Patent ID: 7489668
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for transmitting data in a wireless local area network, the method comprising the steps of: a) requesting, by a wireless access point, transmission of information related to reliable nodes to a wireless terminal having a transfer rate less than a predetermined threshold if data to be transmitted to the wireless terminal occurs in the wireless access point, the reliable nodes being other wireless terminals that can communicate with the wireless terminal and the wireless access point; b) producing, by the wireless terminal, a reliable node information frame containing both information related to reliable nodes capable of communicating with the wireless terminal over a wireless channel and information related to greatest allowable first transfer rates between the reliable nodes and the wireless terminal, and transmitting the reliable node information frame from the wireless terminal to the wireless access point; c) determining, by the wireless access point, an optimal relay node selected from the reliable nodes, based on greatest allowable second transfer rates between the reliable nodes and the wireless access point and based on the greatest allowable first transfer rates between the reliable nodes and the wireless terminal, and determining if a relay gain exists; and d) performing relay transmission from the wireless access point to the wireless terminal if the relay gain exists, and performing direct transmission from the wireless access point to the wireless terminal if no relay gain exists.