Method and apparatus for network management using periodic measurements of indicators

A beacon signal used in data communications, such as the IEEE 802.11, is provided with data extensions. The data extensions permit additional information to be provided by the beacon signal, thereby reducing the traffic overhead of the network. The data extensions further permit handoffs and handoffs based on offset values. Periodic beacon requests are made during connection between a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and an access point (AP) on a WLAN. A Measurement Request field corresponding to a beacon request contains a measurement duration value and channel number for which the request applies. The beacon request permits a scan mode which includes “Active Scan” mode, “Passive Scan” mode and “Beacon Table” mode. In Active Scan mode, the measuring station (STA) transmits a probe request with a broadcast SSID. In Passive Scan mode, the measuring STA passively receives on the specified channel and return a beacon report containing one information element for each STA from which it detects a beacon or probe response. In Beacon Table mode, the measuring STA returns a beacon report containing the current contents of its beacon table without performing additional measurements.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to beacon measurement request signals used in wireless slotted communications and network management. More particularly, the invention relates to network management using periodic measurements of parameters such as new beacon received power level or signal quality.

BACKGROUND

The IEEE 802.11 communications protocol allows a client to roam among multiple access points that may be operating on the same or separate channels. IEEE 802.11 communications are generally effected through wireless LAN access points (APs), which are typically single standalone units, but can include networks with multiple APs which provide a roaming function. To support the roaming function, each access point typically transmits a beacon signal every 100 ms. A roaming station (STA) uses the beacon to gauge the strength of its existing access point connection. If the STA senses a weak signal, the roaming STA can implement the reassociation service to connect to an access point emitting a stronger signal.

IEEE 802.11 supports two power modes; active and power-saving (PS). The protocols for infrastructure networks and ad hoc networks are different. Under an infrastructure network, there is an AP to monitor the mode of each mobile station. A station in the active mode is fully powered and thus may transmit and receive at any time. On the contrary, a station in the PS mode only wakes up periodically to check for possible incoming packets from the AP. A station always notifies its AP when changing modes. Periodically, the AP transmits beacon frames spaced by a fixed beacon interval. A PS station should monitor these frames. In each beacon frame, a traffic indication map (TIM) are delivered, which contains IDs of those PS stations with buffered unicast packets in the AP. A PS station, on hearing its ID, should stay awake for the remaining beacon interval. Under the contention period (i.e., DCF), an awake PS station can issue a PS-POLL to the AP to retrieve the buffered packets. While under the contention-free period (i.e., PCF), a PS station waits for the AP to poll it. The AP sends delivery TIMs (DTIMs) within beacon frames to indicate that there are buffered broadcast packets. The delivery TIMs are spaced by a fixed number of beacon intervals. Immediately after DTIMs, the buffered broadcast packets are sent.

Since IEEE 802.11 presumes that mobile stations are fully connected, the transmission of a beacon frame can be used to synchronize all stations' beacon intervals. In addition to the use in IEEE 802.11, beacon signals are useful in other WLAN communications and wireless communications in general. Periodic measurements are performed in systems implementing the third generation partnership program (3GPP) wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) system. Such systems use a time division duplex mode. To support higher layer functions in IEEE 802.11 standards for efficient network management, several physical parameters relating to different aspects of network management are desirable.

One such parameter is the perceived signal to noise indicator (PSNI), the measurement of which provides a quantized, comparative measure of received signal quality for all channels/rates and among all physical channels and between all stations. Another parameter is the received channel power indicator (RCPI) indicator, which is a measure of the received RF power in the selected channel, measured at the antenna connector. The RCPI parameter may be a measure by the PHY sub layer of the received RF power in the channel measured over the PLCP preamble and over the entire received frame. RCPI is a monotonically increasing, logarithmic function of the received power level defined in dBm. The exemplary allowed values for the RCPI parameter may be an 8-bit value in the range from 0 through 220.

In known approaches, the measurement of the parameters RCPI and PSNI is done as a single measurement, which approach has certain disadvantages. It is desirable to provide an improved method of making measurements of the parameters, e.g., RCPI and PSNI, to result in specific advantages resulting in more efficient network management.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, periodic measurements of the new beacon request are used in order to support roaming and dynamic data rate adjustment, and related functions. The concepts for periodic measurements are performed in a manner analogous to periodic measurements in systems implementing third generation partnership program (3GPP) wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) system utilizing the time division duplex mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) includes but is not limited to a user equipment, mobile station, fixed or mobile subscriber unit, pager, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to hereafter, an access point includes but is not limited to a Node B, site controller, access point or any other type of interfacing device in a wireless environment.

An “access point” (AP) in a typical IEEE 802.11 implementation is a station or device which provides wireless access for devices to establish a wireless connection with a LAN, and establishes a part of a wireless LAN (WLAN). If the AP is a fixed device on a WLAN, the AP is a station which transmits and receives data. The AP permits connection of a WTRU to a network, provided that the WLAN itself has a connection to the network.

Network management by making measurements of parameters, e.g., RCPI and PSNI, is performed periodically rather than in the manner of a one-time measurement. The impact of making periodic measurements on the network performance and the attendant benefits are addressed in the description of the preferred embodiment. More specifically, the beneficial effect of making periodic measurements on the beacon request extensions to support roaming and dynamic data rate are addressed. Even though the invention is described in the specific context of the standard IEEE 802.11 as an example, the invention is envisaged to be applicable to other scenarios also.

Periodic beacon requests are made during connection between a WTRU and an AP on a WLAN. A Measurement Request field corresponding to a beacon request contains a measurement duration value and channel number for which the request applies. The beacon request permits a scan mode which includes “Active Scan” mode, “Passive Scan” mode and “Beacon Table” mode. In Active Scan mode, the measuring station (STA) transmits a probe request with a broadcast service station identifier (SSID). The measuring STA's beacon report contains one information element for each STA from which it detects a beacon or probe response, regardless of whether the probe response was triggered by the measuring STA's own probe request. In Passive Scan mode, the measuring STA passively receives on the specified channel and returns a beacon report containing one information element for each STA from which it detects a beacon or probe response. If the measuring channel is also the serving channel, the STA concurrently carries out its normal data traffic operation. In Beacon Table mode, the measuring STA returns a Beacon Report containing the current contents of its beacon table without performing additional measurements. The Measurement Duration field is set equal to the duration of the requested measurement, expressed in time units (TUs).

The following are some potential advantages of periodic measurements as compared with the single measurement approach:

Periodic measurements reduce management traffic: single measurement request produces multiple reports but only when relevant.

Absolute Threshold crossings on PSNI measures are ideal to trigger data rate changes.

Absolute Threshold crossings on RCPI are ideal for proximity detectors for location.

Relative Threshold with respect to serving AP detects conditions for handoff.

The beacon request also contains periodic extensions (information fields) which specify periodic beacon measurements. The extensions fields are used to provide parameters for the periodic measurement and conditional reporting of measurement results. These provide periodic measurements which reduce management traffic, such that a single measurement request produces multiple reports. The multiple reports are provided only when deemed relevant. Absolute threshold crossings on perceived signal to noise indicator (PSNI) may be used as a condition to provide a measurement report. The measurements on PSNI are suitable to trigger data rate changes. Absolute threshold crossings on received channel power indicator (RCPI) may be used as a condition to provide a measurement report.

The periodic extensions are additional fields in the beacon request which are use for periodic beacon measurements. The capability to do periodic measurements is an optional capability for the AP, and therefore APs which are not capable of doing periodic beacon measurements will ignore the periodic extensions. A beacon request is a request to perform a measurement. A beacon report is the response containing the result(s) of the requested beacon measurement.

The absolute threshold crossings are suitable for proximity detectors used to determine location and approximate position relative to an AP. A relative threshold with respect to a serving AP is used to detect conditions for a handoff.

The measurement request field corresponding to a beacon request is shown in Table 1 and contains the measurement duration and channel number for which the request applies. Also included in Table 1 are the extensions (additional information fields) needed to specify periodic measurements and conditional reporting. Table 1 generally shows the measurement request field format for a beacon request. The illustration for the current measurement shows the number of octets for the channel number, channel band, measurement duration and scan mode. Table 1 also shows for comparison, the octets for periodic extensions, with respect to basic service set identifier (BSSID), measurement period, reporting condition, threshold/offset, and hysteresis effect. More particularly, the Measurement Request field corresponding to a beacon request is shown in Table 1 and contains the measurement duration and channel number for which the request applies. A response to a beacon request is a beacon report.

If the AP is not capable of performing periodic measurements and thus does not recognize the extensions, then the AP ignores the extensions and provides a single measurement and a single report.

In Table 1, channel number indicates the channel number on which the requesting STA instructs the receiving STA to report detected beacons and probe responses. In the beacon request, the Channel Number field indicates the channel number on which the requesting STA instructs the receiving STA to report detected beacons and probe responses. The Channel Band field indicates the frequency band, taken from Table 1, in which the receiving STA conducts its measurement. The Scan Mode field is set to the type of scan, according to Table 2 (infra). The scanning behavior is as follows:In Active Scan mode, the measuring STA transmits a probe request with the broadcast SSID. The measuring STA's beacon report contains one information element for each STA from which it detects a beacon or probe response, regardless of whether the probe response was triggered by the measuring STA's own probe requestIn Passive Scan mode, the measuring STA passively receives on the specified channel and return a beacon report containing one information element for each STA from which it detects a beacon or probe response. If the measuring channel is also the serving channel, the STA concurrently carries out its normal data traffic operation.In Beacon Table mode, the measuring STA returns a beacon report containing the current contents of its beacon table without performing additional measurements.

The Measurement Duration field is set equal to the duration of the requested measurement, expressed in TUs.

Tables 2 and 3 show channel band definitions for radio measurement requests and Scan Mode definitions for beacon request elements.

BSSID indicates the BSSID of the particular AP for which this measurement is requested. The BSSID specifies which AP to measure when several APs are detectable on a given channel. The BSSID is set to the broadcast BSSID when the measurement is performed on any AP(s) on this channel. A broadcast BSSID is used when an AP BSSID is unknown.

The Measurement Period indicates whether this measurement is a single measurement event or is a periodic measurement which is repeated each Measurement Period. The Measurement Period is divided into two subfields: Unit and Period. The Unit subfield defines the time unit for the Period subfield and consists of the 2 MSBs with the following values:

The Period subfield consists of the 14 LSBs and is an unsigned integer number representing the repeating time interval for this periodic measurement. A Period subfield value of 0 indicates that the measurement is not periodic but is a single measurement. A period subfield value of 16383 (3FFF Hex) indicates that the measurement is periodic with no requested measurement period; in this case the measurement is performed on a best effort basis and as frequently as conditions permit.

The Reporting Condition defines when the measured results are reported to the requesting STA. The Reporting Condition values are defined in Table 4.

TABLE 4Reporting Condition Definitions for Beacon Request ElementReportingCondition DescriptionConditionReport to be issued after each measurement.0Report to be issued when the RCPI level of the measured AP1crosses above an absolute threshold with hysteresis.Report to be issued when the RCPI level of the measured AP2crosses below an absolute threshold with hysteresis.Report to be issued when the PSNI level of the measured AP3crosses above an absolute threshold with hysteresis.Report to be issued when the PSNI level of the measured AP4crosses below an absolute threshold with hysteresis.Report to be issued when the RCPI level of the measured AP5crosses above a threshold defined by an offset (withhysteresis) from the serving AP's RCPI.Report to be issued when the RCPI level of the measured AP6crosses below a threshold defined by an offset (withhysteresis) from the serving AP's RCPI.Report to be issued when the PSNI level of the measured AP7crosses above a threshold defined by an offset (withhysteresis) from the serving AP's PSNI.Report to be issued when the PSNI level of the measured AP8crosses below a threshold defined by an offset (withhysteresis) from the serving AP's PSNI.Periodic reports (one per measurement) to begin when the9RCPI level of the measured AP enters and remains in a rangebound by the serving AP's RCPIand an offset (with hysteresis) from the serving AP's RCPI.Periodic reports (one per measurement) to begin when the10PSNI level of the measured AP enters and remains in a rangebound by the serving AP's PSNI and an offset (withhysteresis) from the serving AP's PSNI.Reserved11-255

Threshold/Offset provides either the threshold value or the offset value to be used for conditional reporting. A threshold value is an unsigned 8 bit integer having units which are equivalent to PSNI or RCPI. An offset value is a signed 7 bit integer in the range of (−127, +127).

Hysteresis provides an unsigned 8 bit integer hysteresis value having units equivalent to the units used in the Threshold/Offset field.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a network configuration11in which one or more WLANs12,13communicate with a WTRU15through one or more APs17-19. In the example depicted the WLANs12,13are able to establish a network link22, either directly or through a radio network controller (RNC)23.

FIG. 2is a chart showing types of measurements or reports, showing how event detection triggers a report, or, triggers periodic reporting. More specifically,FIG. 2illustrates for comparison, a single report scenario for PSNI and RCPI, as compared to similar periodic conditional reports for absolute threshold, serving AP threshold, serving AP periodic range. Also illustrated is the periodic reporting for each trigger event for comparison. The broadest category is a measurement26. As used here, “measurement” can be a measurement or report. The measurement26may be a single27or periodic28measurement. A single measurement generates a single report29, which includes a single report PSNI30and a single report RCPI31. The periodic measurement28can generate a conditional report32or a periodic report33. The conditional report32can provide an absolute threshold34, a serving AP threshold35or a serving AP periodic range36. The absolute threshold34includes an absolute threshold PSNI37and an absolute threshold RCPI38. The serving AP threshold35includes a serving AP threshold PSNI47and a serving AP threshold RCPI48. The serving AP periodic range36includes a serving AP periodic range PSNI57and a serving AP periodic range RCPI58. The periodic report33includes a periodic report PSNI67and a periodic report RCPI68.

In addition, the single report31may be conditionally reported based on an absolute threshold34including absolute threshold PSNI37and absolute threshold RCPI38. Also, the single report31may be conditionally reported based on the serving AP threshold35including serving AP threshold PSNI47and serving AP threshold RCPI48. The serving AP periodic range is not used for the single report31, but may provide the serving AP periodic range36including serving AP periodic range PSNI57and serving AP periodic range RCPI58for periodic measurement reporting.

The single and periodic measurements27,28are measurement types. The single report31, conditional report32, periodic report The absolute threshold34, serving AP threshold35and serving AP periodic range36trigger events. The measurement results are the single report PSNI27, single report RCPI28, absolute threshold PSNI37, absolute threshold RCPI38, serving AP threshold PSNI47, serving AP threshold RCPI48, serving AP periodic range PSNI57, serving AP periodic range RCPI58, periodic report PSNI67and periodic report RCPI68. For conditional reporting, event detection triggers one or more of these single event reporting outputs or periodical reporting outputs.

FIG. 3is a graph showing the effects of absolute threshold on data rate selection, and illustrates variation of measurement quantity against time for three different channels having 5.5 Mbps, 2.0 Mbps and 1.0 Mbps rates respectively. At an initial time of the graph, STA1receives a low PSNI level from the AP as measured at the STA, substantially below an absolute threshold. The rate is established at 1 Mbps. STA2and STA3have PSNI levels above the threshold level. As time progresses, STA3has received PSNI levels which exceed a second threshold and then drops down to below the absolute threshold. STA3thus can change to the 5.5 Mbps rate, but must drop down to the 2 Mbps rate and eventually the 1 Mbps rate as the PSNI level drops. STA2remains at the 2 Mbps rate until later, when STA2has sufficient PSNI levels to change to the 5.5 Mbps rate. These changes in PSNI levels can also be used to change APs by selecting the AP with a higher rate or PSNI level, should resources from that AP be available.

FIG. 4is a graph showing a relative threshold which uses the serving AP for a handoff. This figure also illustrates variation of measurement quantity against time for AP1and AP2intersecting at a location showing the reporting event. The graph shows the signals received by a STA from a first AP (Serving AP) and a second AP (AP2). The measurement for the servicing AP is made lower by an offset, in which PSNI is made lower, in order to favor AP2. Thus the measurement of PSNI for the serving AP is made artificially lower by the offset. This causes an early trigger of the handoff as a result of the offset.

FIG. 5is a graph showing the effect of a reporting offset and shows relative threshold triggers for AP1,2and3showing the reporting range and when the reporting terminates. The graph illustrates timeslot ISCP versus time showing the ISCP threshold and the reporting event. Event triggered and periodic reports of the PSNI levels each show the instance of a reduced PSNI level as a result of the offset. The reporting of the serving AP3continues during a peak period of PSNI reported from a third AP, AP3, but discontinues when the signal from AP3drops below the offset reporting of PSNI from the serving AP.

FIG. 6is a graph showing the RCPI level of a serving AP. The triggering event here is an absolute threshold exceeded. The triggering event triggers a report.

Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone (without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments) or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention.