Hybrid Contention Mechanism for WLANs
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- at a first wireless device that serves a plurality of second wireless devices in a wireless network, grouping the plurality of second wireless devices into sets based on commonality of the second wireless devices in terms of one or more of;
power requirements and throughput requirements;
partitioning a time interval on a wireless channel during which the second wireless devices may contend for usage of the wireless medium into a plurality of disjoint or overlapping contention periods; and
assigning each set of second wireless devices to a corresponding one of the plurality of contention periods such that only second wireless devices in each set contend for access to the wireless channel during the corresponding contention period assigned to that set.
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Abstract
Techniques are presented herein for providing hybrid contention mechanisms for a wireless medium. A first wireless device (e.g., a wireless access point) that serves a plurality of second wireless devices (e.g., client devices) in a wireless network, groups the plurality of second wireless devices into sets based on commonality of the second wireless devices in terms of one or more of: power requirements and throughput requirements. A time interval on a wireless channel during which the second wireless devices may contend for usage of the wireless medium is partitioned into a plurality of disjoint or overlapping contention periods. Each set of second wireless devices is assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of contention periods such that only second wireless devices in each set contend for access to the wireless channel during the corresponding contention period assigned to that set.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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at a first wireless device that serves a plurality of second wireless devices in a wireless network, grouping the plurality of second wireless devices into sets based on commonality of the second wireless devices in terms of one or more of;
power requirements and throughput requirements;partitioning a time interval on a wireless channel during which the second wireless devices may contend for usage of the wireless medium into a plurality of disjoint or overlapping contention periods; and assigning each set of second wireless devices to a corresponding one of the plurality of contention periods such that only second wireless devices in each set contend for access to the wireless channel during the corresponding contention period assigned to that set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a radio transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to communicate with a plurality of wireless devices in a wireless network; a modem coupled to the radio transceiver and configured to perform baseband signal processing for transmit and receive signals; and a controller coupled to the modem, and configured to; group the plurality of wireless devices into sets based on commonality of the second wireless devices in terms of one or more of;
power requirements and throughput requirements;partition a time interval on a wireless channel during which the wireless devices may contend for usage of the wireless medium into a plurality of disjoint or overlapping contention periods; and assign each set of wireless devices to a corresponding one of the plurality of contention periods such that only wireless devices in each set contend for access to the wireless channel during the corresponding contention period assigned to that set. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:
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in a first wireless device that serves a plurality of second wireless devices in a wireless network, group the plurality of second wireless devices into sets based on commonality of the second wireless devices in terms of one or more of;
power requirements and throughput requirements;partition a time interval on a wireless channel during which the second wireless devices may contend for usage of the wireless medium into a plurality of disjoint or overlapping contention periods; and assign each set of second wireless devices to a corresponding one of the plurality of contention periods such that only second wireless devices in each set contend for access to the wireless channel during the corresponding contention period assigned to that set. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification