Jeromie Believe it or not polling IS part of 802.11b!
Time-bounded data such as voice and video is supported in the 802.11 MAC specification through the Point Coordination Function (PCF). As opposed to the DCF, where control is distributed to all stations, in PCF mode a single access point controls access to the media. If a BSS is set up with PCF enabled, time is spliced between the system being in PCF mode and in DCF (CSMA/CA) mode. During the periods when the system is in PCF mode, the access point will poll each station for data, and after a given time move on to the next station. No station is allowed to transmit unless it is polled, and stations receive data from the access point only when they are polled. Since PCF gives every station a turn to transmit in a predetermined fashion, a maximum latency is guaranteed. A downside to PCF is that it is not particularly scalable, in that a single point needs to have control of media access and must poll all stations, which can be ineffective in large networks. The problem is the firmware on the wireless cards need to support PCF in order for it to work. From what I have been told Intersil and Atmel may add this feature. As soon as they do our AP software will have the support. If anyone knows away around this via a software only option we are all ears! Sincerely Tony Morella Demarc Technology Group Office: 908-996-7995 Cell: 908-246-9170 Fax: 908-847-0202 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.demarctech.com Wireless Solution Provider -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Jeromie Reeves Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 10:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [BAWUG] polling software? Is there ANY polling software in the world like karlnet's but is GPL'd or the like? (Just about to google for it) but i would like to know what the list knows =-) I am wondering if a "quick and dirty" polling method can not be made/added to OpenAP/MM/what ever wireless software you/i/he/she wants. From what i can see in order to make the software a new chip set driver would need made, maybe not. I think it would go a <long> way to helping mesh routing and the like if a AP network could work out a good way to go "ok, AP 1 2 and 3 listen on this cycle, AP X Y Z toy transmit during this cycle" so that a cleaner mesh or repeater can be made and used. Has anyone else thought of ideas like this? Flame's welcome =-) Jeromie Reeves -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
