Adaptive Backoff Control for Multi-Beam Channel Listening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current channel listening methods in high-frequency wireless communication systems, such as those using 60 GHz frequencies, lack support for variable beams, leading to inefficiencies in clear channel assessment and contention backoff mechanisms, which can result in reduced communication efficiency due to randomly selected backoff values.

Innovation Solution

A channel listening method that performs clear channel assessment on a first beam and sets a backoff control parameter based on historical values of backoff control parameters for associated beams, allowing for adaptive network status adaptation and efficient communication by switching between beams if interference is high.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a directional transmitting/receiving technology is used to increase coverage area and suppress interference, then communication reliability is improved, but clear channel assessment and contention backoff mechanisms become inadequate due to variable beams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidclear channel assessment adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the clear channel assessment process by beam, where each beam maintains its own backoff counter and assessment state. This allows independent channel listening for each directional beam, making the system adaptable to variable beam configurations while maintaining communication reliability through directional transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic backoff counters that can be independently adjusted for each beam based on channel conditions. The backoff mechanism adapts to the specific characteristics of each directional beam, enabling the system to handle variable beam patterns dynamically rather than using a static omnidirectional approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If backoff control parameters are randomly selected, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to suboptimal backoff times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where devices monitor channel conditions and adjust backoff control parameters based on historical channel states and interference patterns. This feedback-driven adaptation improves communication efficiency by selecting optimal backoff times rather than random values, while the automation of this process prevents excessive device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment of backoff parameters based on its own observations of channel conditions and historical data. Each device independently optimizes its backoff control parameters through self-learning from past channel states, improving efficiency without requiring complex centralized control or excessive computational resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If historical backoff control parameters are used for associated beams, then communication efficiency is improved through adaptive network status recognition, but device complexity increases due to parameter management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidparameter management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes that backoff control parameters for associated beams can be derived from historical parameters of other beams through standardized mapping relationships. This universal approach allows the system to reuse parameter management logic across different beams, reducing the overall complexity burden while maintaining adaptive efficiency through historical data utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3661100B1Channel interception method and apparatus applied to un-authorised frequency band
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3661100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3661100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3661100B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4a

AI summary

A channel listening method applied to an unlicensed frequency band, and an apparatus are provided, where the method includes: performing, by a communications device, clear channel assessment on a first beam, and in a process of the clear channel assessment, performing, by the communications device, a backoff based on a backoff control parameter for the first beam, where the communications device has a plurality of optional beams, the first beam is one of the plurality of optional beams, and the backoff control parameter is set based on a historical value of a backoff control parameter for at least one of the plurality of optional beams; and after the backoff succeeds, performing, by the communications device, transmission by using the first beam. In this application, the backoff control parameter for the first beam is obtained by collecting statistics based on historical information of the backoff control parameter for the at least one of the plurality of optional beams, to fully adapt to a network status, avoid reducing communication efficiency by randomly selecting a relatively large value when a network is in relatively good condition, and effectively ensure properness of the backoff control parameter for the first beam.