Antenna Selection Using Acknowledgement Frame RSSI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless devices lack techniques to effectively select antennas based on signal attributes beyond Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values, leading to suboptimal antenna selection and increased power consumption due to packet errors and retransmissions, especially in applications with insufficient beacon or data packets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless device with an antenna selector and signal attribute detector that utilizes RSSI values from acknowledgement frames to dynamically select between multiple antennas, generating signal quality values like SNR, and comparing them to reference values for improved link quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If antenna selection is based only on RSSI values from beacon and data packets, then the antenna selection process is simple, but the link quality deteriorates when beacon or data packets are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses acknowledgement frames as an intermediary source to obtain RSSI values. When beacon and data packets are insufficient for reliable antenna selection, the system intermediates by collecting RSSI measurements from acknowledgement frames received from other devices, thereby maintaining link quality without significantly increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring RSSI values from multiple packet types including acknowledgement frames, and using this feedback information to dynamically adjust antenna selection decisions. This creates a closed-loop system that adapts to changing link conditions even when traditional beacon packets are scarce
2Productivity
If antenna selection uses limited signal attributes, then the processing requirements are low, but the antenna selection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes RSSI measurement universal by extracting and utilizing RSSI values from multiple packet types (beacon frames, data packets, and acknowledgement frames) for the same antenna selection purpose. This multi-functional approach to RSSI collection improves measurement accuracy without requiring complex processing of multiple different signal attributes
3Device complexity
If suboptimal antennas are selected, then the device complexity remains low, but power consumption increases due to packet errors and retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary antenna selection optimization by collecting and evaluating RSSI values from acknowledgement frames before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that the best antenna is selected in advance, preventing packet errors and retransmissions that would otherwise increase power consumption during operation
Data Source
AI summary
Example systems and methods of a wireless device use a signal attribute detector to determine a signal attribute value associated with a first frame received via a first antenna. Media access control (MAC) logic can detect that the first frame indicates an acknowledgement (ACK) of a second frame transmitted by the wireless device. Responsive to the detection of the ACK by the MAC logic, an antenna evaluator uses the signal attribute value to select one of the first antenna and the second antenna to transmit or receive a third frame.