Method of limiting transmission rate

Abstract

A method for limiting a transmission rate is provided. The method includes receiving a pause management message comprising pause scheduling information including a pause time at which an uplink transmission of a data frame is to be paused and a paused duration indicating a duration during which transmission of the data frame is to be paused, and pause station information indicating a station which is to pause transmission the data frame, from an access point (AP); and pausing transmission of the data frame during the paused duration starting from the pause time according to the pause management message, and then resuming transmission. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a transmission rate limiting mechanism suitable for a VHT WLAN can be provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for performing flow control in a wireless local area network (LAN), the method comprising:
 receiving, by a wireless station, a control signal comprising pause duration information and station information, the pause duration information indicating a duration during which transmission of at least one data frame having a traffic identifier (TID) is to be paused, the station information comprising an individual address or broadcast address associated with the wireless station; 
 pausing, by the wireless station, the transmission of the at least one data frame during the duration indicated by the pause duration information without pausing transmission of a control frame; and 
 resuming, by the wireless station, the transmission of the at least one data frame on expiration of the paused duration. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pause duration information indicates amount of time in microseconds. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal comprises a pause management action frame comprising a category field, followed by an action field, followed by the pause duration information. 
     
     
       4. A wireless station for performing flow control in a wireless local area network (LAN), comprising:
 a radio frequency (RF) unit configured to transmit and receive signals; and 
 a processor coupled to the RF unit and configured to: 
 receive a control signal comprising pause duration information and station information, the pause duration information indicating a duration during which transmission of at least one data frame having a traffic identifier (TID) is to be paused, the station information comprising an individual address or broadcast address associated with the wireless station; 
 pause the transmission of the at least one data frame during the duration indicated by the pause duration information without pausing transmission of a control frame; and 
 resume the transmission of the at least one data frame on expiration of the paused duration. 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless station of  claim 4 , wherein the pause duration information indicates amount of time in microseconds. 
     
     
       6. The wireless station of  claim 4 , wherein the control signal comprises a pause management action frame comprising a category field, followed by an action field, followed by the pause duration information.