AMAC Scheduler Sub-Slot Offset for Directional Mesh Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directional networks face inefficiencies due to the time of flight delay between signal transmission and reception, where receivers are occupied with 'listening' before the signal arrives, leading to wasted time and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An asynchronous medium access control layer (AMAC) scheduler divides time slots into sub-slots, allowing the receiver to perform other tasks during the delay period by offsetting the reception block based on the time of flight delay, enabling the transmitter to continue transmitting without interruption and optimizing resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the receiver listens for the entire time slot, then the signal can be received, but the receiver is occupied with listening before the signal arrives, decreasing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver performs other operations during the time before the signal arrives (the ToF delay period), rather than idly listening. This preliminary action utilizes the delay period productively, improving receiver efficiency while maintaining signal reception capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The time slot is divided into sub-slots, with the first sub-slot dedicated to signal reception (accounting for ToF delay) and subsequent sub-slots available for other operations. This segmentation allows the receiver to optimize both signal reception and overall productivity.
2Reliability
If the transmitter stops transmitting before the end of the time slot, then all information can be received, but transmission time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter continues transmitting during the ToF delay period without interruption, as the receiver will begin processing the signal after the delay. This eliminates wasted transmission time while ensuring complete information delivery through proper timing coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission action continues continuously throughout the entire time slot without premature termination. The system maintains continuous useful action by coordinating transmitter and receiver operations around the ToF delay, maximizing time utilization while ensuring reliable delivery.
3Productivity
If time slots are divided into sub-slots with offset receiver blocks, then the receiver can perform other tasks during delay periods, but the scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The time slot is segmented into sub-slots with the receiver block offset from the transmitter block by the ToF delay duration. This segmentation enables the receiver to perform other operations during the delay period, improving utilization efficiency while maintaining manageable scheduling through structured division.
Data Source
AI summary
An asynchronous medium access control layer scheduler increases efficiency for directional mesh networks by removing extra overhead in the time slots. The efficiency is increased by dividing time slots into sub-slots to allow for a receiving node to be offset by at least one sub-slot from the transmitting node. This enables the scheduler to more efficiently schedule operations for the nodes so that nodes can be performing other functions rather than waiting to receive a transmission or waiting after transmitting a transmission. The sub-slots may be sized to approximate the transmission propagation time or time of flight delay.