System and method for access control in wireless networks

Abstract

A method comprises obtaining a frame of information in an access class to be communicated over a wireless channel; determining whether the wireless channel is idle; selecting a random arbitration interframe space based on the access class of the frame; waiting a first time period pertaining to the arbitration interface space; and initiating communication of the frame of information over the wireless channel after the first time period. The method may further comprise, before initiating communication of the frame of information, selecting a random backoff time period and waiting a second time period pertaining to the backoff time period. The random arbitration interframe space may be selected from a predetermined set of values. The number of values in the predetermined set may be associated with the number of possible stations transmitting in the access class.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.