Constant window back-off method for multiple access in wireless local area networks

1. A method of managing media access control level communications in a wireless network, said method comprising:

determining, by a controller, a target congestion index associated with maximizing data transmission opportunities for at least one contending station during a back-off round;

determining, by the controller, a congestion index based on information representing an observed number of busy time slots from a last back-off round;

comparing said target congestion index with said congestion index; and

performing one of increasing a triggering set size by a first factor and decreasing said triggering set size by a second factor responsive to said comparison, wherein the triggering set size defines the number of transmission opportunities for the at least one contending station in a subsequent back-off round.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said increasing act is one of additive, multiplicative and exponential.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said decreasing act is one of additive, multiplicative and exponential.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said decreasing act cannot result in said triggering set size below a minimum size.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if a communications medium is idle;

adjusting a back-off counter responsive to said third determining act;

determining if said back-off counter is equal to a triggering point in said triggering set; and

transmitting data responsive to said fourth determining act.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said adjusting act comprises decreasing said back-off counter by one.

7. An apparatus for managing media access control level communications in a wireless network, comprising: means for determining a target congestion index associated with maximizing data transmission opportunities for at least one contending station during a back-off round; means for determining a congestion index based on information representing an observed number of busy time slots from a last back-off round; means for comparing said target congestion index with said congestion index; means for performing one of increasing a triggering set size by a first factor and decreasing said triggering set size by a second factor responsive to said comparison, wherein the triggering set size defines the number of transmissions opportunities for the at least one contending station in a subsequent back-off round.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said means for increasing is one of additive, multiplicative and exponential.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said means for decreasing is one of additive, multiplicative and exponential.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said means for decreasing cannot result in said triggering set size below a minimum size.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising:

means for determining if a communications medium is idle;

means for adjusting a back-off counter responsive to said third determining act;

means for determining if said back-off counter is equal to a triggering point in said triggering set; and

means for transmitting data responsive to said fourth determining act.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said means for adjusting comprises means for decreasing said back-off counter by one.