Voice and data wireless communications network and method
A wireless local area network that carries mixed traffic of voice and data communications may be provided. The wireless local area network may include an access point and a plurality of remote terminals that are associated with the access point. The access point may be operably coupled to a wireline network. The access point may receive voice and other communications packets from the remote terminals and the wireline network. Some of the packets may be for transmission to the remote terminals. The access point manages which packets to transmit and when to transmit packets. The access point may manage traffic to maintain a fair distribution of packets and to give priority to voice communications over other communications.
1. An access point that provides voice and data communications for use in a wireless local area network having a plurality of mobile units, said access point being configured to:
receive signals carrying communications packets directed to particular mobile units;
prioritize said communications packets for transmission based on:
whether a current packet is a network management packet, a voice communication packet or other communication packet, wherein the network management packet is prioritized higher than the voice communication packet and the voice communication packet is prioritized higher than the other communication packet;
the total number of packets that have been transmitted to each mobile unit, wherein the packets are prioritized in order to maintain fair distribution of packets among the mobile units; and
the order in which the packets were received by the access point, wherein earlier received packets have higher priority than later received packets;
transmit the current packet; and
retransmit the current packet if the current packet is not acknowledged on transmission, wherein the current packet is retransmitted a predetermined number of times dependent on the priority of the current packet.
2. A method for providing voice and data communications for use in a wireless local area network having an access point and a plurality of mobile units, comprising:
receiving signals at the access point which carry communications packets directed to particular mobile units;
prioritizing said communications packets for transmission based on:
whether a current packet is a network management packet, a voice communication packet or other communication packet, wherein the network management packet is prioritized higher than the voice communication packet and the voice communication packet is prioritized higher than the other communication packet;
the total number of packets that have been transmitted to each mobile unit, wherein the packets are prioritized in order to maintain fair distribution of packets among the mobile units; and
the order in which the packets were received by the access point, wherein earlier received packets have higher priority than later received packets;
transmitting the current packet; and
retransmitting the current packet if the current packet is not acknowledged on transmission, wherein the current packet is retransmitted a predetermined number of times dependent on the priority of the current packet.
3. A transmitter for use in a carrier sense multiple access communications system, said transmitter being configured to:
receive signals carrying communications packets directed to particular receiver units;
prioritize said communications packets for transmission based on:
whether a current packet is a network management packet, a voice communication packet or other communication packet, wherein the network management packet is prioritized higher than the voice communication packet and the voice communication packet is prioritized higher than the other communication packet;
the total number of packets that have been transmitted to each receiver unit, wherein the packets are prioritize in order to maintain fair distribution of packets among the receiver units; and
the order in which the packets were received by the transmitter, wherein earlier received packets have higher priority than later received packets;
use a contention window of a first duration for transmitting packets that are for voice communications;
use another contention window of a second duration that is different from said first duration for transmitting other packets;
transmit the current packet; and
retransmit the current packet if the current packet is not acknowledged on transmission, wherein the current packet is retransmitted a predetermined number of times dependent on the priority of the current packet.
4. The transmitter of claim 3 , wherein the first duration is shorter than the second duration.
5. The transmitter of claim 3 , wherein said transmitter is an access point of said communications system.
6. The transmitter of claim 3 , wherein said transmitter is a remote terminal in said communications system.
7. A method for transmitting packets by an access point for use in a carrier sense multiple access communications systems, comprising:
receiving signals which carry communications packets directed to particular receiver units;
prioritizing said communications packets for transmission based on:
whether a current packet is a network management packet, a voice communication packet or other communication packet, wherein the network management packet is prioritized higher than the voice communication packet and the voice communication packet is prioritized higher than the other communication packet;
the total number of packets that have been transmitted to each receiver unit, wherein the packets are prioritized in order to maintain fair distribution of packets among the receiver units; and
the order in which the packets were received by the access point, wherein earlier received packets have higher priority than later received packets;
using a contention window of a first duration for transmitting packets that are for voice communications;
using another contention window of a second duration that is different from said first duration for transmitting other packets;
transmitting the current packet; and
retransmitting the current packet if the current packet is not acknowledged on transmission, wherein the current packet is retransmitted a predetermined number of times dependent on the priority of the current packet.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first duration is shorter than the second duration.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein using said contention window of a first duration and using said another contention window of a second duration are performed at an access point in said communications system.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein using a contention window of a first duration and using a contention window of a second duration are performed at a mobile unit in communications system.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting packets in rounds, wherein in each transmission round an equal number of packets is transmitted to each receiver unit.