Implementing enhanced distributed coordinating function (EDCF) with a single hardware backoff counter
First Claim
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1. A method for contending for access to a communications medium to transmit a message of a first traffic category in a system implementing a plurality of backoff counters using a single hardware backoff counter comprising:
- (1) determining if the hardware backoff counter is idle;
(2) initiating a backoff procedure for the message if the hardware backoff counter is idle;
(3) if the hardware backoff counter is busy, then;
generating a backoff time for the first traffic category;
comparing the backoff time for the first traffic category with a backoff time for a second traffic category in the hardware backoff counter; and
determining a backoff procedure based on the results of the comparison.
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Abstract
A method for implementing a plurality of backoff counters 230 on a hardware backoff counter 210 for use in implementing a prioritized message transmission network is presented. A message with a smallest backoff time is selected and placed into the hardware backoff counter 210. When the hardware backoff counter 210 expires, the message is transmitted. Whenever the communications medium becomes busy, the backoff time for every message is updated.
54 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for contending for access to a communications medium to transmit a message of a first traffic category in a system implementing a plurality of backoff counters using a single hardware backoff counter comprising:
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(1) determining if the hardware backoff counter is idle;
(2) initiating a backoff procedure for the message if the hardware backoff counter is idle;
(3) if the hardware backoff counter is busy, then;
generating a backoff time for the first traffic category;
comparing the backoff time for the first traffic category with a backoff time for a second traffic category in the hardware backoff counter; and
determining a backoff procedure based on the results of the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for implementing a plurality of backoff counters using a single hardware backoff counter comprising:
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determining a state of the hardware backoff counter;
if the hardware backoff counter is performing a backoff procedure, then;
determining a state of a communications medium;
if the communications medium is idle, then decrementing a value in the hardware backoff counter;
if the value is equal to zero, then allow transmission to occur;
if the communications medium is busy, then updating a value in each backoff counter;
selecting a backoff counter with a smallest value;
moving the selected backoff counter to the hardware backoff counter; and
initiating a new backoff procedure with the hardware backoff counter. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A circuit for implementing a plurality of backoff counters on a hardware backoff counter comprising:
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a hardware backoff counter containing circuitry to decrement a backoff time once for each idle network cycle;
a memory coupled to the hardware backoff counter, the memory containing storage locations that contain a virtual backoff counter, an arbitration interframe space, and a information queue for each backoff counter; and
a processor coupled to the hardware backoff counter and the memory, the processor containing circuitry to implement a plurality of backoff counters on a hardware backoff counter, the processor comprising;
an initial transmit hardware enqueue unit coupled to the hardware backoff counter, the initial transmit hardware enqueue unit containing circuitry to forward a transmission request to the hardware backoff counter depending on the status of the hardware backoff counter;
a generate new virtual backoff unit coupled to the initital transmit hardware enqueue unit and the memory, the generate new virtual backoff unit containing circuitry to generate virtual backoff times and to place the transmission request forwarded to it by the initial transmit hardware enqueue unit onto a queue;
an adjust virtual backoff counters unit coupled to the memory and the hardware backoff counter, the adjust virtual backoff counters unit containing circuitry to adjust the backoff times in the virtual backoff counters; and
a select and enqueue transmit frame unit coupled to the coupled to the memory and the hardware backoff counter, the select and enqueue frame unit containing circuitry to select a transmission request with the lowest backoff time and to place it in the hardware backoff counter. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A network station comprising a circuit for implementing a plurality of backoff counters on a hardware backoff counter, the circuit comprising:
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a hardware backoff counter containing circuitry to decrement a backoff time once for each idle network cycle;
a memory coupled to the hardware backoff counter, the memory containing storage locations that contain a virtual backoff counter, an arbitration interframe space, and a information queue for each backoff counter; and
a processor coupled to the hardware backoff counter and the memory, the processor containing circuitry to implement a plurality of backoff counters on a hardware backoff counter, the processor comprising;
an initial transmit hardware enqueue unit coupled to the hardware backoff counter, the initial transmit hardware enqueue unit containing circuitry to forward a transmission request to the hardware backoff counter depending on the status of the hardware backoff counter;
a generate new virtual backoff unit coupled to the initital transmit hardware enqueue unit and the memory, the generate new virtual backoff unit containing circuitry to generate virtual backoff times and to place the transmission request forwarded to it by the initial transmit hardware enqueue unit onto a queue;
an adjust virtual backoff counters unit coupled to the memory and the hardware backoff counter, the adjust virtual backoff counters unit containing circuitry to adjust the backoff times in the virtual backoff counters; and
a select and enqueue transmit frame unit coupled to the coupled to the memory and the hardware backoff counter, the select and enqueue frame unit containing circuitry to select a transmission request with the lowest backoff time and to place it in the hardware backoff counter. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification