Wireless Gaming Protocol

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer control the computer to perform a method for reducing latency in a wireless network configured for use by a shared, wireless gaming system, the wireless network comprising an access point and a client, the method comprising:

• selecting a channel to be used by the client to access the wireless network as a function of channel utilization data collected from nodes in the wireless network and provided by the access point;
• computing a first slot time for the client according to a distributed time division media access (TDMA) protocol;
• upon determining that the first slot time is active, engaging in a contention to acquire the channel;
• upon determining that the contention has been completed successfully:
• manipulating a network allocation vector (NAV) to reserve the channel for a period of time sufficient to support an uninterrupted bi-directional exchange between the client and the access point;
• initiating the bi-directional exchange from the client to the access point by providing a trigger packet from the client to the access point;
• receiving zero or more downstream packets into the client from the access point;
• and
• providing zero or more upstream packets from the client to the access point;
• computing a next slot time for the client based, at least in part, on a time at which the bi-directional exchange concludes, and
• selectively reconfiguring a TDMA parameter based, at least in part, on the channel utilization data.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• a set of logics configured to implement a wireless protocol for an access point and a client operating in a wireless network, where the client participates in distributed time division media access (DTDMA);
• and
• an interface to connect the processor, the memory, and the set of logics;
• the set of logics comprising:
• a first logic configured to control timing for the wireless protocol;
• and
• a second logic configured to control message exchange for the wireless protocol, where message exchange is initiated by the client.