Implementing enhanced distributed coordinating function (EDCF) with a single hardware backoff counter

摘要

A method for implementing a plurality of backoff counters on a hardware backoff counter for use in implementing a prioritized message transmission network is presented. A message with a smallest backoff time is selected and placed into the hardware backoff counter. When the hardware backoff counter expires, the message is transmitted. Whenever the communications medium becomes busy, the backoff time for every message is updated.