Communication method, method for putting an access point into sleep mode, corresponding access point, beacon frame and computer programs

Abstract

The invention relates to a communication method implemented by a telecommunications network access point that is in sleep mode, the communication method comprising: a) waking an analog part of a chain for processing radio signals to be transmitted by the access point; b) broadcasting, by the analog part of the processing chain, at least one beacon frame comprising at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in sleep mode; c) putting the analog part of the processing chain into sleep mode.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Communication method, Method for putting an access point into standby mode, access point, beacon frame and corresponding computer programs Technical Field

[0001] The invention falls within the general field of telecommunications.

[0002] It falls more specifically within the context of wireless access networks conforming to the IEEE (“Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers”) 802.11 family of standards or Wi-Fi networks (for “Wireless Fidelity”).

[0003] The invention more specifically aims at mechanisms for putting into standby mode and managing the standby state of an access point to such a Wi-Fi network. Previous technique

[0004] In a global context, where environmental concerns and economic imperatives converge, the rationalization of energy consumption has become a central pillar of policies and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable and balanced development.

[0005] Industrial companies, in particular, are increasingly aware of the importance of energy savings as a means of protecting the environment and promoting sustainable and virtuous economic growth. As such, and for many years now, reducing energy consumption has been central to the deployment of different generations of wireless access networks compliant with the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, or Wi-Fi networks.

[0006] Indeed, with Wi-Fi networks being massively deployed around the world, whether in private homes, businesses or many public places, they constitute a prime target for achieving energy savings.

[0007] As such, numerous solutions aimed at reducing the energy consumption of Wi-Fi networks have been developed or are under development.

[0008] A prime example of such a solution involves allowing a user device, or STA station, on this Wi-Fi network to enter a standby state, or, depending on the circumstances, to power down, for predetermined durations negotiated with the access point (AP) to which the STA is connected. During the STA's standby period, the AP stores in-memory data packets destined for the STA. The STA, in turn, is required to wake up from its standby state at regular intervals to intercept messages from the AP informing it of the potential availability of pending data packets. This STA standby mechanism is known by the acronym PSM, for "Power Save Mode."

[0009] To support the deployment of APs and multi-antenna STAs, mechanisms enabling the shutdown or standby mode of all or part of the radio signal processing chains intended for transmission by an STA have been developed in order to reduce the energy consumption of the latter without sacrificing its connectivity. An example of such a solution is the SMPS mechanism for "Spatial Multiplexing Power Save".

[0010] The latest energy consumption management solutions involve multi-link or MLD (Multi-Link Device) equipment. A multi-link STA (Single Access Terminal), or AP (Access Point), can aggregate several radio links to treat them as a single link by exposing a single MAC (Medium Access Control) address.

[0011] Although some ST As or APs are MLD equipment, for cost reasons they only have a single radio signal processing chain. Since they can only have one active link at a time, these STAs, known as MLSRs (Multi-Link Single Radio), switch from one radio link to another according to their transmission schedule.

[0012] To facilitate this switchover between different radio links while reducing the STA's energy consumption, an enhanced Multi-Link Single Radio (eMLSR) mechanism was developed. This eMLSR mechanism probes a secondary radio link to detect the transmission of a special frame. If such a special frame is detected, the STA must switch its subsequent transmissions to this secondary link.

[0013] Since most STAs are user devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, or sensors like temperature or motion sensors, they are generally battery-powered. This is why many solutions proposed to reduce the energy consumption of Wi-Fi networks primarily target STAs.

[0014] To go even further in this approach to reducing the energy consumption of Wi-Fi networks, it is interesting to consider other equipment making up these Wi-Fi networks such as APs.

[0015] Consequently, there is a need for new solutions for managing and / or reducing energy consumption that can be applied to APs. Description of the invention

[0016] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a communication method implemented by an access point of a telecommunications network in a standby state, the communication method comprising: a) a wake-up of an analog part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be transmitted by the access point; b) a broadcast, by the analog part of the processing chain, of at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; c) putting the analog part of the processing chain into standby mode.

[0017] Correspondingly, the invention relates to a beacon frame intended to be broadcast by an access point of a telecommunications network, the beacon frame comprising at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state.

[0018] In conjunction, the invention relates to a method for processing a beacon frame implemented by a station located in a geographically served area, called the coverage area, by a first access point of a telecommunications network in a standby state, the method comprising: the reception of at least one beacon frame broadcast by the first access point, including at least one parameter indicating that the first access point is in a standby state, the processing of the tag frame.

[0019] The invention is based on the concept of a phantom access point (AP). A phantom AP is an AP whose presence can be detected by stations (STAs) located within its coverage area, even though it is in standby mode. This detection occurs through the transmission of specific beacon frames, known as phantom frames, via the analog portion of its processing chain. Because the AP is in standby mode, STAs within its coverage area, although aware of its presence, cannot attach to it.

[0020] In the remainder of this document, the standby state of the access point (AP) refers to a condition in which the AP operates with reduced capacity. When in standby mode, many of the AP's hardware components are shut down; they cease to function. This is the case, for example, for the digital and analog sections of the beacon frame processing chain, the memory, some of the communication interfaces, and so on.

[0021] Similarly, the execution of certain software components of the access point (AP) may be stopped. This could be, for example, the upper part of the Media Access Control (MAC) layer, also known as the upper MAC layer. The MAC layer is an important part of the wireless communication protocol stack. It is responsible for managing communication between the different devices in a telecommunications network and ensuring fair and efficient use of the shared wireless medium. The MAC layer is generally divided into two main components: the upper MAC layer and the lower MAC layer.

[0022] More specifically, the upper MAC layer provides functions such as network management, security, and quality of service (QoS). It also implements protocols such as 802.111 for security and 802.11e for QoS. Finally, the upper MAC layer communicates with higher-level protocol layers, such as the network and transport layers, to provide the necessary network management, security, and QoS functionalities.

[0023] In such a scenario, the data stored in the AP's RAM is, for example, copied to non-volatile memory in order to preserve the state of software, such as the operating system, that was running at the time of entering sleep mode.

[0024] When in standby mode, an access point (AP) must still remain available to respond to specific events, such as receiving a wake-up signal. To this end, certain AP components, such as those enabling it to receive messages from the telecommunications network, are not placed in standby mode. Such a standby state of the AP is considered "full," as opposed to a "partial" standby state, during which the analog portion of the processing chain is awakened to transmit the phantom beacon frames according to the invention.

[0025] By indicating its presence via the emission of phantom beacon frames, the AP allows these STAs either to wait until its effective awakening (i.e. until it exits the sleep state) or to decide to attach to another AP if possible.

[0026] Indeed, the processing of the beacon frame by the station, in a particular implementation of the processing method, includes: the determination, from information contained in the beacon frame, of a duration remaining until the access point exits the standby state.

[0027] More specifically, when the time remaining until the access point exits sleep mode exceeds a threshold, the station, in a particular implementation of the processing method, performs the following steps: the identification of at least one other active access point within its coverage area, re-establishing a connection with the other access point.

[0028] Conversely, when the remaining time until the access point exits sleep mode is less than or equal to the threshold, the station proceeds to: re-establishing a connection with the first access point upon expiry of the remaining time until the first access point exits sleep mode.

[0029] Thus, an STA intercepting such a phantom beacon frame determines that it is located within the coverage area of ​​an AP of a Wi-Fi network, but that any attempt to attach to the Wi-Fi network via this AP is doomed to failure until this AP comes out of its sleep state (whether partial or complete).

[0030] A beacon frame, or "beacon," is a message broadcast periodically by the access point (AP), for example, every 100 milliseconds, to announce the availability of a Wi-Fi network. In addition to information about the AP itself, this message also includes information about the Wi-Fi network, allowing STAs within the coverage area to have the necessary information to connect to that Wi-Fi network via the AP, if needed.

[0031] More specifically, a typical beacon frame includes, among other things, an SSI D (Service Set Identifier) ​​of the Wi-Fi network, information about the supported protocols, for example 802.11n, 802.11be, etc., the data transmission rate (upstream, from the STA to the AP, and / or downstream, from the AP to the STA), and the frequency bands used, for example 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz (Gigahertz), etc. The beacon frame may also include information about the security protocols used to communicate with the STAs, such as WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (Wi-E Protected Access), or WPA2 (Wi-E Protected Access 2), etc.

[0032] However, such a beacon frame in the prior art is not configured to carry information relating to an AP's standby state.

[0033] The present invention advantageously proposes to exploit such a beacon frame to carry new information indicating that the AP is in a standby state and This gives rise to a phantom beacon frame. The invention can, for this purpose, utilize existing fields that are not used in conventional beacon frames.

[0034] Advantageously, such a modification of the classic standardized beacon frames allows their reuse in the context of the present invention, avoiding the creation of a new type of message.

[0035] It is of course also possible to create new fields, in addition to the existing fields, intended to carry the information that the AP sending the phantom beacon frame is in standby mode.

[0036] Like any radio signal transmitting equipment, the AP includes at least one chain for processing the radio signals it is intended to transmit.

[0037] Typically, such a radio processing chain includes: a digital component that encompasses all the processing applied to the digital signals transmitted to the AP for their transmission by the AP, such as encoding and modulation, and an analog part which covers the processing applied to the signals which have been processed by the digital part of the radio processing chain in preparation for their transmission by the AP antennas.

[0038] More specifically, the digital part of the AP radio processing chain includes, in particular but not exclusively, error correction or FEC for "Forward Error Correction", the processing of digital signals according to a given multiplexing scheme, e.g. the OFDM multiplexing scheme for "Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing", then the modulation of the signals obtained according to a given modulation scheme, e.g. a QAM modulation for "Quadrature Amplitude Modulation", etc.

[0039] Once all the desired digital processing has been applied to the signals to be transmitted, these digital signals are converted into analog signals using a digital-to-analog converter. The resulting analog signals are then processed by the analog section of the radio processing chain.

[0040] The analog part of the radio processing chain includes analog circuits such as mixers, oscillators, filters, amplifiers and one or more antennas designed to transmit the processed analog signals.

[0041] In the present solution, the phantom beacon frame to be broadcast is in a format ready to be processed by the analog part of the AP's radio transmission chain. This means, for example, that error correction, a multiplexing scheme, and a modulation scheme have already been applied to the phantom beacon frame during the implementation of the communication method that is the subject of the invention. It is then possible to activate only the analog part of the radio processing chain in order to broadcast the phantom beacon frame.

[0042] More specifically, the analog part of the radio processing chain comes out of standby mode during step a) and the appropriate analog processing is applied to the ghost beacon frame, the last step of this analog processing being the transmission of the signal analog processed carrying the information contained in the ghost beacon frame by the AP antenna(s) during step b). During the execution of these steps a) and b), the AP is in a partial standby state.

[0043] Once the ghost beacon frame has been broadcast, step c) returning to a standby state is implemented. The execution of step c) can also be triggered by the reception of a command message from a telecommunications network device.

[0044] By only using (and waking up) the analog part of the AP's radio transmission chain for the broadcast of the ghost beacon frame, this solution reduces the AP's energy consumption.

[0045] In specific modes of implementation of the communication process, the beacon frame is processed by a digital part of the processing chain prior to the access point being put into standby mode.

[0046] Storing such a pre-processed ghost beacon frame by the digital part of the radio transmission chain while the access point (AP) is active (i.e., before it switches to standby mode) helps reduce the AP's energy consumption. Indeed, since the ghost beacon frame has already been processed by the digital part of the radio transmission chain before the AP enters standby mode, there is no need to wake the AP up to allow the ghost beacon frame to be broadcast.

[0047] In particular modes of implementation of the communication process, the sequence of steps a) to c) is implemented according to a dissemination schedule.

[0048] Such a schedule, which can be stored with the phantom beacon frame prior to the AP being put into standby mode, includes the various dates and / or times at which the phantom beacon frame is intended to be broadcast. Thus, the phantom beacon frame may not be broadcast at regular time intervals.

[0049] In particular modes of implementation, the sequence of steps a) to c) is implemented periodically.

[0050] By broadcasting the ghost beacon frame at regular time intervals, we enable better interoperability of the present solution with the current ST As fleet.

[0051] In particular modes of implementation of the communication process, the sequence of steps a) to c) is implemented upon receipt of a command issued by an entity of the telecommunications network.

[0052] Receiving this command wakes up the analog part of the radio transmission chain and triggers the broadcast of the ghost beacon frame. This allows the analog part of the radio transmission chain to be completely switched off, eliminating the need to monitor the time remaining until its next wake-up phase. Such a command is, for example, received by a communication module configured to implement a) to c).

[0053] In particular modes of implementation of the communication process, the beacon frame also includes a parameter relating to an exit from the programmed standby state of the access point.

[0054] To allow STAs located within the AP's coverage area to decide whether it is more advantageous for them to wait for the AP to wake up or to attempt to attach to another AP, the ghost beacon includes, in one of its fields, information indicating the time remaining until the AP wakes up.

[0055] In such a case, the parameter relating to the exit from the scheduled sleep state of the access point may belong to the group including: a date for exiting standby mode for the access point; a number of beacon frames remaining to be broadcast until the access point exits sleep mode; a countdown leading to the access point exiting sleep mode.

[0056] In particular modes of implementation of the communication process, the beacon frame further includes at least one connection parameter intended to be filled by stations seeking to attach themselves to said access point.

[0057] This parameter excludes STAs that are unable to interpret the new information contained in the phantom beacon frame and treat it as a standard beacon frame. This prevents these STAs from making numerous unnecessary attempts to connect to the Wi-Fi network via the access point (AP). This allows the current solution to be implemented without the generation of STAs attempting to attach to the AP.

[0058] Indeed, in a particular implementation of the processing method, the processing of the beacon frame by the station includes the determination, from information contained in the beacon frame, of a connection parameter intended to be filled by the station.

[0059] More specifically, when the station does not meet the connection parameter, the processing procedure includes, in a particular implementation: - the identification of at least one second active access point within its coverage area, - re-establishing a connection with the second access point.

[0060] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for putting a telecommunications network access point into standby mode, the standby mode method comprising: obtaining at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; memorization of the tag frame; putting the access point into standby mode.

[0061] This method of putting an access point into standby mode offers the same advantages mentioned above as the communication method according to the invention. It can typically be implemented before triggering the implementation of a communication method according to the invention.

[0062] In specific modes of implementing standby mode for an access point, obtaining the beacon frame includes: a generation of the tag frame; a processing of the beacon frame by a digital part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be emitted by the access point.

[0063] In specific modes of implementation of the process of putting an access point into standby mode, this includes the reception of the beacon frame emitted by an entity of the telecommunications network.

[0064] In specific modes of implementation of the process of putting an access point into standby mode, the putting of the access point into standby mode is triggered by the memorization of the beacon frame.

[0065] Generating the ghost beacon frame prior to entering standby mode ensures that the radio processing chain is little or not used to transmit data to the ST As.

[0066] Thus, the digital part of the radio processing chain is available to process the ghost beacon frame. Once all the digital processing applied to the ghost beacon frame has been completed and it has been stored, the AP enters standby mode.

[0067] In particular modes of implementation of the process of putting an access point into standby mode, the putting of the access point into standby mode is triggered according to a standby schedule.

[0068] Such a calendar, which can be stored with the ghost beacon frame prior to the AP being put into standby mode, includes the different dates and / or times at which the AP enters standby mode.

[0069] In particular modes of implementation of the process of putting an access point into standby mode, the access point exits standby mode according to a schedule for exiting standby mode.

[0070] Such a schedule, which can be stored with the phantom beacon frame prior to the AP entering standby mode, includes the various dates and / or times at which the AP wakes up from standby. This wake-up schedule can coincide with the phantom beacon frame broadcast schedule or be a separate schedule.

[0071] In specific modes of implementation of the process of putting an access point into standby mode, the access point exits standby mode following the receipt of a command issued by an entity of the telecommunications network.

[0072] In one particular embodiment, it is conceivable that only the reception of this command from a device belonging to the telecommunications network has the capacity to fully wake up the access point (AP). For example, such a command can be received by a communication interface between the AP and the telecommunications network, such as an Ethernet port. This command can be of the Wake-on-WAN (Wide Area Network) type or of the Wake-on-LAN (Local Area Network) type. A Wake-on-WAN or Wake-on-LAN command allows a device on a telecommunications network to be woken from sleep mode remotely.

[0073] For example, this command may consist of an Ethernet frame, commonly called a "magic packet", containing the byte sequence "FF FF FF FF FF FF" followed by sixteen repetitions of the MAC address of the equipment to be woken up / shut down, possibly accompanied by a password.

[0074] In certain implementation modes, the process of putting an access point into standby mode includes the deletion of the processed beacon frame when the access point exits standby mode.

[0075] Thus, there is no risk of a phantom beacon frame being mistakenly broadcast by the AP, implying that the AP is in standby mode when it is actually active.

[0076] Correspondingly, the invention also relates to an access point of a telecommunications network comprising: a beacon frame acquisition module configured to obtain at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; a memory module configured to memorize the tag frame; a sleep mode module configured to put the access point into sleep mode; a communication module configured to: • wake up an analog part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be emitted by the access point; • distribute the processed tag frame; and • put the analog part of the processing chain into standby mode.

[0077] This access point offers the same advantages mentioned above as the communication method and the method for putting the AP into standby mode according to the invention.

[0078] The invention also relates to a station located in a geographical area served by an access point of a telecommunications network in a standby state, the station comprising: a receiving module configured to receive at least one beacon frame broadcast by the access point including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; a processing module configured to process the tag frame.

[0079] The invention also relates to a computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or more generally in an AP conforming to the invention and comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of a communication method as described above.

[0080] The invention also relates to a computer program on a recording medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer or more generally in an AP conforming to the invention and comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of a standby mode process as described above.

[0081] Each of these programs can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0082] The invention also relates to an information carrier or a recording medium readable by a computer, and comprising instructions for a computer program as mentioned above.

[0083] The information or recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing programs. For example, the medium may include a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a hard drive, or a flash memory.

[0084] On the other hand, the information or recording medium can be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be carried via an electrical or optical cable, by radio link, by wireless optical link or by other means.

[0085] The programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded onto an Internet-type network.

[0086] Alternatively, the information or recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which a program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the processes according to the invention.

[0087] It can also be envisaged, in other embodiments, that the processes according to the invention and the AP according to the invention have in combination all or part of the aforementioned characteristics. Brief description of the drawings

[0088] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of an embodiment without being limiting in any way. In the figures: [Fig. 1] Figure 1 represents a communication system in a telecommunications network, according to the invention, in a particular embodiment; [Fig. 2] Figure 2 schematically represents the hardware architecture of a computer on which the AP according to the invention is based, belonging to the communication system of Figure 1; [Fig. 3] Figure 3 represents, in the form of a flowchart, the main steps of a method for putting an AP into standby mode according to the invention, as implemented by an AP conforming to the invention belonging to the communication system of Figure 1; [Fig. 4] Figure 4 represents an example of a simplified structure of a ghost beacon frame according to the invention, [Fig. 5] Figure 5 represents, in the form of a flowchart, the main steps of a communication process according to the invention, as implemented by an AP conforming to the invention belonging to the communication system of Figure 1; [Fig. 6] Figure 6 represents, in the form of a flowchart, the main steps of a beacon frame processing method according to the invention, as implemented by an STA belonging to the communication system of Figure 1. Description of the invention

[0089] Figure 1 represents a communication system 1, according to the invention in a particular embodiment.

[0090] In this embodiment, system 1 comprises: at least one AP 2 access point of an NW telecommunications network, conforming to the invention, and including in particular a CSTR chain for processing radio signals intended to be emitted by IAP2; at least one user device or STA 3 station capable of interpreting the ghost beacon frames conforming to the invention, and at least one user equipment or STA 4 station, known as STA Legacy, which is not capable of interpreting the ghost beacon frames conforming to the invention.

[0091] In the following description and in Figure 1, for the sake of simplification, only two STAs located in the geographical area served by AP 2 are considered. Of course, a higher number of STAs can be considered.

[0092] In the example in Figure 1, IAP2 is an AP as defined by any of the standards in the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (with the adaptations necessary for the implementation of the invention, described below). When active, AP2 regularly transmits the classic beacon frames mentioned previously to indicate its presence to STAs 3 and 4 and the possibility for them to attach to the NW network.

[0093] Such classic beacon frames are defined, for example, in section 10.3.3.2 of the 802.11-1997 document entitled "Standard for Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications" published on November 18, 1997.

[0094] In this context and in the embodiment described herein, STA 3 is a station as defined by any one of the standards in the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (with the adaptations necessary for the implementation of the invention, described below). It is assumed here that STA 3 is capable of interpreting all the information contained in the phantom beacon frames broadcast by AP 2 in accordance with the invention.

[0095] The Legacy 4 STA is also a station as defined by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. However, it is assumed here that this Legacy 4 STA is not capable of interpreting certain information contained in the phantom beacon frames broadcast by the AP 2 in accordance with the invention. This could include, for example, stations conforming to the 802.11be standard or to standards belonging to the 802.11 family prior to the 802.1be standard. These aspects are also discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 6.

[0096] The processing applied to the ghost beacon frames by STAs 3 and 4 is described in more detail with reference to Figure 6.

[0097] In the embodiment described herein, the AP 2, STA 3, and STA Legacy 4 have the hardware architecture of a computer 5 as illustrated in Figure 2. This hardware architecture includes, in particular, a PROC processor, a MEM random access memory, a ROM read-only memory, an NVM non-volatile memory, and COM communication means enabling the AP 2 to communicate with the STA 3 and / or the STA Legacy 4 and with one or more devices (not shown in the figures) belonging to the NW network. The NVM non-volatile memory constitutes a storage medium according to the invention, readable by the PROC processor, on which one or more program(s) according to the invention are stored.

[0098] A first program, noted PROG1 when the hardware architecture of computer 5 is that of AP 2, is stored in the non-volatile NVM memory and includes instructions defining the main steps of a communication method according to the invention as implemented by AP 2. It more specifically defines the functional module of AP 2, which relies on and / or controls all or part of the PROC, MEM, ROM, NVM, and COM elements of computer 5 mentioned above.

[0099] In the embodiment described here, this first program PROG1 defines in particular the following functional module of AP 2 (represented in Figure 1), which is activated to broadcast phantom frames when AP 2 is in a partial standby state: a 2A communication module configured for: • wake up an analog Panalog part of the CTSR chain for processing radio signals intended to be emitted by the AP 2; • broadcast a ghost beacon frame conforming to the invention; and • put the analog Panalog part of the CTSR processing chain into standby mode.

[0100] As mentioned earlier in this document, the AP 2 includes at least one CTSR radio signal processing chain for the signals it is intended to transmit.

[0101] Typically, such a CTSR processing chain includes: a digital part Pnum which covers all the processing such as encoding and modulation, applied to the digital signals transmitted to AP 2 from one or more devices of the NW network for the purpose of their transmission by AP 2, and an analog part Panalog which covers the processing applied to the signals which have been processed by the digital part Pnum of the CTSR radio processing chain for the purpose of their transmission by the antenna(s) of AP 2. This analog part Panalog of the CTSR radio processing chain is, for example, controlled by the communication module 2A.

[0102] A second program, denoted PROG2 when the hardware architecture of computer 5 is that of AP 2, is stored in the NVM non-volatile memory and includes instructions defining the main steps of a sleep mode procedure according to the invention such that it is implemented by the AP 2. It more specifically defines the functional modules of the AP 2, which rely on and / or control all or part of the PROC, MEM, ROM, NVM, and COM elements of the computer 5 mentioned previously.

[0103] In the embodiment described here, this second program PROG2 defines in particular the following functional modules of the AP 2 (represented in Figure 1), which are activated to put the AP 2 into standby mode: a 2B phantom beacon frame acquisition module configured to obtain at least one phantom beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that AP 2 is in a standby state; a 2C memorization module configured to memorize the ghost beacon frame; a 2D standby module configured to put AP 2 into standby mode.

[0104] A third program, designated PROG3 when the hardware architecture of computer 5 is that of the STA 3 or STA 4 Legacy, is stored in the non-volatile NVM memory and contains instructions defining the main steps of a method for processing a ghost beacon frame according to the invention as implemented by the STA 3 or STA 4 Legacy. More specifically, it defines the functional modules of the STAs, which rely on and / or control all or part of the PROC, MEM, ROM, NVM, and COM elements of computer 5 mentioned above.

[0105] In the embodiment described here, this third program PROG3 defines in particular the following functional module of the STA 3 and STA 4 Legacy (represented in Figure 1), which are activated to process ghost frames when the AP2 is in a partial standby state: a 3A receiving module configured to receive at least one ghost beacon frame broadcast by the access point including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; A 3B processing module configured to process the ghost beacon frame. It should be noted that the 3B processing module differs in the processing it applies to the received ghost beacon frame, depending on whether it is a module from an STA 3 or a module from an STA 4 Legacy.

[0106] The operation of modules 3A and 3B is detailed further later with reference to the steps of the ghost beacon frame processing method according to the invention.

[0107] In the remainder of this document, the standby state of the AP 2 refers to a condition in which the AP 2 operates with reduced capacity. When in standby mode, many of the AP's hardware components are shut down, i.e., they cease to function. This is the case, for example, for the digital (Pnum) and analog (Ranalog) sections of the CTSR processing chain, as well as the ROM, NVM, and other components.

[0108] Similarly, the execution of certain IAP2 software components can be stopped.

[0109] When in standby mode, AP 2 remains available to respond to specific events, such as receiving a wake-up signal. To this end, certain AP 2 components, such as the PROC, MEM, and COM elements that enable it to receive messages from the NW telecommunications network, are not activated. in a state of alertness.

[0110] In the remainder of this document, the standby state described above will be referred to as the "full" standby state of AP 2 as opposed to the "partial" standby state during which the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR processing chain is woken up to proceed with the broadcasting of the phantom beacon frames.

[0111] The operation of the AP 2 modules 2A to 2D is detailed further later with reference to the steps of the communication and standby processes according to the invention.

[0112] Figure 3 describes the main steps of the AP 2 standby method according to the invention, in a particular embodiment in which it is implemented by the AP 2.

[0113] In an E000 step, the AP 2, which is in active state, triggers its standby state. When in active state, AP 2 behaves in a classic way: it broadcasts at regular time intervals (e.g. every 100 ms) a beacon frame indicating the availability of a Wi-F network to which STA 3 and STA Legacy 4 can connect by attaching to AP 2. AP 2 can also exchange data with these two STAs when they are connected to the Wi-F network via it.

[0114] As is known, a beacon frame includes information about the Wi-F network itself which allows STAs located in the coverage area of ​​AP 2 to have the necessary information to, if necessary, attach to the Wi-F network.

[0115] More specifically, a classic beacon frame includes, among other things, an SSI D identifier of the Wi-Fi network, information relating to the supported protocols, the data transmission rate, and the frequency bands used, for example, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, etc. Such a "classic" beacon frame broadcast by AP 2 can be interpreted by STA 3 and by STA Legacy 4.

[0116] In a first example, the AP 2's sleep state can be triggered automatically according to a given sleep state schedule, stored in the AP 2's non-volatile NVM memory.

[0117] In a second example, the AP 2 can be put into standby mode by receiving a command from equipment on the NW network (for example, a Wi-F controller that supervises several APs, an AP 2 management tool, etc.).

[0118] Finally, IAP2 can be put into standby mode by receiving a command from an NW network device according to a standby schedule. It should be noted that AP2 can also be put into standby mode by other events.

[0119] In a first implementation of the standby mode method according to the invention, AP 2 receives (E010), from equipment belonging to the NW network, a message comprising a Ghost-Fr beacon frame intended to be broadcast by AP 2 when the latter is in standby mode. This step E010 is implemented, for example, by AP 2's acquisition module 2B.

[0120] A Ghost-Fr beacon frame conforming to the invention is distinct from a beacon frame classic as defined in the state of the art and mentioned above in that it conveys information relating to a standby state of the AP2.

[0121] More specifically, in the embodiment described here, a Ghost-Fr beacon frame is a beacon frame in which certain existing, unused fields are used to carry information indicating that AP 2 is in a standby state. This information regarding the standby state of IAP2 can also be contained, in an alternative embodiment, in one or more new fields of a beacon frame created specifically for this purpose.

[0122] Figure 4 represents an example of a simplified structure of a Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame according to the invention.

[0123] Such a Ghost-Fr beacon frame includes a MAC header and a frame body. The MAC header includes several fields, notably information related to the destination of the Ghost-Fr beacon frame, the cipher suite used for data encryption, and the data rate.

[0124] The frame body comprises a first group of mandatory fields and at least a second group of optional fields. Every tag frame, and by extension, every Ghost-Fr tag frame, includes at least all the mandatory fields in its frame body.

[0125] The Mandatory fields consist of: a "Timestamp" field relating to the timestamp, it includes for example a reference time information intended to be used by STAs connected to the Wi-Fi network to synchronize with the NW network; a "Beacon Interval" field indicating the duration of the time interval separating the broadcast of two consecutive beacon frames, e.g. 100 ms; a "Capability" field containing information relating to the capacity of the NW network; and an SSID field containing the Wi-Fi network identifier.

[0126] As is known, the "Capability" field is defined to carry information about the NW telecommunications network, such as the network type, for example, ESS for "Extended Service Set," in the case where AP 2 belongs to a set of APs sharing the same SSI D. The "Capability" field can also carry information about the preamble type of the beacon frame, e.g., "Short Preamble," or indicate the presence, in the beacon frame, of other fields such as a field carrying Quality of Service (QoS) information, etc. Such a "Capability" field is defined in section 8.4.1.4 of the ISO 802.11-2012 document entitled "Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific Requirements - Part 11: Wireless LAN - Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications," published on March 29, 2012.

[0127] This solution, in the embodiment described here, proposes more specifically to use one of the fields from the optional field group to introduce information related to the sleep state of AP2. Thus, in Figure 4, a Flag parameter is stored in one of the optional fields of the frame body of the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame. The presence of this Flag parameter in one of the optional fields of the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame body means that IAP 2, which originated the broadcast of this Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame, is in a sleep state.

[0128] In other embodiments, when the Flag parameter is set to 1, it means that the IAP2 originating the broadcast of this Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame is in standby mode. Conversely, when the Flag parameter is set to 0, it means that the IAP2 originating the broadcast is active and that the frames it broadcasts are classic beacon frames and no longer Ghost-Fr phantom frames.

[0129] As an example, the Flag parameter can be included in the optional "Time Advertisement element" field defined in the 802.11-2012 document entitled "Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and information exchange between systems - Local and metropolitan area networks - Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications", published on March 29, 2012.

[0130] In variant embodiments of the invention, the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame further includes, in other optional fields of the frame body, at least one parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of IAP2.

[0131] Such a parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of IAP2 can be: a date for exiting the AP 2 standby state; a number of Ghost-Fr phantom frames remaining to be broadcast until AP 2 exits standby state; a countdown leading to the AP 2 exiting sleep mode.

[0132] This list is provided as an example and is not exhaustive or restrictive. It should be noted that AP 2 may use one or more of these pieces of information related to exiting AP 2's scheduled sleep state. For the sake of simplicity, the information related to exiting AP 2's scheduled sleep state used by AP 2 is the date AP 2 exited sleep state.

[0133] In other embodiment variants that can be combined with the previously described embodiment variants, the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame further includes at least one connection parameter intended to be filled by STAs seeking to attach to AP 2.

[0134] This connection parameter allows STA Legacy 4 to be excluded, which is not able to interpret the Flag parameter included in the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame and which treats the latter as a classic beacon frame.

[0135] Such a connection parameter can, for example, take the following form. The mandatory "Capability" field includes subfields, among which are the "IBSS" subfield (for independent Basic Service Set) and the "Short Slot Time" subfield.

[0136] The subfield "IBSS" is used, in a way that is well known, to indicate that the communication takes place in an "ad hoc" type network, that is to say, a wireless network in which each STA communicates directly with the other STAs without going through an AP acting as a router. When the communication between STAs is an "ad hoc" type communication, the "IBSS" subfield has the value 1.

[0137] The "Short Stock Time" subfield, meanwhile, includes a parameter that relates to the minimum time interval between the transmission of two consecutive frames. In Wi-Fi networks, when the "Short Stock Time" subfield has a value of 1, it means that the time interval between the transmission of two consecutive frames is short, generally less than 10 microseconds, compared to 20 microseconds when the "Short Stock Time" subfield has a value of 0.

[0138] Simultaneously encoding the value of these two subfields to 1 leads to an inconsistency at the level of Legacy STAs, such as Legacy STA 4, which are then unable to process such a tag frame.

[0139] Such inconsistency is due to differences in configuration and operation between "ad hoc" networks and Wi-Fi networks capable of operating with short time intervals between the transmission of two consecutive frames.

[0140] More specifically, in an ad hoc network where each STA communicates directly with the other STAs, without going through an AP, it is advantageous to use a long time interval between the transmission of two consecutive frames. This allows the STAs to adapt to potential interference and varying transmission conditions, as ad hoc networks do not benefit from the synchronization and centralized management offered by an AP.

[0141] Thus, in a classic way, the two subfields "IBSS" and "Short Short Time" do not take the value 1 at the same time because these values ​​imply incompatible modes of operation.

[0142] Faced with this inconsistency, Legacy STAs do not seek to multiply attempts to connect to the Wi-Fi network via IAP2.

[0143] STAs capable of implementing the invention, such as STA 3, know, in the embodiment described here, how to interpret these beacon frames in which the subfields "IBSS" and "Short Short Time" both have the value 1 for what they are, namely Ghost-Fr phantom frames broadcast by an AP 2 in a standby state.

[0144] In such a scenario, given that the STAs capable of implementing the invention can interpret beacon frames in which the subfields "I BSS" and "Short Slot Time" both have a value of 1 as being Ghost-Fr phantom frames, it is possible, in certain embodiments, to omit the Flag parameter to indicate that a beacon frame is a Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame and not a standard beacon frame. Thus, in these particular embodiments, the fact that the subfields "I BSS" and "Short Slot Time" both have a value of 1 constitutes at least one parameter indicating that the APse is in a standby state as defined by the invention.

[0145] The Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame received during step E010 can be received together with the command received from an NW network device triggering IAP2 to standby.

[0146] In this first implementation of the AP 2 standby process, the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame received at step E010 is in a format ready to be processed by the Ranalog analog part of the CTSR radio transmission chain of AP 2.

[0147] This means, for example, that error correction, a multiplexing scheme and a modulation scheme were applied to the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame prior to its transmission to AP 2.

[0148] Upon receipt of this Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame, the latter is memorized (E030), for example in the 2C memorization module of AP 2.

[0149] When the Ghost-Fr beacon frame has been memorized, AP 2 enters (E040) a standby state. To do this, AP 2 puts all of its modules 2A to 2D into standby or powers off, as well as the ROM, NVM, Pnum digital section, and Ranalog analog section of the CTSR processing chain. Since module 2D is configured to put AP 2 into standby, it will put modules 2A to 2C into standby or powers off, along with the ROM, NVM, Pnum digital section, and Fbnalog analog section of the CTSR processing chain, before entering its own standby state.

[0150] In a second implementation of the standby mode method according to the invention, following step (E000), AP 2 generates a Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame (E020). To do this, the acquisition module 2B fills the various fields of the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame with the appropriate information.

[0151] Once the Ghost-Fr beacon frame is generated by the AP 2's Ghost Frame Acquisition Module 2B, it is processed by the Pnum digital section of the IAP2 CTSR radio signal processing chain (E021). As mentioned above, this processing includes, for example, error correction, the application of a multiplexing scheme such as OFDM, and the application of a modulation scheme such as QAM. Of course, other multiplexing and modulation schemes can be applied during the processing of the Ghost-Fr beacon frame.

[0152] Once all the processing of the digital part Pnum of the CTSR radio signal processing chain has been applied to the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame, the latter is stored (E030), for example in the 2C storage module of the AP 2.

[0153] Once the Ghost-Fr beacon frame is memorized, the AP 2 enters (E040) a standby state. To do this, the AP 2 puts all of its modules 2A to 2D into standby or powers off, as well as the ROM, NVM, Pnum digital section, and Ranalog analog section of the CTSR processing chain.

[0154] In embodiments common to the first and second implementations, the AP 2 is brought into standby mode (E040) by memorizing the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame.

[0155] The standby mode method of the invention also includes a step of exiting standby mode of the AP 2 (E050).

[0156] Thus, in a first example, the AP 2 can be automatically triggered to wake up from sleep mode according to a given wake-up schedule stored in the AP 2's NVM non-volatile memory. This wake-up schedule can be provided to the AP 2 at the same time as the sleep mode schedule.

[0157] In a second example, the AP2 can be woken from sleep mode by receiving a command from a device on the NW network. Such a command is, for example, a Wake on LAN command as described earlier in this document.

[0158] As another example, IAP2 can be woken from sleep mode by receiving a Wake-on-LAN command according to a wake-up schedule. It should be noted that IAP2 can also be woken from sleep by other events.

[0159] 11. It should be noted that exiting sleep mode can, in certain cases, trigger the deletion (E060) of the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame stored in the AP 2 memory module 2C. This limits the risk of such a Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame being inadvertently transmitted while AP 2 is active.

[0160] Figure 5 describes the main steps of the communication process according to the invention, in a particular embodiment in which it is implemented by the AP 2.

[0161] It should be noted that this communication method is implemented only when the AP 2 is in standby mode. More specifically, this method is implemented following the execution of step E040 of the standby mode procedure described with reference to Figure 3. The execution of the communication method according to the invention ends when step E050 of the wake-up mode procedure is implemented.

[0162] As discussed previously, when the AP 2 is in a standby state, its various modules 2A to 2D are also in a standby state or are switched off.

[0163] To indicate its presence and inform the STAs within its coverage area that it is in standby mode, AP 2 only wakes up module 2A and the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain (G010), while the other AP components remain in standby mode. If the Ghost-Fr beacon frame has been stored in storage module 2C, the latter is also woken up to transmit the Ghost-Fr beacon frame to the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain.

[0164] In a first example of implementation of the communication process, the wake-up of the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can be triggered automatically according to a given broadcast schedule of a Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame stored in the non-volatile NVM memory of AP 2 prior to the AP 2 being put into standby mode. As an example, this broadcast schedule of a phantom beacon frame can be stored at the same time as the standby mode schedule and / or the wake-up schedule.

[0165] In a second example of implementing the communication method, the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can be woken up by receiving a command from a device on the NW network. Such a command is, for example, a Wake-on-LAN command as described earlier in this document, which specifically targets communication module 2A.

[0166] As another example, the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can be woken up by receiving a Wake-on-LAN command according to the broadcast schedule of a Ghost-Fr beacon frame. It should be noted that the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can also be woken up by other events.

[0167] In a first particular embodiment, AP 2 receives (G020), from equipment belonging to the NW network, a message including the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame intended to be broadcast by AP 2.

[0168] In a second particular embodiment, AP 2 obtains (G030) the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame intended to be broadcast by AP 2 by querying the 2C storage module in which it was stored during step E030 of the AP 2 standby process.

[0169] Regardless of the implementation method used, the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame to be broadcast is presented in a format ready to be processed by the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio transmission chain.

[0170] Once the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain has been woken up and the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame to be broadcast has been obtained, the latter is processed by the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain (G040).

[0171] More specifically, the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain applies the appropriate analog processing (e.g., filtering, amplification, etc.) known to those skilled in the art to the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame, the last step of these analog processing being the transmission of the processed analog signal carrying the information contained in the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame by the AP 2 antenna(s).

[0172] Once the Ghost-Fr beacon frame has been broadcast (G040), the Ranalog analog section of the CTSR radio signal processing chain is returned to standby mode (G050). Following this G050 step, AP 2 is once again in standby mode.

[0173] Just as is the case for the wake-up of the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain, the putting into standby state of the analog Ranalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain is, in a first example of implementation, triggered automatically in accordance with the broadcast schedule of a Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame.

[0174] In a second implementation example, the standby state of the Ranalog analog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can be triggered by the reception of a command from equipment on the NW network.

[0175] Finally, the standby state of the analog Panalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can be triggered by the reception of a command received according to the broadcast schedule of a Ghost-Fr beacon frame. It should be noted that the standby state of the analog Panalog part of the CTSR radio signal processing chain can also be triggered by the occurrence of other events.

[0176] It should be noted that steps G010 to G050 of the communication process can be implemented at regular or irregular time intervals, or even on demand. steps can be implemented for all or part of the duration of the AP 2 standby state.

[0177] Figure 6 describes the main steps of the ghost beacon frame processing method according to the invention, in a particular embodiment in which it is implemented by the STA 3 and / or by the STA 4 Legacy.

[0178] It should be noted that this Ghost-Fr beacon frame processing method is implemented only when the AP2 is in standby mode. More specifically, this method is implemented following the execution of step G010 of the communication process described with reference to Figure 5. The execution of the Ghost-Fr beacon frame processing method according to the invention ends when step G050 of the communication process is implemented.

[0179] In order to indicate its presence and to inform the STAs located in its coverage area that it is in a state of standby, AP 2 regularly broadcasts Ghost-Fr beacon frames.

[0180] In step F010, an STA located within the coverage area of ​​AP 2 intercepts a Ghost-Fr beacon frame. This step is implemented by module 3A of the STA.

[0181] As discussed above, such a Ghost-Fr beacon frame is a beacon frame that uses certain existing, unused fields to carry information indicating that AP 2 is in a standby state. This information regarding the standby state of AP 2 can also be contained, in an alternative embodiment, in one or more new fields of a beacon frame created specifically for this purpose.

[0182] More specifically, such a Ghost-Fr beacon frame includes in a first embodiment variant, at least one parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of AP 2 and at least one connection parameter intended to be filled by STAs seeking to attach to AP 2.

[0183] As a reminder, such a parameter relating to exiting the programmed sleep state of the AP2 can be: a date for exiting the AP 2 standby state; a number of Ghost-Fr phantom frames remaining to be broadcast until AP 2 exits standby state; a countdown leading to the AP 2 exiting sleep mode.

[0184] The Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame intercepted by the STA is then processed by the 3B processing module (F020).

[0185] In this first variant of the embodiment, the processing module 3B identifies (F021), in one of the fields of the Ghost-FR phantom frame, the connection parameter intended to be filled by the STA.

[0186] This connection parameter allows STA Legacy 4 devices to be excluded, as they are not able to interpret the Flag parameter included in the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame indicating that AP 2 is in a standby state.

[0187] Such a connection parameter might, for example, take the following form. The mandatory "Capability" field includes subfields, among them the "IBSS" subfield and the "Short Slot Time" subfield. As mentioned previously, simultaneously setting the value of both of these subfields to 1 leads to an inconsistency in Legacy STAs, such as the Legacy 4 STA, which are unable to process such a beacon frame. Due to this inconsistency, a Legacy 4 STA does not populate the connection parameter.

[0188] Faced with such an inability to fill the connection parameter, the STAs 4 Legacy do not seek to multiply attempts to connect to the Wi-Fi network via IAP2.

[0189] Thus, when the STA that intercepted the Ghost-Fr beacon frame is unable to fill in the connection parameter and turns out to be an STA 4 Legacy, the STA 4 Legacy's 3B processing module identifies (F022) at least one second active AP in whose coverage area the STA 4 Legacy is located and establishes (F023) a connection with this second AP

[0190] If the STA 4 Legacy is not within the coverage area of ​​any AP other than AP 2, it no longer processes any of the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frames broadcast by AP 2 until the latter comes out of its standby state.

[0191] Otherwise, when the STA that intercepted the Ghost-Fr phantom beacon frame is able to interpret these beacon frames in which the subfields "IBSS" and "Short Slot Time" both have the value 1 for what they are, namely Ghost-Fr phantom frames, and is found to be an STA 3 capable of interpreting phantom beacon frames conforming to the invention, the processing module 3B of the STA 3 determines (F030), from the parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of the AP 2, a duration remaining until the exit from the programmed sleep state of the AP 2.

[0192] Indeed, as mentioned above, the STAs 3 capable of implementing the invention are configured to interpret beacon frames in which the subfields "IBSS" and "Short Slot Time" both have a value of 1 as Ghost-Fr frames broadcast by an AP 2 in a standby state.

[0193] When the time remaining until AP 2 exits sleep mode exceeds a Thresh threshold, the STA 3 processing module identifies (F031) at least one other active AP within whose coverage area STA 3 is located and establishes (F032) a connection with that other AP

[0194] Such a Thresh threshold can be set at several seconds, several minutes, or even several days. For example, the Thresh threshold could be set at 12 hours. Thus, it could be agreed, for example by the manufacturer of the STA 3, that the device can remain without a connection to an active access point for a period of 12 hours, but not beyond.

[0195] As a corollary, when the time remaining until the first access point wakes up is less than or equal to the Thresh threshold, the STA 3 processing module 3B waits for the time remaining until the AP 2 wakes up to expire and establishes (F040) a connection with the AP 2 when it is active again.

[0196] In a second embodiment of the method for processing a ghost beacon frame, the Ghost-Fr ghost beacon frame broadcast by AP 2 includes only the parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of AP 2.

[0197] In this second implementation of the ghost beacon frame processing method, steps F021 to F023 are not performed. In such a scenario, if the STA that intercepted the ghost frame broadcast by AP2 is a Legacy STA 4, it will be unable to correctly interpret this beacon frame and will repeatedly attempt to connect to the Wi-Fi network via IAP2.

Claims

Demands

1. A communication method implemented by an access point of a telecommunications network in a standby state, the communication method comprising: a) a wake-up of an analog part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be transmitted by the access point; b) a broadcast, by the analog part of the processing chain, of at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; c) putting the analog part of the processing chain into standby mode.

2. A communication method according to claim 1 in which the beacon frame is processed by a digital part of the processing chain prior to the access point being put into standby mode.

3. A communication method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sequence of steps a) to c) is implemented: according to a predetermined broadcast schedule; or periodically; or upon receipt of an order issued by an entity in the telecommunications network.

4. A communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the beacon frame further comprises a parameter relating to an exit from the programmed sleep state of the access point.

5. A communication method according to claim 4, wherein the parameter relating to exiting the programmed sleep state of the access point belongs to the group comprising: a date for exiting standby mode for the access point; a number of beacon frames remaining to be broadcast until the access point exits sleep mode; a countdown leading to the access point exiting sleep mode.

6. A communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the beacon frame further comprises at least one connection parameter intended to be filled by stations seeking to attach to said access point.

7. A method for putting a telecommunications network access point into a standby state, the standby method comprising: obtaining at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; storing the beacon frame; putting the access point into standby mode.

8. A method for putting an access point into a standby state according to claim 7, wherein obtaining the beacon frame comprises: a generation of the tag frame; a processing of the beacon frame by a digital part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be emitted by the access point.

9. Method of putting an access point into standby mode according to claim 7 wherein obtaining the beacon frame includes receiving the beacon frame from a telecommunications network entity.

10. A method for putting an access point into a standby state according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the access point is brought into a standby state by: memorizing the tag frame; or according to a standby schedule.

11. A method for putting an access point into a standby state according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the access point wakes up from the standby state: upon receiving a command issued by a telecommunications network entity; or according to a schedule for exiting a state of standby.

12. Method of putting an access point into standby mode according to any one of claims 7 to 11 comprising deleting the processed beacon frame when the access point wakes up from standby mode.

13. Beacon frame intended to be broadcast by an access point of a telecommunications network, the beacon frame comprising at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state.

14. Access point of a telecommunications network comprising: a beacon frame acquisition module configured to obtain at least one beacon frame including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; a memory module configured to memorize the tag frame; a sleep mode module configured to put the access point into sleep mode; a communication module configured for: • wake up an analog part of a radio signal processing chain intended to be emitted by the access point; • broadcast the stored beacon frame; and • put the analog part of the processing chain into standby mode.

15. A method for processing a beacon frame implemented by a station located in a geographically served area, called the coverage area, by a first access point of a telecommunications network in a standby state, the method comprising: the reception of at least one beacon frame broadcast by the first access point, including at least one parameter indicating that the first access point is in a standby state, the processing of the tag frame.

16. A method for processing a beacon frame according to claim 15, wherein the processing of the beacon frame comprises: the determination, from information contained in the beacon frame, of a connection parameter intended to be filled in by the station.

17. A method for processing a beacon frame according to claim 16 comprising, when the station does not meet the connection parameter: the identification of at least one second active access point in whose coverage area it is located, re-establishing a connection with the second access point.

18. A method for processing a beacon frame according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the processing of the beacon frame comprises: the determination, from information contained in the beacon frame, of a duration remaining until the first access point exits the standby state.

19. A method for processing a beacon frame according to claim 18 comprising, when the time remaining until the first access point exits sleep mode exceeds a threshold: the identification of at least one third active access point in the coverage area of ​​which it is located, re-establishing a connection with the third access point.

20. A method for processing a beacon frame according to claim 18 comprising, when the time remaining until the first access point exits sleep mode is less than or equal to the threshold: re-establishing a connection with the first access point upon expiry of the remaining time until the first access point exits sleep mode.

21. A station located in a geographical area served by an access point of a telecommunications network that is in a standby state, the station comprising: a receiving module configured to receive at least one beacon frame broadcast by the access point including at least one parameter indicating that the access point is in a standby state; a processing module configured to process the tag frame.

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