Reduced interframe spacing in a wireless transmission system

1. A method for increasing throughput in a wireless transmission comprises:

when in a first transmission mode, transmitting a plurality of frames using a Short InterFrame Spacing (SIFS) interval; and

when in a second transmission mode, transmitting the plurality of frames using a second interframe spacing interval, wherein the second interframe spacing interval is less than the SIFS interval, the transmitting of the plurality of frames using the second interframe spacing interval includes:

sustaining an operating configuration of a physical (PHY) layer during transmission of the plurality of frames, wherein the operating configuration of the PHY layer is not sustained in the first transmission mode, wherein when a subsequent frame of the plurality of frames from a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer is delivered to the PHY layer while a preceding frame delivery is in process, buffering the subsequent frame until the PHY layer completes delivery of the preceding frame;

instructing a destination station to suppress responses to each transmitted frame of the plurality of frames with an acknowledgment (ACK) response instruction; and

causing the PHY layer to transmit each frame of the plurality of frames at a Reduced InterFrame Spacing (RIFS) interval through a RIFS indicator included with the frame.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transmission mode further comprises:

in response to each transmitted frame of the plurality of frames, receiving a response acknowledging receipt of the transmitted frame following expiration of the SIFS interval.

3. A method for transmitting a plurality of frames over a wireless medium comprises:

indicating a physical (PHY) layer of a transmitter as busy to sustain a PHY configuration of the transmitter during transmission of the plurality of frames, wherein the PHY configuration includes a coarse transmitter setup;

transmitting a frame through the PHY layer;

when an end of a delivery of the transmitted frame from a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the transmitter to the PHY layer is detected on the PHY layer, determining whether the MAC layer indicates that a subsequent frame of the plurality of frames is available for transmission;

when the subsequent frame is available, initiating delivery of the subsequent frame from the MAC layer to the PHY layer for transmission before the end of delivery for the transmitted frame over the wireless medium by the PHY layer, wherein the subsequent frame is transmitted using a Reduced InterFrame Spacing (RIFS) interval, the RIFS interval being less than a Short Interframe Spacing (SIFS) interval, wherein when the subsequent frame of the plurality of frames from the MAC layer is delivered to the PHY layer while a preceding frame delivery is in process, buffering the subsequent frame until the PHY layer has completed delivery of the preceding frame; and

when the subsequent frame is unavailable, releasing the PHY configuration of the PHY layer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of indicating the PHY layer as busy comprises asserting a PHY carrier sense signal to sustain the PHY configuration.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein delivery of the frame from the MAC layer to the PHY layer further comprises indicating the delivery with a MAC transmit frame signal.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein releasing the PHY layer includes the PHY layer placing a PHY carrier sense signal at a logic low.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of frames include a frame fragment.

8. Apparatus for transmitting a plurality of frames over a wireless medium, each frame of the plurality of frames including a start-of-frame and an end-of frame, the apparatus functions to:

indicate a physical (PHY) layer as busy during a transmission of the plurality of frames to sustain a PHY layer configuration, wherein the PHY layer configuration includes a coarse transmitter setup;

transmit a first frame to a destination station,

when the end of the delivery of the transmitted frame from a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer to the PHY layer is detected on the PHY layer, determining whether a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer indicates that a subsequent frame is available for transmission on the PHY layer;

when the MAC layer has data for transmission on the PHY layer, initiate delivery of the subsequent frame from the MAC layer to the PHY layer for transmission before the end of delivery of the first frame on the medium by the PHY layer, wherein the subsequent frame is transmitted using a Reduced InterFrame Spacing (RIFS) interval, the RIFS interval being less than a Short Interframe Spacing (SIFS) interval, wherein when the subsequent frame of the plurality of frames from the MAC layer is delivered to the PHY layer while a preceding frame delivery is in process, buffering the subsequent frame until the PHY layer has completed delivery of the preceding frame; and

when the MAC layer does not have the subsequent frame for transmission on the PHY layer, release the PHY configuration of the PHY layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the function to indicate the PHY layer as busy further prompts the apparatus to:

assert a PHY carrier sense signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the delivery of the frame from the MAC to the PHY layer further comprises:

indicating the delivery with a MAC transmit frame signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein releasing the PHY layer includes the PHY layer placing a PHY carrier sense signal at a logic low.

12. A method of transmitting a plurality of frames to a destination station, the method comprises:

delivering a frame of the plurality of frames from a MAC layer to a PHY layer to initiate delivery of the frame to a destination station, wherein the MAC layer sustains a PHY layer configuration during delivery of the plurality of frames, wherein the PHY layer configuration includes a coarse transmitter setup;

delivering a subsequent frame of the plurality of frames from the MAC layer to the PHY layer to initiate delivery of the subsequent frame to the destination station; and

when the subsequent frame of the plurality of frames from the MAC layer is delivered to the PHY layer while a preceding frame is being delivered to the destination station, buffering the subsequent frame until the PHY layer has completed delivery of the preceding frame, wherein the subsequent frame is transmitted using a Reduced InterFrame Spacing (RIFS) interval, the RIFS interval being less than a Short Interframe Spacing (SIFS) interval; and

when the subsequent frame is unavailable, releasing the PHY configuration of the PHY layer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprises:

repeating delivering and buffering for remaining frames of the plurality of frames to the destination station.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprises:

upon transmission of the plurality of frames to the destination station, releasing the PHY layer configuration.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the frame includes a RIFS indicator to suppress received responses from a destination station, wherein the RIFS indicator includes an ACK response instruction.