IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,621,474

Granted Patent B2

US 9,621,474 · App. 14/874,624 · Granted Apr 11, 2017

Buffer relay management within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 9,621,474
App. No.: 14/874,624
Granted: Apr 11, 2017
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A relay wireless communication device is implemented to perform buffer management and coordination with a source wireless communication device. A relay wireless communication device (generally, a relay) informs a source wireless communication device (source) of the status of memory therein to store messages intended for a destination wireless communication device (destination). For example, the source transmits information to the relay, which buffers information before forwarding it on to the destination. This buffering may be a function of the source having additional information intended for the relay and/or destination. The relay performs appropriate signaling, such as suspend transmission requests and resume transmission requests, to inform other devices in the system of its memory storage status (e.g., such as when having an actual or anticipated overflow). In one implementation, a suspend transmission request may be implemented by setting a particular bit within a communication from the relay to the source.

Claims (72)

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a communication interface; and

processing circuitry that is coupled to the communication interface and configured to:

generate and transmit, via the communication interface, a suspend transmission frame to another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to suspend transmission to the wireless communication device for a predetermined period of time specified within the suspend transmission frame; and

generate and transmit, via the communication interface, a resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to resume transmission to the wireless communication device before expiration of the predetermined period of time specified within the suspend transmission frame.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, first one or more frames from the another wireless communication device before transmission of the suspend transmission frame to the another wireless communication device; and

receive, via the communication interface, second one or more frames from another wireless communication device after transmission of the resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory configured to buffer one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device; and

the processing circuitry configured to:

monitor storage status of the memory; and

generate the suspend transmission frame when the storage status of the memory indicates an actual or anticipated storage overflow of the memory.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory configured to buffer one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device; and

the processing circuitry configured to:

monitor storage status of the memory; and

generate the resume transmission frame when the storage status of the memory indicates an acceptable amount of memory is available to buffer an additional one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more frames from the another wireless communication device;

generate and transmit, via the communication interface, the suspend transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to suspend transmission to the wireless communication device;

generate and transmit, via the communication interface, the resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to resume transmission to the wireless communication device; and

transmit, via the communication interface, the one or more frames to at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a relay wireless communication device, the another wireless communication device includes a source wireless communication device, and the at least one other wireless communication device includes a destination wireless communication device.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless station (STA), wherein the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), another STA, or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

an access point (AP), wherein the another wireless communication device includes another AP, a wireless station (STA), or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

8. A wireless communication device comprising:

a communication interface; and

processing circuitry that is coupled to the communication interface and configured to:

9. The wireless communication device of claim 8 further comprising:

a memory configured to buffer one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device; and

the processing circuitry configured to:

monitor storage status of the memory;

generate the suspend transmission frame when the storage status of the memory indicates an actual or anticipated storage overflow of the memory; and

10. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

11. The wireless communication device of claim 8 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive, via the communication interface, one or more frames from the another wireless communication device;

transmit the one or more frames to at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a relay wireless communication device, the another wireless communication device includes a source wireless communication device, and the at least one other wireless communication device includes a destination wireless communication device.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 8 further comprising:

a wireless station (STA), wherein the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), another STA, or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

13. The wireless communication device of claim 8 further comprising:

an access point (AP), wherein the another wireless communication device includes another AP, a wireless station (STA), or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

14. A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

generating and transmitting, via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, a suspend transmission frame to another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to suspend transmission to the wireless communication device for a predetermined period of time specified within the suspend transmission frame; and

generating and transmitting, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, a resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to resume transmission to the wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving first one or more frames from the another wireless communication device before transmission of the suspend transmission frame to the another wireless communication device; and

receiving second one or more frames from another wireless communication device after transmission of the resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

buffering one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device within a memory of the wireless communication device;

monitoring storage status of the memory; and

generating the suspend transmission frame when the storage status of the memory indicates an actual or anticipated storage overflow of the memory.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

buffering one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device within a memory of the wireless communication device;

monitoring storage status of the memory; and

generating the resume transmission frame when the storage status of the memory indicates an acceptable amount of memory is available to buffer an additional one or more frames received from the another wireless communication device.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving one or more frames from the another wireless communication device;

generating and transmitting the suspend transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to suspend transmission to the wireless communication device;

generating and transmitting the resume transmission frame to the another wireless communication device to direct the another wireless communication device to resume transmission to the wireless communication device; and

transmitting the one or more frames to at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device includes a relay wireless communication device, the another wireless communication device includes a source wireless communication device, and the at least one other wireless communication device includes a destination wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication device includes a wireless station (STA), and the another wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), another STA, or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication device includes an access point (AP), and the another wireless communication device includes another AP, a wireless station (STA), or a smart meter station (SMSTA).

Assignments (6)

CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 047422 FRAME: 0464. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 6, 2019

From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.

To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED

Reel/Frame 048883/0702 →

MERGER Recorded Oct 5, 2018

From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.

To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED

Reel/Frame 047422/0464 →

TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT

To: BROADCOM CORPORATION

Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017