Media access management is a protocol that determines if resources are available for data transmission. It takes place in the Mac sublayer of the data link layer and evaluates the quality and compatibility of data. If there is a problem, it attempts to restore data integrity before transmitting to the physical layer signaling. The process is designed to prevent damage to hardware and software.
Media access management is a protocol associated with an open systems interconnection model. In essence, media access management functions within OSI as a means of performance associated with the model’s media access control functions. The process allows the system to determine if resources are free for the transmission of data packets or frames.
The place within the system where media access management takes place is the Mac sublayer within the data link layer. It is at this point that the quality, size and compatibility of the data are determined. The management function implements certain orders to the controller based on how the data frame or packet is read, processed and approved for delivery. Before reaching the data link layer, the data packet or frame went through the so-called multiple collision/access detection sublayer of carrier detection, where the data packet was kept without damaging other packets or being corrupted. After receiving and qualifying the packet, the handling component prepares to pass the data to the next stage of the process by transmitting the information to the physical layer signaling or PLS.
In case there is some sort of problem with the packet moving through the multiple access detection/vector collision detection sublayer, the media access management function will still receive the data and evaluate the situation. If data integrity can be restored, the media access management will instruct the media access control to transfer or transmit the repaired data packet to the PLS. If this is not possible, the data is rejected and the transmission is aborted.
While this media access management process may seem a bit complicated, the actual steps take seconds to complete. Each step of the approach is designed to prevent incoming data transmissions from damaging hardware or one of the files in a software application to the point where it becomes inoperable. Once the valid nature of a data frame or packet is determined, the process proceeds smoothly and efficiently.
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