Method for ensuring medium access in a wireless network

• US 8,102,808 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tan, Pek Yew, Lim, Wei Lih, Ohmi, Shinichiro, Harada, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Blanche
• Application Number:
  US12/725,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20100189066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/788 Autonomous allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/801 Real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access

Abstract

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.

Claims

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.