Method and system for medium access control (MAC) layer specialization for voice and multimedia data streams

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for medium access control (MAC) layer specialization for voice and multimedia data streams are presented. Aspects of the method include determining a number of attempts for transmitting one or more medium access control (MAC) frames. Aspects of the system may include a processor that enables determination of a number of attempts for transmitting one or more MAC frames. A maximum number for such attempts may be determined based on one or more priority levels associated with different portions of multimedia information being communicated via a wireless medium and contained within the one or more MAC frames.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by use of a processor, data for transmission from a radio frequency (RF) front end that is coupled to a plurality of transmission antennas;   assigning, by use of the processor, a priority level associated with the data;   determining, by use of the processor, a transmission window based on the priority level, wherein the priority level determines a time duration of the transmission window;   assigning one or more transmission antennas based on the priority level to transmit the data;   transmitting and retransmitting the data until an acknowledgement is received from a target device receiving the data; and   terminating retransmission of the data when the time duration of the transmission window is reached without receiving the acknowledgement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time duration of the transmission window determines a number of times the data is retransmitted when the acknowledgment is not received from the target device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data is transmitted in a medium access control (MAC) frame. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the data is sent as a transmission control protocol (TCP) packet. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting a timer to determine when the time duration of the transmission window is reached. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the processor reverts to a start state when data transmission is terminated due to reaching end of the time duration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the priority level is assigned based on type of data being transmitted. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining, by use of a processor, data for transmission from a radio frequency (RF) front end that is coupled to a plurality of transmission antennas;   assigning, by use of the processor, a priority level associated with the data;   determining, by use of the processor, a number of times the data is to be transmitted based on the priority level, wherein the priority level determines the number of times the data is retransmitted;   assigning one or more transmission antennas based on the priority level to transmit the data;   transmitting the data to a target device until an acknowledgement of data reception is received from a target device; and   terminating transmission of the data when the number of times the data is transmitted is reached without receiving the acknowledgement.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data is transmitted in a medium access control (MAC) frame. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the data is sent as a transmission control protocol (TCP) packet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising setting a timer to determine when the number is reached. 
     
     
         12 . The method of clam  11 , wherein the processor reverts to a start state when data transmission is terminated due to reaching the number of times data is to be transmitted. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the priority level is assigned based on type of data being transmitted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data is multimedia data. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a radio frequency (RF) front end operable to couple to a plurality of transmission antennas; and   a processor coupled to the RF front end in which the processor, in association with the RF front end, is operable to determine data for transmission from the RF front end, assign a priority level associated with the data, determine a transmission window based on the priority level, wherein the priority level determines a time duration of the transmission window, assign one or more transmission antennas based on the priority level to transmit the data, and cause transmission and retransmission of the data until an acknowledgement is received from a target device receiving the data or terminate retransmission of the data when the time duration of the transmission window is reached without receiving the acknowledgement.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the time duration of the transmission window determines a number of times the data is retransmitted when the acknowledgment is not received from the target device. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the data is transmitted in a medium access control (MAC) frame. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the data is sent as a transmission control protocol (TCP) packet. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is operable to set a timer to determine when the time duration of the transmission window is reached. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein processor assigns the priority level based on type of data being transmitted.