Adaptive Data Rate Control for High Throughput Wi-Fi
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wi-Fi networks face transmission failures due to dynamic wireless environments with fluctuating signal strength and interference levels, leading to inefficiencies when adhering to a fixed data rate.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive data rate method for communication devices, which involves a controller and transceiver to dynamically adjust data rates by transmitting test packets of shorter length than standard data packets, allowing for quick assessment of viable data rates and ensuring successful transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed data rate is used for transmission, then the communication system is simple to operate, but transmission failures occur due to dynamic wireless environment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data rate adjustment by transitioning from a fixed data rate to an adaptive mechanism. The controller dynamically selects between initial and test data rates based on transmission results, allowing the system to adapt to changing wireless conditions while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data rate parameter adaptively by introducing test data rates and selecting optimal rates based on transmission outcomes. This parameter adjustment mechanism enables the system to respond to environmental changes while preserving ease of operation through automated parameter selection.
2Measurement precision
If test packets of maximum length are transmitted to test data rate, then the transmission result is accurate, but the time loss for testing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting test packets with lengths less than the maximum packet length. This partial transmission approach provides sufficient information to assess data rate viability without incurring the full time cost of transmitting maximum-length packets, thereby reducing testing time while maintaining adequate measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary testing with shorter packets to quickly assess data rate feasibility before committing to full data transmission. This preliminary action allows the system to make rapid data rate decisions without the time penalty of testing with maximum-length packets, achieving a balance between accuracy and speed.
3Productivity
If data rate is increased to improve throughput, then the transmission speed increases, but transmission failures occur more frequently in dynamic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where transmission results of test packets are used to determine the selected data rate for subsequent data packet transmission. This feedback loop ensures that higher data rates are only adopted when testing confirms their viability, thereby maintaining both high throughput and transmission reliability in dynamic wireless environments.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptive data rate method for use in a communication device. The communication device includes a controller and a transceiver coupled to each other. The method includes the controller increasing an initial data rate to generate a test data rate, and the transceiver transmitting a test packet according to the test data rate, a packet length of the test packet being less than a maximum packet length of a data packet. The method further includes the controller selecting one from the initial data rate and the test data rate as a selected data rate according to a transmission result of the test packet, and the transceiver transmitting the data packet according to the selected data rate.