System and method for transmitting high throughput data between multiple devices

Abstract

A system for transmitting data directly between a plurality of client network devices in a network is disclosed. The system may include a first client network device having a first client (“STA”) module and a second client network device of the plurality of client network devices where the second client network device includes a Dual Access Point and Station enabled device (“DAS-enabled device”).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of an implementation of a known network architecture for data transfer between IEEE 802.11 clients.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an example of an implementation of a known network architecture utilizing an IEEE 802.11e Direct Link Setup (“DLS”) functionality for data transfer between clients.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example of an implementation of a network architecture of a system for transmitting high throughput data between multiple devices (“STDMD”) in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating an example of an implementation of a process for connecting multiple wireless devices, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an example of another implementation of the network architecture of the STDMD.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an example of yet another implementation of the network architecture of the STDMD.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a format of the management action frame of category DAS utilized to carry an SAP beacon.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a format of a supported rates element or extended supported rates element that may be utilized to describe the BSS Basic Rate set, which is utilized by STAs desiring association to determine whether the AP sending the supported rates element is a valid candidate for association.

FIG. 9 shows more detail of the rate field shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a beacon frame, which may include a special rate code value in a supported rates element.

FIG. 11 shows an example SAP offset element that includes a list of SAP offsets, with a length value, to indicate how many offsets are in the list.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an unsolicited schedule element that is transmitted by a power-saving SAP to a STA so that the SAP and the STA may establish a common time period for frame exchange when both the SAP and the STA will be awake.

FIG. 13 shows a signal flow diagram of an example of an exchange of an unsolicited schedule element request type that is sent from an SAP to a STA.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a frame control field of an IEEE 802.11 MAC frame format as utilized in the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a Quality of Service (“QoS”) control field of an IEEE 802.11 MAC frame format as utilized in the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data directly between a plurality of Dual Access Point and Station (“DAS”)-enabled devices in a network, the method comprising: receiving a broadcast message from a first DAS-enabled device of the plurality of DAS-enabled devices at a second DAS-enabled device in the plurality of DAS-enabled devices, wherein the broadcast message includes information indicating network capabilities of the first DAS-enabled device;determining the network capabilities of the first DAS-enabled device in response to receiving the broadcast message;exchanging packet information with the first DAS-enabled device based on the network capabilities of the first DAS-enabled device; andestablishing a direct communication path with the first DAS-enabled device.

2. The method of claim 1 further including establishing a second direct communication path with at least a third DAS-enabled device from the plurality of DAS-enabled devices in addition to the first DAS-enabled device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing a second direct communication path includes establishing a direct communication path with a subsidiary AP device (“SAP”) within the third DAS-enabled device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least a first Access Point (“AP”) device separate from the plurality of DAS-enabled devices, and wherein establishing the direct communication path with the second DAS-enabled device includes establishing a direct communication path that is a signal path that does not include the at least first AP device.

5. The method of claim 4 further including establishing a second direct communication path with at least a third DAS-enabled device from the plurality of DAS-enabled devices in addition to the first DAS-enabled device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein establishing a second direct communication path includes receiving a SAP broadcast message from the SAP, wherein the SAP broadcast message is differentiable from a broadcast message from the first AP device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the network capabilities include the capability of utilizing an Association Configuration Protocol (“ACP”).

8. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the network capabilities of the first DAS-enabled device includes determining an ACP type-length-value (“TLV”) from the broadcast message.

9. The method of claim 8, further including entering into an ACP Active state in response to determining the network capabilities of the first DAS-enabled device.

10. The method of claim 9, further including entering into an ACP Window state at the first DAS-enabled device after transmitting the broadcast message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein entering into an ACP Window state is responsive to an external input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting an initialization message includes utilizing an ACP Relay function.

13. The method of claim 4, wherein the SAP restricts association attempts from non-DAS-enabled devices utilizing a special rate code value that is recognizable by DAS-enabled devices.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein exchanging packet information includes transmitting an initialization message to an ACP Configurator within the second DAS-enabled device.

15. The method of claim 14 further including timing wake and sleep schedules for the second DAS-enabled device.

16. The method of claim 15 further including operating in a power save mode that includes the second DAS-enabled device being in a sleep state while acting as SAP.

17. The method of claim 16 further including monitoring traffic on the network anddetermining traffic loads of associating another DAS-enable device.

18. A system for transmitting data directly between a plurality of Dual Access Point and Station (“DAS”)-enabled devices in a network, the system comprising: a first DAS-enabled device of the plurality of DAS-enabled devices, wherein the first DAS-enabled device includes a first client (“STA”) module and a second STA module, wherein the first STA module is configured to selectively communicate with a second DAS-enabled device of the plurality of DAS-enabled devices; andthe second DAS-enabled device wherein the second DAS-enabled device includes a first subsidiary AP module (“SAP-module”) and a third STA module,wherein the second STA module is configured to selectively communicate with the SAP.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second STA module is configured to selectively communicate with at least a second SAP-module in addition to the first SAP-module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the network includes at least a first Access Point (“AP”) device separate from the plurality of DAS-enabled devices, and wherein the second STA module is configured to selectively communicate with at least a first AP device in addition to the first SAP-module.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the second DAS-enabled device utilizes an Association Configuration Protocol (“ACP”).

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the SAP-module includes an ACP Configurator and the second STA module includes an ACP Client module.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first DAS-enabled device is an IEEE 802.11 enabled device and the second DAS-enabled device is an IEEE 802.11 enabled device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first DAS-enabled device is a device configured as a network master device and the second DAS-enabled device is a device configured as a network slave device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein both the first DAS-enabled device and second DAS-enabled device are wireless devices.

26. A Dual Access Point and Station enabled device (“DAS-enabled device”) for transmitting data directly between the DAS-enabled device and a plurality of client network devices in a network having an Access Point (“AP”) device separate from the plurality of client network devices and the DAS-enabled device, the DAS-enabled device comprising: a client (“STA”) module, wherein the STA module is configured to selectively communicate with the AP device or communicate directly with a first client network device from the plurality of client network devices; anda first subsidiary AP module (“SAP-module”), wherein the first SAP-module is configured to selectively communicate directly with the first client network device or another client network device from the plurality of client network devices,wherein the first client network device includes a second SAP-module and the plurality of client network devices include a plurality of STA modules.

27. The DAS-enabled device of claim 26, wherein the DAS-enabled device utilizes an Association Configuration Protocol (“ACP”).

28. The DAS-enabled device of claim 27, wherein the SAP includes an ACP Configurator configured to communicate with an ACP Client module within the client network device.

29. The DAS-enabled device of claim 25, wherein the DAS-enabled device is an IEEE 802.11 enabled device and the client network device is an IEEE 802.11 enabled device.

30. The DAS-enabled device of claim 29, wherein the DAS-enabled device includes a second STA module, wherein the second STA module is configured to selectively communicate with the AP device or communicate directly with another DAS-enabled devices.

31. A method for transmitting data directly between a plurality of network-enabled devices in a network, the method comprising: transmitting a broadcast message from a first network-enabled device of the plurality of network-enabled devices at a network-enabled device in the plurality of network-enabled devices, wherein the first network-enabled device includes an Access Point (“AP”) device and the broadcast message includes information indicating network capabilities of the first network-enabled device;receiving a response signal from at least a second network-enable device, wherein the response signal includes information utilized to attempt to associate the first network-enabled device with the at least second network-enabled device;restricting association attempts of the at least second network-enabled device utilizing a special rate code value; andassociating the first network-enabled device and the least second network-enabled device in response to utilizing the special rate code value, where associating includes exchanging packet information with the at least second network-enabled device based on the special rate code value and the network capabilities of the second network-enabled device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the special rate code value is recognizable by network-enabled devices that are Dual Access Point and Station (“DAS”)-enabled devices.