Method of channel assessment and channel searching in a wireless network

Abstract

A method of channel assessment and channel searching in a wireless network is disclosed. The wireless network separately performs a channel assessment procedure and a channel searching procedure for channel change or another object. The channel assessment procedure is to measure a status or quality of a channel which is currently used in the wireless network. A coordinator of the wireless network designates a time interval for the channel assessment to notify other device of it. The channel assessment procedure may be performed periodically, and is preferably scheduled to allow other devices not to use the channel for the time interval which at least one device performs channel assessment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for changing a channel in a wireless network, the wireless network including a coordinator and at least one device, the method comprising:
 determining whether to perform a channel change;   receiving a request for changing a current channel to a new channel if it is determined lo perform the channel change;   transmitting channel change information to the at least one device based on the request, the channel change information including new channel information being used for changing to the new channel; and   changing the current channel to the new channel based on the channel change information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new channel information includes channel number information of the new channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the channel change information further includes an element identifier for identifying the channel change information and length information indicating a length of the channel change information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the element identifier and the length information is represented as 1 octet. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current channel is changed to the new channel after a time period, the time period indicating a time needed to change to the new channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordinator includes a DME (Device Management Entity), a MLME (MAC Layer Management Entity) and a PLME (PHY Layer Management Entity) for the coordinator, and
 wherein the request, by the MLME of the coordinator, is received from the DME of the coordinator.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one device includes a DME (Device Management Entity), a MLME (MAC Layer Management Entity) and a PLME (PHY Layer Management Entity) for the at least one device, and
 wherein the channel change information is transmitted from the MLME of the coordinator to the MLME of the at least one device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein when the channel change information is transmitted to the MLME of the at least one device, a notification message is transmitted from the MLME of the at least one device to the DME of the at least one device, and
 wherein the notification message indicates information notifying that the channel change information is received.   
     
     
         9 . A coordinator for changing a channel in a wireless network, the wireless network including the coordinator and at least one device, the coordinator comprising:
 a DME (Device Management Entity) configured to determine whether to perform a channel change; and   a MLME (MAC Layer Management Entity) configured to   receive a request for changing a current channel to a new channel if it is determined to perform the channel change,   transmit channel change information to the at least one device based on the request, the channel change information including new channel information being used for changing to the new channel,   change the current channel to the new channel based on the channel change information.   
     
     
         10 . The coordinator of  claim 9 , wherein the new channel information includes channel number information of the new channel. 
     
     
         11 . The coordinator of  claim 10 , wherein the channel change information further includes an element identifier for identifying the channel change information and length information indicating a length of the channel change information. 
     
     
         12 . The coordinator of  claim 11 , wherein each of the element identifier and the length information is represented as 1 octet. 
     
     
         13 . The coordinator of  claim 9 , wherein the current channel is changed to the new channel after a time period, the time period indicating a time needed to change to the new channel. 
     
     
         14 . The coordinator of  claim 9 , wherein the coordinator includes a DME (Device Management Entity), a MLME (MAC Layer Management Entity) and a PLME (PHY Layer Management Entity) for the coordinator, and
 wherein the request, by the MLME of the coordinator, is received from the DME of the coordinator.   
     
     
         15 . The coordinator of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one device includes a DME (Device Management Entity), a MLME (MAC Layer Management Entity) and a PLME (PHY Layer Management Entity) for the at least one device, and
 wherein the channel change information is transmitted from the MLME of the coordinator to the MLME of the at least one device.   
     
     
         16 . The coordinator of  claim 15 , wherein when the channel change information is transmitted to the MLME of the at least one device, a notification message is transmitted from the MLME of the at least one device to the DME of the at least one device, and
 wherein the notification message indicates information notifying that the channel change information is received.