Method for sharing hybrid resources in a wireless independent network, a station for the method, and a data format for the method and the station

Abstract

In a system for sharing hybrid resources in an independent network, each one of a plurality of stations preferably employs a sharing authority transferring protocol that allows the network control function to be moved from station to station depending on the network traffic. Although a distributed coordination method is normally used in the network, when an individual station determines that a real-time data stream is intended for the station, an apparatus having a method and data format for the use thereof allows control to be transferred to the targeted station. This allows the targeted station to control the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources using a centralized control method in a direct mode for the duration of the real-time service transmission, thereby optimizing network efficiency. As a result of using the distributed control authority of the present invention, a station may be freely subscribe/withdraw to/from the network.

1. A method for sharing wireless hybrid resources among stations in a wireless independent network, the method comprising:
 (a) determining whether currently transmitted data is related to a real-time service when the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources is controlled by a distributed coordination method; 
 (b) requesting and receiving a sharing control authority by the distributed coordination method, and controlling the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by a centralized control method in a direct mode until the real-time service ends if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the real-time service, 
 wherein the sharing control authority corresponds to an authority which controls the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising (c) controlling the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the distributed coordination method if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is not related to the real-time service. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (b) comprises:
 (b1) requesting the sharing control authority by the distributed coordination method if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the real-time service; 
 (b2) determining whether the request for the sharing control authority is rejected; 
 (b3) controlling the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources with a request for periodic polling, if it is determined that the request is rejected; 
 (b4) determining whether the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources does not need to be controlled during the real-time service, going back to step (b1) if it is determined that the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources does not need to be controlled during the real-time service, and going back to step (b3) if it is determined the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources still needs to be controlled during the real-time service; 
 (b5) receiving the sharing control authority and controlling the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the centralized control method in the direct mode if it is determined that the request for the sharing control system is not rejected; 
 (b6) determining whether the real-time service ends and going back to step (b5) if it is determined that the real-time service does not end; and 
 (b7) returning the sharing control authority if it is determined that the real-time service ends, 
 wherein the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources is controlled by the distributed coordination method. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) further comprises identifying a station subject to the real-time service as a subject station; and 
 (b) comprises requesting and receiving the sharing control authority by the subject station in accordance with the distributed coordination method, and controlling the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the subject station in accordance with the centralized control method in the direct mode until the real-time service ends if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the real-time service. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the subject station receives the sharing control authority when no other station in the wireless independent network has the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       6. A station for performing the wireless hybrid resources sharing using a method for sharing wireless hybrid resources among stations in a wireless independent network, the station comprising:
 a transmission data checking unit configured to check whether currently transmitted data is related to a real-time service and to generate a control signal in response to the check result; and 
 a first controller configured to request and receive a sharing control authority by a distributed coordination method and to control sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by a centralized control method in the direct mode until the real-time service ends, in response to the control signal. 
 
     
     
       7. The station as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a second controller which controls the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the distributed coordination method in response to the control signal. 
     
     
       8. The station as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first controller comprises:
 a request message broadcaster, which broadcasts a control authority requesting message requesting the sharing control authority by the distributed coordination method in response to the control signal and an enable signal; 
 a request rejecting message receiver, which receives a control authority request rejecting message rejecting the request for the sharing control authority and outputs a disable signal in response to the received result; 
 a polling requesting unit, which requests periodic polling in response to the disable signal and the enable signal; 
 a releasing message receiver, which receives a control authority releasing message in response to the control signal and outputs the enable signal in response to the received result; 
 a shared resource controller, which receives the sharing control authority in response to the disable signal and controls the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the centralized control method in the direct mode and transmits the sharing control authority releasing message to another station and returns the sharing control authority in response to an ending signal; and 
 a service checking unit, which checks whether the real-time service ends and outputs the checked result as the ending signal, 
 wherein a second controller controls the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources by the distributed coordination method in response to the ending signal. 
 
     
     
       9. The data format station as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein after the request message broadcaster broadcasts the sharing control authority requesting message, the shared resource controller is idle for a PIFS and then receives the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       10. The data format station as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the request rejecting message receiver receives the message rejecting the request for the sharing control authority when a SIFS elapses after the request message broadcaster broadcasts the sharing control authority requesting message. 
     
     
       11. The station as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first controller controls the sharing of the wireless hybrid resources when no other station among the stations has the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       12. A controller for generating a data format for use in a station for performing wireless hybrid resources sharing using a method for sharing wireless hybrid resources among stations in a wireless independent network, the controller generated data format comprising:
 a control authority requesting message, which requests sharing control authority by a distributed coordination method; 
 a control authority releasing message, which releases the sharing control authority; and 
 a plurality of transmission frames, which are spaced apart from the control authority requesting message and the control authority releasing message, respectively, by a PIFS, are also spaced apart from each other by one PIFS, and have variable lengths, respectively. 
 
     
     
       13. The data format controller as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each of the transmission frames comprises:
 a downlink section in which real-time service-related data is transmitted to another station and which has a variable length; 
 a polling section in which the other station related to the real-time service is polled and which has a variable length; and 
 a distribution control section in which non-real-time service-related data is transmitted to another station and which has a variable length. 
 
     
     
       14. The data format controller as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the downlink section is spaced apart from the polling section by a PIFS. 
     
     
       15. The data format controller as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the polling section is spaced apart from the distribution control section by a DIFS. 
     
     
       16. The data format controller as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the downlink section comprises a plurality of packets which are spaced apart from each other by a PIFS. 
     
     
       17. A method for sharing wireless resources among stations in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 (a) determining whether currently transmitted data is related to a predetermined data type;   (b) requesting and receiving a sharing control authority, and controlling the sharing of the wireless resources by a centralized control method until use of the predetermined data type ends if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the predetermined data type,   wherein the sharing control authority corresponds to an authority which controls the sharing of the wireless resources.   
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising (c) controlling the sharing of the wireless resources by a distributed coordination method if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is not related to the predetermined data type. 
     
     
       19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein (b) comprises:
 (b1) requesting the sharing control authority by a distributed coordination method if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the predetermined data type;   (b2) determining whether the request for the sharing control authority is rejected;   (b3) controlling the sharing of the wireless resources with a request for periodic polling, if it is determined that the request is rejected;   (b4) determining whether the sharing of the wireless resources does not need to be controlled during the use of the predetermined data type, going back to step (b1) if it is determined that the sharing of the wireless resources does not need to be controlled during the use of the predetermined data type, and going back to step (b3) if it is determined the sharing of the wireless resources still needs to be controlled during the use of the predetermined data;   (b5) receiving the sharing control authority and controlling the sharing of the wireless resources by the centralized control method in a direct mode if it is determined that the request for the sharing control system is not rejected;   (b6) determining whether the predetermined data type is in use and going back to step (b5) if it is determined that the use of the predetermined data type does not end; and   (b7) returning the sharing control authority if it is determined that the use of the predetermined data type ends, wherein the sharing of the wireless resources is controlled by the distributed coordination method.   
     
     
       20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein:
 (a) further comprises identifying a station subject to the predetermined data type as a subject station; and   (b) comprises requesting and receiving the sharing control authority by the subject station in accordance with a distributed coordination method, and controlling the sharing of the wireless resources by the subject station in accordance with the centralized control method in a direct mode until the use of the predetermined data type ends if it is determined that the currently transmitted data is related to the predetermined data type.   
     
     
       21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the subject station receives the sharing control authority when no other station in the wireless network has the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       22. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the predetermined data type is a priority rating. 
     
     
       23. A station for performing the wireless resources sharing using a method for sharing wireless resources among stations in a wireless network, the station comprising:
 a transmission data checking unit configured to check whether currently transmitted data is related to a predetermined data type and to generate a control signal in response to the check result; and   a first controller configured to request and receive a sharing control authority and to control sharing of the wireless resources by a centralized control method until use of the predetermined data type ends, in response to the control signal.   
     
     
       24. The station as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a second controller which controls the sharing of the wireless resources by a distributed coordination method in response to the control signal. 
     
     
       25. The station as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first controller comprises:
 a request message broadcaster, which broadcasts a control authority requesting message requesting the sharing control authority by a distributed coordination method in response to the control signal and an enable signal;   a request rejecting message receiver, which receives a control authority request rejecting message rejecting the request for the sharing control authority and outputs a disable signal in response to the received result;   a polling requesting unit, which requests periodic polling in response to the disable signal and the enable signal;   a releasing message receiver, which receives a control authority releasing message in response to the control signal and outputs the enable signal in response to the received result;   a shared resource controller, which receives the sharing control authority in response to the disable signal and controls the sharing of the wireless resources by the centralized control method in a direct mode and transmits the sharing control authority releasing message to another station and returns the sharing control authority in response to an ending signal; and   a service checking unit, which checks whether the use of the predetermined data type ends and outputs the checked result as the ending signal,   wherein a second controller controls the sharing of the wireless resources by a distributed coordination method in response to the ending signal.   
     
     
       26. The station as claimed in claim 25, wherein after the request message broadcaster broadcasts the sharing control authority requesting message, the shared resource controller is idle for a PIFS and then receives the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       27. The station as claimed in claim 25, wherein the request rejecting message receiver receives the message rejecting the request for the sharing control authority when a SIFS elapses after the request message broadcaster broadcasts the sharing control authority requesting message. 
     
     
       28. The station as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first controller controls the sharing of the wireless resources when no other station among the stations has the sharing control authority. 
     
     
       29. The station as claimed in claim 23, wherein the predetermined data type is a priority rating. 
     
     
       30. A controller for generating a data format for use in a station for performing wireless resources sharing using a method for sharing wireless resources among stations in a wireless network, the controller generated data format comprising:
 a control authority requesting message, which requests sharing control authority;   a control authority releasing message, which releases the sharing control authority; and   a plurality of transmission frames, which are spaced apart from the control authority requesting message and the control authority releasing message, respectively, by a PIFS, are also spaced apart from each other by one PIFS, and have variable lengths, respectively.   
     
     
       31. The controller as claimed in claim 30, wherein each of the transmission frames comprises:
 a downlink section in which predetermined data type data is transmitted to another station and which has a variable length;   a polling section in which the other station related to the predetermined data type is polled and which has a variable length; and   a distribution control section in which non-predetermined data type data is transmitted to another station and which has a variable length.   
     
     
       32. The controller as claimed in claim 31, wherein the downlink section is spaced apart from the polling section by a PIFS. 
     
     
       33. The controller as claimed in claim 31, wherein the polling section is spaced apart from the distribution control section by a DIFS. 
     
     
       34. The controller as claimed in claim 31, wherein the downlink section comprises a plurality of packets which are spaced apart from each other by a PIFS. 
     
     
       35. The controller as claimed in claim 30, wherein the predetermined data type is a priority rating. 
     
     
       36. A wireless network, comprising:
 a plurality of wireless stations in a distributed network arrangement, each wireless station configured to output a priority rating and to accept control of the plurality of wireless stations,   wherein, when a first wireless station of the plurality of wireless stations outputs a highest priority rating, the first wireless station is configured to request and receive the control of the plurality of wireless stations, and   wherein, when the control is no longer needed, the first wireless station is further configured to release control at the end of a session.   
     
     
       37. A method for sharing wireless resources among stations in a wireless network, the method comprising:
 (a) determining a station having a sharing control authority among the stations, wherein the sharing control authority corresponds to an authority which controls the sharing of the wireless resources;   (b) at the station having the sharing control authority, controlling the sharing of the wireless resources during a session determined by at least one of the stations; and   (c) at the station having the sharing control authority, releasing the sharing control authority at a ending point of the session.   
     
     
       38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein step (b) further comprises controlling the sharing of the wireless resources according to one control method among a plurality of control methods; and
 the method further comprises: (d) performing communication, according to another control method among the control methods, by at least one of the stations.