The Wi-Fi Alliance's WMM (Wireless Multimedia) program certifies EDCA-compliant products; the WMM-SA (Wireless Multimedia-Scheduled Access) program was to have certified HCCA-compliant products. Managing a large number of voice stations per access point was to be the primary benefit of WMM-SA.
EDCA and HCCA are based on the initial access methods stated in 802.11, which specifies two methods of performing collision avoidance. The first is based on DCF (Distributed Coordination Function); the second, on PCF (Point Coordination Function). HCF (Hybrid Coordination Function) incorporates components from each.
DCF uses a distributed, "listen-before-you-speak" method and back-off timers to give wireless stations their fair share of the wireless medium, while the optional PCF leverages APs for coordination. With PCF, stations ask permission from the AP before communicating. DCF became a commercial success; PCF never took off.
EDCA's basic premise is to give priority to some data types over others through four priority queues. With EDCA, time-sensitive applications have a better chance of communicating, but EDCA provides no assurances of delivery. Although EDCA uses HCF, it follows the DCF mode of operation in collision avoidance.
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