Method for ensuring medium access in a wireless network
Method and apparatus for controlling transmission of a data stream from a station. A QoS registration frame is received, via an access point, from the station. The QoS registration frame includes information indicating a request for transmission of a data stream from the station, and information indicating a minimum required interval and a maximum required interval for an interval which is between start points of two successive durations of a medium dedication. Each duration of the medium dedication represents a time period in which the station is permitted to transmit the data stream. A schedule for the transmission of the data stream is calculated by setting a new interval which is between the minimum required interval and the maximum required interval, when the transmission is admitted. A QoS response frame, which includes information indicating the schedule, is then transmitted from the access point to the station.
1. A method, performed by an access point, for controlling transmission of a data stream from a station among a plurality of stations sharing a wireless medium, comprising:
receiving, by the access point, a QoS registration request frame from the station, the QoS registration request frame including QoS parameters of the station;
determining schedule information by the access point, based on the QoS parameters and a traffic condition of the wireless medium, said schedule information having a minimum polling interval and a maximum polling interval between which a QoS polling interval is selected, and in which QoS polling is carried out, and further having a minimum dedication duration and a maximum dedication duration in which dedication duration of a wireless communication is dedicated to the station after a response from the QoS polling is received; and
transmitting, by the access point, a QoS response frame in response to the QoS registration request frame to the station, wherein the QoS response frame includes the schedule information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein QoS registration request frame further includes information of at least one of the following:
a minimum bandwidth of the data stream,
an average bandwidth of the data stream,
a maximum bandwidth of the data stream,
a maximum allowable latency,
fluctuations of allowable latency,
a data packet size,
a minimum required interval for a medium dedication, and
extra bandwidth required for at least one of retransmission, preamble and protocol overhead.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the station, according to a schedule, a QoS polling frame indicating a start of a time period during which the station is permitted to transmit the data stream.
4. A method, performed by a station, for controlling transmission of a data stream from the station among a plurality of stations sharing a wireless medium, comprising:
transmitting, by the station to an access point, a QoS registration request frame including QoS parameters of the station, whereby the access point determines schedule information based on the QoS parameters and a traffic condition of the wireless medium, the schedule information having a minimum polling interval and a maximum polling interval between which a QoS polling interval is selected, and in which QoS polling is carried out, and further having a minimum dedication duration and a maximum dedication duration in which dedication duration of a wireless communication is dedicated to the station after a response from the QoS polling is received; and
receiving, by the station, a QoS response frame in response to the QoS registration request frame, wherein the QoS response frame includes the schedule information.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving a QoS polling frame, transmitted by the access point in accordance with a schedule, that indicates a start of a time period during which the station is permitted to transmit the data stream.
6. An access point for controlling transmission of a data stream from a station among a plurality of stations sharing a wireless medium, comprising:
a receiver operable to receive a QoS registration request frame from the station, the QoS registration request frame including QoS parameters of the station;
a determiner operable to determine schedule information by the access point, based on the QoS parameters and a traffic condition of the wireless medium, said schedule information having a minimum polling interval and a maximum polling interval between which a QoS polling interval is selected, and in which QoS polling is carried out, and further having a minimum dedication duration and a maximum dedication duration in which dedication duration of a wireless communication is dedicated to the station after a response from the QoS polling is received; and
a transmitter operable to transmit a QoS response frame in response to the QoS registration request frame to the station, wherein the QoS response frame includes the schedule information.
7. The access point of claim 6 , wherein the transmitter transmits, to the station, a QoS polling frame indicating a start of a time period during which the station is permitted to transmit the data stream.