Patent ID: 7477621

Claim:
A system for allocating bandwidth in a wireless network, comprising: a base station; and a plurality of stations in communication with the base station, wherein during a measurement period, the base station monitors an amount of information packets communicated by each of the plurality of stations to determine bandwidth required by each of the plurality of stations, wherein during the measurement period, the plurality of stations communicate information packets using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), wherein after the measurement period, the base station transmits a bandwidth allocation message to the plurality of stations allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of stations for transmitting information packets during respective timeslots specified in the bandwidth allocation message, wherein the bandwidth allocation message comprises a header, a traffic indication map, a bandwidth assignment table and a checksum, wherein the traffic indication map identifies stations of the plurality of stations for which at least one timeslot has been allocated for transmitting information packets, wherein the bandwidth assignment table comprises an identification portion and a timeslot allocation portion for each of the plurality of stations for which at least one timeslot has been allocated for transmitting information packets, wherein the identification portion of the bandwidth assignment table identifies a station for which the at least one timeslot has been allocated, and wherein the timeslot allocation portion of the bandwidth assignment table contains a number of timeslots allocated to a station for transmitting information packets.