Method, apparatus, and computer program product for contention access in wireless communication

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
• initiate a channel access procedure;
• perform in response to the channel access procedure initiation, a random draw for permission to start contention with other member apparatuses of a group in which the apparatus belongs, the random draw being based on how many member apparatuses of the group are expected to compete for the wireless communications medium;
• and
• start contention for access to the wireless communications medium, if the apparatus wins the random draw.

A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a computer readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

• code for initiating a channel access procedure by an apparatus;
• code for performing, by the apparatus, in response to the channel access procedure initiation, a random draw for permission to start contention with other member apparatuses of a group in which the apparatus belongs, the random draw being based on how many member apparatuses of the group are expected to compete for the wireless communications medium;
• and
• code for starting, by the apparatus, contention for access to the wireless communications medium, if the apparatus wins the random draw.