Techniques for improving reliability in IEEE 802.11

Abstract

This invention provides methods and equipment for improving reliability in IEEE 802.11 networks. [Solution] The method includes a first station (STA) generating a set of configurations that satisfy reliability requirements for the traffic flow associated with a frame. Each of the set of configurations includes the number of frame replications, channel bandwidth, and modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The first STA transmits multiple request to transmit (RTS) frames over multiple channels to a second STA. The method also includes the first STA receiving multiple transmittable (CTS) frames from the second STA indicating whether multiple channels are available, selecting a first configuration from the set of configurations based on the number of available channels, and simultaneously transmitting multiple copies of the frame over the available channels based on the first configuration.

Claims

1. A method used at the first station (STA), To generate at least one set of configurations that satisfy one or more reliability requirements for the traffic flow associated with a frame, each of which includes the number of frame replications, channel bandwidth, and modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the channel bandwidth, Transmitting multiple Request to Transmit (RTS) frames on multiple channels to a second STA, Receiving multiple transmittable (CTS) frames from the second STA indicating whether the multiple channels are available, Selecting a first configuration from the set of configurations based on the number of available channels determined by the plurality of CTS frames, Transmitting multiple copies of the frame simultaneously on the available channel based on the first configuration described above. Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of RTS frames are transmitted using multicast media access control (MAC) addresses associated with the second STA.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first configuration includes a first replication number of frames, a first channel bandwidth, and a first MCS related to the first channel bandwidth.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first replication number of the frame is less than or equal to the number of available channels determined from the plurality of channels.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of copies of the frame are transmitted using the first MCS related to the first channel bandwidth.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first channel bandwidth matches the bandwidth of at least one of the available channels.

7. Selecting a second configuration from the set of configurations based on the number of available channels determined by the plurality of CTS frames, Transmitting multiple copies of the frame simultaneously on the available channel based on the second configuration described above. It further includes, The method according to claim 1, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second configuration includes a second replication number of the frame, a second channel bandwidth, and a second MCS related to the second channel bandwidth.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more reliability requirements of the traffic flow include the amount of loss, minimum bandwidth, maximum bandwidth, and average bandwidth permitted with respect to the traffic flow.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traffic flow includes voice traffic, video traffic, best-effort traffic, or background traffic.

11. A processor configured to generate at least one set of configurations that satisfy one or more reliability requirements for a traffic flow associated with a frame, each of which includes the number of frame replications, channel bandwidth, and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) associated with the channel bandwidth, A transmitter configured to transmit multiple request to transmit (RTS) frames on multiple channels to a second STA, A receiver configured to receive from the second STA a plurality of transmittable (CTS) frames indicating whether the plurality of channels are available, A first station (STA) including, The processor is further configured to select a first configuration from the set of configurations based on the number of available channels determined by the plurality of CTS frames. The transmitter is configured to simultaneously transmit multiple copies of the frame on the available channel based on the first configuration. The first STA.

12. The first STA according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of RTS frames are transmitted using multicast media access control (MAC) addresses associated with the second STA.

13. The first STA according to claim 11, wherein the first configuration includes a first replication number of frames, a first channel bandwidth, and a first MCS related to the first channel bandwidth.

14. The first STA according to claim 13, wherein the first replication number of the frame is less than or equal to the number of available channels determined from the plurality of channels.

15. The first STA according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of copies of the frame are transmitted using the first MCS related to the first channel bandwidth.

16. The first STA according to claim 13, wherein the first channel bandwidth matches the bandwidth of at least one of the available channels.

17. The processor is further configured to select a second configuration from the set of configurations based on the number of available channels determined by the plurality of CTS frames. The transmitter is further configured to simultaneously transmit multiple copies of the frame on the available channel based on the second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration. The first STA according to claim 11.

18. The first STA according to claim 17, wherein the second configuration includes a second replication number of the frame, a second channel bandwidth, and a second MCS related to the second channel bandwidth.

19. The first STA according to claim 11, wherein the one or more reliability requirements of the traffic flow include the amount of loss, minimum bandwidth, maximum bandwidth, and average bandwidth permitted with respect to the traffic flow.

20. The first S according to claim 11, wherein the traffic flow includes voice traffic, video traffic, best-effort traffic, or background traffic. TA.

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