Synchronous transmission methods and apparatus

摘要

Methods and apparatus for use in a wireless system are described where initiation of packet transmission is constrained in accordance to control actual packet transmission in a manner that reduces contention and possible collisions beyond that provided by lower layer resource contention mechanisms, e.g., 802.11 carrier sensing and/or transmission back-off timing mechanisms. Through higher level, e.g., MAC constraints, on packet transmission initiation, an air interface which employs carrier sensing can be used and controlled in a manner which reduces collisions and interference in applications where small packets, e.g., packets which can be transmitted in a fraction of the maximum permitted transmission time. The methods allow small packets in such systems to be transmitted on a periodic or semi-periodic basis in many cases.

主权项

1. A method of operating a communications device to transmit packets, the method comprising:
storing information defining a plurality of packet transmission initiation intervals, each of the transmission initiation intervals being of a predetermined duration which is longer than an amount of time required to transmit a packet, said transmission initiation intervals corresponding to a recurring broadcast interval including multiple packet transmission opportunities; selecting a subset of transmission initiation intervals to be associated with said communications device; and restricting initiation of packet transmission to transmission initiation intervals associated with said communications device, said transmission initiation intervals associated with said communications device being separated from one another in time by at least N transmission initiation intervals, N being a non-zero integer value.