Adaptive Data Block Size and Rate Control for Link Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems face inefficiencies in adapting data block size and transmission rate to changing link quality, as existing methods either provide fast feedback with high overhead or efficient transmission but lack responsiveness to rapid environmental changes.
Innovation Solution
A method where a source communication device adjusts data block size and rate based on ACK messages received from a destination device, incrementing or decrementing block size and rate based on consecutive successful or failed transmissions, optimizing for current link quality by resetting to default values when thresholds are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ACK messages are sent after each data packet, then fast adaptation to link quality changes is achieved, but transmission overhead increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic ACK transmission intervals that adapt based on link quality conditions. When link quality is good, ACK intervals are extended to reduce overhead. When link quality degrades, ACK intervals are shortened to enable faster adaptation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of ACK transmission timing based on measured link quality. By monitoring packet delivery success and adjusting the interval between ACK requests accordingly, the system optimizes both adaptation speed and transmission efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Productivity
If ACK messages are sent after a block of packets, then transmission overhead is reduced and efficiency increases, but responsiveness to fast changing link environment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the block size for which ACKs are sent. Under stable link conditions, larger blocks are used to maximize efficiency. When link quality changes are detected, the block size is reduced to improve responsiveness, allowing the system to balance both efficiency and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where ACK reception status informs future ACK timing decisions. If packets are consistently received successfully, the system increases block sizes and extends ACK intervals. If failures occur, it reduces block sizes and shortens intervals, creating a responsive feedback loop that resolves the contradiction.
3Device complexity
If fixed data block size is used, then system complexity is reduced, but ability to optimize for varying link conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service adaptation where the communication protocol automatically adjusts block sizes and ACK intervals based on observed link quality, without requiring complex external control mechanisms. This keeps implementation relatively simple while achieving optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes transmission parameters (block size, ACK interval) based on link conditions. By implementing relatively simple threshold-based adjustments rather than complex continuous optimization, the system maintains low complexity while still adapting to varying conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
System and method for transmitting data to a remote communication device to achieve desirable transmit data block size and data rate based on measurements of the communication link quality to the remote device. The method entails selecting an initial transmit data rate and power based on an initial measurement of the link quality, and a default size for the transmit data block. The data block is then transmitted to the remote, and an acknowledgement (ACK) message is received from the remote. If the ACK message indicates that the data block was properly received, the size for the next data block to be transmitted is increased. Otherwise, the size for the next data block may be decreased or remain the same. Additionally, the transmit data rate may be increased if the remote properly receives a defined number of consecutive data blocks, or decreased if the remote does not receive a defined number of consecutive data blocks.