Aggregated Frame Transmission Lifetime Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless network standards, such as IEEE 802.11n and 802.11e, do not specify how frame aggregation mechanisms relate to transmission lifetime values or different access categories, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential frame discards due to timing issues.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves determining the transmission lifetime for aggregated frames based on the newest or most recently received frame's lifetime, allowing for efficient aggregation and transmission of frames within the same destination address or access category, while avoiding frame discards by setting a suitable transmission window.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple MAC frames are aggregated into a single aggregated frame, then transmission overhead is reduced and network efficiency is improved, but timing management becomes complex and frames may be discarded due to exceeding lifetime constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidtiming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the transmission lifetime of the aggregated frame based on the newest received frame before aggregation occurs. This pre-determination of timing parameters eliminates the need for complex post-aggregation timing calculations and prevents frame discard issues by ensuring the aggregated frame is transmitted within the appropriate lifetime window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timing parameter (transmission lifetime) of the aggregated frame to match the newest received frame's lifetime. This parameter adjustment simplifies timing management by providing a clear, deterministic rule for setting the aggregated frame's transmission window, avoiding the complexity of managing multiple different lifetime values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If frames are aggregated to reduce overhead, then transmission efficiency improves, but the risk of frame discard due to lifetime expiration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission overheadVSAvoidframe delivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By determining the transmission lifetime before aggregation based on the newest frame, the patent ensures that the aggregated frame will be transmitted within the appropriate time window. This preliminary timing determination prevents frame discard due to lifetime expiration while still achieving overhead reduction through aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If different access categories are handled with different contention parameters, then QoS requirements are met, but aggregation of frames from different categories becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoS complianceVSAvoidframe aggregation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining transmission lifetime based on the newest received frame within the same access category. This allows frames from the same category to be aggregated with appropriate timing parameters, while maintaining the ability to handle different categories with their specific QoS requirements through separate aggregation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1949620B1Use of timing information for handling aggregated frames in a wireless network
Publication Date: 2015.08.26 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP1949620B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1949620B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1949620B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the use of timing or timing-related information for handling aggregated frames in a wireless network. According to an example embodiment, a plurality of frames may be received (402). An aggregated frame may be generated based on the plurality of received frames (404). A transmission lifetime for the aggregated frame may be determined based on a transmission lifetime of one or more of the received frames (406). In another example embodiment, a transmit timer may be determined for the aggregated frame, for example, based on the transmit timer for one or more of the received frames.