Network allocation vector

The network allocation vector (NAV) is a virtual carrier-sensing mechanism used with wireless network protocols such as IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.16 (WiMax). The virtual carrier sensing is a logical abstraction which limits the need for physical carrier-sensing at the air interface in order to save power. The MAC layer frame headers contain a duration field that specifies the transmission time required for the frame, in which time the medium will be busy. The stations listening on the wireless medium read the Duration field and set their NAV, which is an indicator for a station on how long it must defer from accessing the medium.

The NAV may be thought of as a counter, which counts down to zero at a uniform rate. When the counter is zero, the virtual CS indication is that the medium is idle; when nonzero, the indication is busy. The medium shall be determined to be busy when the STA is transmitting. In IEEE 802.11, the NAV represents the number of microseconds the sending STA intends to hold the medium busy (maximum of 32,767 microseconds).

Wireless stations are often battery-powered, so to conserve power the stations may enter a power-saving mode. A station decrements its NAV counter until it becomes zero, at which time it is awakened to sense the medium again.

The NAV virtual carrier sensing mechanism is a prominent part of the CSMA/CA MAC protocol used with IEEE 802.11 WLANs. NAV is used in DCF, PCF and HCF.