Aggregated Frame Transmission with Variable Ack Policy Bitmaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in enhancing throughput due to overhead issues in frame transmission, particularly in wireless communication, where conventional frame aggregation techniques do not effectively prioritize frames, leading to potential QoS violations and inefficiencies in error handling and acknowledgment procedures.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus and system that generates and transmits a single physical frame containing multiple MAC frames with variable-length bitmap information and length indicators, allowing for efficient frame aggregation, prioritization, and improved error handling through variable Ack Policy Bitmaps and Block Acknowledgment mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple MAC frames are transmitted separately, then each frame can be individually acknowledged and error-handled, but the overhead increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple MAC frames into a single aggregated frame for transmission. The receiving apparatus generates a block acknowledgment that covers multiple frames simultaneously, reducing the number of separate acknowledgment transmissions needed and thereby increasing throughput while maintaining reliability through comprehensive error handling for all aggregated frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The block acknowledgment mechanism serves multiple functions: it acknowledges receipt of multiple frames in one transmission, provides error detection for aggregated frames, and enables selective retransmission requests. This multi-functional approach reduces overhead compared to individual frame acknowledgments while maintaining comprehensive error handling.
2Productivity
If frame aggregation is implemented, then throughput increases and overhead is reduced, but error handling and acknowledgment become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgment process into block-level operations rather than frame-level operations. By treating multiple frames as a single aggregation unit, the system simplifies error handling at the block level while maintaining the ability to identify and retransmit specific failed frames within the aggregated set.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the granularity of error handling from individual frame level to aggregated block level. This parameter change simplifies the acknowledgment mechanism by reducing the number of separate error handling decisions needed, while still maintaining the ability to track and retransmit individual frames within the block through indexing and bitmap mechanisms.
3Productivity
If conventional frame aggregation is used without prioritization, then transmission efficiency improves, but QoS requirements may be violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality attributes to different frames within the same aggregated transmission. By maintaining individual frame metadata and enabling selective acknowledgment and retransmission, the system can prioritize certain frames (such as those with stricter QoS requirements) while still achieving efficient bulk transmission through aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic prioritization capabilities where frames can be assigned different priorities based on their QoS requirements. The acknowledgment and retransmission mechanisms can dynamically adjust which frames are retransmitted first or with higher reliability, allowing the system to adapt to varying QoS demands while maintaining overall transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus having a generating which generates a single physical frame for transmission and reception. The physical frame includes a first Quality of Service (QoS) data frame, a second Quality of Service (QoS) data frame, and a transmission request for requesting transmission of first acknowledgement information corresponding to the first QoS data frame and second acknowledgement information corresponding to the second QoS data frame. The communication apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the physical frame and a receiving unit configured to receive acknowledgment information including a reception of the physical frame transmitted.