System and method for determining priorities in a wireless network

• US 20050147056A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Proxim Corp.
• Inventors: Chinitz, Leigh M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/085 collision avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0875 with assigned priorities based access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless network device that assigns priorities to communications in a network has a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices and a second circuit operable to send wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices. A third circuit makes a determination of the relative priorities of the remote wireless network devices. The wireless network device is operable to form a message to the remote wireless network devices, where the message is used to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices. The backoff time sent to the remote wireless network device is related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device.

Claims

1. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the remote wireless network devices;

a fourth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fourth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

2. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for analyzing network traffic of the remote wireless network devices;

a fourth circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices, the fourth circuit determining the priority of one of the remote wireless network devices based at least in part on the volume of network traffic between the wireless network device and the one of the remote wireless network devices;

a fifth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fifth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

3. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for allowing an operator to input information into the wireless network device;

a fourth circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices, the fourth circuit determining the priority of one of the remote wireless network devices based at least in part on the information input into the wireless network device through the third circuit;

a fifth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fifth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

4. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices, the third circuit determining the priority of one of the remote wireless network devices based at least in part by receiving a request from the one of the remote wireless network devices;

a fourth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fourth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

5. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices, the remote wireless network devices operating with differing priority defintions;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices;

a fifth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time according to the priority definition of the specific network device and indicative of the relative priority as determined in the third circuit; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fifth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

6. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices;

a fourth circuit for deciding to grant a request from one of the remote wireless network devices relating to a change in priority;

a fifth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network devices, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fifth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

7. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from remote wireless network devices;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network devices;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of the various remote wireless network devices;

a fourth circuit for detecting the operation of the remote network devices;

a fifth circuit, responsive to a newly detected remote network device, for forming a message to the newly detected remote wireless network device, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fifth circuit to the remote wireless network device.

8. A wireless network device comprising:

a first circuit for receiving wireless messages from a remote wireless network device;

a second circuit for sending wireless messages to the remote wireless network device;

a third circuit for making a determination of the relative priorities of datastreams communicating through the remote wireless network device;

a fourth circuit for forming a message to the remote wireless network device, the message operable to set a backoff time in the remote wireless network devices relating to a specific datastream, the backoff time related to the relative priority of the datastream communicating through the remote wireless network device; and

the second circuit operable to send the message from the fourth circuit to the remote wireless network device.