Method and apparatus of connectivity recovery in wireless network

Abstract

A wireless communication device and a method of re-establishing a connection with a WPAN master device is presented. The method includes detecting that a first master station of a WPAN session which includes the first master device and one or more stations becomes unavailable, activating a master station application to become a second master station and sending one beacon to notify the stations of the session about the second master station connectivity parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless communication device configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the wireless communication device comprising:
 a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;   a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from one or more other master stations;   a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;   a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the wireless communication device to provide the wireless communication device with master station capabilities based on the comparison result; and   a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless communication device of  claim 1  wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless communication device of  claim 3  wherein, while annexing, the medium access controller is configured to:
 report to the master station the associated stations; 
 prevent an unassociated station from joining the association; 
 become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and 
 establish a connection with the master station as the client. 
 
     
     
         5 . The wireless communication device of  claim 3 , wherein while annexing the medium access controller is configured to:
 notify the one or more associated stations on the master station; and   trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.   
     
     
         6 . A wireless communication system comprising:
 a wireless communication device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) configured to act as both, a master station and a client within association of a personal area network (WPAN), the wireless communication device comprising:   a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;   a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from the other master stations;   a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;   a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the wireless communication device to provide the wireless communication device with a master station capabilities based on the comparison result; and   a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about said wireless communication device master station connectivity parameters, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association.   
     
     
         7 . The wireless communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless communication system of  claim 6 , wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless communication system of  claim 8 , wherein, while annexing, the controller is configured to:
 report to the master station the associated stations;   prevent an unassociated station from joining the association;   become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and   establishing a connection with the master station as the client.   
     
     
         10 . The wireless communication system of  claim 9 , wherein while annexing the controller is able to: inform the one or more associated stations on the master station; and trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station. 
     
     
         11 . A station configured to operate in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the wireless communication station comprising:
 a detector configured to detect that a master station of an association is to become unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;   a receiver configured to receive timing synchronization values from one or more other master stations;   a comparator configured to compare the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;   a medium access controller configured to activate a master station module of the station to provide said station with master station capabilities based on the comparison result;   a transmitter configured to send one or more beacons that include a capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters in order to create a session with the one or more stations of the association, wherein the capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID; and   an antenna array operably coupled to the transmitter and the receiver.   
     
     
         12 . The station of  claim 11 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association. 
     
     
         13 . The station of  claim 11 , wherein the medium access controller is configured to permit one of the other stations to become a master station of the association and to annex one or more associated stations to the master station. 
     
     
         14 . The station of  claim 13  wherein, while annexing, the medium access controller is configured to:
 report to the master station the associated stations; 
 prevent an unassociated station from joining the association; 
 become a client of the association by disconnecting from the association; and 
 establish a connection with the master station as the client. 
 
     
     
         15 . The station of  claim 14 , wherein while annexing the medium access controller is configured to:
 notify the one or more associated stations on the master station; and   trigger the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.   
     
     
         16 . A method of re-establishing a session of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) by a wireless communication device comprising:
 detecting that a master station of an association becomes unavailable, wherein the association includes at least one master station and one or more stations;   detecting that one or more other master stations operate on the association;   receiving timing synchronization values from one of the one or more other master stations;   comparing the timing synchronization values of each of the one or more other master stations with an internal timing synchronization value;   becoming a new master station according to the comparison result;   sending one or more beacons that include a WPAN capabilities information element (IE) to notify the one or more stations of the association about the new master station connectivity parameters wherein the WPAN capabilities information element (IE) includes a session ID; and   creating a WPAN session with the one or more stations of the association.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a connection request signal from the one or more stations of the association in order to reestablish a connection with the one or more stations of the association.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein detecting comprises:
 becoming the new master station if no other master station is operating on the association.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein deciding comprises:
 deciding to permit one of the one or more other stations to become a master station of the association; and   annexing one or more associated stations to the master station.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein annexing comprises:
 reporting to the master station the associated stations;   preventing an unassociated station from joining the association;   becoming a client by disconnecting from the association; and   establishing a connection with the master station as the client.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein annexing comprises:
 informing the one or more associated stations on the master station; and   triggering the one or more associated stations to roam to the master station.