Access Node Uplink Control for Narrow Band and Legacy Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, collisions occur when Narrow Band and legacy devices transmit data on overlapping radio resources, leading to interference and retransmissions, as legacy devices are unaware of resource allocations made for Narrow Band devices within a broader bandwidth channel.
Innovation Solution
An access node detects the presence of both Narrow Band and legacy devices and performs a downlink transmission that both can receive and decode, indicating that the Narrow Band device is allowed to transmit on allocated resources within the first bandwidth channel and that the broader channel is occupied, thereby preventing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the access point allows Narrow Band devices to transmit on the first bandwidth channel, then the Narrow Band device transmission capacity is improved, but legacy devices may transmit on the broader second bandwidth channel causing collisions and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary action by sending a downlink transmission on the broader second bandwidth channel before the Narrow Band device transmits. This downlink transmission reserves the channel and prevents legacy devices from transmitting simultaneously, thereby avoiding collisions and ensuring reliable Narrow Band device transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The downlink transmission from the access point acts as an intermediary mechanism. It conveys information to legacy devices about the upcoming Narrow Band device transmission, mediating between the Narrow Band device's need to transmit and legacy devices' channel access rights, thereby preventing interference.
2Productivity
If legacy devices are allowed to transmit on the broader bandwidth channel, then their data transmission efficiency is improved, but they cause interference to Narrow Band devices transmitting on the narrower channel within the broader channel
Solution Approach 1:
The access point applies preliminary anti-action by sending a downlink transmission that preemptively blocks legacy devices from transmitting on the broader channel during the Narrow Band device's transmission period. This counteracts the potential harmful interference before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The downlink transmission serves as a preliminary action that reserves the broader bandwidth channel for the Narrow Band device's upcoming transmission. By doing so, it prevents legacy devices from accessing the channel and causing interference to the Narrow Band device.
3Device complexity
If no channel reservation mechanism is used, then the network simplicity is maintained, but collisions occur when multiple devices transmit simultaneously on overlapping resources
Solution Approach 1:
The access point implements a simple preliminary action by sending a downlink transmission that reserves the channel for the Narrow Band device. This single action prevents collisions without requiring complex coordination mechanisms between devices, maintaining network simplicity while improving transmission reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an access node of a wireless network, for controlling uplink transmissions from wireless devices. It is detected that both a Narrow Band wireless device capable of receiving signals on a first narrow bandwidth channel and one or more legacy wireless devices capable of receiving signals on a second broad bandwidth channel are present. The second broad channel covers the first narrow channel. When receiving an uplink transmission from the Narrow Band device that indicates pending uplink data, the access node performs a downlink transmission that both Narrow Band wireless devices and legacy wireless devices can receive and decode. The downlink transmission indicates that the Narrow Band wireless device is allowed to transmit its pending uplink data on allocated resources within the first bandwidth channel, and that the second bandwidth channel is occupied.