초록 ▼

A data communication method and system for a mobile communication network includes an improved medium access control mechanism for improving QoS and power efficiency of network components while maintaining channelization effects. A data communication method for a wireless communication network inclu

A data communication method and system for a mobile communication network includes an improved medium access control mechanism for improving QoS and power efficiency of network components while maintaining channelization effects. A data communication method for a wireless communication network includes a coordinator and at least one network node according to the present invention includes the steps of broadcasting, at the coordinator, a beacon frame for informing the at least one network node of a duration of a superframe; transmitting a Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) from the coordinator to the at least one network node for allocating timeslots; and transmitting a data frame from the coordinator to the at least one wireless network through the timeslots allocated to the at least one wireless network node.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A data communication method for a wireless communication network including a coordinator and a plurality of network nodes, comprising: (a) broadcasting, from the coordinator, a beacon frame for informing the network nodes of a duration of a current superframe, the current superframe comprising a

1. A data communication method for a wireless communication network including a coordinator and a plurality of network nodes, comprising: (a) broadcasting, from the coordinator, a beacon frame for informing the network nodes of a duration of a current superframe, the current superframe comprising a beacon period during which the network nodes receives the beacon frame broadcasted by the coordinator, a contention period after the beacon period, during which contention period, at least one network node reserves a channel by transmitting a channel request message to the coordinator and receiving a confirmation message from the coordinator, and a contention free period during which the at least one network node communicates with the coordinator through at least one reserved channel;(b) transmitting a Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) frame from the coordinator to the at least one network node, allocating timeslots in accordance with the channel request message to the at least one network node for use within the current superframe, the GTS frame being transmitted during the contention period; and(c) transmitting a data frame from the coordinator to a corresponding target network node through the timeslots of the current superframe allocated to the at least one network node in (b). 2. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the contention period comprises: a reservation request period during which the at least one network node transmits a Request To Send (RTS) frame to the coordinator and receives a Confirmation To Request (CTR) frame from the coordinator, the at least one network node recognizing a registration of channel request on the basis of the CTR frame; anda reservation confirmation period during which the coordinator transmits the GTS frame to the at least one network node, wherein the GTS frame notifies the at least one network node of allocated timeslots. 3. The data communication method of claim 2, wherein the at least one network node requests channel allocation for the contention free period by transmitting the RTS frame. 4. The data communication method of claim 3, wherein the RTS frame requested by the at least one network node comprises information regarding timeslots required for transmitting the data frame. 5. The data communication method of claim 2, wherein the coordinator allocates a plurality of timeslots required for the at least one network node to communicate the data frame with the coordinator using the GTS frame. 6. The data communication method of claim 5, wherein the GTS frame comprises information on an uplink timeslot and a downlink timeslot allocated to the at least one network node. 7. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the target network node transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) frame to the coordinator in response to successful receipt of a data frame from the coordinator successfully. 8. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the coordinator broadcasts the beacon frame during the beacon period of the superframe. 9. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the coordinator transmits the GTS frame during a reservation confirmation period of the superframe. 10. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the coordinator and the at least one network node communicate data frames in the contention free period of the superframe. 11. The data communication method of claim 1, wherein the coordinator and the at least one network node wakes up from a sleep mode during specific timeslots allocated to the at least one network node, and stays in the sleep mode during other timeslots. 12. A data communication method for a wireless communication network including a coordinator and a plurality of network nodes, comprising: (a) broadcasting, from the coordinator, a beacon frame for informing the network nodes of a duration of a current superframe, the current superframe comprising a beacon period during which the network nodes receives the beacon frame broadcasted by the coordinator, a contention period after the beacon period, during which contention period at least one network node reserves a channel by transmitting a channel request message to the coordinator and receiving a confirmation message from the coordinator, and a contention free period during which the at least one network node communicates with the coordinator through the reserved channel;(b) transmitting a Request To Send (RTS) frame to the coordinator for requesting an allocation of timeslots from the at least one network node that received the beacon frame in step (a);(c) transmitting from the coordinator, a Confirmation To Request (CTR) frame in response to the RTS frame;(d) transmitting, during the contention period, a Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) frame from the coordinator to the at least one network node for informing of timeslots reserved for the at least one network node during the current superframe to communicate the data frame with the coordinator using the reserved timeslots; and(e) transmitting a data frame from the at least one network node to the coordinator through the timeslots of the current superframe reserved in step (d) for the at least one network node. 13. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the contention period comprises: a reservation request period during which the at least one network node transmits the RTS frame to the coordinator and receives the CTR frame from the coordinator, the at least one network node recognizing a registration of channel request on the basis of the CTR frame; anda reservation confirmation period during which the coordinator transmits the GTS frame to the at least one network node, wherein the GTS frame notifies the at least one network node of allocated timeslots. 14. The data communication method of claim 13, wherein the at least one network node requests channel allocation for the contention free period by transmitting the RTS frame. 15. The data communication method of claim 14, wherein the RTS frame comprises information regarding the timeslots required for transmitting the data frame. 16. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the GTS frame comprises information on uplink and downlink timeslots allocated to the at least one network node. 17. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the coordinator transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) frame to the at least one network node in response to receiving successfully a data frame from the at least one network node. 18. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the coordinator broadcasts the beacon frame during the beacon period of the superframe. 19. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the at least one network node transmits the RTS frame in a reservation request period of the superframe, and the coordinator transmits the CTR frame in the reservation request period of the superframe. 20. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the coordinator transmits the GTS frame in a reservation confirmation period of the superframe. 21. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the coordinator and the at least one network node communicate data frames in the contention free period of the superframe. 22. The data communication method of claim 12, wherein the coordinator and the at least one network node wakes up from a sleep mode during specific timeslots allocated to the at least one network node and stays in the sleep mode during other timeslots. 23. A data communication method for a wireless communication network including a coordinator and a plurality of network nodes, comprising: (a) broadcasting, from the coordinator, a beacon frame for informing the network nodes of a duration of a current superframe, the current superframe comprising a beacon period during which the network nodes receive the beacon frame broadcasted by the coordinator, a contention period after the beacon period, during which contention period, at least one of the network nodes is permitted to request reservation of a channel by transmitting a channel request message to the coordinator containing information on timeslots required for transmitting data frames, and receives a confirmation message from the coordinator, and a contention free period during which the network nodes communicate with the coordinator through respective reserved channels;(b) transmitting, during the contention period following transmission of the confirmation message, a Guaranteed Time Slot (GTS) frame from the coordinator to the network nodes for allocating timeslots in accordance with the channel request message to the at least one of the network nodes for use within the current superframe, the timeslots being allocated by the coordinator in consideration of priorities of the network nodes; and(c) transmitting a data frame from the coordinator to a corresponding target network node through timeslots of the current superframe allocated thereto in (b);wherein the network nodes each enter a sleep mode in between the beacon period and the contention free period.