Robust scheduling mechanism for efficient band-width usage in multicell wireless local area networks

摘要

A wireless communications network includes a local area network connected to a plurality of nodes (12) which perform bidirectional wireless communication with mobile stations (10) as controlled by a controller (3). Each node has a geographic area, termed a cell, within which mobile stations can communicate with the node associated with the cell. A cell interference graph is read into the controller, and a maximal independent set of nodes is determined. Each node in the maximal independent set of nodes is pint in a set termed ACTIVE for performing wireless communication with mobile stations in their respective cells. Nodes which are not in the maximal independent set of nodes is put in a set termed WAITING to wait for permission to enter the set ACTIVE. A node in the set ACTIVE which has completed communications sends a completion signal to the controller. The controller then examines which of the nodes in the set WAITING is not adjacent to another node in the set ACTIVE, and such nodes are entered in a set termed CANDIDATES. Nodes in the set CANDIDATES are moved to the set ACTIVE according to a predetermined criteria.