Patent ID: 8503480

Claim:
A method for allocating bandwidth between a plurality of networks, comprising: receiving requests for bandwidth allocation from each of the plurality of networks with whom a local network is sharing bandwidth; reserving one of multiple periodically occurring coexistence slots, for use by the local network, by transmitting a slot allocation request in an apparently available coexistence slot after observing the coexistence slots for a period of time to determine observed networks using respective coexistence slots, the slot allocation request including an apparently available network identifier, and receiving slot allocation confirmations from others of the plurality of networks with whom the local network is sharing bandwidth transmitted during respective periodically occurring coexistence slots reserved by the others of the plurality of networks in response to the slot allocation request from the local network, the slot allocation confirmations from respective networks confirming that the respective network is not assigned the apparently available coexistence slot and is not using the apparently available network identifier; in response to receiving slot allocation confirmations from each of the observed networks, generating a coexistence frame requesting an allocation of bandwidth for the local network, the allocation being based upon the requests for bandwidth allocation received from the plurality of networks with whom the local network is sharing bandwidth; transmitting the coexistence frame to the plurality of networks with whom the local network is sharing bandwidth during the periodically occurring coexistence slot reserved for use by the local network; and waiting a reservation period comprising a number of periodically occurring coexistence slots between transmitting the coexistence frame and transmitting during the allocation of bandwidth requested by the local network.