Access Point Dynamic Slot Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks using deterministic scheduling, system capacity is reduced due to assigned time slots being larger than needed, leading to resource wastage as users may finish transmitting earlier than scheduled, and not all devices have data to transmit, resulting in inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
An access point dynamically switches from scheduled transmission mode to random access mode in unused time slots, allowing other devices to use the available capacity by detecting when a priority device is not transmitting and sending an indication for other devices to access the channel using a random access procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deterministic scheduling with assigned time slots is used, then real-time traffic reliability is improved, but system capacity is reduced due to wasted time slots
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches the access mode of time slots between scheduled transmission mode and random access mode based on whether the scheduled device has data to transmit. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain deterministic scheduling for real-time traffic when needed while utilizing unused time slots for non-critical traffic, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and system capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Time slots are designed to serve multiple functions: they can be used for deterministic scheduled transmission for real-time traffic, or switch to random access mode for non-critical traffic. This multi-functionality allows the same time slot resource to accommodate different traffic types, improving overall system capacity without compromising real-time traffic reliability.
2Reliability
If time slots are assigned larger than needed for transmission reliability, then transmission reliability is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system assigns time slots with sufficient duration to guarantee transmission reliability for scheduled devices, but introduces a mechanism to detect unused portions of these time slots. When the scheduled device does not utilize the full time slot, the remaining portion is partially repurposed for random access transmissions, thereby reducing resource waste while maintaining the reliability guarantee for critical transmissions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If scheduled transmission mode is used for all time slots, then deterministic access is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains deterministic scheduled transmission as the default mode for time slots, ensuring stable and predictable access for real-time traffic. However, it dynamically switches to random access mode when the scheduled device has no data to transmit, thereby introducing flexibility and adaptability to utilize unused resources without compromising the deterministic access guarantee for critical traffic.
4Productivity
If random access mode is used for unused time slots, then system capacity is improved, but deterministic access for scheduled devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different access modes to different portions of time slots based on local conditions. When a scheduled device has data to transmit, the entire time slot maintains deterministic scheduled transmission. When the device has no data, only the unused portion of the time slot is switched to random access mode. This localized quality adjustment allows the system to improve capacity without affecting deterministic access for scheduled devices that actually need to transmit.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an access point providing access to a wireless network for a plurality of wireless devices, wherein the wireless network includes at least one transmission channel with a sequence of transmission slots. The method includes assigning a first transmission slot to a first wireless device for a scheduled transmission with a priority access to the first transmission slot for the first wireless device, detecting during the first transmission slot that the first wireless device is currently not transmitting data in the assigned first transmission slot, and transmitting an indication to at least a subset of the plurality of wireless devices indicating that at least a time range in the first transmission slot until an end of the first transmission slot is available to the plurality of wireless devices for a data transmission using a random access procedure.