Apparatus and method for transmission collision avoidance

A method of minimizing collisions in a CSMA/CA wireless data communication system using an access point, the method comprising:

• sensing the presence of a client desirous of communication with the access point;
• allocating a start time slot list having at least one unique start time slot during which the client may begin transmitting;
• transmitting the start time slot list to the client;
• and
• receiving a transmission from the client, the transmission beginning only during the start time slot(s) indicated by the start time slot list,
• wherein the start time slot list includes a high-priority time slot and a low-priority time slot substantially equally displaced in time from a center time slot.

An access point that minimizes collisions in a CSMA/CA wireless data communication system, the access point comprising:

• a client sensor for detecting the presence of a client desirous of communication with the access point;
• a start time slot allocator for allocating a start time slot list having one or more unique start time slots during which the client may begin to transmit;
• an access point transmitter for transmitting the start time slot list to a client receiver;
• and
• an access point receiver for receiving a transmission from the client, the transmission being received only during the start time slot(s) indicated by the start time slot list,
• wherein the start time slot allocator comprises:
• a start time slot generator for generating at least one pair of a high-priority time slot and a low-priority start time slot in the start time slot list, the high-priority time slot and the low-priority start time slot substantially equally displaced in time from a center start time slot.