Patent ID: 7639657

Claim:
A method for providing quality of service (QoS)-driven channel access within a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless network, the method comprising: in a time period that includes a contention-free period (CFP) and a contention period (CP) that is distinct from the CFP, sending a contention control (CC) frame from a point coordinator (PC) of the BSS only during the CFP; and at the PC in a centralized contention interval (CCI) following the CC frame in the CFP, receiving a non-colliding reservation request (RR) frame from a non-PC station in the BSS when at least one centralized contention opportunity (CCO) is available during the CCI, the received RR frame indicating that the non-PC station sending the RR frame has at least one buffered data frame for transmission, wherein the CC frame sending step includes: sending from the PC during the CFP, the CC frame containing a priority limit for a next CCI.