Wireless Network Re-Entry Systems and Processes

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a fast network re-entry system that optimizes the network re-entry and bandwidth request process for wireless communications between a base station and a mobile or fixed station. In one embodiment a mobile station, in idle mode, transmits a single communication, including both control information and bandwidth request information, to a base station. The communication may proceed via an uncontested communication slot. Other embodiments are described herein.

1 . At least one machine readable medium comprising instructions that when executed on a computing device cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting a single first communication, from a mobile station to base station, that includes both communication control information and bandwidth request information for allocating bandwidth to the mobile station; and   receiving a second communication, responsive to the first communication, that includes a response to the bandwidth request information.   
     
     
         2 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the response to the bandwidth request information includes one of a granting of bandwidth for the mobile station and a refusal of bandwidth for the mobile station. 
     
     
         3 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel. 
     
     
         4 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel, wherein resources for the uncontested communication channel were granted, by the base station, before transmitting the first communication to the base station. 
     
     
         5 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein
 the response to the bandwidth request information includes one of a granting of bandwidth for the mobile station and a refusal of bandwidth for the mobile station; and   the method comprises wirelessly transmitting the single first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode, and receiving the response while the mobile station is in a connected mode, the connected mode indicating the mobile station is wirelessly connected to the base station.   
     
     
         6 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the response to the bandwidth request information includes one of a granting of bandwidth for the mobile station and a refusal of bandwidth for the mobile station; and   the method comprises wirelessly transmitting the single first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode, and receiving the response while the mobile station is in the idle mode.   
     
     
         7 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method comprises wirelessly transmitting the single first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode;   when the response to the bandwidth request information includes the granting of bandwidth the method comprises the mobile station not requesting bandwidth when in the connected mode; and   when the response to the bandwidth request information includes the refusal of bandwidth the method comprises the mobile station requesting bandwidth when in the connected mode.   
     
     
         8 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein;
 the control information includes wireless communication ranging related content; and   the method comprises wirelessly transmitting the single first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode, and transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel.   
     
     
         9 . The at least one medium of  claim 8 , wherein the ranging related content is indicative of one of (a) a handover event for the mobile station, (b) the mobile station attempting to re-enter a network based on the base station, (c) the mobile station transitioning from an idle mode, (d) the mobile station informing the base station of a location for the mobile station, and (e) the mobile station experiencing a power down event. 
     
     
         10 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises comprising transmitting the first communication while the mobile station is attempting to re-enter a network based on the base station. 
     
     
         11 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication is included in a single communication packet. 
     
     
         12 . canceled 
     
     
         13 . canceled 
     
     
         14 . canceled 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor, coupled to at least one memory, to perform operations comprising:   wirelessly transmitting a single first communication, from a mobile station to base station, that includes both communication control information and bandwidth request information for allocating bandwidth to the mobile station; and   receiving a second communication, responsive to the first communication, that includes a response to the bandwidth request information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel, wherein resources for the uncontested communication channel were granted, by the base station, before transmitting the first communication to the base station. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting the first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the response to the bandwidth request information includes one of a granting of bandwidth for the mobile station and a refusal of bandwidth for the mobile station; and   the operations comprise receiving the response while the mobile station is in a connected mode, the connected mode indicating the mobile station is wirelessly connected to the base station.   
     
     
         20 . canceled 
     
     
         21 . The at least one medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises transmitting the first communication while the mobile station is in idle mode. 
     
     
         22 . A method executed by at least one processor comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting a single first communication, from a mobile station to base station, that includes both communication control information and bandwidth request information for allocating bandwidth to the mobile station; and   
       receiving a second communication, responsive to the first communication, that includes a response to the bandwidth request information. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  comprising transmitting the first communication via an uncontested communication channel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  comprising transmitting the first communication while the mobile station is in an idle mode.