Inter-AP coordination and synchronization within wireless communications

Abstract

Coordination and synchronization is performed between two or more wireless network managers (e.g., access points (APs)). A first wireless network manager supports first communications with first other wireless communication devices, and a second wireless network manager supports second communications with those first and/or second other wirelessly case devices. The first and second wireless network managers also support communications with one another to coordinate the first and second communications supported with the first and/or second other wireless communication devices. Examples of coordination include selection of which other wireless communication devices are serviced or in communication with which of the first and second wireless network managers, selection of operational parameters (e.g., modulation coding set (MCS), beamforming, frequency band assignment, channel assignment, scheduling information, transmit power, etc.) for the first and second wireless communication devices, synchronization to a common clock (e.g., using timing synchronization function (TSF)).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a processor configured to:
 support first communications, via the communication interface, with first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol; and 
 support second communications, via the communication interface, with second at least one other wireless communication device that are configured to support third communications based on the at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol with at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the second communications include messages for coordinating the first and third communications. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 support the second communications with the second at least one other wireless communication device to coordinate the first and second communications to provide wired network access for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device via the wireless communication device and for at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit a channel sounding frame to the first at least one other wireless communication device;   receive, in response to the channel sounding frame, channel estimation information from at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   select modulation coding set (MCS) assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one of the channel estimation information and the information included in the messages; and   transmit the MCS assignment to the at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit a channel sounding frame to the first at least one other wireless communication device;   receive, in response to the channel sounding frame, first channel estimation information from the first at least one other wireless communication device;   select first modulation coding set (MCS) assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device based on the first channel estimation information;   transmit the selected first MCS assignment to at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   receive from the at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device, in response to the selected first MCS assignment, at least one other message that includes information related to selected second MCS assignment for the at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device; and   select third MCS assignment for the at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device based on the information included within the at least one other message.   
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 support the second communications, via the communication interface, with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device via a wired communication link between the wireless communication device and the at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         6 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 support the second communications with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device during a first time period for coordinating the first and third communications based on first at least one operational parameter; and   support other communications with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device during a second time period for coordinating the first and third communications based on second at least one operational parameter.   
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the messages for coordinating the first and third communications include information relating to at least one of:
 frequency band assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   scheduling information for coordinating the third communications and the first communications;   at least one token for channel access for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   transmit power for use by at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   basic services set (BSS) listing of first subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication device;   BSS listing of second subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   BSS listing of at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with both the wireless communication device and at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the second at least one other wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device; or   timing synchronization function (TSF) information for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an access point (AP), wherein the first at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one wireless station (STA), and the second at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one AP. 
 
     
     
         9 . A wireless communication device comprising:
 a communication interface; and   a processor configured to:
 support first communications, via the communication interface, with first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol; and 
 support second communications, via the communication interface, with second at least one other wireless communication device that are configured to support third communications based on the at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol with at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the second communications include messages for coordinating the first and third communications, for providing wired network access for the first at least one other wireless communication device via the wireless communication device and the second at least one other wireless communication device, for identifying first subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device for association with the wireless communication device, and for identifying second subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device for association with the second at least one other wireless communication device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit a channel sounding frame to the first at least one other wireless communication device;   receive, in response to the channel sounding frame, channel estimation information from at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   select modulation coding set (MCS) assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one of the channel estimation information and the information included in the messages; and   transmit the MCS assignment to the at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 support the second communications, via the communication interface, with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device via a wired communication link between the wireless communication device and the at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9 , wherein the messages for coordinating the first and third communications include information relating to at least one of:
 frequency band assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   scheduling information for coordinating the third communications and the first communications;   at least one token for channel access for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   transmit power for use by at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   basic services set (BSS) listing of first subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication device;   BSS listing of second subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   BSS listing of at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with both the wireless communication device and at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the second at least one other wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device; or   timing synchronization function (TSF) information for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communication device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 an access point (AP), wherein the first at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one wireless station (STA), and the second at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one AP. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for execution by a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
 supporting first communications, via a communication interface of the wireless communication device, with first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol; and   supporting second communications, via the communication interface, with second at least one other wireless communication device that are configured to support third communications based on the at least one IEEE 802.11 communication protocol with at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the second communications include messages for coordinating the first and third communications.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 supporting the second communications with the second at least one other wireless communication device to coordinate the first and second communications to provide wired network access for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device via the wireless communication device and for at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 transmitting a channel sounding frame to the first at least one other wireless communication device; 
 receiving, in response to the channel sounding frame, channel estimation information from at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device; 
 selecting modulation coding set (MCS) assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device based on at least one of the channel estimation information and the information included in the messages; and 
 transmitting the MCS assignment to the at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 supporting the second communications, via the communication interface, with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device via a wired communication link between the wireless communication device and the at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 supporting the second communications with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device during a first time period for coordinating the first and third communications based on first at least one operational parameter; and 
 supporting other communications with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device during a second time period for coordinating the first and third communications based on second at least one operational parameter. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the messages for coordinating the first and third communications include information relating to at least one of:
 frequency band assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel assignment for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   scheduling information for coordinating the third communications and the first communications;   at least one token for channel access for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   transmit power for use by at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device;   basic services set (BSS) listing of first subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with the wireless communication device;   BSS listing of second subset of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   BSS listing of at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device associated with both the wireless communication device and at least one of the second at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device;   channel statistics of at least one wireless communication channel between the second at least one other wireless communication device and the first at least one other wireless communication device; or   timing synchronization function (TSF) information for at least one of the first at least one other wireless communication device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication device is an access point (AP), the first at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one wireless station (STA), and the second at least one other wireless communication device includes at least one AP.