Contention-free burst method for media access control over networks

A contention-free burst method for a media access controller to transmit data over a network, comprising:

• creating a plurality of descriptors identifying frames to be transmitted by a contention-free burst, each of the descriptors comprising a semaphore field and an exchange time field, in which the semaphore field indicates whether the frame associated therewith is the last one within the contention-free burst, and the exchange time field records a duration of the frame associated therewith;
• successively transferring the frames to the media access controller;
• the media access controller initiating the contention-free burst to transmit the frame identified by the first descriptor;
• the media access controller continuing use of the contention-free burst to transmit subsequent frames identified by the corresponding descriptors;
• the media access controller tracking an actual amount of elapsed time from when the contention-free burst is initiated;
• and
• the media access controller terminating the contention-free burst, either when a granted period less the actual amount of elapsed time results in insufficient time for any remaining transmission according to the exchange time field of a current descriptor, or upon detecting a descriptor with a semaphore field indicating the last frame within the contention-free burst in which case termination is executed following transmission of the frame determined to be last.