Apparatus for transmitting WPAN MAC frames and method thereof

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, said apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit for creating MAC transport frames though through transport frames if the transport frames are generated from an upper protocol and application layer unit, classifying the created MAC transport frames by kinds, and managing the classified MAC transport frames by queues;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit for storing the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit for storing storage information about the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a transport memory control unit for transmitting the transport frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit at a high speed;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit for storing the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit for storing storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit for grasping a position of the corresponding frame though through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, reading and transmitting the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit;
• wherein the transport frame management unit comprises:
• a data frame controller for creating the MAC transport frames, classifying the created MAC transport frames according to a traffic characteristic, and managing the classified MAC transport frames;
• a management frame controller for creating management frames requested from the upper protocol and application layer unit or required for a MAC protocol;
• a transfer queue controller for receiving the transport frames and the management frames from the data frame controller and the management frame controller, respectively, storing and managing the transport frames and the management frames by kinds;
• a transport frame queue table for storing by kinds the transport frames and the management frames under the control of the transfer queue controller;
• a transport frame buffer controller for receiving the transport frames from the transfer queue controller, storing and managing the transport frames in the first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• and
• a transport frame control information controller for receiving the storage information of the transport frames from the transfer queue controller, storing and managing the storage information in the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, said apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit for creating MAC transport frames though through transport frames if the transport frames are generated from an upper protocol and application layer unit, classifying the created MAC transport frames by kinds, and managing the classified MAC transport frames by queues;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit for storing the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit for storing storage information about the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a transport memory control unit for transmitting the transport frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit at a high speed;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit for storing the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit for storing storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit for grasping a position of the corresponding frame though through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, reading and transmitting the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit;
• wherein the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit comprises:
• a beacon queue buffer descriptor for receiving and storing the storage information about the beacon frames from the transport frame management unit;
• a management queue buffer descriptor for receiving and storing the storage information about the management frames from the transport frame management unit;
• an asynchronous queue buffer descriptor for receiving and storing the storage information about the asynchronous streams from the transport frame management unit;
• and
• an isochronous queue buffer descriptor for receiving and storing the storage information about the isochronous streams from the transport frame management unit;
• and
• wherein the buffer descriptor of the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit comprises:
• a validity bit for indicating validity of data;
• an interrupt bit for indicating whether an interrupt is reported after the transmission of the transport frames to the transport frame management unit is completed;
• a frame address field for indicating a first-stage storage position of the transport frames;
• a length field for indicating length information of the transport frame;
• a stream index field for discriminating streams of the transport frames;
• and
• a reserved field that is a reserved space.

A method for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames between an upper protocol and application layer unit and a physical layer unit, the method comprising:

• creating transport frames as the MAC frames if the transport frames are generated from the upper protocol and application layer unit;
• classifying, in a MAC layer, the MAC frames by kinds, said kinds comprising beacon frames, asynchronous streams and isochronous streams;
• storing the MAC frames in a first-stage transport frame buffer area;
• storing storage information about the transport frames, which are stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area, in a first-stage transport frame control information buffer area;
• transferring the MAC frames stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area to a second-stage transport frame buffer area that can be accessed by a transport frame control device;
• transferring storage information stored in the first-stage transport frame control information buffer area to a second-stage transport frame control information buffer area that can be accessed by the transport frame control device;
• and
• transmitting the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame buffer area to the physical layer unit using the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information buffer area if a frame transmission time is determined.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, comprising:

• a transport frame management unit that
• creates MAC transport frames through transport frames if the transport frames are generated from an upper protocol and application layer unit,
• classifies, by kinds, the created MAC transport frames in a MAC layer, and
• manages the classified MAC transport frames by queues, wherein the kinds comprise beacon frames, asynchronous streams, and isochronous streams;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a transport memory control unit that transmits the transport frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit that grasps a position of the corresponding frame through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, reads and transmits the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit that creates MAC transport frames through transport frames if the transport frames are generated from an upper protocol and application layer unit, classifies the created MAC transport frames by kinds, and manages the classified MAC transport frames by queues;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a transport memory control unit that transmits the transport frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit that grasps a position of the corresponding frame through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, reads and transmits the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit;
• wherein the transport frame management unit comprises:
• a data frame controller that creates the MAC transport frames, classifies the created MAC transport frames according to a traffic characteristic, and manages the classified MAC transport frames;
• a management frame controller that creates management frames requested from the upper protocol and application layer unit or required for a MAC protocol;
• a transfer queue controller that receives the transport frames and the management frames from the data frame controller and the management frame controller, respectively, stores and manages the transport frames and the management frames by kinds;
• a transport frame queue table that stores by kinds the transport frames and the management frames under the control of the transfer queue controller;
• a transport frame buffer controller that receives the transport frames from the transfer queue controller, stores and manages the transport frames in the first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• and
• a transport frame control information controller that receives the storage information of the transport frames from the transfer queue controller, stores and manages the storage information in the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit that creates MAC transport frames through transport frames if the transport frames are generated from an upper protocol and application layer unit, classifies the created MAC transport frames by kinds, and manages the classified MAC transport frames by queues;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a transport memory control unit that transmits the transport frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit that stores the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit that stores storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit that grasps a position of the corresponding frame through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, reads and transmits the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit;
• wherein the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit comprises:
• a beacon queue buffer descriptor that receives and stores the storage information about the beacon frames from the transport frame management unit;
• a management queue buffer descriptor that receives and stores the storage information about the management frames from the transport frame management unit;
• an asynchronous queue buffer descriptor that receives and stores the storage information about the asynchronous streams from the transport frame management unit;
• and
• an isochronous queue buffer descriptor that receives and stores the storage information about the isochronous streams from the transport frame management unit;
• and
• wherein the buffer descriptor of the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit comprises:
• a validity bit that indicates validity of data;
• an interrupt bit that indicates whether an interrupt is reported after the transmission of the transport frames to the transport frame management unit is completed;
• a frame address field that indicates a first-stage storage position of the transport frames;
• a length field that indicates length information of the transport frame;
• a stream index field that discriminates streams of the transport frames;
• and
• a reserved field that is a reserved space.

A method for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames between an upper protocol and application layer unit and a physical layer unit, the method comprising:

• creating transport frames as the MAC frames if the transport frames are generated from the upper protocol and application layer unit;
• classifying, in a MAC layer, the MAC frames by kinds, the kinds comprising beacon frames, asynchronous streams and isochronous streams;
• storing the MAC frames in a first-stage transport frame buffer area;
• storing storage information about the transport frames, which are stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area, in a first-stage transport frame control information buffer area;
• transferring the MAC frames stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area to a second-stage transport frame buffer area that can be accessed by a transport frame control device;
• transferring storage information stored in the first-stage transport frame control information buffer area to a second-stage transport frame control information buffer area;
• and
• transmitting the transport frames stored in the second-stage transport frame buffer area to the physical layer unit using the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information buffer area if a frame transmission time is determined.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit configured to receive transport frames from an upper layer,
• create MAC frames from the received transport frames,
• classify, by kinds, the created MAC frames in a MAC layer, and
• output the MAC frames based on the classification;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit configured to transmit the outputted MAC frames to a physical layer, wherein the transport frame management unit comprises:
• a data frame controller configured to create the MAC frames, classify the created MAC frames according to a traffic characteristic, and manage the classified MAC frames;
• a management frame controller configured to create management frames requested from the upper layer or required for a MAC protocol;
• a transfer queue controller configured to receive the MAC frames and the management frames from the data frame controller and the management frame controller, respectively, and store and manage the received MAC frames and the management frames by kinds;
• a transport frame queue table configured to store, by kinds, the MAC frames and the management frames under the control of the transfer queue controller;
• a transport frame buffer controller configured to receive the MAC frames from the transfer queue controller, and store and manage the MAC frames in a first-stage transport frame storage unit;
• and
• a transport frame control information controller configured to receive storage information of the MAC frames from the transfer queue controller, storing and managing the storage information in the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit configured to receive transport frames from an upper layer,
• create MAC frames from the received transport frames,
• classify, by kinds, the created MAC frames in a MAC layer, and
• output the MAC frames based on the classification;
• a transport frame transmission unit configured to transmit the outputted MAC frames to a physical layer;
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit configured to store the MAC frames under the management of the transport frame management unit;
• a first-stage transport frame control information storage unit configured to store storage information about the MAC frames under the management of the transport frame management a transport memory control unit configured to transmit the MAC frames stored in the first-stage transport frame storage unit at a high speed;
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit configured to store the MAC frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• a second-stage transport frame control information storage unit configured to store storage information about the transport frames read and transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit by the transport memory control unit;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit configured to grasp a position of the corresponding frame through the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit if a transmission time of the transport frames is determined, and read and transmit the MAC frames stored in the second-stage transport frame storage unit to a physical layer unit.

A method for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the method comprising:

• on at least one functional unit,
• receiving transport frames from an upper layer;
• creating the received transport frames as the MAC frames;
• classifying, in a MAC layer, the MAC frames by kinds;
• managing the created MAC frames based on the classification;
• and
• transmitting at least one of the managed MAC frames to a physical layer, and on at least one functional unit,
• storing the MAC frames in a first-stage transport frame buffer area;
• storing storage information about the MAC frames, which is stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area, in a first-stage transport frame control information buffer area;
• transferring the MAC frames stored in the first-stage transport frame buffer area to a second-stage transport frame buffer area that can be accessed by a transport frame control device:
• transferring storage information stored in the first-stage transport frame control information buffer area to a second-stage transport frame control information buffer area that can be accessed by the transport frame control device;
• and
• transmitting the MAC frames stored in the second-stage transport frame buffer area to the physical layer unit using the storage information stored in the second-stage transport frame control information buffer area if a frame transmission time is determined.

An apparatus for transmitting WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) MAC (Medium Access Control) frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a transport frame management unit configured to
• receive transport frames from an upper layer,
• create MAC frames from the received transport frames,
• classify, by kinds, the created MAC frames in a MAC layer, and
• output the MAC frames based on the classification;
• and
• a transport frame transmission unit configured to transmit the outputted MAC frames to a physical layer,
• wherein the transport frame management unit comprises
• a data frame controller configured to create the MAC frames, and classify the created MAC transport frames according to the kinds,
• a management frame controller configured to create management frames requested from the upper layer or required for a MAC protocol,
• a transfer beacon queue,
• wherein the transfer beacon queue comprises:
• a beacon queue table in the transport frame management unit configured to manage the beacon frames,
• a first-stage transport frame storage unit configured to store the beacon frames to be transferred under the control of the transport frame management unit,
• a first-stage beacon queue buffer descriptor in the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit configured to store the storage information about the beacon frames to be transferred,
• a second-stage beacon queue buffer descriptor in the second-stage transport frame control information storage unit configured to store the storage information about the beacon frames transferred from the first-stage transport frame control information storage unit via the transport memory control unit, and
• a second-stage transport frame storage unit configured to store the beacon frames transferred from the first-stage transport frame storage unit via the transport memory control unit in an area accessible by the transport frame transmission unit.