Method access point and program product for providing bandwidth and airtime fairness in wireless networks

A method (200) for providing bandwidth and airtime fairness in wireless networks, comprising:

• receiving a packet (34) on an access point (20) for a wireless station (22A);
• calculating an airtime requirement for transmitting the packet (34) to the wireless station (22A);
• setting a time counter (50) on the access point (20) based on the airtime requirement;
• and
• determining whether the packet (34) can be transmitted before the time counter (50) expires.

An access point (20) for providing airtime and bandwidth fairness in wireless networks, comprising:

• means for calculating (38) an airtime requirement for a packet (34) received on an access point (20) for a wireless station (22A);
• means for setting (44) a time counter (50) based on the airtime requirement;
• and
• means for determining (38) whether the packet (34) can be transmitted to the wireless station (22A) before the time counter (50) expires.

A program product (35) stored on a recordable medium for providing airtime and bandwidth fairness in wireless networks, which when executed, comprises:

• program code for calculating (38) an airtime requirement for a packet (34) received on an access point (20) for a wireless station (22A);
• program code for setting (44) a time counter (50) based on the airtime requirement;
• and
• program code for determining (38) whether the packet (34) can be transmitted to the wireless station (22A) before the time counter (50) expires.