Negotiation of quality of service (QoS) information for network management traffic in a wireless local area network (WLAN)
An access point advertises a management frame quality of service (MFQ) policy that defines an access category used for transmitting a first type of management frame. Each mobile station associated with the access point is to prioritize transmission of management frames according to the MFQ policy advertised by the access point, unless a policy configuration request for the mobile station to prioritize transmission of management frames according to a different MFQ policy has been accepted.
1. A method for a wireless station, the method comprising:
transmitting, to an access point, a management frame according to a first default management frame Quality of Service (MFQ) policy, wherein the first default MFQ policy defines first access categories (ACs) of different management frames;
receiving from the access point a second MFQ policy defining second ACs of different management frames that the AP uses to transmit management frames; and
determining to either continue using the first default MFQ policy or to use the second MFQ policy to subsequently transmit further management frames.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first default MFQ policy includes at least one of a Spectrum management frame of an AC for Best Effort (AC_BE) or a Beacon frame of an AC for Voice (AC_VO).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, an extended capabilities information element (IE) having an indication of support for prioritization of management frames.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first default and second MFQ policies are defined according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second MFQ policy is implemented as a public action frame.
6. A method for an access point, the method comprising:
transmitting, to a wireless device, a first management frame according to a first default management frame Quality of Service (MFQ) policy of the access point, wherein the first default MFQ policy defines first access categories (ACs) of different management frames; and
receiving from the wireless device a second management frame, wherein the second management frame is transmitted by the wireless device according to either the first default MFQ policy of the access point or a second MFQ policy of the wireless device, and the second MFQ policy defines second ACs of different management frames that the wireless device uses to transmit management frames.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first default MFQ policy includes at least one of a Spectrum management frame of an AC for Best Effort (AC_BE) or a Beacon frame of an AC for Voice (AC_VO).
8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising transmitting, to the wireless device, an extended capabilities information element (IE) having an indication of support for prioritization of management frames.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first and second MFQ policies are defined according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second MFQ policy is implemented as a public action frame.
11. A wireless station, comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that when executed, cause the processor to:
transmit, to an access point, a management frame according to a first default management frame Quality of Service (MFQ) policy, wherein the first default MFQ policy defines first access categories (ACs) of different management frames;
receive from the access point a second MFQ policy defining second ACs of different management frames that the AP uses to transmit management frames; and
determine to either continue using the first default MFQ policy or to use the second MFQ policy to subsequently transmit further management frames.
12. The wireless station as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first default MFQ policy includes at least one of a Spectrum management frame of an AC for Best Effort (AC_BE) or a Beacon frame of an AC for Voice (AC_VO).
13. The wireless station as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the access point, an extended capabilities information element (IE) having an indication of support for prioritization of management frames.
14. The wireless station as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first default and second MFQ policies are defined according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11.
15. The wireless station as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the second MFQ policy is implemented as a public action frame.
16. An access point, comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that when executed, cause the processor to:
transmit, to a wireless device, a first management frame according to a first default management frame Quality of Service (MFQ) policy of the access point, wherein the first default MFQ policy defines first access categories (ACs) of different management frames; and
receive from the wireless device a second management frame, wherein the second management frame is transmitted by the wireless device according to either the first default MFQ policy of the access point or a second MFQ policy of the wireless device, and the second MFQ policy defines second ACs of different management frames that the wireless device uses to transmit management frames.
17. The access point as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first default MFQ policy includes at least one of a Spectrum management frame of an AC for Best Effort (AC_BE) or a Beacon frame of an AC for Voice (AC_VO).
18. The access point as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising transmitting, to the wireless device, an extended capabilities information element (IE) having an indication of support for prioritization of management frames.
19. The access point as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first and second MFQ policies are defined according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11.
20. The access point as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the second MFQ policy is implemented as a public action frame.