KR100932499B1 - Method for controlling data communication - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data communication control method. For example, at a station of a wireless LAN card, a battery remaining value of a host computer connected and connected through an interface is checked, and data corresponding to the checked battery remaining value is checked. By determining the transmission rate or determining the power saving mode period, and transmitting the corresponding information to the access point or another station, and then variablely set to the determined data transmission speed or power saving mode period, according to the use of the wireless LAN, It is a very useful invention that it is possible to effectively prevent the battery power of the abrupt decrease, and also to perform data communication with the access point or another station normally.

WLAN card, portable computer, battery level, baud rate information, power saving cycle information, beacon frame, probe request frame

Description

{Method for controlling data communication}

1 shows a configuration of a general portable computer,

2 illustrates a state in which a plurality of stations are included in a general BSS network.

3 illustrates a state in which a plurality of stations and access points are included in a general ESS network.

4 illustrates a configuration of a station and an access point to which a data communication control method according to the present invention is applied;

5 illustrates a configuration of a beacon frame in which transmission rate information is additionally recorded according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

6 illustrates a configuration of a probe request frame in which transmission rate information is additionally recorded according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

7 and 8 illustrate a configuration of a beacon frame in which a power saving mode period that is variably set according to a third embodiment of the present invention and corresponding power saving period information are additionally recorded.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

10: CPI 11: Display controller

12: bridge chip set 13: main memory

14: Rom 15: LAN Controller

16: embedded controller 17: battery

20: wifi card 30: access point

200: STA Mac controller 201,301: FEC

202,302: OFDM 203,303: RF front end

300: AP Mac Controller 304: AP Controller

305: Bridge Chip Set 306: Ethernet Driver

The present invention relates to a data communication control method for appropriately controlling data communication with an access point or another station according to a remaining battery value of a station in a wireless LAN card connected to a portable computer using a battery. It is about.

1 illustrates a configuration of a general portable computer. For example, a portable computer such as a notebook computer includes a CPU 10, a display controller 11, and a bridge chip set. Chipset (12), Main Memory (13), ROM (14), LAN Controller (15), Embedded Controller (16), and Battery (17) Etc. are comprised.

Meanwhile, the CPI 10 and the bridge chip set 12 are connected through a HOST bus, and the bridge chip set 11, the display controller 12, and the main memory 13 are connected through an AGP bus. The ROM 14, the LAN controller 15, and the embedded controller 16 may be connected through a system bus.

In addition, the embedded controller 15 and the battery 17 are connected through an SM bus, and the embedded controller 15 checks the remaining value of the battery 17, and the LAN controller 15. ) Is connected to, for example, a wireless LAN card 20 such as a PCMCIA card to perform data communication using the wireless LAN.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, stations (STAs) of a wireless LAN card connected to a portable computer using a battery as described above, directly transmit data wirelessly in a basic service set (BSS) network. In this case, the stations transmit and receive data through a predefined probe request frame.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, different BSS networks BSS1 and BSS2 are connected to a DS (Distribution System) network by an access point (AP) to form an extended service set (ESS) network. In this case, data is transmitted and received between the access point AP and the station STA through a predefined beacon frame.

Accordingly, the STA of the WLAN card connected to the portable computer can directly transmit and receive data to and from another station included in the BSS network wirelessly, and through the DS network. It is possible to wirelessly transmit and receive data with stations of other BSS networks included in the ESS network.

However, in the station of the wireless LAN card connected to the portable computer as described above, when the initial set-up operation for data communication with another station (STA) or an access point (AP) is completed in advance, Since data is transmitted and received at a set high-speed transfer speed, the battery power of the portable computer is drastically reduced, and the data communication time and the usable time of the portable computer are greatly shortened. The room has not been prepared yet.

Accordingly, the present invention was created in view of the above situation, and, for example, in a station of a wireless LAN card connected and connected to a portable computer using a battery, a transfer speed corresponding to the remaining value of the battery Another object is to provide a data communication control method for appropriately and variably controlling data communication with an access point or another station by determining a power save cycle or the like.

Data communication control method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the first step of determining the transmission characteristics based on the remaining battery; And according to the determined transmission characteristic, comprising two steps of controlling communication.

In addition, the data communication control method according to the present invention, in the data communication, based on the remaining battery level, determining a power saving cycle; And controlling the communication according to the determined power saving cycle.

In addition, the data communication control method according to the present invention, in the data communication step of determining a power saving cycle corresponding to the remaining battery value; And two steps of transmitting information corresponding to the power saving cycle.

In addition, the data communication control method according to the present invention, in the data communication, the step of determining the transmission characteristics based on the remaining battery power; And transmitting the information corresponding to the determined transmission characteristic.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a data communication control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the data communication control method according to the present invention can be applied to a station (STA) and an access point (AP) of a wireless LAN card connected to a portable computer using a battery, for example, shown in FIG. As described above, the station 20 of the wireless LAN card includes a station MAC controller (STA MAC) 200, a forward error correction (FEC) 201, an orthogonality frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) 202, and an RF front. An RF front end 203 is included and the station MAC controller 200 is connected to a host computer such as the portable computer.

In addition, the access point 30 includes an access point MAC controller (AP MAC) 300, an FEC 301, an OFDM 302, and an RF front end 303. The access point MAC controller 300 is connected to the AP controller 304 and the Ethernet driver 306 through the bridge chip set 305.

In addition, in the station 20 of the WLAN card configured as described above, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, data is transmitted through other stations (STAs) included in the BSS network and a probe request frame. Or directly transmit or receive data wirelessly, or as described above with reference to FIG. 3, data is transmitted and received wirelessly through an access point (AP) and a beacon frame included in the ESS network.

On the other hand, in the station 20 of the wireless LAN card to which the present invention is applied, after checking the remaining battery value of the battery through the interface with the portable computer, according to the remaining battery battery value, the data transmission speed with the other station is determined. Appropriately variable control, or appropriately variable control of the data transmission rate with the access point, which will be described in detail as follows.

First, in the station 20 of the wireless LAN card to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, when an initial set-up operation for data communication with the access point (AP) is completed, a preset high speed is set. In addition to transmitting and receiving data at a transmission rate of, the battery level value is checked through an interface with the portable computer.

The data transmission rate with the access point is determined according to the checked battery remaining value. For example, when the remaining battery value is 80% or more, the data transmission rate is determined to be maintained at 11 Mpbs. When the remaining battery value is within 50% to 79%, the data transfer rate is determined to be 5.5 MPbs, and when the remaining battery value is within 30% to 49%, the data transfer rate is set to 2 MPbs. When the remaining battery value is 29% or less, the data transfer rate is determined to be 1 Mpbs.

In addition, in the station 20 of the WLAN card, in order to be able to recognize the data transmission rate variablely determined in multiple stages according to the remaining battery value as described above, the access point AP is inherently corresponding to the transmission speed. The code value of is additionally recorded and transmitted in the beacon frame transmitted to the access point.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the data transmission rate determined according to the battery remaining value is 11 Mpbs, 2 bits (B5 and B6) in the capability information included in the beacon frame are viewed. 'B5B6 = 00' is additionally recorded by allocating to transfer speed information newly defined by the present invention, and when the data transmission rate is 5.5 Mpbs, in the performance information in the beacon frame, 'B5B6 = 01' 'Will be additionally recorded.

When the data transmission rate is 2 Mpbs, 'B5B6 = 10' is additionally recorded in the performance information in the beacon frame, and when the data transmission rate is 11 Mpbs, in the performance information in the beacon frame, 'B5B6 =' 11 'is additionally recorded.

Accordingly, in the access point (AP) that receives the beacon frame, the code value of the transmission rate information (B5, B6) additionally recorded in the performance information of the betone frame is confirmed, and the data with the station 20 is checked. The transmission speed is set to a variable speed corresponding thereto.

Further, in the station 20 of the WLAN card, after the above-described series of operations are performed, the access rate is variably adjusted by the data transfer rate determined by the battery remaining value according to the battery remaining value. It is possible to perform normal data communication with the point, and also to increase the battery usage time efficiently.

On the other hand, in the station 20 of the wireless LAN card to which the second embodiment of the present invention is applied, when the initial set-up operation for data communication with another station (STA) is completed, the preset high speed In addition to transmitting and receiving data at a transmission rate of, the battery level value is checked through an interface with the portable computer.

The data transmission rate with the other station is determined according to the checked battery remaining value. As described above, when the remaining battery value is 80% or more, the data transmission rate is set to 11 Mpbs. If the remaining capacity value of the battery is within 50% to 79%, the data transfer rate is 5.5 Mpbs, and if the remaining battery value is within 30% to 49%, the data transfer rate is 2 MPbs. If the remaining battery value is 29% or less, the data transfer rate is determined to be 1 Mpbs.

In addition, in the station 20 of the WLAN card, in order for the other station STA to recognize the data transmission rate that is variablely determined in multiple stages according to the remaining battery value as described above, a uniqueness corresponding to the transmission speed is required. The code value of is additionally recorded and transmitted in a probe request frame transmitted to the other station.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the data transmission rate determined according to the battery remaining value is 11 Mpbs, transmission of two bits (B01 and B1) newly defined by the present invention in a probe request frame. Transfer speed information is additionally recorded as 'B0B1 = 00', and when the data transfer rate is 5.5 Mpbs, the transmission speed information of 2 bits (B01, B1) is additionally recorded as 'B0B1 = 01'. do.

When the data transmission rate is 2 Mpbs, 2 bits B01 and B1 are additionally recorded as 'B0B1 = 10', and when the data transmission rate is 11 Mpbs, 2 bits (B01, The transmission rate information of B1) is additionally recorded as 'B0B1 = 11'.

Accordingly, another station STA that receives the probe request frame checks code values of transmission rate information B0 and B1 additionally recorded in the probe request frame, and checks the code value with the station 20. The data transmission rate is variably set at a corresponding speed.

On the other hand, in the station 20 of the WLAN card, after the above-described series of operations are performed, by adjusting the data transmission rate with another station to a data transmission rate determined according to the battery remaining value, the other It is possible to perform normal data communication with the station, and also to increase battery life efficiently.

On the other hand, in the station of a general wireless LAN card, as shown in Fig. 7, it is activated by a Delivery Traffic Indication Map (DTIM) signal transmitted from an access point (AP), and sets a power save mode at predetermined intervals. Or Wake-Up to increase battery life.

For example, the access point AP transmits a DTIM signal at 100 msec intervals, and the station sets a power saving mode at a period corresponding to about 300 msec based on the DTIM signal. In the station 20 of the wireless LAN card to which the third embodiment of the present invention is applied, the battery remaining value is checked through an interface with the portable computer, and the power saving mode period is varied according to the checked battery remaining value. You decide.

When the remaining battery value is 80% or more, it is determined that the power saving mode cycle is set to 300 msec initially set. When the remaining battery value is 50% to 79%, the power saving mode cycle is 400 msec. When the remaining battery value is within 30% to 49%, the power saving mode cycle is determined to be 500 msec. When the remaining battery value is 29% or less, the power saving mode cycle is determined as 650 msec.

In addition, the station 20 of the WLAN card corresponds to the power saving mode cycle in order to enable the access point AP to recognize the power saving mode cycle that is variably determined according to the battery remaining value as described above. The unique code value is additionally recorded and transmitted in the beacon frame transmitted to the access point.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the power saving mode period determined according to the battery remaining value is 300 msec, two bits (B5, B6) in the beacon interval information (Beacon Interval) included in the beacon frame, 'B5B6 = 00' is additionally recorded by allocating power saving period information newly defined by the present invention, and when the power saving mode period is 400 msec, the power saving period information is set to 'B5B6 = 01'. 'Will be added.

When the power saving mode cycle is 500 msec, the power saving cycle information is added and recorded as 'B5B6 = 10'. When the power saving mode cycle is 650 msec, the power saving cycle information is added as 'B5B6 = 11'. Will be recorded.

Accordingly, in the access point AP receiving the beacon frame, the code value of the power saving period information B5 and B6 additionally recorded in the betone interval information is checked, and the DTIM signal to be transmitted to the station 20 is received. The transmission period of is variably set to a corresponding period.

Further, in the station 20 of the WLAN card, after the above-described series of operations are performed, the controller 20 variably adjusts the power saving mode cycle according to the battery remaining value, thereby enabling normal data communication with the access point. In addition, the battery usage time can be increased efficiently.

Or more, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art, within the technical spirit and the technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below, to further improve various other embodiments Changes, substitutions or additions will be possible.

In the data communication control method according to the present invention made as described above, for example, at a station of a wireless LAN card, the battery remaining value of the host computer connected and connected through the interface is checked, and corresponding to the checked battery remaining value. Determining a data transmission rate or a power saving mode cycle to transmit the corresponding information to the access point or another station, and then variably set to the determined data transmission rate or power saving mode cycle, according to the use of the wireless LAN, It is a very useful invention that the battery power of the portable computer can be effectively prevented from being reduced, and the data communication with the access point or another station can be normally performed.

Claims (8)

delete delete delete delete In data communication, Determining a transmission rate or a power saving period corresponding to the remaining battery power; 2 steps of additionally recording information corresponding to the transmission rate or power saving period in a beacon frame and transmitting the information to a receiving side; And After the beacon frame is transmitted, by performing a variable control at the determined transmission rate or power saving cycle, and performing data communication with the receiving side, In the second step, the unique code value corresponding to the transmission rate is additionally recorded as 2 bits in the performance information of the beacon frame, or the unique code value corresponding to the power saving period is 2 within the beacon interval of the beacon frame. A data communication control method characterized by additionally recording in bits. In data communication, Determining a transmission rate corresponding to the remaining battery level; 2 steps of additionally recording the information corresponding to the transmission rate in the probe request frame and transmitting the information to the receiving side; And After transmitting the probe request frame, and variably adjusted to the determined transmission rate, comprising the step of performing data communication with the receiving side, The second step, the data communication control method characterized in that the additional code corresponding to the transmission rate is additionally recorded in the two bits in the probe request frame. Claim 7 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The method of claim 5, The receiving side is a data communication control method, characterized in that the access point for receiving the beacon frame. Claim 8 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 6, And the receiving side is a station that receives the probe request frame.

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