Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2002-11-05
Ngo, Ricky (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
C370S338000, C370S465000, C455S436000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06477156
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to communications in a radio communication system, such as a WLAN (wireless local area network). More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, by which to identify whether proprietary WLAN radio functions are available to a mobile terminal-access point pair and to activate proprietary WLAN radio functions if such availability is identified. Performance of proprietary WLAN radio functions permits improved communication quality, such as improved handover performance, relative to conventional WLAN operation pursuant, e.g., to the IEEE 802.11 standard.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a transmitting station and a receiving station interconnected by a communication channel. Communication signals generated by the transmitting station are transmitted upon the communication channel to be received by the receiving station.
A radio communication system is a communication system in which at least a portion of the communication channel is formed of a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Increased mobility of communications is permitted as a fixed or hard-wired connection is not required to be formed between the transmitting and receiving stations.
A cellular communication system is an exemplary radio communication system. A subscriber to a cellular communication system, when positioned at almost any location throughout an area encompassed by the network infrastructure of the cellular communication system, is able to communicate by way of the system with a mobile terminal.
The network infrastructure of an exemplary cellular communication system includes spaced-apart, fixed-site base stations which include transceivers. In such an exemplary system, each fixed-site base station defines a cell. As the mobile terminal used by the subscriber to communicate with another communication station travels between cells of the system, uninterrupted communication is possible by handing-over communications from one base station to another.
Several analogous types of wireless communication systems have been implemented, and others have been proposed, to encompass limited areas, such as the area encompassed by a building structure or office workplace. Wireless communication systems sometimes referred to as microcellular networks, private networks, and WLANs (wireless local area networks) are exemplary of such systems.
Wireless communication systems are typically constructed pursuant to standards promulgated by a regulatory or quasi-regulatory body. For instance, the IEEE 802.11 standard promulgated by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) is a wireless LAN standard pertaining generally to the commercial 2.4 GHz wireless LAN (local area network). The 802.11 standard specifies an over-the-air interface between a wireless client, e.g, a mobile terminal, and a base station or access point, as well as among wireless clients. Standards pertaining to a physical layer and an MAC (media access control) layer are set forth in such standard. The standard permits automatic medium sharing between different devices which includes compatible physical layers. Asynchronous data transfer is provided for in the standard, generally by way of the MAC layer which utilizes a CSMA/CA (carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance) communication scheme.
While the IEEE 802.11 standard provides for wireless communications through the use of mobile terminals constructed to be operable pursuant to such standard, the standard does not adequately provide for real time wireless services. For instance, in the current implementation of the standard, a significant loss of quality is sometimes experienced during handover of communications from one access point to another. Excessive numbers of data frames are susceptible to being lost or delayed, resulting in the loss of communication quality or even termination of communications.
Operational modes different than that set forth in the IEEE 802.11 standard are therefore required, particularly for real time wireless services. Proprietary functions have been proposed which permit improved quality of communications compared to operation pursuant to the existing IEEE 802.11 standard. Access points and mobile terminals operable to perform such proprietary functions are referred to as being proprietary mode capable.
However, both ends of the communication pair, i.e., the mobile terminal and the access point through which the mobile terminal communicates, must be capable of operation in the proprietary mode. If both ends of the communication pair are not together operable pursuant to the proprietary mode, conventional operation pursuant to the IEEE 802.11 standard is instead required.
Therefore, prior to permitting operation of both ends of the communication pair in the proprietary mode, a determination must be made of the ability of both ends of the communication pair together to be operable pursuant to the proprietary mode.
A manner by which to identify whether both ends of the communication pair are together operable in the proprietary mode, to activate both ends of the communication pair to operate in the proprietary mode, and to maintain proprietary mode operation during handover procedures from one access point to another is required.
It is in light of this background information related to wireless communications that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, to identify whether proprietary WLAN radio functions are available to a communication pair formed of a mobile terminal and access point.
The present invention further advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, to initiate activation of the proprietary WLAN radio functions subsequent to identifying that both the mobile terminal and access point of the communication pair are together operable pursuant to the proprietary WLAN radio function.
The present invention further advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, by which to maintain proprietary-mode of communication during handover of communications from one access point to another.
In one aspect of the present invention, a manner is provided to identify whether devices constructed to be operable in a WLAN, such as that defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard are also together operable pursuant to a proprietary mode of operation to perform proprietary WLAN radio functions. Such proprietary WLAN radio functions are intended to improve the quality of communications relative to the quality of communications provided for during operation pursuant to a conventional, IEEE 802.11 mode of operation.
In a further aspect of the present invention, responsive to identification that both ends of a communication pair formed of a mobile terminal and an access point of the WLAN are together operable pursuant to the proprietary mode, the mobile terminal is activated to be operable pursuant to the proprietary mode rather than the conventional, IEEE 802.11 mode of operation. Improved quality of communications relative to that permitted pursuant to conventional operation pursuant to the IEEE 802.11 standard is possible thereafter.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a manner is provided to assure better that ongoing communications effectuated by a communication pair operating pursuant to the proprietary mode of operation shall continue to be effectuated pursuant to the proprietary mode subsequent to handover of communications from one access point to another access point. In one implementation, the mobile terminal of the communication pair is provided with a list of access points which are capable of operation pursuant to the proprietary mode. The list, a neighboring-AP (access point) list, is used by the mobile terminal, or the network, in the determination of to which access point that handover of communications is permitted. As handovers thereby are only pe
Ala-Laurila Juha
Hansen Harri
Ngo Ricky
Nokia Corporation
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