Aid reassignment method, and apparatus for performing said aid reassignment method

Abstract

Disclosed are an AID reassignment method capable of optimally operating a wireless LAN system, and an apparatus for performing the AID reassignment method. The method comprises the steps of: generating a reconnection request frame for an AID reassignment request; transmitting the generated reconnection request frame to the currently associated access point; and receiving a reconnection response frame including AID reassignment information from the access point. Thus, the AID of the currently associated terminal can be dynamically reassigned according to a change in the characteristics of the terminal, thus operating a wireless LAN system in an optimum manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method by a terminal for performing an association ID (AID) reassignment request, the method comprising:
 establishing, by the terminal, an association with an access point, wherein an AID is assigned to a station by establishing the association;   generating, by the terminal to which a first AID has been assigned by the access point with which the terminal is currently associated, a request frame for an AID reassignment request;   transmitting the generated request frame to the access point with which the terminal is currently associated; and   receiving a response frame including information on a second AID from the access point with which the terminal is currently associated,   wherein the second AID different from the first AID is used as a new AID of the terminal,   wherein the request frame includes first information indicating whether service type information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises service type information of the terminal according to the first information, and   wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a service type of the terminal being changed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request frame includes an AID reassignment request element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request frame includes second information indicating whether listen interval information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises listen interval information of the terminal according to the second information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a listen interval of the terminal being changed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request frame is a reassociation request frame, and the response frame is a reassociation response frame. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request frame is an AID assignment request frame for AID change, and the response frame is an AID assignment response frame for AID change. 
     
     
         7 . A method by an access point for performing an association ID (AID) reassignment, the method comprising:
 establishing, by the access point, an association with a station, wherein an AID is assigned to the station by establishing the association;   receiving, from a terminal which is currently associated with the access point and a first AID having been assigned to the terminal by the access point, a request frame for AID reassignment request; and   transmitting a response frame including information on a second AID to the terminal,   wherein the second AID different from the first AID is used as a new AID of the terminal,   wherein the request frame includes first information indicating whether service type information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises service type information of the terminal according to the first information, and   wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a service type of the terminal being changed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request frame includes an AID reassignment request element. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request frame includes second information indicating whether listen interval information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises listen interval information of the terminal according to the second information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a listen interval of the terminal being changed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request frame is a reassociation request frame, and the response frame is a reassociation response frame. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request frame is an AID assignment request frame for AID change, and the response frame is an AID assignment response frame for AID change. 
     
     
         13 . A terminal for performing an association ID (AID) reassignment request, the terminal comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:   establish, by the terminal, an association with an access point, wherein an AID is assigned to a station by establishing the association;   generate, when a first AID has been assigned to the terminal by the access point with which the terminal is currently associated, a request frame for an AID reassignment request;   transmit, using the transceiver, the generated request frame to the access point with which the terminal is currently associated; and   receive, using the transceiver, a response frame including information on a second AID from the access point with which the terminal is currently associated, wherein the second AID different from the first AID is used as a new AID of the terminal,   wherein the request frame includes first information indicating whether service type information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises service type information of the terminal according to the first information, and   wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a service type of the terminal being changed.   
     
     
         14 . An access point for performing an association ID (AID) reassignment, the access point comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:   establish, by the access point, an association with a station, wherein an AID is assigned to the station by establishing the association;   receive, using the transceiver, from a terminal which is currently associated with the access point and a first AID having been assigned to the terminal by the access point, a request frame for AID reassignment request; and   transmit, using the transceiver, a response frame including information on a second AID to the terminal,   wherein the second AID different from the first AID is used as a new AID of the terminal,   wherein the request frame includes first information indicating whether service type information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises service type information of the terminal according to the first information, and   wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a service type of the terminal being changed.   
     
     
         15 . The access point of  claim 14 , wherein the request frame includes an AID reassignment request element. 
     
     
         16 . The access point of  claim 14 , wherein the request frame includes second information indicating whether listen interval information is included in the request frame or not, and comprises listen interval information of the terminal according to the second information. 
     
     
         17 . The access point of  claim 14 , wherein the AID reassignment request is performed when a listen interval of the terminal being changed. 
     
     
         18 . The access point of  claim 14 , wherein the request frame is a reassociation request frame, and the response frame is a reassociation response frame. 
     
     
         19 . The access point of  claim 14 , wherein the request frame is an AID assignment request frame for AID change, and the response frame is an AID assignment response frame for AID change. 
     
     
       20. A method for use in a station (STA), the method comprising:
 transmitting, to an access point (AP), an association request frame;   receiving, from the AP, an association response frame establishing the AP as a currently associated AP and including a first association identifier (AID);   transmitting, to the currently associated AP, a frame to request AID reassignment including an AID reassignment cause field including a listen interval change bit, and a service type change bit, wherein a service type is added to the frame based on the service type change bit; and   receiving, from the currently associated AP, a reassignment response including a second AID, the second AID being different than the first AID.    
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the frame to request AID reassignment is a reassociation request frame, and wherein the reassignment response is a reassociation response frame.  
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the service type indicates a new service type of the STA.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the service type is included in a service type element.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transmitting, to the currently associated AP, the frame to request AID reassignment is based on a determination by the STA that a remaining battery life of the STA is changed.  
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transmitting, to the currently associated AP, the frame to request AID reassignment is based on a determination by the STA to change a listen interval of the STA.  
     
     
       26. A station (STA) comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to an access point (AP), an association request frame,   the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, from the AP, an association response frame establishing the AP as a currently associated AP and including a first association identifier (AID),   the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to the currently associated AP, a frame to request AID reassignment including an AID reassignment cause field including a listen interval change bit, and a service type change bit, and wherein the processor is configured to add a service type to the frame based on a value of the service type change bit, and   the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, from the currently associated AP, a reassignment response including a second AID, the second AID being different than the first AID.    
     
     
       27. The STA of  claim 26 , wherein the frame to request AID reassignment is a reassociation request frame, and wherein the reassignment response is a reassociation response frame.  
     
     
       28. The STA of  claim 26 , wherein the service type indicates a new service type of the STA.  
     
     
       29. The STA of  claim 26 , wherein the service type is included in a service type element.  
     
     
       30. The STA of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit, to the currently associated AP, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA that a remaining battery life of the STA is changed.  
     
     
       31. The STA of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit, to the currently associated AP, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA to change a listen interval of the STA.  
     
     
       32. An access point (AP) comprising:
 a processor; and   a transceiver,   wherein the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, from a station (STA), an association request frame,   the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to the STA, an association response frame including a first association identifier (AID),   the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, a frame to request AID reassignment including an AID reassignment cause field including a listen interval change bit, and a service type change bit, and a service type added to the frame based on a value of the service type change bit, and   the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to the STA, a reassignment response including a second AID, the second AID being different than the first AID.    
     
     
       33. The AP of  claim 32 , wherein the frame to request AID reassignment is a reassociation request frame, and wherein the reassignment response is a reassociation response frame. 
     
     
       34. The AP of  claim 32 , wherein the service type indicates a new service type of the STA.  
     
     
       35. The AP of  claim 32 , wherein the service type is included in a service type element.  
     
     
       36. The AP of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is configured to receive, from the STA, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA that a remaining battery life of the STA is changed.  
     
     
       37. The AP of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is configured to receive, from the STA, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA to change a listen interval of the STA.  
     
     
       38. A station (STA) comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor,   wherein the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to an access point (AP), an association request frame,   the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, from the AP, an association response frame establishing the AP as a currently associated AP and including a first association identifier (AID),   the processor is configured to transmit, via the transceiver, to the currently associated AP, a frame to request AID reassignment including an AID reassignment cause field,   wherein the AID reassignment cause field includes a listen interval change bit and a service type change bit;   wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to transmit the frame to request AID reassignment including a listen interval or not;   wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to transmit the frame to request AID reassignment including a service type or not;   the processor is configured to receive, via the transceiver, from the currently associated AP, a reassignment response including a second AID, the second AID being different than the first AID.    
     
     
       39. The STA of  claim 38 , wherein the frame to request AID reassignment is a reassociation request frame, and wherein the reassignment response is a reassociation response frame.  
     
     
       40. The STA of  claim 38 , wherein the service type indicates a new service type of the STA.  
     
     
       41. The STA of  claim 38 , wherein the service type is included in a service type element.  
     
     
       42. The STA of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit, to the AP, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA that a remaining battery life of the STA is changed.  
     
     
       43. The STA of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit, to the AP, the frame to request AID reassignment based on a determination by the STA to change a listen interval of the STA.