Flexible data frame delivery

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enhancing data exchange between an access point (AP) and station (STA) in a wireless network when the exchange must be interrupted for the AP to perform other services while data remains buffered for later exchange. AP downlinks an indicator that more data remains for exchange together with a request for the STA to enter sleep mode for a duration scheduled by the AP. Sleep duration may be sent in the medium access control (MAC) header of a data frame, with the indicator of more data and the indicator of the sleep mode request being contained in the frame control (FC) segment of the MAC header. The STA may uplink an acknowledgement (ACK) of the sleep mode. Alternatively, the AP may downlink an ACK of the STA's indication of more data confirmation together with sleep mode indication and duration.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
causing to be sent by downlink transmission of a first data frame comprising data and a header from an access point to a first station in a cellular network, an indication that additional data remains buffered for delivery after an interruption in data frame exchanges, wherein the indication is included in the header of the first data frame; scheduling a target wake time for the first station, at which to resume delivery of data frames to the first station via the cellular network; causing a sleep mode indication and sleep duration to be sent in the header of the first data frame to set the target wake time to resume the delivery of data frames to the first station; resuming sending the data frames at the target wake time if an uplink signal acknowledgement of the sleep mode indication and sleep duration from the first station is received by the access point; and foregoing sending the data frames at the target wake time in the absence of an uplink signal acknowledgement of the sleep mode indication and sleep duration from the first station.