Buffer relay management within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications

摘要

A relay wireless communication device is implemented to perform buffer management and coordination with a source wireless communication device. A relay wireless communication device (generally, a relay) informs a source wireless communication device (source) of the status of memory therein to store messages intended for a destination wireless communication device (destination). For example, the source transmits information to the relay, which buffers information before forwarding it on to the destination. This buffering may be a function of the source having additional information intended for the relay and/or destination. The relay performs appropriate signaling, such as suspend transmission requests and resume transmission requests, to inform other devices in the system of its memory storage status (e.g., such as when having an actual or anticipated overflow). In one implementation, a suspend transmission request may be implemented by setting a particular bit within a communication from the relay to the source.

主权项

1. A wireless communication device comprising:
a communication interface configured to:
receive a frame from a source wireless communication device; andtransmit a relayed frame to a destination wireless communication device; a memory configured to buffer the frame; and a processor configured to:
generate, based on storage status of the memory, a suspend transmission request for the source wireless communication device to suspend transmission to the wireless communication device for a predetermined period of time that is specified in a suspend duration field of the suspend transmission request; andgenerate a resume transmission request to direct the source wireless communication device to resume transmission to the wireless communication device; and wherein: the communication interface configured to transmit the suspend transmission request that includes the suspend duration field that specifies the predetermined period of time to the source wireless communication device, wherein the source wireless communication device is prohibited to make any transmission to the wireless communication device for the predetermined period of time that is specified in the suspend duration field of the suspend transmission request, and to transmit the resume transmission request to the source wireless communication device before expiration of the predetermined period of time.