a beacon; and
means for transmitting the packet, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe.
11 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the location information indicates a time offset to a location within the superframe
12 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to an end of the superframe.
13 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to a start of the superframe.
14 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the location information comprises duration information for the superframe.
15 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the packet and beacon are transmitted by the apparatus.
16 . The communication apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is a PNC.
17 . The communication apparatus of claim 10 , wherein packet is generated and transmitted by the apparatus and the beacon is transmitted by a second apparatus.
18 . The communication apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second apparatus is configured as a PNC.
19 . An apparatus for communications comprising:
a processing system configured to:
generate a packet having a header that comprises location information of the packet with respect to a beacon; and
transmit the packet, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the location information indicates a time offset to a location within the superframe
21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to an end of the superframe.
22 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the location information comprises a time offset to a start of the superframe.
23 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the location information comprises duration information for the superframe.
24 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the packet and beacon are transmitted by the apparatus.
25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the apparatus is a PNC.
26 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein packet is generated and transmitted by the apparatus and the beacon is transmitted by a second apparatus.
27 . The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the second apparatus is configured as a PNC.
28 . A computer-program product for wireless communications comprising:
a machine-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to:
generate a packet having a header that comprises location information of the packet with respect to a beacon; and
transmit the packet, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe.
29 . A piconet coordinator comprising:
an antenna;
a packet generator configured to generate a packet having a header that comprises location information of the packet with respect to a beacon being transmitted; and
a transmitter configured to transmit, via the antenna, the packet, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe.
30 . A method of communication, comprising:
receiving a packet having a header that comprises a location information of the packet with respect to a beacon, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe; and
using the location information to determine a location within the superframe.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the location comprises one of an end of the superframe, a start of another superframe, a start of another beacon and a location of a CAP.
32 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising entering into a power-saving mode based on the determination.
33 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising entering into a power saving mode for a time period until the location is reached.
34 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising entering into a power saving mode for a time period that was calculated based on the location information.
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the time period ends before a next beacon period begins.
36 . A communication apparatus, comprising:
means for receiving a packet having a header that comprises a location information of the packet with respect to a beacon, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe; and
means for determining a location within the superframe.
37 . The communication apparatus of claim 36 , wherein the location comprises one of an end of the superframe, a start of another superframe, a start of another beacon and a location of a CAP.
38 . The communication apparatus of claim 36 , further comprising means for entering into a power-saving mode based on the determination.
39 . The communication apparatus of claim 36 , further comprising means for entering into a power saving mode for a time period until the location is reached.
40 . The communication apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the predetermined time period ends before a next beacon period begins.
41 . An apparatus for communications comprising:
a processing system configured to:
receive a packet having a header that comprises a location information of the packet with respect to a beacon, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe; and
determine a location within the superframe
42 . The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein the location comprises at least one of an end of the superframe, a start of another superframe, a start of another beacon and a location of a CAP.
43 . The apparatus of claim 41 , further comprising entering into a power-saving mode based on the determination.
44 . The apparatus of claim 41 , further comprising entering into a power saving mode for a time period until the location is reached.
45 . The apparatus of claim 41 , further comprising entering into a power saving mode for a predetermined time period.
46 . The apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the predetermined time period ends before a next beacon period begins.
47 . A computer-program product for wireless communications comprising:
a machine-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to:
receive a packet having a header that comprises a location information of the packet with respect to a beacon, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe; and
determine a location within the superframe.
48 . A wireless device (DEV) comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a packet having a header that comprises a location information of the packet with respect to a beacon, wherein the packet and the beacon are transmitted within a superframe; and
a location determination module that uses the location information to determine a location within the superframe.