Abstract: A method allocates transmission channels to transmit nodes in a wireless network, the network comprising receive nodes and respective transmit nodes. Each receive node receives a data signal from its respective transmit node and is subject to interference from other transmission from other transmit nodes. The method includes: (i) determining the communication link gain of a data signal transmitted via each of communication paths; (ii) for each of the receive nodes, forming a set of the transmit nodes from which the receive node can tolerate interfering transmissions, (iii) collecting the formed set of transmit nodes from step (ii) for each receive node, and using the formed sets to generate a preferred set of transmit node and receive node pairs; and (iv) allocating a communication channel to the transmit nodes contained in the preferred set.

Abstract: A contention window for allocating bandwidth in a wireless network is determined. A plurality of nodes includes at least a first and a second router and at least one client connected to each of the first and second routers. Information is received at the first router from the other nodes, the information relating to the condition of the other nodes. A contention window is calculated for the first router based on the received information and the delay is set for a retransmission of data by the first router to the calculated contention window following an unsuccessful transmission of the data.