CN100574120C - The method of wake on wireless systems - Google Patents

Abstract

This paper has described a kind of method and apparatus of control network devices wirelessly that is used for.In one embodiment, use wireless device to control at least one main process equipment that uses network.In one aspect, wireless device receives network control signal, and determines the response to the network control signal that receives this equipment.In yet another aspect, wireless device controls master place sleep sequence is to allow the network remote ground main place of excitation equipment between active and passive state.In one aspect, wireless device provides provides one or more network identity responses to the signal that receives from network.In yet another aspect, if network is not owing to not determine this wireless device absence from the signal of wireless device, then network is to providing warning such as third parties such as network managers.

Description

The method of wake on wireless systems

Related application

The application requires in the U.S. Provisional Patent Application the 60/503rd that is entitled as " Method And Apparatus For WakeOn Wireless Systems " (method and apparatus of wake on wireless systems) of submission on September 14th, 2003, No. 314, and the priority of No. the 10/924th, 706, the U.S. Patent application of submitting on August 23rd, 2004 that is entitled as " Method And Apparatus ForWake On Wireless Systems " (method and apparatus of wake on wireless systems).

Background of invention

Invention field

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to communication equipment, relate in particular to carrying out wireless remote operation and receive and send signal between communication equipment.

Description of related art

Generally speaking, communication system comprises transmitter and receiver, and they are respectively by the signal that sends and receives information such as transmission mediums such as lead, ether or atmosphere.When using ether or atmosphere, transmission is commonly called " radio communication ".The example of various types of wireless communication systems comprises digital cellular, grouped data paging, wireless lan (wlan), wireless wide area network (WWAN), PCS Personal Communications System or the like.

A difficult point of radio communication relates to the ability of the operation of Long-distance Control Radio Network System.Conventionally, developed the network software that is used for cable LAN (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) are carried out Long-distance Control.Some versions of having developed in this type of software use for specific wake operation, thereby for example, if connected remote system, then the network manager can remotely open one or more computer systems by cable network.Other application of this type of network software is used to remotely operate such as miscellaneous equipments such as laptop computer, cashier's machine, ATMs.A kind of this type of software is called as Wake-on- It by International Business Machine (IBM) company (New York, Armonk) and Intel Company (California, Santa Clara) exploitation.Unfortunately, each user of the LAN system requirements network of rigid line connection physically is connected to network by the cable that for example is connected to Ethernet switch.Usually, because cable network is physically linked together, so the restriction that they are connected up.Therefore, the LAN system of rigid line connection generally is inflexible with regard to network terminal mobility.

Because the characteristic of wireless network, with regard to user mobility, Radio Network System is more flexible usually.But,, also need cable network is connected to network by access point in order to keep mobility.Therefore, the user can move in by the no line boundary of radio transmission range definition, and which access point what no matter use is.Unfortunately, be controlled near the main frame of roaming the wireless network (wireless device) and require host machine to open, and direct and network service on continuous foundation, and this may consume a large amount of electric energy.

Regular situation in the cable network is that if main frame is disconnected, then it will be from net.In addition, disconnection will be measured and be characterized (for example, carrier wave loss, domain reflectometer (TDR)).But it is normally very difficult to determine why main frame leaves wireless network.For example, main frame may be that host power supply is closed or is placed in park mode because the host subscriber drifts about at network range with passing in and out from net, perhaps may be the result that main frame is taken wireless network scope another position in addition.

What therefore, need is method of operating and the device of wirelessly controlling with the wireless network associated device.In addition, even can know also that when device power supply (DPS) is closed the network state of this equipment on wireless network will be desirable.

Summary of the invention

First aspect of the present invention is a kind of wireless network, at least one host transceiver that it has at least one network transceivers, be configured to communicate by letter with this network transceivers and be coupled to this host transceiver and in response to the circuit for remotely controlling from the network signal of this at least one network transceivers.

Another aspect of the present invention is a kind of method of wirelessly controlling the one or more equipment that wirelessly are coupled to network.This method comprises at least one Wireless Communication Equipment wirelessly provides network control signal, and this at least one network equipment is in response at least one network control signal wherein and carry out at least one operation.

Another aspect of the present invention is a kind of Wireless Communication Equipment.This Wireless Communication Equipment comprises at least one network equipment that wirelessly is coupled to network controller.This Wireless Communication Equipment comprises that one comprises (i) a plurality of Host Commands and data repository, the command program of the comparing data that (ii) is associated with these a plurality of Host Commands and the processor that is configured to carry out this command program, and wherein this command program is configured to carry out in response to the network signal that is associated with comparing data several at least in these a plurality of Host Commands.

Another aspect of the present invention is a kind of method of control network devices wirelessly.This method is included at least one network equipment place and receives control signal, control signal is compared with comparing data, if and at least some comparing datas at the predetermined threshold of at least some control signals with interior coupling,, then carry out at least one network operation that is associated with the control signal of at least one coupling with this network equipment.

The accompanying drawing summary

Embodiments of the invention shown in passing through with reference to the accompanying drawings thus just can at length be understood the mode that reaches the above-mentioned feature of the present invention, advantage and target, and obtain the as above of the present invention more concrete description of brief overview.

But be noted that accompanying drawing only illustrates exemplary embodiments of the present invention, therefore should do not think that they have limited scope of the present invention, because other equivalent embodiment of tolerable of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is the high level schematic diagram according to the embodiment of the wireless network of each side of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the high level schematic diagram according to the embodiment of the wireless network interface card of each side of the present invention.

Fig. 3 be a kind of on wireless network the flow chart of the embodiment of the method for maintaining network equipment wirelessly.

Fig. 4 is that a kind of wireless network that uses comes the flow chart of the embodiment of the method for control network devices wirelessly.

Whether absent Fig. 5 be a kind of flow chart that wirelessly detects the embodiment of the method for the network equipment on the wireless network.

Accompanying drawing describes in detail

In the following description, many details have been set forth so that the more detailed understanding to the present invention to be provided.But, to those skilled in the art, obviously need not one or more in these specific detail and also can implement the present invention.In other example, well-known features is not described, with the present invention that avoids confusion.

Various aspects of the present invention are according to the wireless communication system such as definition in IEEE 802.11 standard families etc., as networks such as wireless lan (wlan), WWAN, and utilize other network of data packet communications to describe such as internet etc.It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular communications system or network environment.

As will be described below, the aspects of an embodiment relates to the specified method steps that can realize on computer system.In one embodiment, the present invention can be embodied as the computer program that the coupled computer system uses.Can be (promptly via various computer-readable mediums, signal bearing medium) next these programs that the function of at least one embodiment of definition is provided to computer, include but not limited to, (i) persistent storage (for example can not write storage medium, read-only memory equipment in the computer is such as the read-only CD-ROM dish of CD-ROM or DVD drive-readable) on information; (ii) be stored in the variable information that to write on the storage medium (for example, floppy disk or the hard disk drive in the disc driver); Perhaps (iii) by communication media (, comprising radio communication) such as by computer or telephone network to the computer information conveyed.The latter is particularly including via the internet information conveyed.When carrying the computer-readable instruction of instruct computer function, this type of signal bearing medium is represented alternative embodiment of the present invention.The various piece that it shall yet further be noted that this product program can be by stand-alone development and realization, but is embodiments of the invention when they are combined in a time-out.

Fig. 1 is the high level schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the wireless network 100 of each side of the present invention.Wireless network 100 comprises a plurality of main process equipment 104A-N, wherein N definition main process equipment 104A-N " N " number.Each main process equipment 104A-N is connected to a Wireless Communication Equipment, for example network interface unit (NIC) 108A-N.NIC card 108A-N comprises the corresponding antenna 112A-N that is configured to each NIC card 108A-N wirelessly is connected at least one access point 120.Access point 120 is coupled to the access point antenna 114 that is configured to receive from radio frequency (RF) signal of NIC card 108A-N.Access point 120 is connected to such as networks such as hub 130 via network signal 124, to communicate with it.In fact network signal 124 can be any kind, comprises wired connection, wireless connections or the like.Networking command is wirelessly mail to and from NIC card 108A-N.The one aspect of the present invention that is described further below, NIC card 108A-N can send at least one network signal to network 130, to have NIC card 108A-N and main frame 104A-N on the indication network 130.In a kind of situation, this network signal can be periodic, for example " heartbeat ": the transmission that is intended to indicate existence.In another aspect of the present invention, NIC card 108A-N receives at least one operation with main control system 104A-N of the Host Command signal of automatic network 130, below describes the example of this aspect.

Fig. 2 is the high level schematic diagram according to the embodiment of the wireless NIC card 108A-N of each side of the present invention.NIC card 108A-N comprises wireless transceiver 204, and the latter is connected to known antenna 112A-N, and responds the wireless signal that receives via these antenna.For clarity sake, to describe the circuit of NIC card such as the form of hardware devices such as register, data processing circuit.It should be understood that, can realize each side of the present invention in many ways, such as using logic realization etc.108A-N wireless transceiver 204 can be connected to data processing circuit 208 via bus 210.Data processing circuit 208 can comprise various treatment circuits, such as CPU (CPU) or fixed logic realization etc.

Data processing circuit 208 is coupled to host interface 212 via bus 214.Host interface 212 is configured to connect 106A-N via corresponding network and communicates by letter with main frame 104A-N.Schematically, data processing circuit 208 is coupled to memory 224 via bus 214.In one embodiment, memory 224 can reside on the main frame 104A-N, and via host interface 212 couplings.Preferably, memory 224 is that size is large enough to hold the required programming that is positioned on any one NIC card 108A-N wherein and the random access memory of data structure.Although memory 224 is shown single entity, should be appreciated that in fact memory 224 comprises a plurality of modules, and memory 224 can exist at multistage place, from high-speed register with cache to low speed but bigger dram chip.

Schematically, memory 224 can comprise control program 226, and when carrying out this control program 226 on data processing circuit 208, it can determine at least one operation of main frame 104A-N (see figure 1) in response to network control signal.Control program 226 also can be configured to determine in response to network signal corresponding via one or more networks that wireless transceiver 204 sends to network 130 from its NIC card 108A-N.Control program 226 can use any in many different programming languages.For example, available PLC sign indicating number (for example, ladder logic (ladderlogic)), write this program code such as senior language such as C, C++, Java or many other Languages.Although control program 226 can be a stand-alone program, also imagination can be with control program 226 and other suite.For example, can with control program 226 be configured to provide to the operation control of main frame 104A-N and the miscellaneous equipment suite of communicating by letter with network 130.

In one embodiment, memory 224 comprises the storage comparing data 228 of expression such as a plurality of comparing datas such as numerical data frame patterns.In one aspect of the invention, control program 226 is configured to a plurality of comparing datas 228 are compared with the network signal data with one or more responses of determining to be associated with it.For example, if a Frame pattern is associated with the comparing data that is used for main frame 104A-N wakes up from resting state, then this control program 226 can be provided wake command to main frame 104A-N by host interface 212.

Therefore, in this embodiment, NIC card 108A-N can be configured to communicate by letter with main frame 104A-N and network 130 via at least one access point 130.NIC card 108A-N can receive diverse network signal, networking command or the like.NIC card 108A-N can compare this type of signal with the response that is associated, and carry out the one or more network operations be associated with it, wake up such as the main frame 104A-N that will be in resting state, or send the network signal of indication NIC card 108A-N on network 130.

Fig. 3 is the flow chart of an embodiment of the method 300 of maintaining network equipment wirelessly on wireless network 130.When for example having activated command program 226, enter beginning step 302.In step 306, one or more operator schemes are set.For example, operator scheme can be when when network 130 receives at least one wake command, and the main frame 104A-N during the park mode is configured to revive.In another example, operator scheme can be that the main power source of Wireless Communication Equipment (such as VCC) is set to replace power supply such as battery, secondary bus power supply etc.This is during the master dormant pattern, and the employed accessory power supply of this type of main frame 108A-N is particularly useful can be in order to electrical energy saving the time to corresponding N IC-card 108A-N in season.In yet another aspect, operator scheme can make NIC card 108A-N begin to send a series of signal and wirelessly is connected to network 130 with indication NIC card 108A-N.For example; consider following situation; NIC card 108A-N is configured to send the signal that is connected to network 130 such as indication NIC card 108A-N such as Frames in response to the per the N time beacon that receives from access point 120 by command program 226, and for example " keep-alive " (keep-alive) or " heartbeat " signal.Thus, when receiving the N time beacon, NIC card 108A-N can send this alive signals.In another example, NIC card 108A-N can send this alive signals than the local access point 130 of top grade specific data element in response to sending such as TIM.In this article, the TIM bit is defined as the signal that indication network 130 has data can use for one or more main frame 108A-N.This TIM bit may " overtime " such as network equipments such as switches, and after predetermined a period of time, internally be labeled as disabled the time particularly useful thus inactive main frames such as for example NIC card 108A-N.

In step 310, NIC card 108A-N can receive such as wireless signals such as beacons from network 130.In step 314, determine response (if having).If without any need for response, then method 300 advances to 310.Response is then carried out a response at least in step 318 if desired.In one aspect of the invention, can be by one or more figure patterns be compared to determine at least one response with the figure pattern in being stored in comparing data 228 for example.Pattern can comprise such as various data type and parameters such as numerical datas.

In one embodiment, pattern is corresponding to the figure pattern byte, and it comprises two subdivisions at least, i.e. pattern mask and pattern byte value.In an operational scenario, pattern byte mask determines whether that at least one pattern byte must mate at least one and import a byte in the frame into, at least one imports any pattern byte value of a bytes match in the frame into, or indicate at least one to import all the other bytes in the frame (if having) into to be considered to be coupling, thereby effectively mark the ending of frame.

Table 1 provides an illustrated examples of this type of figure pattern, and the value that is associated that can be used as comparing data 258 storages.For example, method 300 can be configured to mate 24 bytes (no matter what data in this head are) of the frame header that comprises 36 bytes that is received, and at least some byte values in all the other byte values are compared with the order with it is associated of having stored.

Table 1

The pattern-word section number	Pattern byte mask	The pattern byte value	Note
				0	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
1	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
				2-22	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
23	1	0X12	Compare frame
				24	1	0X13	Compare frame
25	1	0X14	Compare frame
				26	1	0X15	Compare frame
27	1	0X16	Compare frame
				28	1	0X17	Compare frame
29	1	0X18	Compare frame
				30	1	Inapplicable	Compare frame
31	1	Inapplicable	Compare frame
				32	2	Inapplicable	Ignore FCS
33	2	Inapplicable	Ignore FCS
				34	2	Inapplicable	Ignore FCS
35	2	Inapplicable	Ignore FCS
				36	3	Inapplicable	End frame
37	3	Inapplicable	End frame
				38-254	3	Inapplicable	End frame
255	3	Inapplicable	End frame

Wherein, in one example, pattern byte mask number is: " 1 " mean have a byte will with this pattern byte value coupling; " 2 " mean have the byte should be in frame, and need not the match pattern byte value; And " 3 " mean have a byte importing into outside the frame, and ignore the pattern byte value.Table 2 illustrates another example of comparing data 258, comprise the AD HOC byte value such as needing only predetermined initial byte value, for example, being followed successively by (0x11 0x12 0x13 0x14 0x15 0x16 0x17 0x18), then in fact just can be the Frame of any length.

Table 2

The pattern-word section number	Pattern byte mask	The pattern byte value	Note
				0	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
1	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
				2-22	2	Inapplicable	Ignore head
23	1	Inapplicable	Ignore head
				24	1	0X11	Compare frame
25	1	0X12	Compare frame
				26	1	0X13	Compare frame
27	1	0X14	Compare frame
				28	1	0X15	Compare frame
29	1	0X16	Compare frame
				30	1	0X17	Compare frame
31	1	0X18	Compare frame
				32	2	Inapplicable	Ignore the FCS/ main body
33	2	Inapplicable	Ignore the FCS/ main body
				34	2	Inapplicable	Ignore the FCS/ main body
35	2	Inapplicable	Ignore the FCS/ main body
				36	3	Inapplicable	Do not pay close attention to
37	3	Inapplicable	Do not pay close attention to
				38-254	3	Inapplicable	Do not pay close attention to
255	3	Inapplicable	Do not pay close attention to

Get back to Fig. 3, step 322 determines whether method 300 is finished, for example, and when NIC card 108A-N operation has been done.If method 300 is not finished, then this process turns back to 310.If method 300 is finished, then step 326 finishes network device processing.

Fig. 4 is to use wireless network 130 flow chart of an embodiment of the method 400 of control network devices wirelessly.When for example command program 226 is activated, enter step 402.In step 404, configuration " waking up " pattern.For example, one or more NIC card 108A-N can be configured to provide the host wake-up order when corresponding N IC-card 108A-N receives the networking command signal that is associated with the main frame 104A-N that wakes dormancy up.

In step 408, receive network signal.In step 410, at least once compare between at least some signals in these network signals and the network operation order that is associated.If in step 410, these relatively determine to receive at least one wake-up master order, and then method 400 advances to step 412 so that main frame 104A-N and the NIC card 108A-N that is associated are enabled main power source.In step 414, one or more main frame 104A-N can receive networking command to be processed.In step 418, these one or more main frame 104A-N can handle these networking commands.

Step 420 determines whether to receive at least one master dormant order.In one aspect, this order can generate by for example network 130 (Fig. 1) or by the timer (not shown) or the expiring of program process that reside on the main frame 104A-N.If receive at least one master dormant order, then main frame 104A-N is placed in dormancy, and this process turns back to step 404.If do not receive at least one master dormant order, then step 428 has determined whether that other order needs to handle.For example, when reviving, many different order/processes may need (comprise, as shown in 300, send one or more responses).Notice that an aspect of order may be that will to indicate it be last order,, no longer needs other processing that is.If command process is not finished, then this process turns back to step 414.If command process is finished, then step 430 finishes the control to the network equipment.

Whether absent Fig. 5 be the flow chart that wirelessly detects an embodiment of the method 500 of the network equipment on the wireless network 130.When for example having activated command program 226 (Fig. 2), enter step 502.In step 506, use network signal to set up one or more operator schemes as main frame 104A-N.For example, the main frame 104A-N that can use operator scheme to dispose between rest period is reviving when network 130 (Fig. 1) receives at least one wake command.In yet another aspect, operator scheme can be that configuration NIC card 108A-N replys the network signal that at least some come automatic network 130 with the network circulation pattern.In this network circulation pattern, network 130 can be configured to detect answer from one or more NIC card 108A-N to finish response cycle therebetween.In another aspect of the present invention, operator scheme can comprise at least one NIC card 108A-N that configuration is in the main frame circulation pattern periodically sending network signal to network 130, and need not the beacon of automatic network 130.

In step 510, in the network circulation pattern, network 130 sends network signal to NIC card 108A-N.Step 514 determines whether network 130 has received at least one return signal from NIC card 108A-N.In the network circulation pattern, after for example having sent the transmission of certain number of times-N time beacon or particular type from network 130, can expect has this response.If the network manager need be warned later on by the pre-specified time such as configurations such as network managers when network 130 disconnects at main frame 104A-N, then this network circulation pattern may be useful.

Perhaps, in step 510, can use the main frame circulation.In the situation that main frame 104A-N is placed in the high-risk area of theft and the user of this main frame 104A-N wants to allow the network manager know the main frame location status, the main frame round-robin method may be useful.

In arbitrary pattern, if network 130 does not receive at least one return signal, then step 518 can provide one or more warnings with indication main frame 104A-N absence to network 130, that is, and and from net.In yet another aspect, no matter in the network circulation pattern still is the main frame circulation pattern, if determine main frame 104A-N from net 130, then this main frame 104A-N can carry out one or more data disable procedures and it conducted interviews preventing.If finished this process (that is, take place to finish transmissions/reception to), then method 500 end as determined in the step 522.Otherwise this process is got back to step 510.

Although foregoing, can be designed the present invention other and more embodiment at embodiments of the invention and can not depart from base region of the present invention, and scope of the present invention is determined by appended claims.

Claims (4)

1. method of maintaining network interface card (NIC) wirelessly on wireless network, described NIC provides communication interface between main frame and described wireless network, and described method comprises:

One or more operator schemes are set, comprise that NIC connects notification mode, master dormant pattern and NIC electric source modes;

At described NIC, receive wireless signal from described wireless network;

Need to determine whether response,

If wherein do not need response, then return the step that receives wireless signal, and

Wherein response if desired then sends at least one network response at described NIC,

Described NIC wherein is set to be connected the access point that notification mode comprises that the described NIC of configuration sends to a series of signal described wireless network and wirelessly is coupled to described access point to indicate described NIC, each signal response is in the per the N time beacon that receives from described access point or send indication network in response to described access point and the bit that the one or more main frames of data confession can use is arranged and send

Described master dormant pattern wherein is set comprises that disposing the main frame that is in the park mode is waking up when network receives at least one wake command by described access point and described NIC, and

Described NIC electric source modes wherein is set is included in that the main power source of described NIC is set to replace power supply during the described master dormant pattern.

2. one kind is used the wireless network method of Control Network interface card (NIC) wirelessly, and described NIC provides communication interface between main frame and described wireless network, and described method comprises:

Dispose described NIC and after described NIC receives the networking command signal that is associated with wake-up master from described wireless network, wake command is sent to described main frame;

Receive wireless network signal at described NIC;

Determine whether described wireless network signal is the described networking command signal that is associated with wake-up master,

Wherein if not, then turn back to the step that receives wireless network signal, and

Wherein if then start the main power source of described main frame and described NIC;

Receive networking command signal to be processed at described main frame;

Handle described networking command signal;

Determine whether described main frame receives the master dormant order,

Wherein if not, then receive another networking command signal;

Wherein if then make described master dormant and return the step that disposes described NIC.

3. method as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described master dormant order is by the overtime of described wireless network, timer and reside in one of them in the program process on the described main frame and produce.

4. method as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described another networking command signal indicates that it is last order and no longer needs other processing.

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