Signaling a synchronization frame transmission request

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention describe a format and procedure for a wireless communication device to request a network controller to transmit a synchronization frame so that the device may synchronize its communication activities with the network controller. This operation may be used in various types of wireless networks, such as but not limited to those conforming to IEEE standard 802.11ah.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A first wireless communication device havingcomprising a processor, a memory, and a radio, wherein the first wireless communication device configured tofurther comprises:
 transmita transmitter capable of transmitting a sync request frame between, the sync request frame comprising a 1-bit field indicating that the first wireless communication device is requesting a sync frame, from the first wireless communication device andto a second wireless communication device, the sync request frame formatted as a request for the second wireless communication device to transmit a sync frame to the first wireless communication device after the first wireless communication device exits a low power state; and   receivea receiver capable of receiving the sync frame;sent by the second wireless communication device at a time selected based in part on information included in the sync request frame,    wherein the first wireless communication device is configured to transmit the sync request frame is transmitted just before the first wireless communication device enters a the low power state and requests transmission of a sync frame after the first device exits low power state, and is further configured to enter the low power state after transmitting the sync request frame.   
     
     
         2 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein: the first wireless communication device is a mobile device; and the second wireless communication device is a network controller; said communicating the sync request frame includes transmitting the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes receiving the sync frame. 
     
     
         3 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein: the first wireless communication device is a network controller; and the second wireless communication device is a mobile device; said communicating the sync request frame includes receiving the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes transmitting the sync frame. 
     
     
         4 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the sync request frame includes1-bit field is an Uplink Sync Request field to indicate whether a sync frame is being requested. 
     
     
         5 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 4 , wherein the Uplink syncSync Request field is contained within a Sync Control field of an action frame. 
     
     
         6 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communication device is further configured to communicate a capabilities information element prior to communicatingtransmitting the sync request frame, the capabilities information element indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         7 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein the capabilities information element includes an Uplink Sync Capable field indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         8 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein: the first wireless communication device is a network controller; and said communicating athe capabilities information element includes transmitting the capabilities information element. 
     
     
         9 . The first wireless communication device of  claim 6 , wherein: the first wireless communication device is a mobile device; and said communicating athe capabilities information element includes receiving the capabilities information element; and said communicating the sync request frame includes transmitting the sync request frame. 
     
     
         10 . The first device of  claim 9 , wherein the first device is to enter a low power mode subsequent to transmitting the sync request frame. 
     
     
         11 . A method of communicating by a first wireless communicationscommunication device in a wireless communications network, comprising:
 transmitting a sync request frame between, the sync request frame comprising a 1-bit field indicating that the first wireless communication device is requesting a sync frame, from the first wireless communication device and to a second wireless communication device, the sync request frame formatted as a request for the second wireless communication device to transmit a sync frame; and to the first wireless communication device after the first wireless communication device exits a low power state,    receiving the sync frame;, at the first wireless communication device, the sync frame sent by the second wireless communication device at a time selected based in part on information included in the sync request frame,    wherein in transmitting the sync request frame, the sync request frame is transmitted just before the first wireless communication device enters a the low power state and requests transmission of a sync frame after the first device exits low power state, and the first wireless communication device enters the low power state after transmitting the sync request frame.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein: said communicating the sync request frame includes transmitting the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes receiving the sync frame. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein: said communicating the sync request frame includes receiving the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes transmitting the sync frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sync request frame includes1-bit field is an Uplink Sync Request field to indicate whether a sync frame is being requested. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the Uplink Sync Request field is contained within a Sync Control field of an action frame. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising communicating a capabilities information element prior to communicatingtransmitting the sync request frame, the capabilities information element indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the capabilities information element includes an Uplink Sync Capable field indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said communicating the capabilities information element includes transmitting the c:apabilitiescapabilities information element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said communicating the capabilities information element includes receiving the capabilities information element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising entering a low power mode subsequent to communicating the sync request frame. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, the instructions executed by one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:)comprising:  wirelessly transmitting a sync request frame, the sync request frame comprising a 1-bit field indicating that a first wireless communication device is requesting a sync frame, from the first wireless communication device to a second wireless communication device, the sync request frame formatted as a request for the second wireless communication device to transmit a sync frame to the first wireless communication device after the first wireless communication device exits a low power state; and   wirelessly receiving, at the first wireless communication device, the sync frame; sent by the second wireless communication device at a time selected based in part on information included in the sync request frame,    wherein in wirelessly transmitting the sync request frame, the first wireless communication device transmits the sync request frame is transmitted just before the first wireless communication device enters a the low power state and requests transmission of a sync frame after the first device exits low power state, and the first wireless communication device enters the low power state after transmitting the sync request frame.   
     
     
         22 . The medium of  claim 21 , wherein: said communicating the sync request frame includes transmitting the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes receiving the sync frame. 
     
     
         23 . The medium of  claim 21 , wherein: said communicating the sync request frame includes receiving the sync request frame; and said communicating the sync frame includes transmitting the sync frame. 
     
     
         24 . The storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the sync request frame includes1-bit field is an Uplink Sync Request field to indicate whether a sync frame is being requested. 
     
     
         25 . The storage medium of  claim 24 , wherein the Uplink Sync Request field is contained within a Sync Control field of an action frame. 
     
     
         26 . The storage medium of  claim 21 , wherein the operations further comprise communicating a capabilities information element prior to communicatingtransmitting the sync request frame, the capabilities information element indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         27 . The storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the capabilities information element includes arean Uplink Sync Capable field indicating whether transmitting sync frames is supported. 
     
     
         28 . The storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein said communicating the capabilities information element includes transmitting the capabilities information element. 
     
     
         29 . The storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein said communicating the capabilities information element includes receiving the capabilities information element. 
     
     
         30 . The medium of  claim 29 , wherein the operations further comprise entering a low power mode subsequent to communicating the sync request frame.