MAC protocol for centrally controlled multichannel wireless local area networks
View Patent ↗A wireless system and method of wireless communication are described.
1. A method of wireless communication in a network of wireless stations, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of code channels (cchs) in a single frequency channel;
allocating at least one contention free period (CFP) in at least one of the code channels; and
allocating at least one contention period (CP) in a corresponding another one of said code channels, wherein said at least one contention period (CP) commences concurrently with the CFP.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising providing a plurality of contention periods in respective code channels commencing concurrently.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising providing a cumulative clear to send (CTScum) after a beacon period.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the providing and the allocating are effected in a superframe.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
signaling to an access point (AP) an amount of data to be transmitted by a wireless station (STA) either the amount of data to be transmitted, or a request for transmissions according to a traffic class.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the signaling further comprises transmission of an RTSapp frame.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: signaling of traffic to be transmitted during the CFP in a control frame.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the frame includes information for forthcoming transmissions during CFP in each of the code channels.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising providing addresses of the corresponding transmitter and receiver establishing a connection.
10. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising connection identifiers.
11. A wireless network, comprising:
a plurality of wireless stations (STAs);
an access point (AP) operative to grant access to a wireless medium to the STAs;
a superframe having a plurality of code channels (cchs) in as single frequency channel;
at least one contention free period (CFP) in at least one of the code channels; and
at least one contention period (CP) in a corresponding another one of said code channels, wherein said at least one contention period (CP) commences concurrently with the CFP.
12. The wireless network as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the superframe further comprises a plurality of contention periods in respective code channels commencing concurrently.
13. The wireless network as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the superframe further comprises a cumulative clear to send (CTScum) after a beacon period.