Methods for efficient medium access for wake up radios

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for efficient medium access in wake-up radios. In an exemplary embodiment, a wake up frame (WUF) includes fields indicating a wake-up purpose, wake-up scheduling, and a wake-up TX/RX parameter. The wake-up purpose field identifies one of a plurality of predetermined purposes. A STA receives the wake-up frame and determines whether the frame is intended for that STA. If so, the STA responsively performs an action in accordance with the purpose indicated in the purpose field. Purposes that may be indicated in the WIF purpose field may include Listen to Beacon, Uplink Data Transmission, Downlink Data Transmission, and (Re)Association, among others.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a station (STA) equipped with a wake-up radio (WUR) and a primary connectivity radio (PCR), the method comprising:
 while the STA is in a sleep state, receiving on the WUR a wake-up frame (WUF) from an access point (AP), where the wake-up packet includes a WUF purpose field including a purpose indicator identifying one of a plurality of predetermined WUF purposes; and   in response to the WUF, waking up the PCR and operating the PCR to communicate with the AP according to the purpose identified by the purpose indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purpose indicator indicates Listen to Beacon, and wherein operating the PCR comprises receiving the beacon from the AP on the PCR. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising returning the PCR to the sleep state after receiving the beacon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the purpose indicator indicates an uplink data transmission, and wherein operating the PCR comprises transmitting uplink data from the STA to the AP. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the STA does not send any PS-Poll frame between the waking up of the PCR and the transmission of the uplink data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the purpose indicator indicates multi-user downlink transmission;   the WUF includes receive parameters; and   operating the PCR comprises using the receive parameters to receive a downlink packet intended for the STA.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the receive parameters include a scheduled receive time for the STA. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of predetermined WUF purposes include at least Listen to Beacon, Uplink Data Transmission, Downlink Data Transmission, and Association. 
     
     
         9 . A station (STA) equipped with a wake-up radio (WUR) and a primary connectivity radio (PCR), wherein the STA is configured to perform functions comprising:
 while the STA is in a sleep state, receiving on the WUR a wake-up frame (WUF) from an access point (AP), where the wake-up packet includes a WUF purpose field including a purpose indicator identifying one of a plurality of predetermined WUF purposes; and   in response to the WUF, waking up the PCR and operating the PCR to communicate with the AP according to the purpose identified by the purpose indicator.   
     
     
         10 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein the purpose indicator indicates Listen to Beacon, and wherein operating the PCR comprises receiving the beacon from the AP on the PCR. 
     
     
         11 . The station of  claim 10 , wherein the station is further operative to return the PCR to the sleep state after receiving the beacon. 
     
     
         12 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein the purpose indicator indicates an uplink data transmission, and wherein operating the PCR comprises transmitting uplink data from the STA to the AP. 
     
     
         13 . The station of  claim 12 , wherein the STA does not send any PS-Poll frame between the waking up of the PCR and the transmission of the uplink data. 
     
     
         14 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the purpose indicator indicates multi-user downlink transmission;   the WUF includes receive parameters; and   operating the PCR comprises using the receive parameters to receive a downlink packet intended for the STA.   
     
     
         15 . The station of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of predetermined WUF purposes include at least Listen to Beacon, Uplink Data Transmission, Downlink Data Transmission, and Association.