System and method for detecting and resolving conflicts

A method for operating a second device, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the second device, a conflict query frame including a first address field containing a first locally assigned identifier associated with a first device, wherein the conflict query frame further includes a second address field and has a structure of a first legacy frame;
• and
• transmitting, by the second device, a conflict response frame, beginning at a specified time, in response to determining that the first locally assigned identifier matches a second locally assigned identifier associated with the second device, wherein the conflict response frame has a structure of a second legacy frame, and wherein the conflict response frame includes
• a third address field containing a first value that is equal to a second value contained in the second address field, and
• a second Duration field including a third value that is equal to a fourth value included in a first Duration field of the conflict query frame minus a sum of a duration of the conflict response frame and a duration of a short inter-frame space.

A method for operating a first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, the method comprising:

• transmitting, by the first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, a Request-to-Send (RTS) frame including a first Receiver Address field containing a first locally assigned identifier associated with the first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, wherein the Request-to-Send frame also includes a Transmitter Address field;
• determining, by the first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, if a Clear-to-Send (CTS) frame corresponding to the Request-to-Send frame is received within a specified time interval after transmitting the Request-to-Send frame, wherein the Clear-to-Send frame includes a second Receiver Address field containing a first value that is equal to a second value contained in the Transmitter Address field;
• discontinuing, by the first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, use of the first locally assigned identifier if the Clear-to-Send frame corresponding to the Request-to-Send frame is received within the specified time interval;
• and
• continuing, by the first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, use of the first locally assigned identifier if the Clear-to-Send frame corresponding to the Request-to-Send frame is not received within the specified time interval.

A method for operating a second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, a Request-to-Send (RTS) frame including a first Duration field, a first Receiver Address field, and a Transmitter Address field;
• determining, by the second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, if the Request-to-Send frame is for testing potential conflict with a first locally assigned identifier associated with a first IEEE 802.11 compliant device, wherein the first locally assigned identifier is contained in the first Receiver Address field;
• determining, by the second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, if the first locally assigned identifier matches a second locally assigned identifier associated with the second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, in response to determining that the Request-to-Send frame is for testing potential conflict;
• and
• transmitting, by the second IEEE 802.11 compliant device, a Clear-to-Send (CTS) frame, beginning at a specified time, in response to determining that the first locally assigned identifier matches the second locally assigned identifier, wherein the Clear-to-Send frame includes,
• a second Receiver Address field containing a first value that is equal to a second value contained in the Transmitter Address field, and
• a second Duration field including a third value that is equal to a fourth value included in the first Duration field minus a sum of a duration of the Clear-to-Send frame and a duration of a short inter-frame space.

A device for detecting and resolving a conflict, comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit a conflict query frame including a first address field containing a locally assigned identifier associated with the device, wherein the conflict query frame further includes a first frame type field, a value of the first frame type field being equal to a value of a frame type field of a Request-to-Send (RTS) frame of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 standard;
• a receiver configured to receive frames;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the transmitter and to the receiver, the processor configured to determine if a conflict notification corresponding to the conflict query frame is received within a specified time interval after transmitting the conflict query frame, to discontinue use of the locally assigned identifier if the conflict notification is received within the specified time interval, and to continue use of the locally assigned identifier if the conflict notification is not received within the specified time interval.

A second device comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a conflict query frame including a first address field containing a first locally assigned identifier associated with a first device, wherein the conflict query frame further includes a second address field and has a structure of a first legacy frame;
• a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to determine if the first locally assigned identifier matches a second locally assigned identifier associated with the second device;
• and
• a transmitter operatively coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit a conflict response frame, beginning at a specified time, in response to determining that the first locally assigned identifier matches the second locally assigned identifier, wherein the conflict response frame has a structure of a second legacy frame, and wherein the conflict response frame includes a third address field containing a first value that is equal to a second value contained in the second address field, and a second Duration field including a third value that is equal to a fourth value included in a first Duration field of the conflict query frame minus a sum of a duration of the conflict response frame and a duration of a short inter-frame space.