초록 ▼

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to scheduling data transmissions to improve power efficiency in a wireless network. In an example embodiment, uplink transmissions may be scheduled after the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence. One or more nodes having only scheduled downlink

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to scheduling data transmissions to improve power efficiency in a wireless network. In an example embodiment, uplink transmissions may be scheduled after the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence. One or more nodes having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence may be scheduled for downlink transmissions at or near the start of the downlink transmissions. In another embodiment, one or more nodes having only scheduled uplink transmissions during the frame sequence may be scheduled for uplink transmissions at or near the end of the uplink transmissions. In yet another embodiment, one or more nodes having scheduled both downlink and uplink transmissions during the frame sequence may be scheduled for transmissions near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising: transmitting, by an apparatus to at least a first node, a second node, and a third node, a frame identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, at least one downlink start time and duration for the secon

1. A method comprising: transmitting, by an apparatus to at least a first node, a second node, and a third node, a frame identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, at least one downlink start time and duration for the second node, at least one uplink start time and duration for the second node, and at least one uplink start and duration for the third node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node, the second node, and the third node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time for downlink transmissions scheduled at or near the start of the downlink transmissions, and with the third node having only scheduled uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its uplink start time for uplink transmissions scheduled at or near the end of the uplink transmissions, and with the second node having scheduled both downlink and uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time and its uplink start time for transmissions scheduled near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting a frame comprises transmitting a Power Save Multi Poll frame. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame includes the schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, the first node entering a low power state for a remainder of the frame sequence after the duration for the first node and the third node entering a low power state after the frame including the schedule and leaving the low power state before the uplink start time for the third node. 4. An apparatus comprising: a controller configured to transmit, to at least a first node and a second node, a frame including a schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, and at least one uplink start time and duration for the second node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node and the second node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence;wherein the scheduled downlink transmissions for the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions are scheduled at or near a start of the downlink transmissions. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: the controller is configured to transmit the frame to at least the first node, the second node, and a third node,the second node having only scheduled uplink transmissions has its uplink start time scheduled at or near an end of the uplink transmissions, andthe third node having both downlink and uplink transmissions has its uplink start time and downlink start time scheduled for transmissions near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to transmit the frame, the frame comprising an IEEE 802.11n Power Save Multi Poll frame. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence has its downlink start time for a downlink transmission scheduled immediately after receipt of the frame. 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second node having only scheduled uplink transmissions has its uplink start time schedule at or near an end of the uplink transmissions. 9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit one or more downlink data frames to at least the first node at the scheduled transmission periods. 10. A first node comprising: a controller configured to receive a frame from an access point and execute instructions included in the frame, the frame including a schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, and at least one uplink start time and duration for a second node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node and the second node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence;wherein the first node has its downlink start time scheduled at or near a start of the downlink transmissions. 11. The first node of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to receive the frame, the frame comprising transmitting a Power Save Multi Poll frame. 12. A method comprising: receiving, by first node from an apparatus, a frame identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, at least one downlink start time and duration for a second node, at least one uplink start time and duration for the second node, and at least one uplink start and duration for a third node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node, the second node, and the third node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time for downlink transmissions scheduled at or near a start of the downlink transmissions, and with the third node having only scheduled uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its uplink start time for uplink transmissions scheduled at or near an end of the uplink transmissions, and with the second node having scheduled both downlink and uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time and its uplink start time for transmissions scheduled near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving the frame comprises receiving a Power Save Multi Poll frame. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the frame includes the schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, the first node entering a low power state for a remainder of the frame sequence after the duration for the first node and the third node entering a low power state after receiving the frame including the schedule and leaving the low power state before the uplink start time for the third node. 15. An apparatus comprising: a controller configured to transmit, to at least a first node, a second node, and a third node, a frame identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, at least one downlink start time and duration for the second node, at least one uplink start time and duration for the second node, and at least one uplink start and duration for the third node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node, the second node, and the third node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time for downlink transmissions scheduled at or near a start of the downlink transmissions, and with the third node having only scheduled uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its uplink start time for uplink transmissions scheduled at or near an end of the uplink transmissions, and with the second node having scheduled both downlink and uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time and its uplink start time for transmissions scheduled near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the frame comprises a Power Save Multi Poll frame. 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the frame includes the schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, the first node entering a low power state for a remainder of the frame sequence after the duration for the first node and the third node entering a low power state after the frame including the schedule and leaving the low power state before the uplink start time for the third node. 18. A first node comprising: a controller configured to receive, from an apparatus, a frame identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, at least one downlink start time and duration for the first node, at least one downlink start time and duration for a second node, at least one uplink start time and duration for the second node, and at least one uplink start and duration for a third node, during a frame sequence for at least the first node, the second node, and the third node in a wireless network, all of the uplink transmissions being scheduled after all of the downlink transmissions within the frame sequence, with the first node having only scheduled downlink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time for downlink transmissions scheduled at or near a start of the downlink transmissions, and with the third node having only scheduled uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its uplink start time for uplink transmissions scheduled at or near the end of the uplink transmissions, and with the second node having scheduled both downlink and uplink transmissions during the frame sequence having its downlink start time and its uplink start time for transmissions scheduled near a transition from downlink to uplink transmissions. 19. The first node of claim 18 wherein receiving the frame comprises receiving a Power Save Multi Poll frame. 20. The first node of claim 18, wherein the frame includes the schedule identifying uplink and downlink transmission periods, the first node entering a low power state for a remainder of the frame sequence after the duration for the first node and the third node entering a low power state after receiving the frame including the schedule and leaving the low power state before the uplink start time for the third node.