Systems and methods for quiet elements in twt for wireless communications
By introducing a silent element and coordinating the operation of wireless devices, the interference problem of traditional devices during the limited service period of the restricted TWT schedule is solved, thereby improving the user experience and communication efficiency of the artificial reality system.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202180082551.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-11-01
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-07
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-12-06
AI Technical Summary
In artificial reality systems, traditional wireless communication devices may interfere with the transmission of latency-sensitive data during the limited service period of the restricted target wake-up time (TWT) schedule, leading to motion sickness and a degraded user experience.
By introducing a silence element, the operation of wireless devices is coordinated, so that devices that do not support restricted TWT operation are disabled from transmitting during the silence period, while devices that support restricted TWT operation selectively respond to or ignore the silence element, ensuring that the transmission of time-sensitive data is not interfered with.
It effectively reduces the interference of traditional equipment on the transmission of time-sensitive data, and improves the user experience and communication efficiency of artificial reality systems.
Smart Images

Figure CN116569649B_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to communications for rendering artificial reality, including but not limited to reducing latency in artificial reality communications. BACKGROUND
[0002] Artificial reality (e.g., a virtual reality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), or a mixed reality (MR)) provides an immersive experience to a user. In one example, a user wearing a head wearable display (HWD) can turn his head, and an image of a virtual object corresponding to a position of the HWD and a gaze direction of the user can be displayed on the HWD to allow the user to feel as if the user is moving in a space of the artificial reality (e.g., a VR space, an AR space, or an MR space).
[0003] In one implementation, the image of the virtual object is generated by a console communicatively coupled to the HWD. In one example, the HWD includes various sensors that detect a position and / or an orientation of the HWD, and sends the detected position and / or orientation of the HWD to the console through a wired connection or a wireless connection. The console can determine a user field of view of the artificial reality space according to the detected position and / or orientation of the HWD, and generate image data indicative of an image of the artificial reality space corresponding to the user field of view. The console can send the image data to the HWD, through which an image of the artificial reality space corresponding to the user field of view can be presented to the user. In one aspect, the process of detecting the position of the HWD and the gaze direction of the user wearing the HWD, and rendering the image to the user should be performed within a frame time (e.g., less than 11 milliseconds (ms)). Any latency between the motion of the user wearing the HWD and the display of the image corresponding to the motion of the user can cause judder, which can cause motion sickness and can degrade the user experience. SUMMARY
[0004] The disclosure herein relates to a method for wireless communication. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by a wireless communication device, a frame from a wireless communication node, the frame including a first indication for the wireless communication device to disable transmission during a quiet period. In some embodiments, the method includes determining, by the wireless communication device, to ignore the first indication for the quiet period in a case that the quiet period overlaps with a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device.
[0005] In some embodiments, the method includes performing or enabling transmission during the quiet period by the wireless communication device according to the determination. In some embodiments, determining to ignore the first indication includes determining, by the wireless communication device, to ignore the first indication according to a configured or default rule.
[0006] In some embodiments, determining to ignore the first indication includes receiving, by the wireless communication device, a second indication from the wireless communication node, and determining, by the wireless communication device, to ignore the first indication in response to the received second indication. In some embodiments, the second indication includes a defined value in a broadcast recommendation subfield or a defined bit value in a broadcast TWT information subfield. In some embodiments, the broadcast recommendation subfield or the broadcast TWT information subfield is in a TWT information element (IE). In some embodiments, the broadcast recommendation subfield or the broadcast TWT information subfield is in a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or a basic service set (BSS) discovery frame. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving, by the wireless communication device, an updated second indication from the wireless communication node after receiving the second indication, and determining, by the wireless communication device, to enable or perform transmission during the quiet period in response to the updated second indication. In some embodiments, the second indication is received during a setup procedure between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication node.
[0007] Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device includes a receiver configured to receive a frame from a wireless communication node, the frame including a first indication for the wireless communication device to disable transmission during a quiet period. In some embodiments, the wireless communication device includes at least one processor configured to ignore the first indication for the quiet period in a case that the quiet period overlaps with a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device.
[0008] In some embodiments, the at least one processor is further configured to perform or enable transmission during the quiet period by / with (or in response to) ignoring the first indication. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to ignore the first indication according to a configured or default rule. In some embodiments, the receiver is configured to receive a second indication from the wireless communication node, and the at least one processor is configured to ignore the first indication in response to the received second indication. In some embodiments, the second indication comprises a defined value in a broadcast recommendation subfield or a defined bit value in a broadcast TWT information subfield. In some embodiments, the broadcast recommendation subfield or the broadcast TWT information subfield is in a TWT information element (IE). In some embodiments, the broadcast recommendation subfield or the broadcast TWT information subfield is in a beacon frame, a probe response frame, or a basic service set (BSS) discovery frame. In some embodiments, the receiver is further configured to receive an updated second indication from the wireless communication node after receiving the second indication. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is further configured to enable or perform transmission during the quiet period in response to the updated second indication. In some embodiments, the second indication is received during a setup procedure between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication node.
[0009] Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions for wireless communication. In some embodiments, the program instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive, by a receiver, a frame from a wireless communication node, the frame comprising a first indication for a wireless communication device to disable transmission during a quiet period. In some embodiments, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine to ignore the first indication for the quiet period in a case that the quiet period overlaps with a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device. In some embodiments, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive, by the receiver, a second indication from the wireless communication node, and determine to ignore the first indication in response to the received second indication. In some embodiments, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive, by the receiver, an updated second indication from the wireless communication node after receiving the second indication. In some embodiments, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine to enable or perform transmission during the quiet period in response to the updated second indication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The drawings are not intended to be to scale. Like reference numerals in the various drawings indicate like elements. Not every component is labeled in every drawing. For clarity, not every component is labeled in every drawing.
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system environment including an artificial reality system according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a head wearable display according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0013] Figure 3 is a diagram of a system environment including multiple wireless devices in communication according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0014] Figure 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a wake / sleep schedule of a computing device utilizing TWT according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0015] Figure 5 is a diagram of an example frame including an indication that indicates whether another indication to stop transmitting during a service period can be ignored according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0016] Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process of managing communications during a service period overlapping with a quiet period according to example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0017] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a computing environment according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Before undertaking a detailed description of the drawings, it should be understood that the disclosure does not limit the scope of the application to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
[0019] The disclosure disclosed herein relates to coordinating / managing operations of wireless devices that have a capability to support restricted TWT operations; and / or wireless devices that do not have a capability to support restricted TWT operations.
[0020] In one aspect, two or more communication devices can schedule a restricted service period to exchange / transfer latency sensitive data (e.g., data for providing / implementing / rendering artificial reality (e.g., virtual reality or augmented reality)). During the restricted service period, the two or more communication devices or access point can transmit a signal or frame that causes other devices to not transmit during the restricted service period. While devices with the capability to support restricted TWT operation can operate according to such a signal or frame, certain devices without the capability to support restricted TWT operation (e.g., legacy Wi-Fi devices) can not respond to the signal or frame and can transmit data or attempt to transmit data during the restricted service period, causing interference.
[0021] In one aspect, a quiet element (or quiet channel element) can be used for devices without the capability to support restricted TWT operation. The quiet element (or quiet channel element) can be a signal or frame that causes one or more devices to disable transmission during a quiet period. In one implementation, an access point can use the quiet element to quiet / instruct / control a relevant station device (STA) to not transmit, and the access point can measure channel activity to detect any radar signals / defined signals. If a radar signal / defined signal is detected, the access point can / may initiate a channel switch to avoid the radar signal / defined signal. In one aspect, the quiet period can be set to overlap with the restricted service period, such that devices without the capability to support restricted TWT operation will / may not transmit during the quiet period according to the quiet element.
[0022] In one aspect, a communication device (also referred to as a wireless device) that is operable according to restricted TWT operation can selectively respond to the quiet element. For example, the communication device can stop or not transmit any transmission during the quiet period according to the quiet element. Alternatively, the communication device can ignore the quiet element and transmit data during the restricted service period without regard to the quiet element. The communication device can determine to ignore the quiet element or operate according to the quiet element based on a defined rule or a separate indication that indicates whether the communication device should ignore the quiet element.
[0023] By implementing the quiet element, one or more devices without the capability to support restricted TWT operation (e.g., legacy devices) will / may not interfere with the transfer of latency sensitive data during the restricted service period, while one or more communication devices with the capability to support restricted TWT operation can transfer data during the restricted service period regardless of the quiet element. While some descriptions herein are provided with respect to the transfer of artificial reality data, the general principles disclosed herein can be applied to any wireless communication.
[0024] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example artificial reality system environment 100. In some embodiments, the artificial reality system environment 100 includes a HWD 150 worn by a user, and a console 110 that provides artificial reality content to the HWD 150. The HWD 150 can be referred to as, include, or be part of a head mounted display (HMD), a head mounted device (HMD), a head wearable device (HWD), a head worn display (HWD), or a head worn device (HWD). The HWD 150 can detect a position and / or orientation of the HWD 150, and a shape, position, and / or orientation of a user’s body / hand / facial features, and provide the detected position / orientation of the HWD 150 and / or tracking information indicative of the shape, position, and / or orientation of the body / hand / facial features to the console 110. The console 110 can generate image data indicative of an artificial reality image in accordance with the detected position and / or orientation of the HWD 150, the detected shape, position, and / or orientation of the user’s body / hand / facial features, and / or user input of the artificial reality, and send the image data to the HWD 150 for presentation. In some embodiments, the artificial reality system environment 100 includes more, fewer, or different components than those shown in Figure 1 Figure 1
[0025] In some embodiments, HWD 150 is an electronic component that can be worn by a user and can present or provide an artificial reality experience to the user. HWD 150 can render one or more images, video, audio, or some combination thereof, to provide the artificial reality experience to the user. In some embodiments, audio is presented via an external device (e.g., speakers and / or headphones) that receives audio information from HWD 150, console 110, or both, and presents audio based on the audio information. In some embodiments, HWD 150 includes a plurality of sensors 155, a communication interface 165, an image Tenderer 170, an electronic display 175, a lens 180, and a compensator 185. These components can operate in conjunction to detect a position of HWD 150 and a gaze direction of a user wearing HWD 150, and render images of a field of view within an artificial reality corresponding to the detected position and / or orientation of HWD 150. In other embodiments, HWD 150 includes more, fewer, or different components than those shown. Figure 1 Figure 1
[0026] In some embodiments, sensors 155 include electronic components, or a combination of electronic and software components, that detect a position and orientation of HWD 150. Examples of individual sensors 155 can include one or more imaging sensors, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more magnetometers, or another suitable type of sensor that detects motion and / or position. For example, one or more accelerometers can measure translational motion (e.g., forward / back, up / down, left / right), and one or more gyroscopes can measure rotational motion (e.g., pitch, yaw, roll). In some embodiments, sensors 155 detect translational and rotational motion, and determine an orientation and position of HWD 150. In one aspect, sensors 155 can detect translational and rotational motion relative to a previous orientation and position of HWD 150, and determine a new orientation and / or position of HWD 150 by accumulating or integrating the detected translational and / or rotational motion. For example, assume HWD 150 is facing in a direction that is 25 degrees from a reference direction, then sensors 155 can determine that HWD 150 is now facing or oriented in a direction that is 45 degrees from the reference direction in response to detecting that HWD 150 has rotated 20 degrees. As another example, assume HWD 150 is located two feet in a first direction from a reference point, then sensors 155 can determine that HWD 150 is now located at the vector product of two feet in the first direction and three feet in a second direction in response to detecting that HWD 150 has moved three feet in the second direction.
[0027] In some embodiments, the sensors 155 include an eye tracker. The eye tracker can include electronic components, or a combination of electronic components and software components, that determine a gaze direction of a user of the HWD 150. In some embodiments, the HWD 150, the console 110, or a combination thereof, can generate image data for the artificial reality in conjunction with the gaze direction of the user of the HWD 150. In some embodiments, each eye tracker includes two eye trackers, where each eye tracker captures an image of a corresponding eye and determines a gaze direction of the eye. In one example, the eye tracker determines an angular rotation of the eye, a translation of the eye, a torsion change of the eye, and / or a shape change of the eye from the captured image of the eye, and determines a relative gaze direction with respect to the HWD 150 from the determined angular rotation of the eye, the translation of the eye, and the torsion change of the eye. In one way, the eye tracker can illuminate or project a predetermined reference pattern or structural pattern on a portion of the eye, and capture an image of the eye to analyze the pattern projected on the portion of the eye to determine the relative gaze direction of the eye with respect to the HWD 150. In some embodiments, the eye tracker determines a gaze direction of the user in conjunction with an orientation of the HWD 150, and the relative gaze direction with respect to the HWD 150. For example, assuming the HWD 150 is oriented in a direction that is 30 degrees from a reference direction, and the relative gaze direction of the HWD 150 is -10 degrees (or 350 degrees) with respect to the HWD 150, the eye tracker can determine that the gaze direction of the user is in a direction that is 20 degrees from the reference direction. In some embodiments, the user of the HWD 150 can configure the HWD 150 (e.g., through user settings) to enable or disable the eye tracker. In some embodiments, the user of the HWD 150 is prompted to enable or disable the eye tracker.
[0028] In some embodiments, the communication interface 165 includes electronic components, or a combination of electronic components and software components, that communicate with the console 110. The communication interface 165 can communicate with the communication interface 115 of the console 110 through a communication link. The communication link can be a wireless link. Examples of the wireless link can include a cellular communication link, a near field communication link, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 60GHz wireless link, or any wireless communication link for communication. Through the communication link, the communication interface 165 can send data to the console 110 that indicates the determined position and / or orientation of the HWD 150, and / or the determined gaze direction of the user. In addition, through the communication link, the communication interface 165 can receive image data from the console 110 that indicates or corresponds to an image to be rendered, and additional data associated with the image.
[0029] In some embodiments, image Tenderer 170 includes electronic components, or a combination of electronic and software components, that generate one or more images for display, for example, in response to changes in the field of view in the space of the artificial reality. In some embodiments, image Tenderer 170 is implemented as a processor (or a graphical processing unit (GPU)) that executes a plurality of instructions to perform the various functions described herein. Image Tenderer 170 can receive image data describing an artificial reality image to be rendered, and additional data associated with the image, through communication interface 165, and render the image through electronic display 175. In some embodiments, the image data from console 110 can be encoded, and image Tenderer 170 can decode the image data to render the image. In some embodiments, image Tenderer 170 receives object information indicating virtual objects in the virtual reality space and depth information indicating depths (or distances from HWD 150) of the virtual objects from console 110 in the additional data. In one aspect, image Tenderer 170 can perform shading, re-projection, and / or blending in accordance with the artificial reality image from console 110, the object information, the depth information, and / or updated sensor measurements from sensors 155 to update the artificial reality image to correspond to the updated position and / or orientation of HWD 150. Assuming the user has turned his head after the initial sensor measurements, image Tenderer 170 can generate a small portion (e.g., 10%) of the image corresponding to the updated field of view within the artificial reality in accordance with the updated sensor measurements, and append the portion to the image in the image data from console 110 through re-projection, instead of rebuilding the entire image in response to the updated sensor measurements. Image Tenderer 170 can perform shading and / or blending on the appended edges. Thus, image Tenderer 170 can generate the image of the artificial reality without rebuilding the image of the artificial reality in accordance with the updated sensor measurements.
[0030] In some embodiments, electronic display 175 is an electronic component that displays images. Electronic display 175 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic light-emitting diode display. Electronic display 175 can be a transparent display that allows the user to see through. In some embodiments, electronic display 175 is located near (e.g., less than 3 inches) the user’s eyes when HWD 150 is worn by the user. In one aspect, electronic display 175 emits or projects light toward the user’s eyes in accordance with the images generated by image Tenderer 170.
[0031] In some embodiments, the lens 180 is a mechanical component that modifies the light received from the electronic display 175. The lens 180 can magnify the light from the electronic display 175 and correct optical errors associated with the light. The lens 180 can be a Fresnel lens, a convex lens, a concave lens, a filter, or any suitable optical component that modifies the light from the electronic display 175. Even though the electronic display 175 is very close to the eyes, the light from the electronic display 175 can pass through the lens 180 to the pupil so that the user can see the images displayed by the electronic display 175.
[0032] In some embodiments, the compensator 185 includes an electronic component, or a combination of an electronic component and a software component, that performs compensation to compensate for any distortion or aberration. In one aspect, the lens 180 introduces optical aberrations (e.g., chromatic aberrations), pincushion distortion, barrel distortion, etc. The compensator 185 can determine a compensation (e.g., a pre-distortion) to be applied to the images to be rendered from the image Tenderer 170 to compensate for the distortion caused by the lens 180 and apply the determined compensation to the images from the image Tenderer 170. The compensator 185 can provide the pre-distorted images to the electronic display 175.
[0033] In some embodiments, the console 110 is an electronic component, or a combination of an electronic component and a software component, that provides content to be rendered to the HWD 150. In one aspect, the console 110 includes the communication interface 115 and the content provider 130. These components can operate in conjunction to determine a field of view of an artificial reality (e.g., a field of view (FOV) of a user) that corresponds to a position of the HWD 150 and a gaze direction of a user of the HWD 150 and can generate image data indicative of an artificial reality image corresponding to the determined field of view. In addition, these components can operate in conjunction to generate additional data associated with the image. The additional data can be information associated with presenting or rendering an artificial reality in addition to the artificial reality image. Examples of the additional data include hand model data, mapping information (or simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) data) for converting a position and orientation of the HWD 150 in a physical space to a virtual space, eye tracking data, motion vector information, depth information, edge information, object information, etc. The console 110 can provide the image data and the additional data to the HWD 150 for presenting the artificial reality. In other embodiments, the console 110 includes more, fewer, or different components than those shown. Figure 1 Figure 1 The illustrated components are different components. In some embodiments, the console 110 is integrated as part of the HWD 150.
[0034] In some embodiments, the communication interface 115 is an electronic component, or a combination of electronic and software components, that communicates with the HWD 150. The communication interface 115 can be a corresponding component of the communication interface 165 that communicates with the communication interface 115 of the console 110 over a communication link (e.g., a wireless link). Through the communication link, the communication interface 115 can receive data from the HWD 150 that indicates a determined position and / or orientation of the HWD 150, and / or a determined gaze direction of the user. Further, through the communication link, the communication interface 115 can transmit data to the HWD 150 that describes image data of an image to be rendered, and additional data associated with the image of the artificial reality.
[0035] The content provider 130 can include or correspond to components that generate content to be rendered based on the position and / or orientation of the HWD 150. In some embodiments, the content provider 130 can incorporate a gaze direction of a user of the HWD 150. In one aspect, the content provider 130 determines a field of view of an artificial reality based on the position and / or orientation of the HWD 150. For example, the content provider 130 maps a position of the HWD 150 in physical space to a position within an artificial reality space, and determines a field of view of the artificial reality space in a direction corresponding to the mapped orientation from the mapped position in the artificial reality space. The content provider 130 can generate image data that describes an image of the determined field of view of the artificial reality space, and transmit the image data to the HWD 150 through the communication interface 115. In some embodiments, the content provider 130 can generate additional data associated with the image (including motion vector information, depth information, edge information, object information, hand model data, etc.), and transmit the additional data to the HWD 150 through the communication interface 115 along with the image data. The content provider 130 can encode the image data that describes the image, and can transmit the encoded data to the HWD 150. In some embodiments, the content provider 130 periodically (e.g., every 11 ms) generates and provides image data to the HWD 150.
[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a HWD 150 according to example embodiments. In some embodiments, the HWD 150 includes a front rigid body 205 and a band 210. The front rigid body 205 includes an electronic display 175 Figure 2 (not shown in FIG. 1), a lens 180 Figure 2(Not shown in the image), multiple sensors 155, a communication interface 165, and an image renderer 170. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the communication interface 165, image renderer 170, and multiple sensors 155 are located within the front rigid body 205 and are not visible externally. In other embodiments, the HWD 150 has... Figure 2 The different configurations shown. For example, communication interface 165, image renderer 170, and / or multiple sensors 155 can be located in conjunction with... Figure 2 The different locations shown.
[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a system environment 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the system environment including a plurality of wireless communication devices 310A, 310B, and 310C (also referred to as "wireless devices 310A, 310B, and 310C") in communication. In one aspect, wireless devices 310A, 310B, and 310C can communicate with each other via communication links 315AB, 315BC, and 315AC. Communication links 315AB, 315BC, and 315AC can be wireless communication links (e.g., Wi-Fi). Each wireless device 310 can be a laptop, smartphone, tablet PC, wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, wireless speaker, wireless headset, wireless headset, wireless microphone, or any device communicating via a wireless communication link. In some embodiments, wireless device 310A can be an access point (AP), and wireless device 310B can be a console 110 or HWD 150. In some embodiments, wireless device 310A may be a console 110 operating as a soft access point, and wireless device 310B may be an HWD 150. In some embodiments, system environment 300 includes Figure 3 Wireless device 310 other than those shown.
[0038] In some embodiments, wireless devices 310A and 310B can operate according to the restricted TWT protocol / configuration / operation, while wireless device 310C can not operate according to the restricted TWT protocol / configuration / operation. For example, wireless devices 310A and 310B can be Wi-Fi devices with the capability to support extremely high throughput (EHT), while wireless device 310C can be a legacy Wi-Fi device without the capability to support EHT. In one example, wireless devices 310A and 310B can schedule a restricted service period and communicate with each other during the restricted service period. Wireless device 310A or 310B can transmit, unicast or broadcast, a signal or frame to cause other devices (e.g., wireless device 310C) to not transmit during the restricted service period and can avoid interference with the communication between wireless devices 310A and 310B.
[0039] In one aspect, wireless device 310A can also transmit, unicast or broadcast, a quiet element (or a quiet channel element) to disable wireless device 310C / prevent wireless device 310C from transmitting during a quiet period, as wireless device 310C can not support the restricted TWT protocol / operation, but can operate according to the indication / configuration of the quiet element (e.g., can operate according to the indication / configuration of the quiet element). The quiet period can overlap with the restricted service period, such that wireless device 310C can not transmit during the restricted service period in response to the quiet element. Meanwhile, wireless device 310B can selectively respond to the quiet element. For example, wireless device 310B can stop or not transmit during the quiet period according to the quiet element. Alternatively, wireless device 310B can ignore the quiet element and transmit data during the restricted service period regardless of (e.g., by ignoring or overriding) the quiet element. Wireless device 310B can determine to ignore the quiet element or operate according to the quiet element based on a defined rule or a separate indication that indicates whether wireless device 310B should ignore the quiet element.
[0040] In one example, wireless device 310A advertises a restricted TWT schedule by carrying a restricted TWT information element (IE) in a beacon frame, probe response frame, fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frame, or basic service set (BSS) discovery frame. An indication to ignore the quiet element can be provided with the restricted TWT IE. In this example, the indication to ignore the quiet element can apply to all member devices participating in a particular schedule (e.g., a schedule for restricted TWT). In one aspect, since a beacon frame is sent every time interval measured in time units (beacon scheduled transmission time (TBTT)), wireless device 310A can update the value of this indicator in the next beacon frame to be sent to change / control the timing / occurrence / enablement of restricted TWT operation. Thus, wireless device 310B can change or update its decision as to whether to ignore the quiet element for one or more beacons, one or more service periods (SPs) 404 (as shown, for example, in FIG. 4), and / or one or more durations. Figure 4
[0041] In one example, wireless device 310A provides an indication that indicates whether to ignore the quiet element during a setup procedure between wireless device 310A and wireless device 310B. In this example, the indication can be provided to a particular wireless device (e.g., wireless device 310B) for a particular schedule or SP 404 for restricted TWT operation.
[0042] By implementing the quiet element, one or more devices that do not have the capability to support restricted TWT operation (e.g., wireless device 310C) will not / may not interfere with the transmission of latency sensitive data between wireless devices 310A and 310B during a restricted service period, while wireless devices 310A and 310B, which have the capability to support restricted TWT operation, can be enabled (e.g., in an awake state) and transmit data during the service period regardless of the quiet element.
[0043] Figure 4 is a timing diagram 400 illustrating a TWT-based wake / sleep schedule according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless devices 310A and 310B can negotiate a predetermined or scheduled periodic time interval 406 and / or service periods (SPs) 404, 404', 404". In one example, the time interval 406 is or corresponds to a time of one frame (e.g., 11 ms) of presenting artificial reality. During the time interval 406, the wireless device 310A, the wireless device 310B, or both can be enabled during the SP 404 and can be disabled for the remaining duration of the time interval 406. During the SP 404, the wireless devices 310A and 310B can communicate data (e.g., artificial reality data) with each other. By disabling communication for the remaining duration of the time interval 406 (e.g., by putting one or both of the wireless devices 310A and 310B into a sleep mode or a low power mode), the wireless device 310A, the wireless device 310B, or both can reduce power consumption.
[0044] In one approach, the wireless device 310A or the wireless device 310B can transmit a signal or frame to unicast or broadcast to other devices (e.g., the wireless device 310C) to not transmit during the SP 404. The signal or frame can indicate a start time 402 of the time interval 406, an end time 408 of the time interval 406, the SP 404, etc. The signal or frame can be provided in a beacon frame, a probe response frame, a FILS discovery frame, or a BSS discovery frame. The signal or frame can also indicate which devices are allowed to communicate during the SP 404. In response to the signal or frame, other devices that can decode the signal or frame and operate according to such signal or frame can not transmit during the SP 404 to avoid interfering with the communication between the wireless devices 310A and 310B. For example, the wireless device 310C can transmit data after the end of the SP 404, but can disable transmission before the start time 408 of the next SP 404', regardless of whether the wireless device 310C has completed its transmission, such that the wireless device 310C can not interfere with the communication between the wireless devices 310A and 310B during the scheduled / restricted SPs 404 and 404'.
[0045] In one method, wireless device 310A or wireless device 310B can also transmit, unicast or broadcast, a silence element to cause one or more wireless devices to not transmit during the silence period 420. The silence element can be a signal or frame (or a portion of the signal or frame) that is compatible with legacy 802.11 protocols. The silence element can be transmitted before, after, or with the signal or frame that complies with the restricted TWT operation. In the case where wireless device 310C is a legacy wireless device and is not capable of operating according to the signal or frame that complies with the restricted TWT operation, wireless device 310C can still operate according to the silence element and not transmit during the silence interval (also referred to as the silence period) specified by the silence element. In one aspect, silence period 420 can completely or partially overlap with SP 404, such that wireless device 310C can refrain from transmitting or attempting to transmit during SP 404 in response to the silence element.
[0046] In one aspect, wireless device 310B, which has the capability to support the restricted TWT protocol, can receive the silence element and can selectively respond to the silence element. For example, wireless device 310B can refrain from transmitting during silence period 420 according to the silence element. Alternatively, wireless device 310B can ignore the silence element and can transmit data during restricted SP 404 regardless of the indication / instruction of the silence element. Wireless device 310B can determine to ignore the silence element or operate according to the silence element based on a predefined rule or an indication that indicates whether wireless device 310B should ignore the silence element. For example, wireless device 310A can transmit, unicast or broadcast, another indication that indicates that wireless device 310B can ignore the silence element. The indication can be transmitted before, after, or with the silence element. Wireless device 310B can determine to ignore the silence element in response to the indication and can perform communication with wireless device 310A during SP 404.
[0047] Figure 5is an example frame 500 including an indication that indicates whether another indication to cease transmitting during a service period can be ignored, according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the indication is provided in the broadcast recommendation subfield 510 or the broadcast TWT information subfield 520. In one example, a value 5 (or any unused value) in the broadcast recommendation subfield 510 can be designated / used to indicate a restricted TWT's SP 404, and members of the SP 404 that are allowed to communicate can ignore any overlapping quiet period 420 announced by a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 310A). In one example, an unused or reserved bit in the broadcast TWT information subfield 520 can be used to indicate a restricted TWT schedule or SP 404 (e.g., as indicated by the broadcast recommendation subfield being set to a value 4), and members of the SP 404 (e.g., wireless device 310B) can ignore any overlapping quiet period 420 announced / indicated / specified by the wireless device 310A.
[0048] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 600 of managing communications during a service period that overlaps with a quiet period, according to example embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the process 600 is performed by a wireless device 310B that can decode and operate according to the indication / configuration of a restricted TWT operation and a quiet element. In some embodiments, the process 600 is performed by other devices. In some embodiments, the process 600 includes more, less, or different elements than those shown in Figure 6 Figure 6
[0049] In one method, the wireless device 310B receives 610 a first indication (e.g., a quiet element) to disable transmitting during a quiet period 420. The first indication can be a quiet element that is compliant with IEEE 802.11 protocols. In one aspect, the quiet period 420 can overlap with a SP 404 of a restricted TWT operation / schedule to preclude communications between the wireless devices 310A and 310B. The first indication can be transmitted by the wireless device 310A to prevent the wireless device 310C from transmitting during the quiet period 420.
[0050] In one method, wireless device 310B can determine 620 whether to ignore / neglect the first indication. Wireless device 310B can determine to ignore the first indication according to a predetermined rule that instructs wireless device 310B to ignore the first indication. For example, the predetermined rule can specify that if a wireless device (e.g., wireless device 310B) that is a member of a restricted TWT schedule determines that a quiet period 420 specified / instructed by another wireless device (e.g., wireless device 310A) in a transmitted quiet element overlaps (e.g., partially or entirely) with an SP 404 determined according to the restricted TWT schedule, then the wireless device (e.g., wireless device 310B) can ignore the quiet element and be allowed to transmit during that SP 404. If the quiet period 420 overlaps with the SP 404, wireless device 310B can determine to ignore the first indication according to a second indication from wireless device 310A instructing wireless device 310B to ignore the first indication (or quiet element). Wireless device 310A can provide the second indication to wireless device 310B prior to, after, or with the first indication. Wireless device 310B can determine whether to ignore the first indication as instructed by the second indication.
[0051] Wireless device 310B can transmit 630 during the SP 404 that overlaps with the quiet period 420 in response to determining to ignore the first indication. Wireless device 310B can refrain 640 from transmitting during the quiet period 420 in response to determining to follow (or not ignore) the first indication.
[0052] Advantageously, by implementing the quiet element, one or more devices that do not have the capability to support restricted TWT operations (e.g., wireless device 310C) will not / may not interfere with the communication of latency sensitive data by other devices during the restricted service period. At the same time, one or more communication devices that have the capability to support restricted TWT operations (e.g., wireless device 310B) can still communicate data during the restricted service period regardless of the quiet element.
[0053] The various operations described herein can be implemented on a computer system. Figure 7A block diagram showing a representative computing system 714 that can be used to implement the present disclosure is shown. In some embodiments, console 110, HWD 150, wireless devices 310A, 310B, and 310C, or any combination thereof, can be implemented by computing system 714. Computing system 714 can be implemented, for example, as a consumer device such as a smartphone, other mobile phone, tablet computer, wearable computing device (e.g., smart watch, glasses, head wearable display), desktop computer, laptop computer, or it can be implemented with distributed computing devices. Computing system 714 can be implemented to provide VR, AR, MR experiences. In some embodiments, computing system 714 can include conventional computer components such as a processor (also called a processing unit) 716, a storage device (also called a memory) 718, a network interface 720, a user input device 722, and a user output device 724.
[0054] Network interface 720 can provide connectivity to a wide area network (e.g., the Internet) to which a wide area network (WAN) interface of a remote server system is also connected. Network interface 720 can include a wired interface (e.g., Ethernet) and / or a wireless interface implementing various RF data communication standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular data network standards (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, 60 GHz, LTE, etc.).
[0055] User input device 722 can include any device (or devices) by which a user can provide signals to computing system 714; computing system 714 can interpret these signals as indicative of a particular user’s request for information. User input device 722 can include any or all of a keyboard, touchpad, touchscreen, mouse or other pointing device, scroll wheel, click wheel, dial, button, switch, keypad, microphone, and multiple sensors (e.g., motion sensor, eye-tracking sensor, etc.), etc.
[0056] User output devices 724 can include any device that the computing system 714 can use to provide information to a user. For example, the user output devices 724 can include a display for displaying images generated by or communicated to the computing system 714. The display can incorporate various image generation technologies, such as liquid crystal displays (LCD), light-emitting diodes (LED) including organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), projection systems, cathode ray tube (CRT), etc., with supporting electronics (e.g., digital-to- analog or analog-to-digital converters, or signal processors, etc.). Devices such as touchscreens can be used both as input devices and as output devices. Output devices 724 can be provided in addition to or instead of the display. Examples include indicator lights, speakers, tactile “display” devices, and printers, etc.
[0057] Some implementations include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage and memory that store computer program instructions in a computer readable storage medium (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable medium). Many of the features described in this specification can be implemented as processes that are specified as a set of program instructions encoded on the computer readable storage medium. When read and executed by one or more processors, the program instructions cause the processors to perform the steps described in the program instructions. Program instructions or computer code can be stored in any computer readable storage medium, including floppy disks, hard disks, solid-state drives, optical storage (e.g., optical disks, Blu-ray disks, etc.), and non-volatile memory, such as magnetic or semiconductor memory. The various storage media can be used with the following embodiments. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing a high-level code, such as assembly language instructions (for a
[0058] It should be appreciated that the computing system 714 is illustrative and can take various modifications and variations. Computer systems used in connection with the present disclosure can have other functionalities not specifically described herein. Moreover, although the computing system 714 has been described with reference to a number of specific blocks, it is understood that the blocks are defined for convenience of description only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the functionality provided by the computing system. For example, different blocks can be located in the same facility, on the same server frame, or on the same motherboard. Also, the blocks need not correspond to physically distinct components. Multiple blocks can be configured to perform various operations by, for example, programming processors or providing suitable control circuitry, and various blocks can or can not be reconfigurable depending on how the initial configuration is obtained. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in various apparatuses including electronic devices implemented using any combination of circuitry and software.
[0059] Having now described some illustrative implementations, it is apparent that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, those acts and those elements can be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements and features discussed in connection with one implementation are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other implementations or implementations.
[0060] The hardware and data processing components used to implement various processes, operations, illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed with a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, a particular process and method can be performed by an electrical circuit comprising the processor. A memory (e.g., memory, storage, storage devices, etc.) can include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage, etc.) for storing data and / or computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers and modules described in the present disclosure. The memory can be or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, and can include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present disclosure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory is communicably connected to the processor and includes computer code for implementing one or more processes described herein (e.g., by the processing circuit and / or the processor).
[0061] This disclosure contemplates various methods, systems, and program products on any machine-readable medium for implementing various operations. Embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented using existing computer processors, or by special-purpose computer processors combined for this and other purposes for suitable systems, or by hardwired systems. Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure include various program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose computer or special-purpose computer, or other machine having a processor. As examples, such machine-readable media may include RAM, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), or may include other optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or may include any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and is accessible to a general-purpose computer or special-purpose computer, or other machine having a processor. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data that cause a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or a special-purpose processing machine to perform a function or a set of functions.
[0062] The words and terms used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “characterized as,” “characterized in,” and variations thereof herein means including the items listed thereafter, equivalents of those items, and additional items, as well as alternative embodiments specifically comprised of the items listed thereafter. In one embodiment, the system and method described herein consist of one of the described elements, actions, or components, various combinations of more than one of the described elements, actions, or components, or all of the described elements, actions, or components.
[0063] Any reference to an embodiment, element, or action of a system or method mentioned in the singular herein may also cover an embodiment that includes multiple such elements, and any reference to any embodiment, element, or action herein may also cover an embodiment that includes only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the systems or methods of this disclosure, their components, actions, or elements, to a singular or plural configuration. A reference to any action or element based on any information, action, or element may include that action or element is at least in part based on an embodiment of that information, action, or element.
[0064] Any of the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined with any other embodiment or example, and references to “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an embodiment,” etc. do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example, but instead are intended to refer to one of at least one embodiment or example. These terms are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Any embodiment can be included in or excluded from any embodiment or example in any combination with any other embodiment or example consistent with aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.
[0065] Where technical features are followed by follow by a reference sign in the appended drawings, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the drawings and are in no way limiting to the scope of any claim.
[0066] The systems and methods described herein can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the characteristics thereof as described herein. A reference to “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” or other term of degree, includes a variance of + / - 10% of a given measurement, unit, or range unless otherwise explicitly stated. Coupled elements can be electrically, mechanically, or physically coupled directly to one another or can be electrically, mechanically, or physically coupled to one another through intervening elements. Accordingly, the scope of the systems and methods described herein is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
[0067] The term “coupled” and variations thereof, include the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining can be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining can be achieved with the two members coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled to each other using a separate intervening member, and any additional intervening members coupled to one another, or with the two members coupled to each other using an intervening member that is integral to one of the two members as a single unitary body. If “coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term (e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” provided above is modified by the ordinary meaning of the additional term (e.g., “directly coupled” means that the joining of two members is without any separate intervening member), such that the narrower definition provided by the additional term is intended. Such coupling can be mechanical, electrical, or fluidic.
[0068] References to “or” can be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” can indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. A reference to “at least one of’ A and B’ can include only A, only B, as well as both A and B. Such references used in conjunction with “comprising” or other open terminology can include additional items.
[0069] Various modifications can be made to the described embodiments, e.g., in terms of the number, size, arrangement, and shape of various elements, the values of parameters (e.g., quantities, materials, colors, orientations), and the like, without departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed can be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the positions of elements can be reversed or otherwise changed, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions can be altered or varied. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions can also be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangements of the disclosed elements and operations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0070] References to the position (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “front,” “back,” etc.) of elements in the present disclosure can be made simply to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures. The orientation of various elements can be different according to other example embodiments, and such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a wireless communication device, a frame from a wireless communication node, the frame including a first indication for the wireless communication device to disable transmission during a quiet period; receiving, by the wireless communication device, another frame from the wireless communication node, the other frame including a second indication in a broadcast recommendation subfield; and determining, by the wireless communication device, to ignore the first indication for the quiet period in response to the second indication and in response to the quiet period overlapping a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising: performing or enabling, by the wireless communication device, the transmission during the quiet period in accordance with the determining.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the second indication includes a defined value in the broadcast recommendation subfield.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, the broadcast recommendation subfield is in one or more of the following group: a TWT information element (IE); a beacon frame; a probe response frame; a basic service set (BSS) discovery frame.
5. The method of any one of claims 1, 3, and 4, comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication device, an updated second indication from the wireless communication node after receiving the second indication; and determining, by the wireless communication device, to enable or perform the transmission during the quiet period in response to the updated second indication. the second indication is received during a setup procedure between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication node.
6. The method of any one of claims 1, 3, and 4, wherein, 7. A wireless communication device, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a frame from a wireless communication node and to receive another frame from the wireless communication node, the frame including a first indication for the wireless communication device to disable transmission during a quiet period, the other frame including a second indication in a broadcast recommendation subfield; and at least one processor configured to ignore the first indication for the quiet period in response to the second indication and in response to the quiet period overlapping a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device. the at least one processor is further configured to:
8. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein, perform or enable the transmission during the quiet period by ignoring the first indication. the second indication includes a defined value in the broadcast recommendation subfield.
9. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein, the broadcast recommendation subfield is in one or more of the following group: a TWT information element (IE); a beacon frame; a probe response frame; a basic service set (BSS) discovery frame.
10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein, 11. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein: the receiver is further configured to receive an updated second indication from the wireless communication node after receiving the second indication; and the at least one processor is further configured to enable or perform the transmission during the quiet period in response to the updated second indication. the second indication is received during a setup procedure between the wireless communication device and the wireless communication node.
12. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein, 13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions for causing at least one processor to: receive, by a receiver, a frame from a wireless communication node, the frame including a first indication to disable transmission by a wireless communication device during a quiet period; receive, by the receiver, another frame from the wireless communication node, the other frame including a second indication in a broadcast recommendation subfield; and determine, in response to the second indication and in response to the quiet period overlapping a restricted service period of a restricted target wake time (TWT) schedule of the wireless communication device, to ignore the first indication for the quiet period.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein, the program instructions further cause the at least one processor to: receive, by the receiver, an updated second indication from a wireless communication node after receiving the second indication; and determine, in response to the updated second indication, to enable or perform the transmission during the quiet period.
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