Patent ID: 7239844

Claim:
A method for operating a Basic Service Set (BSS)/Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that services a plurality of WLAN devices (STAs), wherein at least one STA of the plurality of STAs supports multiple slot times, the method comprising: initiating operation of the BSS/IBSS of the WLAN using a short slot time; determining that operation of the BSS/IBSS requires use of a long slot time, wherein the long slot time is longer than the short slot time; and altering operation of at least one of the plurality of STAs to be consistent with the long slot time by: using the long slot time; setting a local Long Slot Termination Time (LSTT); when a Target Beacon Transition Time (TBTT) is before the local LSTT, transmitting a beacon that indicates that the long slot time is to be used and that includes the local LSTT; and when the TBTT is after the local LSTT, transmitting a beacon that indicates that the short slot time is to be used.