Patent ID: 7009960

Claim:
A method for providing efficient channel access using a medium access control (MAC) protocol for use in wireless networks having one master and a plurality of slave units, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first frame (M-Permit frame) from the master unit, the first frame provides information to one or more slave units from amongst the plurality of slave units addressed by the first frame on the maximum transmission time in minislots each one of the one or more slave units may transmit in sequence after the reception of the first frame; transmitting a second frame (Permit frame) from the master unit, the second frame is addressed to a particular slave unit from amongst the plurality of slave units and provides information to that particular slave unit on the maximum transmission time it has in minislots following reception of the second frame; and wherein the minislots each comprises a frame transmission time unit which is smaller than the size of a slot used by units compliant with the IEEE 802.15.1 standard and there are a predetermined number of minislots and interframe spaces (IFS) per said slot.