Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for indicating a channel resource. The apparatus including a transmitter arranged to transmit an indicating acquisition indication channel signature wherein said indicating signature is used to indicate an enhanced dedicated channel resource (uplink resource set) to be used by a user equipment; a memory configured to store a mapping associating a random access channel signature sequence to one or more of the indicating acquisition indication channel signatures; and a data processor configured to use the stored mapping to relate a random access channel signature sequence to one or more of the indicating acquisition indication channel signatures; configured to relate each indicating acquisition indication channel signature to an uplink resource set such there is a three-way mapping between the random access channel signature sequence, the one or more indicating acquisition indication channel signatures and the uplink resource set.

Abstract: A method and system by which a base station in a Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN), and more generally a transceiver in a cognitive radio (CR) system, can communicate with other transceivers to fairly share transmission and reception of scheduled use (“occupancy”) of frames on a single channel within a frame-based, on demand spectrum contention system. The method and system disclose how the base station currently occupying a channel responds to requests from other base stations for an increased share of the frames available in a subsequent superframe of the CR system. The method and system assure fair and efficient access to the transmission channel by a random number based contention process.

Abstract: A wireless communication device, a wireless communication system and a method of allocating a time slot during peer to peer communication over a millimeter wave wireless channel. The allocation of the time slot is done by truncating a channel time allocated time slot and releasing a truncated channel time allocation time slot for communication without a piconet network controller intervention and dynamically allocating a contention access period utilizing the released channel time of the allocated time.

Abstract: A method and system by which base stations in a Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN), and more generally transceivers in a cognitive radio (CR) system, can communicate to fairly share transmission and reception of scheduled use (“occupancy”) of frames on a single channel within a frame-based, on demand spectrum contention system. The method and system disclose how a base station can acquire the scheduled use of a share of the frames available in subsequent superframes of the CR system. The method and system assure fair and efficient access to the transmission channel by using a random number based contention process.

Abstract: Provided are a reader-tag integrated RFID apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The apparatus includes a tag unit for communicating with an external reader, and transmitting a response signal and data corresponding to a signal transmitted from the external reader to the external reader, a reader unit for selecting a channel between other reader and the reader-tag integrated RFID apparatus with a different delay time, and communicating with an external tag using a random value to minimize collision; and a controller for selectively activating one of the tag unit and the reader unit if it necessary.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the latency of instant communication session establishment are presented. According to various preferred embodiments, a RAN, may receive a setup request message via a packet-switched network. The RAN may determine, from a quality of service (QOS) indication contained in the setup request message, that the setup request message is requesting establishment of a instant communication session. The RAN may further determine an intended destination wireless communication device (WCD) for the setup request message. Based on the QOS indication and/or a profile indicating the destination WCD's capabilities, the RAN may pre-allocate resources for the instant communication session in parallel to paging the destination WCD. In this way, the latencies associated with these procedures are overlapped, thus reducing the overall latency of instant communication session establishment.

Abstract: A certain ECU transmits a reference message for requiring the other ECUs to transmit data. After transmission of the reference message, each of all the ECUs transmits priority information of its transmit message onto a communication bus, and then detects whether some priority information transmitted from the other ECUs has a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information. If there is detected no priority information of a higher priority than its own transmitted priority information, it transmits a message associated therewith, and then is prohibited to transmit data of the same priority until receiving a next reference message.

Abstract: A dynamic bandwidth allocation method that can allocate bandwidth dynamically so as to guarantee communication in a minimum guaranteed bandwidth from each subscriber device and enable communication within a maximum communicable bandwidth from each subscriber device. A subscriber device asks a control functional unit at least once for bandwidth in which to transmit packets to switching office equipment, and the control function unit allows transmission in a minimum guaranteed bandwidth determined in advance for every subscriber device and generates control data for allocating to each subscriber device the bandwidth that it may use so as to maximize the bandwidth that can be used for packet transmission within the maximum transmittable bandwidth while maintaining fairness. The control functional unit transmits the control data to each subscriber device, thereby notifying each subscriber device of the bandwidth it can use, and each subscriber device transmits packets in the specified bandwidth.

Abstract: A terminal device, used in communication system conducting communication by periodically switching frequency channels in a predefined sequence, communicates with a control device using a predefined channel.

Abstract: A method of congestion management in a wireless mesh network in which the CSMA/CA algorithm is used to access wireless medium, said network comprising a first station and at least one neighboring station able to communicate directly with the first station, comprises: —broadcasting (22) an announcement message by the first station to the at least one neighboring station when the first station experiences a congestion in its environment, said announcement message comprising a congestion level parameter, —activating (26) by the neighboring station, at reception of the announcement message, a congestion state in which the minimum size of the time window, called contention window, to access the medium before transmission of a message is strictly greater than the minimum size (CWmin) defined in absence of congestion, said minimum size in congestion state being defined as a function of the congestion level parameter.

Abstract: A method for communications between neighboring wireless cells such as wireless regional area networks operating according to IEEE 802.22 specifications. The method involves scheduling inter-base station communications for over-the-air connections to allow neighboring base stations to communicate in environments where a single available channel is shared between the neighboring cells or where two or more channels used by two or more neighboring cells. In some embodiments, a bridge system, such as a bridge consumer premise equipment (CPE), positioned in an area of coverage overlap between two cells is used for inter-base station communications, and allocation and scheduling of bandwidth on the utilized channels is performed to provide interference free communications between the base stations. Existence announcements are provided in coexistence time slots and requests for bandwidth such as reserved and additional time slots are transmitted between the base stations using the coexistence time slots.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate paging a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network. Paging messages may be communicated directly between a wireless terminal and its peer(s). Further, the wireless terminal may monitor for incoming paging messages during subinterval(s) of a paging interval as a function of an identifier of the wireless terminal. Moreover, the wireless terminal may transmit a paging message to a peer (e.g., detected and/or identified during peer discovery) during subinterval(s) of the paging interval as a function of an identifier of the peer.

Abstract: An IBSS that allows token passing for round-robin service of QoS flows is disclosed (an RRBSS). The RRBSS permits low-latency, reduced contention, distributed scheduling useful in any ad hoc network, but particularly suitable for high data rates. Distributed scheduled access is provided for flows through a round-robin token passing service discipline. STAs follow a round-robin order, or list, and are able to communicate with round-robin transmit opportunities during a defined period. Each STA in the list transmits a respective token to transfer access to the shared medium to the next STA in the RR List. The sequence is terminated with an end token. STAs maintain station identifiers and list updates are maintained with a sequence identifier. Techniques are disclosed to add and remove STAs to the sequence; establish connectivity lists (receive and forward), and maintain other sequence parameters such as bandwidth management and TXOP duration. Various other aspects are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to display the availability of a wireless LAN, in which information about an area supporting a wireless local area network (LAN) is provided to a user carrying a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone through a mobile phone network in the form of text, voice or images. The apparatus includes: an input unit to receive a command to request a search for a wireless LAN available in a designated location from a user; a packet generating unit to generate an information request packet according to the received command; a communicating unit to transmit the generated information request packet and to receive a result of the requested search for the available wireless LAN, in response to the transmitted information request packet; and a display unit to display the received result of the search.

Abstract: An arbitration mechanism provides quality of service guarantees for time-sensitive signals sharing a local area computer network with non-time-sensitive traffic. Device adapters are placed at all access points to an Ethernet network. The device adapters limit admission rates and control the timing of all packets entering the network. By doing so, collisions are eliminated for timesensitive traffic, thereby guaranteeing timely delivery. A common time reference is established for the device adapters. The time reference includes a frame with a plurality of phases. Each of the phases is assigned to a device adapter. Each device adapter is allowed to transmit packets of data onto the network only during the phase assigned thereto. The length of the phases may be modified in accordance with the number of packets to be transmitted by a particular device adapter. A master device adapter may be appointed to synchronize each of the device adapters.

Abstract: A technique is provided that can avoid radio zone interference in a radio controlled model apparatus which employs a frequency hopping system in the spread spectrum radio techniques. In a controller for maneuvering, for example, model airplanes, a process for detecting whether or not a radio zone is in an occupied state is initiated, with an initial radio zone represented by information stored in a nonvolatile memory acting as a starting point. Until an unoccupied radio zone is detected, the process of detecting the occupation of radio zones continues according to a predetermined sequence. Thus, an available radio zone can be detected. Moreover, information representing an initial radio zone, stored in a nonvolatile memory, is updated immediately after power-on of the controller.

Abstract: A new random linear network coding scheme for reliable communications for time division duplexing channels is proposed. The setup assumes a packet erasure channel and that nodes cannot transmit and receive information simultaneously. The sender transmits coded data packets back-to-back before stopping to wait for the receiver to acknowledge (ACK) the number of degrees of freedom, if any, that are required to decode correctly the information. Provided herein is an analysis of this problem to show that there is an optimal number of coded data packets, in terms of mean completion time, to be sent before stopping to listen. This number depends on the latency, probabilities of packet erasure and ACK erasure, and the number of degrees of freedom that the receiver requires to decode the data. This scheme is optimal in terms of the mean time to complete the transmission of a fixed number of data packets.

Abstract: Provided is a method of assigning a frequency channel using efficient spectrum sensing in a multiple Frequency Assignment (FA) system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing media access control (MAC) protocols with subbanding are described. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a beacon packet during one of a plurality of beacon slots of a superframe, each beacon slot corresponding to one of a plurality of different downlink subbands. The method may also include identifying, based on the received beacon packet, contention access periods following the beacon slots, each of the contention access periods corresponding to one of a plurality of different uplink subbands. The method may further include transmitting an information packet over each of the plurality of uplink subbands during the contention access periods. Then, the method may include receiving, during a guaranteed time slot following the contention access periods, an indication of a selected one of the plurality of uplink subbands to be used in a subsequent communications.

Abstract: A protocol for a peer power save mode (PPSM) in a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) wireless network and a system therefor are provided. A station (STA) set up a TDLS link can send a frame having a power management bit set to a peer STA to enter into a power save mode (PSM). In this case, the station entering into the PSM operates in a PPSM client mode. When the peer STA operates in the PPSM client mode, the STA can operate in the PPSM access point (AP) mode or can enter into the PPSM client mode. The STA operating in the PPSM AP mode buffers data for the STA operating in the PPSM client mode and informs the peer STA of information indicating that there is buffered data by the use of a peer traffic indication frame or the like. In principle, a U-APSD procedure can be applied to the transmission of data through a direct link from the STA operating in the PPSM AP mode to the STA operating in the PPSM client mode.

Abstract: A system for managing the integration of a private short-range wireless network into a service/mobility domain. The private short-range wireless network may be converted into a semi-private short range wireless network by managing access to the network in accordance with rules defined by a home user. These rules allow a home user to define how visitors will be granted access to the semi-private short-range network when the user is at home or away. Restricted access may be enforced when the home user is present, and security measures may force the semi-private short-range wireless network to enter a safe mode when a condition is met.

Abstract: A system and method for scalable multifunctional network communication between presentation devices and service providers are disclosed. A group of consumer premise equipment (CPE) units are coupled to the presentation devices, and a headend control computer receives upstream messages from the CPE units and for sending downstream messages to the CPE units. A group of service provider control subsystems interface between the headend control computer and the service providers. The head end control computer receives messages from the CPE units and transports them to the service provider control subsystems, and the headend control computer receives messages from the service provider control subsystems and transports them to the CPE units.

Abstract: A channel utilizing method for a wireless network is adapted for channel utilization by a switch node having a number (N) of transceivers in an environment with a number (M) of channels, wherein (N)<(M). The channel utilizing method includes the steps of: calculating a channel weight set, and selecting one of the (M) channels according to the channel weight set; determining a notify mechanism according to a relation between the switch node and a neighbor node; using the notify mechanism to notify the neighbor node of a current state of the switch node; and calculating a channel stay-in period, and causing the switch node to stay in the selected one of the channels for a duration of the channel stay-in period. A channel utilizing system is also disclosed.

Abstract: To estimate a tag read status of a passive RFID system in an actual operation environment. A method for estimating, by simulation, a tag read status of an RFID system comprises the steps of calculating the power supply activation status of each of one or more tags having IDs within a range in which the tag moves; and analyzing the operation of a collision avoidance protocol provided in the RFID system. The tag has a state parameter representative of the state of the tag. For a command signal in conformance with the collision avoidance protocol, the operation and state parameter of the tag are changed in accordance with the power supply activation status when the command signal is being processed in the tag.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus controls radio communications with other communication device through a relay device. The communication control apparatus includes a transmission control unit that notifies a data transmission to the relay device, and performs the data transmission to the relay device when the transmission control unit receives a response to the notification from the relay device indicating that the data transmission is possible, and stops a data transmission when the transmission control unit receives a response to a notification made by another communication device from the relay device, a collision conjecture unit that conjectures a collision of frames at the data transmission in accordance with a predetermined condition, and a threshold value control unit that sets a threshold value to determine an assertion or a negation of the transmission control unit in accordance with a result of the conjecture of the collision.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for distributing contention among terminals in a Contention Access Period (CAP) of a superframe in regard to a Medium (or Media) Access Control (MAC) layer employing a beacon-enabled mode in IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The method includes: dividing the CAP or the superframe into a plurality of sub-periods, all having the same size; receiving an association request message from a relevant terminal; and allocating one of the plurality of sub-periods to the relevant terminal, and transferring information on the sub-periods to the relevant terminal through a beacon frame, by a Personal Area Network (PAN) coordinator.

Abstract: To prevent a collision from occurring at the time of random access in cases such as handover, response to paging and the like where a mobile station apparatus performs random access in response to directions from a base station apparatus. In a mobile communication system in which a mobile station apparatus 200 uses a signature of a beforehand determined signature group at the time of random access with a base station apparatus 100, the signature group is comprised of a signature group managed by the base station apparatus 100 and another signature group managed by the mobile station apparatus 200. The signature group managed by the base station apparatus 100 includes signatures associated with particular random access reasons to be selected by the base station apparatus 100.

Abstract: A radio communication system has a random access channel for the transmission of data (214) from a secondary station to a primary station. Such a channel is intended for use by secondary stations having packets of data (214) to transmit to a primary station while not actually engaged in a call. The primary station transmits a random access channel availability (AV) message (302) once per frame to inform secondary stations about the resources currently available. Hence a secondary station can select a channel known to be free. If no channels are available the secondary station can avoid a wasted access attempt.

Abstract: An alternating scheduling algorithm is useful in a mesh network. Transmissions are scheduled along a branch in a tree structure such that simultaneous transmissions occur only in non-adjacent layers along the branch. In a disclosed example, every other layer is grouped into a set of layers such that the sets are mutually exclusive and the sets only include non-adjacent layers. One example includes designating one set of layers as the even layers and another set as odd layers. A scheduler schedules transmissions on the layers such that simultaneous transmissions along a branch occur only on layers within one of the sets while transmissions on the other set along the same branch are prevented. The sets of layers selected for transmission are alternated each subsequent scheduling window or frame.

Abstract: A communication terminal and method is provided for improving channel utilization efficiency in a wireless sensor network using contention-based channel access mechanism is disclosed. The communication method according to the present invention comprises initializing, when a packet transmission is required, a contention window to a size; resetting, when a channel is assessed to be busy, the size of the contention window in a hybrid expansion mode; and attempting, when the channel is assessed to be idle, the packet transmission through the channel.

Abstract: The real-time aspects of keep-alive generation are removed from the dynamic routing protocol (DRP) application and are embedded within a Unix-based operating system, which is programmed by DRP. A keep-alive control provides the ability to create a keep-alive message and a timeout interval on a TCP socket. Each socket can have an independent keep-alive message and timeout interval. A keep-alive message is sent whenever the TCP socket sends no normal user output for a duration exceeding the timeout interval. A timeout interval is normally specific in seconds and a keep-alive message is user definable and must not exceed a predetermined length in bytes. System calls are used to set the timeout interval and keep-alive message independently. Both a timeout and a keep-alive message must be set before the timeout becomes active.

Abstract: Performing distributed contention-free communication channel reservation for wireless communication, is disclosed. One implementation involves providing access to a shared communication channel in a wireless network including multiple wireless stations, by performing distributed channel time reservation for contention-free access to a shared wireless channel by each wireless station, based on a prior successful contention by the wireless station for access to the channel in a wireless network.

Abstract: A system for signaling an application when a requested data rate and Quality of Service cannot be achieved using OFDM wireless data transmission, and the application proceeds by either renegotiating QoS and data rate, or waiting until they requested rate and QoS are met.

Abstract: Flow control techniques for co-localized wireless local area network (WLAN) and Bluetooth (BT) allowing efficient sharing of radio medium are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes deriving an available medium time (TAV) for the WLAN device to communicate with a peer WLAN device based on schedule data forwarded by the BT device, transmitting a first data from the WLAN device to the peer WLAN device if the BT device becomes inactive and if the TAV is greater than a threshold time, and transmitting a second data from the WLAN device to the peer WLAN device if the TAV is less than the threshold time. The first data indicates that the WLAN device is to come out of a power save (PS) mode and the second data indicates that the WLAN device is to enter the PS mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the latency of instant communication session establishment are presented. According to various preferred embodiments, a RAN, may receive a setup request message via a packet-switched network. The RAN may determine, from a quality of service (QOS) indication contained in the setup request message, that the setup request message is requesting establishment of a instant communication session. The RAN may further determine an intended destination wireless communication device (WCD) for the setup request message. Based on the QOS indication and/or a profile indicating the destination WCD's capabilities, the RAN may pre-allocate resources for the instant communication session in parallel to paging the destination WCD. In this way, the latencies associated with these procedures are overlapped, thus reducing the overall latency of instant communication session establishment.

Abstract: In a communication system, a first transmitting station transmits a transmission signal to a first receiving station for transmitting a sequence of data via a radio interface. The radio interface is monitored with respect to an interference signal from an interference source prior to transmission via at least one of the first transmitting station and the first receiving station. The transmission only begins if the radio interface is sufficiently free from interference for a moment in time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy efficient mechanism for establishing and maintaining a communication between nodes (A . . . F) in a wireless communication system. In particular, it relates to a distributed low power medium access control (MAC) mechanism for sharing the communication means in a wireless communication system. According to the present invention a destination node (A) listens to a communication channel periodically. For requesting services from the destination node (A), a wake-up signal (WU) is transmitted from a source node (B) to the destination node (A) via the communication channel, wherein the wake-up signal (WU) is formed by a preamble (WP) and an information for controlling the communication between nodes (A . . . F). The WU signal duration and content is adapted depending on the system operation context to reduce either idle times, power consumption, latency or network blocking (collision avoidance).

Abstract: A method of operating a network node of a network, a network node, a network system, a computer-readable medium, and a program element A method (300) of operating a network node (101-104) of a network system (100), comprising the steps of generating (305) a signal to be transmitted, selecting (310) one of a plurality of communication channels (105-108) of the network system (100) for transmitting the signal, and, in case that the selected channel (105-108) is not ready for transmitting the signal, selecting (345) another one of the plurality of communication channels (105-108) for transmitting the signal.

Abstract: A power management method that divorces multicast frames for power save stations from DTIM beacons. An access point associates power save stations with a multicast group. Each station has an associated power save interval, the station being in a power save state during the interval, otherwise in an active state. The access point maintains a timer for each station in order to determine whether the station is in an active or power save state. The timer can be reset whenever the station sends an inbound frame. When the access point receives a multicast frame for the group, it buffers the frame until the timer for each member of the group expires, thereby ensuring each member of the group is in an active state, and broadcasts the multicast frame.

Abstract: A method of processing data within a controller for a network can include identifying frames within a data stream within the network (1110) and detecting a deadlock state according to a number of consecutive frames comprising at least one set control bit (1130). The method can include, responsive to detecting the deadlock state, adjusting the at least one control bit within a current frame (1135). Adjusting the at least one control bit clears the deadlock state and generates a modified frame. The modified frame can be output to at least one node within the network (1140).

Abstract: A multi-channel scheduling method in a wireless network is provided. The wireless network includes a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device with a single radio interface. A regular time interval P and a Channel Coordination Window (CCW) to be repeated in a period of P are set. A request is made such that the plurality of devices are tuned to a first channel at a start point of the CCW. A pair of arbitrary WLAN devices among the plurality of WLAN devices is allowed to transmit control frames in the regular time interval P. The control frames are a transmission proposal control frame for proposing communication in a second channel and a response frame, responding to the transmission proposal control frame, for indicating whether the second channel has been accepted or rejected. The arbitrary WLAN device of the pair are switched to the second channel after acceptance.

Abstract: An access node anchoring a connection to, e.g., a PDSN in a core network establishes a session with a mobile station and assigns the mobile station an identifier such as a UATI. The anchor node sends the UATI to the PDSN, such as in a GRE key where the data link is a GRE tunnel. If the anchor node fails and data addressed to the mobile station comes to the PDSN, it may initiate a page for the mobile using the UATI. The anchor node may additionally send the PDSN the session seed and optionally the mobile station's network location. A registration zone may be defined to include access nodes within a predetermined distance of the anchor node, and the mobile station forced to re-register when moving outside of the registration zone. In this case, the PDSN may initiate a page for the mobile station only within the registration zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for broadcast transmission of data in frames having multiple time slots, from one transmitting node to multiple receiving nodes in a network, having the following steps: The sending out of at least one broadcast request message from the transmitter node to the receiver nodes, wherein the time slots available to the transmitter node for data transmission are indicated; the transmitting back of time-slot granting messages from the receiving nodes, wherein at least one of the time-slots available to the respective receiver node for data transmission is in each case indicated jointly with one at the transmitter node; the sending out of a confirmation message from the transmitter node to the neighboring receiving nodes, wherein all of the receiving nodes are indicated in the time-slot granting messages jointly with the time-slots available at the transmitter node; the performing of a broadcast transmission of the data from the transmitter node to the receiver nodes in the jointly available ti

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: The present invention allows individual providers to be assigned to one or more roles. A role corresponds to a function, service, or action that can be fulfilled by the provider who is assigned to the role. A media session may be initiated by sending a session request from a requester toward a given role instead of being initiated directly to a particular provider. The media session may include a voice or video call, instant messaging session, file transfer session, application sharing session, or the like. The session request is routed to a role server, which may direct the session request to the provider who is assigned to the corresponding role. Once a decision is made to route the session request to a particular provider, provider routing rules may further control how the session requests are routed to the provider terminals of the particular provider.

Abstract: The method and apparatus described herein controls transmission from a plurality of user terminals to an access point on a random access channel in a wireless communication system. An access point determines an allowed information rate for each user terminal and transmits a rate control parameter indicative of the allowed information rates to the user terminals. The access point also computes a packet transmission probability and transmits the packet transmission probability to the use terminals on a common control channel. The packet transmission probability controls the number of user terminals that transmit in a given time slot to reduce collisions and increase the departure rate. The user terminals selectively transmit one or more packets to the access point in a time slot on the random access channel based on the allowed information rate and the packet transmission probability.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for sharing a quantity of resources between several users in a telecommunication network or a computing system starting from a given date. The method includes updating a tree, each node of which represents a time period. The tree contains at least one node representing a time period including the given date. The concatenation of the time periods represented by daughter nodes of a parent node represent the time period represented by the parent node.

Abstract: Apparatuses, realtime-stations, computer programs, and methods for scheduling of traffic in wireless networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided for scheduling of traffic in a wireless networks including real-time stations intending to send real-time traffic and best-effort stations sending best effort traffic. The method can include overhearing for a predetermined period of time the traffic by a station which intends to send real-time traffic, and if from the overhearing the station concludes that there is already a primary station transmitting real-time access markers, assuming by the station a sequence number based on the number of real-time stations which already are sending real-time traffic.

Abstract: A communication system includes communication protocols that allow a single network or multiple neighboring networks to increase resource sharing and reduce mutual interference and increase their overall throughput. Various protocols apply to homogenous networks in which all power line communication (PLC) devices of multiple networks are interoperable with respect to full power line communication in a common PHY (specifications, signaling capabilities, modulation scheme, coding scheme, bandwidth, etc.) and to heterogeneous networks in which devices of some PLC networks are not interoperable with PLC devices of other PLC networks with respect to full power line communication given that the devices of the different networks do not employ a common PHY. With respect to heterogeneous networks, a protocol is provided to enable coexistence via a signaling scheme common to all of the devices of the network that allows resource sharing between the devices of the multiple heterogeneous networks.

Abstract: A method for optimally serving Stations (STA) on Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) using a Controlled Contention/Resource Reservation protocol of the IEEE 802.11e standard. The Wireless LAN includes multiple STAs, mobile or Stationary, airlinked to an access point as a Basic Service Set (BSS). A Hybrid Coordinator (HC) is co-located with the access point for allocating the bandwidth for the BSS using a Controlled Contention/Resource Reservation protocol defined in the IEEE Standard 802.11(e). The HC transmits Contention Control (CC) frames and initiates Controlled Contention Intervals (CCI) having a selected number of slotted intervals. HC receives Resource Reservations (RR) detailing bandwidth needs from STA contenders during a specified time interval called the Controlled Contention Interval (CCI.). Several parameters are installed in each CC for contention control purpose.