Bandwidth Allocation in Wireless Superframes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially ad-hoc wireless PANs, existing methods for bandwidth sharing on shared media are inefficient due to scattered unallocated medium access slots, leading to suboptimal device access and medium usage.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution structures the shared medium into a frame or superframe with defined medium access slots, allocating them in a way that maximizes contiguous unallocated slots by distinguishing between regular and irregular reservations, and allocating slots from opposite ends of the superframe to minimize interference and optimize contiguous allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices are free to reserve resource with relatively few restrictions, then device access flexibility is improved, but efficiency of medium use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The medium access slots are segmented into different allocation zones (first allocation zone and second allocation zone) within the superframe structure. Devices can reserve slots in the first allocation zone with fewer restrictions for flexible access, while the second allocation zone is managed to ensure efficient medium use. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of device access flexibility and medium use efficiency by assigning different reservation policies to different zones.
2Ease of operation
If medium access slots are allocated without structured organization, then allocation simplicity is improved, but medium access efficiency deteriorates due to scattered unallocated slots
Solution Approach 1:
The superframe is segmented into multiple allocation zones with distinct purposes. The first allocation zone handles regular reservations while the second allocation zone handles irregular reservations. This structured segmentation organizes medium access slots in a systematic way that prevents scattering of unallocated slots, thereby improving medium access efficiency while maintaining allocation simplicity through clear zone-defined rules.
Solution Approach 2:
Different allocation rules and qualities are applied to different zones within the superframe. The first allocation zone is optimized for regular, predictable reservations with specific allocation patterns, while the second allocation zone is optimized for irregular, dynamic reservations. This local quality differentiation ensures that each zone operates optimally for its intended purpose, improving overall medium access efficiency without complicating the overall allocation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention, generally speaking, provides for sharing of bandwidth of a shared medium between multiple devices. In one embodiment, the shared medium is structured in accordance with a frame or superframe structure, each frame or superframe having medium access slots of specified time duration defined therein, groups of N contiguous medium access slots defining different allocations zones, groups of M medium access slots defining coordinated sets of medium access slots, wherein the medium access slots of a coordinated set belonging to different allocation zones are equally spaced in time. A device identifies a reservation as regular or irregular, wherein a regular reservation causes the entire medium access slots in one or more coordinated sets to be allocated. In the case of either a regular or an irregular reservation, allocating medium access slots such that a number of unallocated contiguous medium access slots within each allocation zone is maximized. The contiguous unallocated medium access slots separate the group of regular allocations and the group of irregular allocations within each allocation zone.