System and method of communication using distributed channel access parameters

Abstract

A method includes, in response to receiving a delta value of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter at a station, determining a value of the EDCA parameter based on the delta value and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter. The method also includes, in response to receiving an EDCA parameter set information element (IE), determining the value of the EDCA parameter based on the EDCA parameter set IE. The method further includes, in response to no delta value or EDCA parameter set IE being received at the station during a time period, setting the value of the EDCA parameter to a default value of the EDCA parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 in response to receiving a delta value of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter at a station, determining, using a processor at the station, a value of the EDCA parameter based on the delta value and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter;   in response to receiving an EDCA parameter set information element (IE) at the station, determining the value of the EDCA parameter based on the EDCA parameter set IE; and   in response to no delta value or EDCA parameter set IE being received at the station during a time period, setting the value of the EDCA parameter to a default value of the EDCA parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EDCA parameter set IE is received in an association response from an access point or in a beacon from the access point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time period includes a time period starting when the station associated with an access point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delta value comprises a station specific delta value or a group specific delta value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when no EDCA parameter set IE is received prior to the delta value, the base value of the EDCA parameter comprises the default value of the EDCA parameter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the EDCA parameter set IE is received prior to the delta value, the base value of the EDCA parameter is determined based on the EDCA parameter set IE. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the default value of the EDCA parameter complies with an industry standard. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the industry standard comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ah standard. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EDCA parameter comprises a contention window minimum (CWmin) parameter, a contention window maximum (CWmax) parameter, an arbitration intra-frame spacing number (AIFSN) parameter, a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit parameter, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the station stores access category data associated with at least one access category in a data storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one access category comprises a sensor access category, a best efforts access category, a background access category, a video access category, a voice access category, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory accessible to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
 in response to receiving a delta value of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter, determine a value of the EDCA parameter based on the delta value and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter; 
 in response to receiving an EDCA parameter set information element (IE), determine the value of the EDCA parameter based on the EDCA parameter set IE; and 
 in response to no delta value or EDCA parameter set IE being received during a time period, determine the value of the EDCA parameter to a default value of the EDCA parameter. 
   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the EDCA parameter set IE is received in an association response or in a beacon. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the EDCA parameter comprises a contention window minimum (CWmin) parameter, a contention window maximum (CWmax) parameter, an arbitration intra-frame spacing number (AIFSN) parameter, a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit parameter, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving data; and   means for determining a value of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter, wherein the means for determining is configured to:
 responsive to receipt of a delta value of the EDCA parameter, determine the value of the EDCA parameter based on the delta value and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter; 
 responsive to receipt of an EDCA parameter set information element (IE), determine the value of the EDCA parameter based on the EDCA parameter set IE; and 
 in response to no delta value or EDCA parameter set IE being received during a time period, set the value of the EDCA parameter to a default value of the EDCA parameter. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the EDCA parameter set IE is received in an association response or in a beacon. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the EDCA parameter comprises a contention window minimum (CWmin) parameter, a contention window maximum (CWmax) parameter, an arbitration intra-frame spacing number (AIFSN) parameter, a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit parameter, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 in response to receiving a delta value of an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter at a station, determine a value of the EDCA parameter based on the delta value and based on a base value of the EDCA parameter;   in response to receiving an EDCA parameter set information element (IE) at the station, determine the value of the EDCA parameter based on the EDCA parameter set IE; and   in response to no delta value or EDCA parameter set IE being received at the station during a time period, set the value of the EDCA parameter to a default value of the EDCA parameter.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the EDCA parameter set IE is received in an association response or in a beacon. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the EDCA parameter comprises a contention window minimum (CWmin) parameter, a contention window maximum (CWmax) parameter, an arbitration intra-frame spacing number (AIFSN) parameter, a transmission opportunity (TXOP) limit parameter, or any combination thereof.