Enhanced channel allocation over multi-channel wireless networks

A system for transmitting data in a wireless communication network comprising a group of wireless communication apparatuses configured to carry out the steps of:

• sending, from a wireless communication apparatus of a group of wireless communication apparatuses in the wireless communication network, a request-to-send frame for reserving a transmission opportunity for data transmission via a composite channel comprising a plurality of wireless communication channels, the request-to-send frame being duplicated over each wireless communication channel of the composite channel and the request-to-send frame being transmitted after a back off period at the wireless communication apparatus has elapsed;
• receiving, at the wireless communication apparatus, a clear-to-send frame responding to the-request-to send frame;
• and
• in a case where the clear-to-send frame responding to the request-to-send frame has been received via only a part of the plurality of wireless communication channels, receiving, at the wireless communication apparatus, a data frame from at least two other wireless communication apparatuses of the group wireless communication apparatuses via the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels,
• wherein a first part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a first other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a first data frame and a second part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a second other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a second data frame, and
• wherein the transmission of the first data frame by the first other wireless communication apparatus is concurrently performed with the transmission of the second data frame by the second other wireless communication apparatus.

A wireless communication apparatus in a wireless communication network comprising a group of wireless communication apparatuses, the wireless communication apparatus comprising at least one microprocessor configured for carrying out the following steps:

• sending a request-to-send frame for reserving a transmission opportunity for data transmission via a composite channel comprising a plurality of wireless communication channels, the request-to-send frame being duplicated over each wireless communication channel of the composite channel and the request-to-send frame being transmitted after a back off period at the wireless communication apparatus has elapsed;
• receiving a clear-to-send frame responding to the-request-to send frame;
• and
• in a case where the clear-to-send frame responding to the request-to-send frame has been received via only a part of the plurality of wireless communication channels, receiving a data frame from at least two other wireless communication apparatuses of the group wireless communication apparatuses via the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels,
• wherein a first part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a first other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a first data frame and a second part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a second other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a second data frame, and
• wherein the transmission of the first data frame by the first other wireless communication apparatus is concurrently performed with the transmission of the second data frame by the second other wireless communication apparatus.

A method for controlling a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless communication network comprising a group of wireless communication apparatuses, the method comprising:

• sending a request-to-send frame for reserving a transmission opportunity for data transmission via a composite channel comprising a plurality of wireless communication channels, the request-to-send frame being duplicated over each wireless communication channel of the composite channel and the request-to-send frame being transmitted after a back off period at the wireless communication apparatus has elapsed;
• receiving a clear-to-send frame responding to the-request-to send frame;
• and
• in a case where the clear-to-send frame responding to the request-to-send frame has been received via only a part of the plurality of wireless communication channels, receiving a data frame from at least two other wireless communication apparatuses of the group wireless communication apparatuses via the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels,
• wherein a first part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a first other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a first data frame and a second part of the part of the plurality of wireless communication channels is used by a second other wireless communication apparatus of the group of wireless communication apparatuses to transmit a second data frame, and
• wherein the transmission of the first data frame by the first other wireless communication apparatus is concurrently performed with the transmission of the second data frame by the second other wireless communication apparatus.