Base Station Bandwidth Allocation Engine for WLAN Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless local area networks (WLANs) face inefficiencies in bandwidth allocation due to substantial processing overhead and reduced throughput, especially in upstream traffic, as stations contend for bandwidth without central control in DCF mode or wait for polling in PCF mode.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that includes a base station with a bandwidth allocation engine to monitor and estimate bandwidth requirements during a measurement period, then transmit a bandwidth allocation message with a traffic indication map and bandwidth assignment table to allocate specific timeslots to stations, allowing them to transmit data in an orderly fashion without explicit requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If stations contend for bandwidth using DCF mode without central control, then decentralization and simplicity are achieved, but processing overhead increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedecentralizationVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that performs centralized bandwidth allocation based on monitored traffic patterns. The base station acts as a mediator between stations, assigning time slots and bandwidth dynamically without requiring stations to contend with each other, thus reducing overhead and improving throughput while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the base station monitors bandwidth usage and traffic patterns of stations, then uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust and allocate bandwidth in subsequent time slots. This closed-loop control optimizes throughput by adapting to actual network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If stations wait for polling in PCF mode, then collision avoidance is achieved, but processing overhead increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary monitoring of station traffic patterns and bandwidth requirements before allocation. By predicting future bandwidth needs based on historical data collected during measurement periods, the system pre-allocates time slots and bandwidth, eliminating the need for continuous polling while maintaining collision-free operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic measurement periods to collect traffic data and update bandwidth allocations. Instead of continuous polling, the base station periodically reassesses bandwidth requirements and adjusts allocations in discrete intervals, reducing processing overhead while maintaining reliable collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If bandwidth allocation is based on explicit requests, then accuracy in meeting station needs is improved, but processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth requirement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Stations implicitly indicate their bandwidth needs through their transmission behavior during measurement periods. The base station monitors these self-generated signals and automatically determines bandwidth requirements without requiring stations to send explicit requests, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing processing overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of explicit bandwidth request handling with an automated monitoring and prediction system. The base station uses electronic monitoring of traffic patterns and algorithmic prediction to determine bandwidth needs, substituting complex explicit negotiation protocols with simpler automated detection and allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7477621B1System and method for estimating bandwidth requirements of and allocating bandwidth to communication devices operating in a network

Publication Date: 2009.01.13 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

A system for allocating bandwidth in a network includes a base station. The system also includes a plurality of stations in communication with the base station. During a measurement period, the base station monitors an amount of information communicated by each of the plurality of stations to determine bandwidth required by each of the plurality of stations. After the measurement period, the base station transmits a bandwidth allocation message to the plurality of stations allocating bandwidth to each of the plurality of stations for transmitting information during respective timeslots specified in the bandwidth allocation message.