Patent ID: 7706805
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: allocating a dedicated amount of available bandwidth in a wireless network to time-sensitive payload data, the dedicated amount being divided into one or more sets, each set comprising a plurality of containers, the containers of each set being structured to carry a fixed amount of payload data; the particular access point transmitting a beacon or probe response frame that conforms to a published wireless standard, the published standard providing for additional information elements to be included in beacon frames and probe response frames that conform to the published standard, the transmitted beacon or probe response frame including an information element (“TSDT scheduler IE”) announcing the allocation of the dedicated amount of available bandwidth and including scheduling information; allocating a number of one or more containers of one of the sets of containers for a call between a particular access point of the wireless network and a first client station of the particular access point; the particular access point transmitting a first time-sensitive data train downlink data frame that includes time-sensitive data payloads for a first set of one or more client stations including the first client station, the time-sensitive data payload for any particular client station using a corresponding allocated number of one or more containers of the one of the sets of containers; and the particular access point carrying on time sensitive communication with one or more of the first set of one or more client stations using time-sensitive data train exchange sequences, wherein a time-sensitive data train exchange sequence includes a single time-sensitive data train downlink data frame from the particular access point to the first set of one or more client stations, the time-sensitive data train downlink data frame being a MAC frame having first respective structure pre-defined for time sensitive data communication, one or more time-sensitive data train acknowledgement frames or time-sensitive data train acknowledgement with data frames following the time-sensitive data train downlink data frame, the time-sensitive data train acknowledgement frame being a MAC frame having a second structure distinct from the first structure, and pre-defined for time sensitive data communication, the time-sensitive data train acknowledgement with data frame being a MAC frame having a third respective structure distinct from the first and second structures, and pre-defined for time sensitive data communication, each time-sensitive data train acknowledgement frame or time-sensitive data train acknowledgement with data frame being from a client station for reception by the particular access point, and a single time-sensitive data train downlink acknowledgement frame for transmission from the particular access point as a result of the access point receiving a time-sensitive data train acknowledgement frame or a time-sensitive data train acknowledgement with data frame, the time-sensitive data train downlink acknowledgement frame being a MAC frame having fourth respective structure distinct from the first, second, and third structures, and pre-defined for time sensitive data communication.