Multipoll for QoS-driven wireless LANs

• US 7,646,756 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Jin-Meng, Lin, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US11/374,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/346, 370/3.51, 370/339, 370/329, 370/449
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling

Abstract

A method and a system are disclosed for providing quality of service (QoS)-driven channel access within a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless network. At least one available TO is allocated to a selected non-PC station having traffic to transmit. A multipoll frame containing information relating to at least two allocated TOs is then sent from the PC station containing information relating to each allocated TO.

Claims

1. A method for providing quality of service (QoS)-driven channel access within a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless network, the method comprising:

a) determining whether at least one transmission opportunity (TO) is available during a contention free period (CFP) of a superframe for transmitting traffic in the BSS, the superframe containing the CFP and a contention period (CP); and

b) sending from a point coordinator (PC) station of the BSS, a multipoll frame allocating at least two TOs to respective non-PC stations and identifying each allocated TO by a respective duration time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the duration time for a TO is a maximum length of time for the TO.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each successive TO starts after a preceding TO when a duration time associated with the preceding TO expires.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multipoll frame contains information relating to at least two allocated TOs,

wherein when a data frame that is indicated to be a final data frame is transmitted in a selected TO, a TO that is subsequent to the selected TO begins a short interframe spacing (SIFS) period of time after the preceding station sends the final data frame.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the TO that is subsequent to the selected TO ends when a duration time associated with the TO that is subsequent to the selected TO ends.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the TO that is subsequent to the selected TO is a last TO identified in the multipoll frame, any remaining time is returned for reallocation by the PC station.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

1) the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

2) the method further comprises;

i) receiving the multipoll frame at a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated; and

ii) transmitting from the non-PC station at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being associated with the VSID; and

3) the at least one data frame is part of an up-stream traffic.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

1) the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

2) the method further comprises;

i) receiving the multipoll frame at a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated; and

ii) transmitting from the non-PC station at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being associated with the VSID; and

3) the at least one data frame is part of a side-stream traffic.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

the method further comprising steps of;

receiving the multipoll frame at a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated; and

transmitting from the non-PC station at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being associated with a selected VSID that is different from the VSID identified in the multipoll frame, and the at least one data frame being transmitted based on a comparison of a QoS parameter set associated with the selected VSID and a QoS parameter set associated with the VSID identified in the multipoll frame.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one AID and the duration time;

the method further comprising steps of;

receiving the multipoll frame at a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated; and

transmitting from the non-PC station at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being transmitted based completely on a determination made by a frame scheduling entity (FSE) of the non-PC station.

11. A point coordinator (PC) station in a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless network, the PC station comprising:

a) a frame scheduling entity (FSE) determining whether at least one transmission opportunity (TO) is available during a contention free period (CFP) of a superframe for transmitting traffic in the BSS, the superframe containing the CFP and a contention period (CP); and

b) a transmitter sending from the PC station, a multipoll frame allocating at least two TOs to respective non-PC stations and identifying each allocated TO by a respective duration time.

12. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein the duration time for a TO is a maximum length of time for the TO.

13. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein each successive TO starts after a preceding TO when a duration time associated with the preceding TO expires.

14. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein the multipoll frame contains information relating to at least two allocated TOs,

wherein when a data frame that is indicated to be a final data frame is transmitted in a selected TO, a TO that is subsequent to the selected TO begins a short interframe spacing (SIFS) period of time after the preceding station sends the final data frame.

15. The PC station according to claim 14, wherein the TO that is subsequent to the selected TO ends when a duration time associated with the TO that is subsequent to the selected TO ends.

16. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein:

the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated, receives the multipoll frame, and transmits at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station; and

the at least one data frame is part of an up-stream traffic.

17. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein:

the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated, receives the multipoll frame, and transmits at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station; and

the at least one data frame is part of a side-stream traffic.

18. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one VSID and the duration time;

a non-PC station in the BSS receiving the multipoll frame, the non-PC station being a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated, the PC station transmitting at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being associated with a selected VSID that is different from the VSID identified in the multipoll frame, and the at least one data frame being transmitted based on a comparison of a QoS parameter set associated with the selected VSID and a QoS parameter set associated with the VSID identified in the multipoll frame.

19. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein the multipoll frame includes information relating to at least one AID and the duration time;

a non-PC station in the BSS receiving the multipoll frame, the non-PC station being a non-PC station for which an available TO was allocated, and the non-PC station transmitting from the non-PC station at least one data frame during the TO allocated to the non-PC station, the at least one data frame being transmitted based completely on a determination made by the FSE of the non-PC station.

20. The PC station according to claim 11, wherein the wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).