Abstract: A system and method are provided for non-transmission specification fair air-time, NT-AirFair, allocation control by tracking the transmission time consumed by each link to detect any increase and enforcing air-time allocation based on the pattern of usage derived therefrom.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for non-transmission specification fair air-time, NT-AirFair, allocation control by tracking the transmission time consumed by each link to detect any increase and enforcing air-time allocation based on the pattern of usage derived therefrom.

Abstract: A system (300), apparatus (301), and method are provided for decentralized medium access control comprising an enhanced protocol for UWB MAC that includes a distributed reservation protocol (DRP) for distributed reservation of the medium (310). The invention also relates to any wireless system (300) that uses a MAC protocol comprising a distributed reservation protocol. The method comprises devices (301) announcing medium reservations in beacons (400) and devices (301) that receive such announcements respecting the reservations.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for incorporating host-device communication in wireless IJSB (WUSB). A host (101) either uses a multicast Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP) frame on behalf of connected devices (102) to reserve wireless channel resources, a unicast DRP frame or Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) with a Poll Frame. In the case of a unicast DRP frame the number of unicast frames sent for reservation depends on the number of connected devices (102).

Abstract: The Station Management Entity (SME) 202 and/or Media Access Control (MAC) SubLayer Management Entity (MLME) 201 within a Hybrid Controller (HC) or wireless station (WSTA) 106, 109 for an IEEE 802.11 wireless data communications system 100 employ primitives in connection with a Schedule Quality of Service (QoS) Action frame. The primitives include: a request primitive formulated by the HC's SME 202 using the WSTA 106, 109 address and the Schedule Element from the Schedule QoS Action frame for transmission to the HC's MLME 201; a confirm primitive formulated by the HC's MLME 201 using a result code for transmission to the HC's SME 202; and an indication primitive formulated by the WSTA's MLME 201 using the Schedule Element for transmission to the WSTA's SME 202.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data frames over a data network with a MAC protocol, such as a wireless network using IEEE 802.11 protocol, in which a plural number of MAC (Media Access Control) data frames are transmitted with only a single PLCP (Physical Layer Control Procedure) overhead including PLCP preamble and header. In the frame structure used in the method, a single concatenated MAC header is added to the plurality of MAC data frames.

Abstract: A method for providing bandwidth fairness in a wireless network includes determining bandwidth requirement for a particular service interval for each of a plurality wireless stations in a network. The method also includes determining an allocated transmission time for each of the plurality of wireless stations based on a minimum physical transmission rate. Additionally the illustrative method includes fragmenting a packet of at least one of the wireless stations if the at least one wireless station transmits at other transmission rates that are less than the minimum physical transmission rate. An apparatus is adapted to effect the illustrative method.

Abstract: The application describes a method to merge two wireless networks in which each terminal gets a beacon slot within the beacon period. In order to merge two networks, the beacon slots have to be time-coordinated such that the beacon slots of the first network are completed before the beacon slots of the second network begin. The method includes transmitting a beacon frame having a beacon period switch information element which instructs the neighboring terminals in the first network of the need to merge, provides clock synchronization information; provides the time of the merge; and informs the neighboring terminals which beacon slot to occupy in the beacon period of the merged network. In order to deal with hidden terminals, the information needs to be forwarded terminal-to-terminal within each network.

Abstract: A complementary medium access control (CMAC) method and apparatus are described. A method of wireless communication includes transmitting a request-to-send (RTS) frame and transmitting a clear-to-send (CTS) frame. The method also includes transmitting a partner-to-send (PTS) frame. A wireless network includes a source station adapted to transmit a RTS frame and a destination station adapted to transmit a CTS frame. The wireless network also includes a partner station adapted to send a PTS frame.

Abstract: To maximize power saving performance without compromising on the QoS requirement of an application stream, a method and wireless network device generates a subset of a periodic service interval can be used for medium time allocation and data and information can be transmitted in contiguous medium time allocated this way. This selection of a period of time below service capacity allows multiple applications access the medium and for the selection of contiguous medium time during which data transmission can occur.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100), access point (20) and program product (35) for providing airtime and bandwidth fairness in wireless networks. To provide bandwidth fairness, a more fragment bit is set in a set of packets (46C) received by an access point (20) so that the packets of the set of packets (46C) can be transmitted to its destination (46C) successively (i.e., without back-off). To provide airtime fairness, upon receiving a packet (34) destined for a wireless station (22A), the access point (20) will calculate an airtime requirement for transmitting the packet (34), set a time counter (50) based on the airtime requirement. Thereafter, it will be determined whether the packet (34) can be transmitted to wireless station 22A before the time counter (50) expires. If not, transmission of the packet (34) will either not occur, or the packet (34) will be split into a set of fragments (48) for transmission.

Abstract: Wireless stations (108-1-108-N) contending for exclusive access for a predetermined period of time (S232) to transmit on a communication medium (112) are regulated by a common external controller (104) using a single timing parameter (S204). Attempts at transmission access are preceded by respective delays that are expired simultaneously and at a common rate by the stations at times when the stations sense the medium to be idle (S224). The delays are pseudo-randomly selected to avoid collisions among stations in their respective access attempts (S208). Default, initial values of the respective delays (S204) applied to the stations, when multiplied by the respective expected number of transmission attempts by the stations over the long term over periods of time when no transmission attempt is unsuccessful, yield respective products equal to a constant value common to all stations (S312). The default values therefore serve as a knob by which the controller regulates air time opportunity.

Abstract: A distributed MAC protocol that includes a super-frame having a slotted Beaconing Period and a data transfer period. The super-frame includes a plurality of medium access slots which are assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period. The Beaconing Period length may be fixed or variable. The Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting a Beaconing Period, joining an existing Beaconing Period of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Abstract: The system (400), apparatus (401.j), and method (100) of the present invention provide a way to expand and contract the available wireless channels opportunistically by optimally switching the OFDM carriers. The present invention employs a spectrum occupancy information element (200) and a local spectrum occupancy database (505) respectively for exchange of spectrum occupancy information with other devices and persistent storage of spectrum occupancy information, both of which enable seamless working of agile radios in such a way that their transmission capacity is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system based on MAC frames for enabling a QAP to seamlessly operate between granting polls for upstream and sidestream traffic while sending downstream frames. The inventive scheduling method uses a minimum set of mandatory TSPEC parameters to generate a schedule, which provides minimum performance requirement in wireless local area networks (WLANs).

Abstract: A complementary medium access control (CMAC) method and apparatus are described.

Abstract: The application describes a method to merge two wireless networks in which each terminal gets a beacon slot within the beacon period. In order to merge two networks, the beacon slots have to be time-coordinated such that the beacon slots of the first network are completed before the beacon slots of the second network begin. The method includes transmitting a beacon frame having a beacon period switch information element which instructs the neighboring terminals in the first network of the need to merge, provides clock synchronization information; provides the time of the merge; and informs the neighboring terminals which beacon slot to occupy in the beacon period of the merged network. In order to deal with hidden terminals, the information needs to be forwarded terminal-to-terminal within each network.

Abstract: A system (300), apparatus (301), and method are provided for decentralized medium access control comprising an enhanced protocol for UWB MAC that includes a distributed reservation protocol (DRP) for distributed reservation of the medium (310). The invention also relates to any wireless system (300) that uses a MAC protocol comprising a distributed reservation protocol. The method comprises devices (301) announcing medium reservations in beacons (400) and devices (301) that receive such announcements respecting the reservations.

Abstract: Wireless networks and methods of use includes a source that transmits a signal to at least one destination during a scheduled time period. The network also includes at least one node, which is hidden from the destination, and which transmits a signal during the scheduled time period. The networks and their methods of use provide for efficient use of the medium.

Abstract: To maximize power saving performance without compromising on the QoS requirement of an application stream, a method and wireless network device generates a subset of a periodic service interval can be used for medium time allocation and data and information can be transmitted in contiguous medium time allocated this way. This selection of a period of time below service capacity allows multiple applications access the medium and for the selection of contiguous medium time during which data transmission can occur.