Accessing a communication media using both a contention period and a polling period

摘要

The present invention provides an access point device, a communication unit and a method for access to a communication media in a communication network. The access point comprises a communication interface for exchanging data with a plurality of communication units in the communication network via the communication media; and a processor for receiving a media access request message in a contention mode from at least one communication unit of the plurality of communication units via the communication interface; and polling the at least one communication unit by assigning a media access duration to each of the at least one communication unit according to a corresponding duration information for media access in the received media access request message.

主权项

1. An access point device for controlling access to a communication media in a wired communication network, comprising:
a communication interface for exchanging data with a plurality of communication units in the wired communication network via the communication media; and a processor for receiving only authentication request messages from unassociated ones of the plurality of communication units and a media access request and respond messages in a contention mode from ones of the plurality of communication units having data to transmit via the communication interface, the received media access request and respond messages including data indicating a media access duration; determining a value representative of a media access duration for each of the plurality of communication units from which a media access request and respond message is received based on the media access duration received with the media access request and respond message; and polling the plurality of communication units during a polling period by assigning the media access duration to each of the plurality of communication units according to the media access duration in the media access request and respond message received in the contention mode and transmitting a clear to send frame to communication units from which media access request and respond messages have been received, wherein the clear to send frame includes a determined media access duration and a MAC address of a communication unit authorized to send data.