Patent ID: 8447858

Claim:
An access point comprising: a classification device configured to route data of different classes of service to a plurality of virtual access points, wherein the data of different classes of service include (i) video data, (ii) audio data, and (iii) data other than video and audio data, wherein each of the virtual access points services a set of client stations configured to communicate data of one of the classes of service, and wherein each of the virtual access points and respective sets of client stations form a plurality of basic service sets; a first scheduling device configured to schedule service for the plurality of basic service sets, wherein scheduling the service for the plurality of basic service sets includes scheduling first transmit times for the basic service sets to transmit data from the access point to the client stations in the respective basic service sets; and a second scheduling device configured to schedule service for the sets of client stations in each of the basic service sets, wherein scheduling the service for the sets of client stations in each of the basic service sets includes scheduling second transmit times for the client stations associated with the basic service sets to transmit data from the client stations to the access point, wherein the first scheduling device and the second scheduling device are configured to schedule respective services based on (i) service priority levels for the basic service sets and (ii) a number of data streams allowed for each of the basic service sets, and wherein the service priority levels for the basic service sets and the number of data streams allowed for each of the basic service sets are set according to the classes of service associated with each of the basic service sets.