Patent ID: 9072101
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. An access point (AP), comprising: a transceiver configured to exchange a scheduling message that is transmitted in order to schedule a beacon interval including a common portion allocated for transmissions on an access channel according to only a contention-based format for first and second classes of stations (STAs) and a contention-free portion allocated for transmissions on the access channel according to only a scheduled-access format for the first class of STAs and according to both a scheduled-access format and the contention-based format for the second class of STAs, wherein the AP provides access to an external communications network, wherein the first class of STAs and the second class of STAs are both permitted to contend for access to the access channel during the common portion in accordance with only the contention-based format, wherein the scheduling message instructs the first class of STAs to operate in accordance with the scheduled-access format during the contention-free portion and to prevent from contending for access to the access channel during the contention-free portion in accordance with the contention-based format, wherein the second class of STAs is permitted to contend for access the access channel during the contention-free portion in accordance with the contention-based format, wherein the contention-based format during the contention-free portion uses a carrier sense protocol whereby access to the access channel is permitted after sensing the access channel to be idle for a threshold amount of time in order to avoid a collision.