Patent ID: 8358636

Claim:
A method for scheduling the transmission of a multicast data packet in a wireless, local area network (WLAN) comprising: scheduling using a unit-disk, interference graph, which defines predetermined dimensions of WLAN partitioned square subregions coinciding with an interference range of the graph, to provide constant approximations of an optimal time period for the transmission of a multicast data packet by, minimizing the time needed to send the multicast data packet from an access point (AP) in the WLAN to each user over allocated time slots without interference and over a frequency used by another AP, wherein the use of the unit-disk, interference graph provides an approximation guarantee of obtaining an approximation ratio of one of 12, 10, and 5 which indicates that, a total time period of a CFP (Contention Free Period) associated with all allocated time slots is no more than a factor of one of 12, 10, and 5, respectively, of an ideal, minimum time period required to transmit the multicast data packet to every user within the WLAN without interference over a frequency used by another AP; and wherein the partitioned square subregions contain one or more labeled access points (APs).