BAR Frame Sequence Extension for 802.11 Block Ack Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing sequence number requirements in the IEEE 802.11be standard for Block Ack (BA) frames pose a challenge due to the potential inability to represent the sequence number for the initially received data, which can lead to overlap issues and reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that complies with the IEEE 802.11 series standard, including a data transmitting unit, a generating unit for Block Ack Request (BAR) frames, and a receiving unit for Block Ack (BA) frames, uses a predetermined field in the BAR frame to indicate the sequence number for the initial data frame, distinct from the Starting Sequence Number field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of fields allocated to the bitmap of the BA is increased to allow more data to be transmitted as one, then the throughput can be improved, but the sequence number for the initially received data may become unable to be represented by the currently prepared fields
Solution Approach 1:
The sequence number indication is divided into two separate fields: a Starting Sequence Number field and an Additional Sequence Number field. This segmentation allows the system to represent larger sequence numbers by combining both fields, thereby supporting increased data transmission capacity without losing sequence number representation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimension for sequence number representation by adding the Additional Sequence Number field. This extends the original single-field representation into a multi-field structure, effectively increasing the representable sequence number range to accommodate larger data transmission volumes.
2Productivity
If a single access point establishes plurality of links with a single station via a plurality of different frequency channels, then the throughput can be further improved, but the sequence number overlap issue may arise
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sequence number indication into Starting Sequence Number and Additional Sequence Number fields, the system can uniquely identify data units across multiple frequency channels and links, preventing sequence number overlap even when high throughput is achieved through multi-link operation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a communication apparatus that complies with an IEEE 802.11 series standard, comprising: data transmitting unit for transmitting data frames each including a data unit to an other communication apparatus a plurality of times continuously; generating unit for generating a Block Ack Request (BAR) frame; BAR transmitting unit for transmitting the BAR frame to the other communication apparatus after transmission of the data frames the plurality of times continuously; and receiving unit for receiving a Block Ack (BA) frame as a response to the BAR frame, wherein the generating unit indicates a sequence number for a data unit in an initial data frame using a predetermined field in the BAR frame, and the predetermined field includes a different field from a Starting Sequence Number field in the BAR frame.