Method for detecting hidden station in a wireless communication network and system therefor

A method for detecting a hidden station in a specific station among a plurality of stations in a wireless communication network including the plurality of stations, the method comprising:

• if a second station is located in a data transfer range where both data and a physical layer header transmitted by a first station can be received, determining that the second station is not a hidden station of the first station;
• if a third station is located in a physical layer header transfer range where data transmitted by the first station cannot be received but a physical layer header transmitted by the first station can be received, determining that the third station is not a hidden station of the first station;
• and
• if a fourth station is located outside of a physical layer header transfer range where data and a physical layer header transmitted by the first station cannot be received, and is located in a range where an Acknowledge (ACK) frame for the data transmitted by the first station can be received, determining that the fourth station is a hidden station of the first station.

A system for detecting a hidden station in a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

• a transmitting station for transmitting a data frame;
• a receiving station for receiving the transmitted data frame and transmitting an Acknowledge (ACK) frame responsive to the data frame;
• and
• a specific station;
• wherein the specific station receives a frame after a lapse of an idle state interval longer than a predetermined waiting time, determines that the specific station itself is a hidden station for the transmitting station if a size of the received frame is equal to a size of the ACK frame, and determines that the specific station itself is not a hidden station for the transmitting station if the size of the received frame is not equal to the size of the ACK frame.