System and method of modes for data transmission

1. An apparatus for wireless communications on a shared medium, comprising:

a first interface configured to obtain a control signal intended for the apparatus from a wireless node; and

a processing system configured to:

select operation in a first mode or a second mode in response to the control signal;

detect an absence of traffic on the shared medium during a fixed time interval; and

initiate data transmission at an end of the fixed time interval if operating in the first mode or initiate the data transmission at an end of a random time interval following the fixed time interval if operating in the second mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to initiate the data transmission in the first mode by generating a plurality of data frames separated by the fixed time interval, and the apparatus further comprising:

a second interface configured to output the plurality of data frames for transmission.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to terminate the data transmission if a time period associated with the data transmission exceeds a maximum time interval, the time period being after the initiation of the data transmission.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:

the processing system is further configured to:

generate a block acknowledgement request, and

schedule transmission of the block acknowledgement request following the maximum time interval; and

the apparatus further comprising a second interface configured to output the block acknowledgement request for the scheduled transmission.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to initiate transmission of a block acknowledgement request if another absence of traffic is detected on the shared medium following an end of the data transmission.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to monitor the shared medium to determine one or more parameters and provide the one or more parameters to a remote wireless node.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least one of received signal strength from a wireless node in communication with the apparatus or detected interference associated with the shared medium.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein transmission timing is aligned with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the transmission timing is unaligned with the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured for concurrent transmission with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the apparatus is configured to defer transmission to the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.

10. A method for wireless communications by an apparatus on a shared medium, comprising:

obtaining a control signal intended for the apparatus from a wireless node;

selecting operation in a first mode or a second mode in response to the control signal;

detecting an absence of traffic on the shared medium during a fixed time interval; and

initiating data transmission at an end of the fixed time interval if operating in the first mode or initiate the data transmission at an end of a random time interval following the fixed time interval if operating in the second mode.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the initiating the data transmission in the first mode comprises:

generating a plurality of data frames separated by the fixed time interval; and

outputting the plurality of data frames for transmission.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

terminating the data transmission if a time period associated with the data transmission exceeds a maximum time interval, the time period being after the initiation of the data transmission.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

generating a block acknowledgement request;

scheduling transmission of the block acknowledgement request following the maximum time interval; and

outputting the block acknowledgement request for the scheduled transmission.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

initiating transmission of a block acknowledgement request if another absence of traffic is detected on the shared medium following an end of the data transmission.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

monitoring the shared medium to determine one or more parameters and providing the one or more parameters to a remote wireless node.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least one of received signal strength from a wireless node in communication with the apparatus or detected interference associated with the shared medium.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein transmission timing is aligned with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the transmission timing is unaligned with the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is configured for concurrent transmission with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the apparatus is configured to defer transmission to the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.

19. A wireless node for wireless communications on a shared medium, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a control signal intended for the first wireless node from another wireless node; and

a processing system configured to:

select operation in a first mode or a second mode in response to the control signal;

detect an absence of traffic on the shared medium during a fixed time interval; and

initiate data transmission at an end of the fixed time interval if operating in the first mode or initiate the data transmission at an end of a random time interval following the fixed time interval if operating in the second mode.

20. The wireless node of claim 19 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of data frames,

wherein the initiation of the data transmission in the first mode comprises to generate the plurality of data frames separated by the fixed time interval, and output the plurality of data frames for transmission.

21. The wireless node of claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:

terminate the data transmission if a time period associated with the data transmission exceeds a maximum time interval, the time period being after the initiation of the data transmission.

22. The wireless node of claim 21 , further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a block acknowledgement request,

wherein the processing system is further configured to generate the block acknowledgement request, schedule transmission of the block acknowledgement request following the maximum time interval, and output the block acknowledgement request for the scheduled transmission.

23. The wireless node of claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:

initiate transmission of a block acknowledgement request if another absence of traffic is detected on the shared medium following an end of the data transmission.

24. The wireless node of claim 19 , wherein the processing system is further configured to:

monitor the shared medium to determine one or more parameters and providing the one or more parameters to a remote wireless node.

25. The wireless node of claim 19 , wherein transmission timing is aligned with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the transmission timing is unaligned with the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.

26. The wireless node of claim 19 , wherein the wireless node is configured for concurrent transmission with another apparatus if operating in the first mode, and the wireless node is configured to defer transmission to the other apparatus if operating in the second mode.