KR200432491Y1 - Device for sharing slot allocation schedule information between nodes in a wireless mesh network - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for communicating a slot assignment of a node within a wireless mesh network where data exchange between nodes occurs during the slot. Each node stores its slot assignments internally. A node can request slot assignment of another node, and each node can notify another node of its slot assignment. Information element (IE) and management type messages are introduced to store and inform slot assignments between mesh network nodes.

Description

A device for sharing slot allocation schedule information between nodes in a wireless mesh network {APPARATUS FOR SHARING SLOT ALLOCATION SCHEDULE INFORMATION AMONGST NODES OF A WIRELESS MESH NETWORK}

1 illustrates an information element format for slot allocation.

2 illustrates an improved information element format in accordance with the present invention.

3 illustrates an exemplary mesh network including two nodes configured in accordance with the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

115: information field

105: element ID

110: length

205: list size

210: slot

220: timing information

225: RF Information

230: QoS information

235: peer node information

240: direction

The present invention relates to a wireless mesh network (eg, a wireless local area network) comprising a plurality of nodes. More specifically, the present invention relates to the sharing of slot assignment schedule information between nodes of a mesh network.

In an IEEE 802.11 mesh network (eg, a WLAN mesh), two or more nodes exchange data during a period called a slot. The term "slot" refers to timing information (eg, start time and duration), radio frequency (RF) information (eg, the number of radio channels and channels that a node uses for data exchange), QoS (Quality of Service (QoS required by the data exchanged during the slot), peer node information (e.g. node identifier of each node involved in the transmission of data during a particular slot), data exchange direction (e.g. one-way, two-way), etc. It includes, but is not limited to, multi-dimensional information.

In a conventional non-mesh WLAN, an optional "scheduling" based on 802.11e HCCA is a one-sided procedure of a Basic Service Set (BSS) controlled by an AP. to be. In a WLAN mesh, scheduling must be coordinated between several mesh points (MPs) providing WLAN mesh services.

It is desirable to incorporate a node network mechanism in the mesh network that allows a node to inform about the node's internal slot allocation schedule and request such schedule information from other nodes. To achieve this new level of coordination, a method and apparatus are needed for exchanging schedule related information between mesh points in a WLAN mesh.

In an IEEE 802.11 mesh network in which traffic between nodes is scheduled into allocation slots, effective slot allocation for a plurality of nodes is achieved by having the nodes share their respective slot assignment schedule information with each other. Thus, providing each node with prior knowledge of the slot availability of the other node allows the nodes to allocate slot resources in an effective and non-conflicting manner.

The present invention provides a mechanism that allows nodes in a mesh network to notify other nodes in the network of their slot allocation schedules, and provides a mechanism that allows nodes in the mesh network to request internal slot allocation schedules from other nodes. do.

The invention can be understood in detail from the following illustrative description, which is understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As mentioned below, a node may be a wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile base station, a fixed or mobile access point (AP), a fixed type. Or mobile subscriber units, pagers, or other types of devices operable in a wireless environment.

Within the mesh network, each node internally stores the assigned slots after prior and mutual agreement with one or more peer nodes. During a particular slot, nodes send and receive data with these peer nodes. The internally stored record is hereinafter referred to as "list of assigned slots" and includes a list of slots. Each node includes an internal memory that stores a list of its assigned slots.

The new Information Element (IE) 100 should represent a list of allocation slots. 1 illustrates a preferred IE 100 format in accordance with the present invention. The IE 100 includes an element ID field 105 of one octet, a length field 110 of one octet, and an element unique information field 115 of variable length. According to the present invention, ID field 105 indicates that IE 100 represents a "list of allocation slots" IE. The length field 110 specifies the octet number of the information field 115.

2 shows a new IE 100 showing the information field 115 in more detail. The information field 115 of the list IE 100 of the assigned slots includes a list size subfield 205, a plurality of information subfields and a slot number list size subfield for each slot 210 ₁ , 210 ₂ ,..., 210 _N. 215. Each slot information subfield 210 has a timing information field 220, a radio frequency (RF) information field 225, a quality of service (QoS) information field 230, a peer node information field 235, and a direction. Field 240. As shown in Fig. 2, the subfield shown in detail is for slot # 1. In this case, the slot # 1 timing information field 220 informs the start time and duration of the data exchange for slot # 1. The RF information field 225 informs the radio channel and the number of channels that the node uses to exchange data. QoS information field 230 indicates the QoS required by the data to be exchanged during slot # 1. Peer node information field 235 indicates the node identifier of each node involved in the data transmission during slot # 1. Direction field 240 informs during slot # 1 whether the data exchange is unidirectional (i.e., from one transmitter to one receiver) or bidirectional (i.e. for all related nodes).

Each node is able to request and notify a list of its assigned slots. This is preferably done well by adding two additional management message types: 1) "List of Assigned Slot Request Messages" and 2) "List of Assigned Slot Response Messages". The list of assignment slot response messages preferably includes a list of assignment slot IEs in its body.

The present invention introduces a modification to the existing management "action" frame. The category value "Slot Report" is added to the action frame definition in the Medium Access Control (MAC) object residing at each mesh node. The slot notification action frame is sent by a node to convey that node's slot assignment information to another node. Slot notification "category" is used in the management action frame to identify this new message category. Within this category are two aforementioned messages, namely "list request" and "list reply". Within the "List Response" message a new "List of Assigned Slots" IE is defined.

3 illustrates an example mesh network 300 comprising two mesh nodes 305 and 310 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The node 305 includes a transmitter 315, a receiver 320, a processor 325, a memory 330, and an antenna 332. Node 310 includes a transmitter 335, receiver 340, processor 345, memory 350, and antenna 352. Processor 325 of node 305 is configured to create a list 360 of allocation slot request messages, which list is transmitted by transmitter 315 via antenna 332 of node 305. If node 305 is to send data to node 310, that node must know when node 310 is free to receive data. As such, node 305 requests node 310 to provide a " assigned slot " of node 310 (i.e., a slot when node 310 is busy). Thus, node 305 may request a “list of allocation slots” from node 310 to allocate some free slots for exchanging data with node 310.

Each memory 330, 350 stores slot allocation schedule information for each of its nodes 305, 310.

In addition, the memories 330 and 350 store slot allocation information of other nodes in addition to the node where each memory resides. As such, each node can remember the slot assignments of other nodes after sending an "assign slot request list" and after receiving a "assign slot response list".

When the receiver 340 of the node 310 receives the list 360 of allocation slot request messages, the processor 325 retrieves the IE 100 from the memory 350 and then includes the IE 100. Create a list 365 of assignment slot response messages, which are transmitted by the transmitter 335 via the antenna 352 of the node 310. Each processor 325, 345 includes a MAC entity (not shown) that facilitates creation of a list 360 of assignment slot request messages and a list 365 of assignment slot response messages.

The present invention can be implemented in the data link layer, the network layer as software, hardware, and middleware, and as a next generation system structure, radio resource management, and radio resource controller (RRC). The present invention is applicable to, but is not limited to, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11s, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.15.5, IEEE 802.16, and other related mesh technologies.

Example

1. A method of notifying slot allocation information in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of nodes transmitting data during a slot, the method comprising:

Each node storing slot allocation information associated with the node;

A first node of the plurality of nodes creating and transmitting a list of allocation slot request messages;

A second node of the plurality of nodes creating and transmitting a list of allocation slot response messages in response to receiving the request message;

Including,

And the list of allocation slot response messages includes an information element (IE) indicating slot allocation of the first node.

2. In the first embodiment, the IE is

An element identification information (ID) field;

A variable length element unique information field comprising a slot assignment list;

A length field specifying the octet number of the element unique information field

Slot allocation information notification method comprising a.

3. The method of embodiment 2 wherein the element ID field and the length field are each one octet in length.

4. The method of embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the element unique information field is:

A list size field;

Multiple Slot Information Fields

Slot allocation information notification method comprising a.

5. In Embodiment 4, each slot information field is:

And a timing information field indicating a start time and a duration of a data exchange made during each slot.

6. In Embodiment 4 or 5, each slot information field is:

And a radio frequency (RF) information field indicating the number of radio channels and number of channels used by the second node to exchange data during each slot.

7. The method according to any one of embodiments 4 to 6, wherein each slot information field is

And a QoS information field indicating a quality of service (QoS) required for data to be exchanged during each slot.

8. In any of the embodiments 4-7, each slot information field is:

And a peer node information field indicative of a node identifier of each node involved in data transmission during each slot.

9. The method of any one of embodiments 4-8, wherein each slot information field is:

And a direction field indicating whether data exchange by the second node is unidirectional from one transmitter to one receiver, or bidirectionally for all nodes involved during each slot. .

10. The method of any one of embodiments 1-9 further comprising the step of including slot notification in an action frame used by a medium access control (MAC) entity located at the first node;

And wherein the slot notification conveys slot allocation schedule information associated with the first node to at least a second node of the wireless mesh network.

11. The method of any one of embodiments 1-9 wherein the wireless mesh network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

12. A wireless mesh network,

A first node;

Multiple other nodes

Wherein the first node and the other node transmit data during a slot, store slot allocation information, and the first node creates and transmits a list of allocation slot request messages, and among the plurality of other nodes. At least one composes and transmits a list of assignment slot response messages in response to receiving the request message, wherein the list of assignment slot response messages includes an information element (IE) indicating a slot assignment of the first node. Wireless mesh network.

13. In embodiment 12, wherein the IE is

An element identification information (ID) field;

A variable length element unique information field comprising a slot assignment list;

A length field specifying the octet number of the element unique information field

Wireless mesh network comprising a.

14. The wireless mesh network of embodiment 13 wherein the element ID field and the length field are each one octet in length.

15. The system of embodiment 13, wherein the element unique information field is

A list size field;

Multiple Slot Information Fields

Wireless mesh network comprising a.

16. The method according to any one of embodiments 13-15, wherein each slot information field is

And a timing information field indicative of the start time and duration of the data exchange made during each slot.

17. The system according to any one of embodiments 13-16, wherein each slot information field is

And a radio frequency (RF) information field indicating the number of channels and the radio channels used by at least one of the plurality of other nodes for exchanging data during each slot.

18. The apparatus according to any one of embodiments 13-17, wherein each slot information field is

And a QoS information field indicating a quality of service (QoS) required for data to be exchanged during each slot.

19. The system as in any one of embodiments 13-18 wherein each slot information field is

And a peer node information field indicating a node identifier of each node involved in data transmission during each slot.

20. The method according to any one of embodiments 13-19, wherein each slot information field is

Including a direction field indicating whether data exchange by at least one of the plurality of other nodes is unidirectional from one transmitter to one receiver or bidirectional for all nodes involved during each slot Wireless mesh network.

21. The method as in any one of embodiments 13-20, wherein a slot notification is included in an action frame used by a medium access control (MAC) entity located at the first node,

Wherein the slot notification conveys slot allocation schedule information associated with the first node to at least one of the plurality of other nodes of the wireless mesh network.

22. The wireless mesh network of any one of embodiments 13-21, wherein the wireless mesh network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

23. A mesh node in a wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes transmitting data during a slot, wherein:

A memory configured to store slot allocation information associated with the mesh node;

A processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to generate a list of allocation slot request messages based on the stored slot allocation information;

A transmitter electrically coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the list of allocation slot request messages to another mesh node in the wireless mesh network

Mesh node containing.

24. A first mesh node in a wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes transmitting data during a slot, wherein:

A receiver configured to receive a list of allocation slot request messages from a second mesh node in the wireless mesh network;

A memory configured to store an information element (IE);

Electrically connected to the receiver and a memory, the receiver retrieving the IE from the memory in response to receiving the list of allocation slot request messages, and then creating a list of allocation slot response messages including the IE; A processor configured;

A receiver electrically coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to transmit the list of assignment slot response messages to the second mesh node

The first mesh node comprising a.

25. The method of embodiment 24, wherein the IE is

An element identification information (ID) field;

A variable length element unique information field comprising a slot assignment list;

A length field specifying the octet number of the element unique information field

The first mesh node comprising a.

26. The first mesh node of embodiment 25 wherein the element ID field and the length field are each one octet in length.

27. The system of embodiment 25 wherein the element unique information field is

A list size field;

Multiple Slot Information Fields

The first mesh node comprising a.

28. The system of embodiment 27, wherein each slot information field is:

And a timing information field indicative of the start time and duration of the data exchange made during each slot.

29. The embodiment 27 or 28 embodiment, wherein each slot information field is

And a radio frequency (RF) information field indicative of the number of radio channels and channels used by the second node to exchange data during each slot.

30. The system according to any one of embodiments 27-29, wherein the slot information field is

And a QoS information field indicating a quality of service (QoS) required by the data to be exchanged during each slot.

31. The system as in any one of embodiments 27-30 wherein each slot information field is

And a peer node information field indicating a node identifier of each node involved in data transmission during each slot.

32. The system as in any one of embodiments 27-31 wherein each slot information field is

And a direction field indicating whether data exchange by the second node is unidirectional from one transmitter to one receiver or bidirectional for all nodes involved during each slot.

33. The first mesh node of any one of embodiments 24-32 wherein the wireless mesh network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

While the features and elements of the present invention have been described in particular combinations of preferred embodiments, each feature or element may be used alone (without other features and elements of the preferred embodiments), or other features and elements of the present invention may be It can be used in various combinations with or without use.

According to the present invention, slot allocation schedule information can be shared between nodes of a mesh network.

Claims (12)

As a mesh node, A memory configured to store slot allocation information associated with the mesh node; A processor electrically coupled to the memory, the processor configured to generate a list of allocation slot request messages based on the stored slot allocation information; A receiver, electrically coupled to the processor, configured to receive the list of allocation slot request messages; A transmitter electrically coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the list of allocation slot request messages to another mesh node; An antenna electrically connected to the receiver and the transmitter Mesh node containing. The mesh node of claim 1 wherein the mesh node operates within a wireless local area network (WLAN). As the first mesh node, A receiver configured to receive a list of allocation slot request messages from a second mesh node; A memory configured to store an information element (IE); Electrically connected to the receiver and a memory, the receiver retrieving the IE from the memory in response to receiving the list of allocation slot request messages, and then creating a list of allocation slot response messages including the IE; A processor configured; A receiver electrically coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to transmit the list of assignment slot response messages to the second mesh node An antenna electrically connected to the receiver and the transmitter The first mesh node comprising a. The method of claim 3, wherein the IE, An element identification information (ID) field; A variable length element unique information field comprising a slot assignment list; A length field specifying the octet number of the element unique information field The first mesh node comprising a. 5. The first mesh node of claim 4 wherein the element ID field and the length field are each one octet in length. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the element unique information field is. A list size field; Multiple Slot Information Fields The first mesh node comprising a. The method of claim 6, wherein each slot information field, And a timing information field indicative of the start time and duration of the data exchange made during each slot. The method of claim 6, wherein each slot information field, And a radio frequency (RF) information field indicating the number of channels and channels of radio channels used by the second mesh node to exchange data during each slot. The method of claim 6, wherein each slot information field, And a QoS information field indicating a quality of service (QoS) required by the data to be exchanged during each slot. The method of claim 6, wherein each slot information field, And a peer node information field indicating a node identifier of each node involved in data transmission during each slot. The method of claim 6, wherein each slot information field, A first mesh node comprising a direction field indicating whether data exchange by the second mesh node is unidirectional from one transmitter to one receiver or bidirectional for all nodes involved during each slot . 4. The first mesh node of claim 3 wherein the wireless mesh network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

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