Devices for reduced overhead paging

Abstract

A method for reduced overhead paging by an access point is described. The method includes assigning at least one paging identifier to at least one station. The method also includes partitioning a paging identifier space into paging identifier sets. The method further includes generating a paging message based on at least one of the paging identifier sets and the at least one paging identifier. The method additionally includes sending the paging message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wireless communication by an access point, comprising:
 determining a transmission schedule for a first plurality of stations, wherein the first plurality of stations is selected from a second plurality of stations; and   determining a duration of a reserved time interval that is reserved for transmission.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paging message is associated with at least one paging identifier of a plurality of paging identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of paging identifiers is associated with at least one station of the first plurality of stations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the paging message to at least one of the second plurality of stations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating the duration of the reserved time interval to at least one of the second plurality of stations. 
     
     
         5 . A method for wireless communication by an access point, comprising:
 determining a reserved time interval; and   setting the reserved time interval for at least one paged station by setting a network allocation vector.   
     
     
         5 . A method for wireless communication by a station, comprising determining a schedule for transmitting a polling message to an access point, wherein the schedule is based on at least one paging identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the schedule comprises a time at which the station transmits the polling message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the schedule comprises a time at which the station begins contention for a communication channel to transmit the polling message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the schedule comprises a counter, which the station counts down before transmission of a transmit polling message while a communication channel is idle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the schedule is based on a hash function of the station first paging identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  6 , further comprising obtaining information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of stations selected from a set of stations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising performing a determination as to whether to send a polling message to the access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         13 . A method for wireless communication by a station, comprising:
 obtaining information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of stations selected from a second plurality of stations; and   performing a determination as to whether to send a polling message to an access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the determination comprises determining whether the station is scheduled for transmission to the access point. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein if the determination is to send a polling message, the method further comprises transmitting a message to the access point during the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein if the determination is not to send a polling message, the method further comprises waiting until expiration of the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, upon expiration of the reserved time interval, the method further comprises transmitting a message to the access point. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transmitting the message is based on the result of a contention with one or more devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transmitting the message is based on the result of a contention with one or more devices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a time slot to access the medium. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a value to be used for random back-off. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a deterministic back-off value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the schedule indicates an order, wherein the order is randomized. 
     
     
         24 . The method of claim  6 , wherein the station is paged if the at least one paging identifier is within a given range of paging identifiers. 
     
     
         25 . An access point configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor;   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:
 determine a transmission schedule for a first plurality of stations, wherein the first plurality of stations is selected from a second plurality of stations; and 
 determine a duration of a reserved time interval that is reserved for transmission. 
   
     
     
         26 . The access point of  claim 25 , wherein the paging message is associated with at least one paging identifier of a plurality of paging identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of paging identifiers is associated with at least one station of the first plurality of stations. 
     
     
         27 . The access point of  claim 26 , wherein the instructions are further executable to transmit the paging message to at least one of the second plurality of stations. 
     
     
         28 . The access point of  claim 25 , wherein the instructions are further executable to communicate the duration of the reserved time interval to at least one of the second plurality of stations. 
     
     
         29 . An access point configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor;   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:
 determine a reserved time interval; and 
 set the reserved time interval for at least one paged station by setting a network allocation vector. 
   
     
     
         30 . A station configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor;   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:
 determine a schedule for transmitting a polling message to an access point, wherein the schedule is based on at least one paging identifier. 
   
     
     
         31 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the schedule comprises a time at which the station transmits the polling message. 
     
     
         32 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the schedule comprises a time at which the station begins contention for a communication channel to transmit the polling message. 
     
     
         33 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the schedule comprises a counter, which the station counts down before transmission of a transmit polling message while a communication channel is idle. 
     
     
         34 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the schedule is based on a hash function of the station first paging identifier. 
     
     
         35 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions are further executable to obtain information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of stations selected from a set of stations. 
     
     
         36 . The station of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions are further executable to perform a determination as to whether to send a polling message to the access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         37 . A station configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor;   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to:
 obtain information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of stations selected from a second plurality of stations; and 
 perform a determination as to whether to send a polling message to an access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval. 
   
     
     
         38 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein the determination comprises determining whether the station is scheduled for transmission to the access point. 
     
     
         39 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein if the determination is to send a polling message, the instructions are further executable to transmit a message to the access point during the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         40 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein if the determination is not to send a polling message, the instructions are further executable to wait until expiration of the reserved time interval. 
     
     
         41 . The station of  claim 40 , wherein, upon expiration of the reserved time interval, the instructions are further executable to transmit a message to the access point. 
     
     
         42 . The station of  claim 39 , wherein transmitting the message is based on the result of a contention with one or more devices. 
     
     
         43 . The station of  claim 40 , wherein transmitting the message is based on the result of a contention with one or more devices. 
     
     
         44 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a time slot to access the medium. 
     
     
         45 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a value to be used for random back-off. 
     
     
         46 . The station of  claim 37 , wherein a contention comprises assigning to a device a deterministic back-off value. 
     
     
         47 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the schedule indicates an order, wherein the order is randomized. 
     
     
         48 . The station of  claim 30 , wherein the station is paged if the at least one paging identifier is within a given range of paging identifiers. 
     
     
         49 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for determining a transmission schedule for a first plurality of stations, wherein the first plurality of stations is selected from a second plurality of stations; and   means for determining a duration of a reserved time interval that is reserved for transmission.   
     
     
         50 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for determining a reserved time interval; and   means for setting the reserved time interval for at least one paged station by setting a network allocation vector.   
     
     
         51 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for determining a schedule for transmitting a polling message to an access point, wherein the schedule is based on at least one paging identifier.   
     
     
         52 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for obtaining information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of apparatuses selected from a second plurality of apparatuses; and   means for performing a determination as to whether to send a polling message to an access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval.   
     
     
         53 . A computer-program product for wireless communication, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing an access point to determine a transmission schedule for a first plurality of stations, wherein the first plurality of stations is selected from a second plurality of stations; and   code for causing the access point to determine a duration of a reserved time interval that is reserved for transmission.   
     
     
         54 . A computer-program product for wireless communication, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing an access point to determine a reserved time interval; and   code for causing the access point to set the reserved time interval for at least one paged station by setting a network allocation vector.   
     
     
         55 . A computer-program product for wireless communication, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing a station to determine a schedule for transmitting a polling message to an access point, wherein the schedule is based on at least one paging identifier.   
     
     
         56 . A computer-program product for wireless communication, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code for causing a station to obtain information relative to a time interval reserved for transmission by a plurality of stations selected from a second plurality of stations; and   code for causing the station to perform a determination as to whether to send a polling message to an access point, wherein the determination is based on the first paging identifier and the information relative to the reserved time interval.