Rts/cts handshaking method for improving efficiency of communication resources

Abstract

Disclosed is an RTS/CTS handshaking method for improving the efficiency of wireless communication resources. An RTS/CTS handshaking method according to one example of the present invention comprises the steps of: if a Ready to Send (RTS) packet is received, setting a first Network Allocation Vector (NAV) during a predetermined Clear to Send (CTS) packet transmission period; and if the CTS packet is received, setting a second NAV during a predetermined data packet transmission period.

1 . A ready to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) handshaking method, the method comprising:
 transmitting an RTS packet from a first terminal; and   upon receipt of the RTS packet by a terminal within a control communication range of the first terminal, the terminal setting a first network allocation vector (NAV) during a CTS packet transmission period, where a second terminal transmits a CTS packet during the CTS packet transmission period, and where the CTS packet is received by the terminal if and only if the terminal is within a control communication range of the second terminal;   wherein the terminal is configured such that upon receipt of the CTS packet the terminal sets a second NAV during a data packet transmission period, and further configured such that the terminal does not set the second NAV during the data transmission period if the CTS packet is not received.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a data packet from the first terminal, where the data packet is received by the terminal if and only if the terminal is within a data communication range of the first terminal;   wherein the terminal is configured such that upon receipt of the data packet the terminal sets a third NAV during an acknowledgment (ACK) packet transmission period, and further configured such that the terminal does not set the third NAV during the acknowledgment (ACK) packet transmission period if the data packet is not received.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the data communication range of the first terminal is smaller than the control communication range of the first terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the CTS packet transmission period is a predetermined period, wherein the data packet transmission period is a predetermined period, and wherein the acknowledgment (ACK) packet transmission period is a predetermined period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal is a portable terminal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CTS packet transmission period is a predetermined period, and wherein the data packet transmission period is a predetermined period. 
     
     
         7 . A ready to send/clear to send (RTS/CTS) handshaking method, the method comprising:
 detecting whether one or more control and/or data packets is received by a node; and   upon the node receiving the one or more control and/or data packets, setting a network allocation vector (NAV) only during a packet transmission period subsequent to the receiving of the one or more control and/or data packets, wherein the setting of the NAV comprises:   setting a first NAV only during a CTS packet transmission period, only if the node is within a control communication range of a sender of an RTS packet and the one or more control and/or data packets comprises the RTS packet;   setting a second NAV only during a data packet transmission period, only if the node is within a control communication range of a sender of a CTS packet and the one or more control and/or data packets comprises the CTS packet; and   setting a third NAV only during an acknowledge (ACK) packet transmission period, only if the node is within a data communication range of the sender of the RTS packet and the one or more control and/or data packets comprises a data packet sent by the sender of the RTS packet;   wherein said method is performed by each of a plurality of nodes, wherein a first group of said nodes sets said first NAV, a second group of said nodes sets said second NAV, and a third group of said nodes sets said third NAV; and   wherein said first group of said nodes is different than said second group of said nodes and different than said third group of said nodes, said second group of said nodes is different than said first group of said nodes and different than said third group of said nodes, and said third group of said nodes is different than said first group of said nodes and different than said second group of said nodes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sender of the CTS packet sends the CTS packet during the CTS packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the RTS packet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sender of the RTS packet sends the data packet during the data packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the CTS packet. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sender of the CTS packet sends an ACK packet during the ACK packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the data packet. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sender of the CTS packet sends the CTS packet during the CTS packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the RTS packet, the sender of the RTS packet sends the data packet during the data packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the CTS packet, and the sender of the CTS packet sends an ACK packet during the ACK packet transmission period and in response to the sending of the data packet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the data communication range of the sender of the RTS packet is smaller than the control communication range of the sender of the RTS packet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data communication range of the sender of the RTS packet is smaller than the control communication range of the sender of the RTS packet.