Decentralized Broadcast Scheduling in Peer-to-Peer Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications systems, particularly in ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks, efficiently scheduling air link resources for broadcast communications is challenging, as devices often need to transmit the same data to multiple devices, leading to resource wastage and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a timing structure with slots dedicated to both broadcast and unicast transmissions, where broadcast transmission requests have priority over unicast requests, and utilizing a decentralized scheduling method to manage air link resources on a slot-by-slot basis, allowing for efficient broadcast data transmission to multiple devices without wasting resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If broadcast signaling is used to transmit the same data to multiple devices, then transmission efficiency is improved, but air link resource scheduling complexity increases in decentralized peer-to-peer networks
Solution Approach 1:
The air link resources are segmented into different slot types (broadcast-capable slots and unicast-only slots) within a recurring timing structure. This segmentation allows devices to clearly identify which slots are available for broadcast transmissions versus unicast transmissions, simplifying the scheduling decision process while maintaining efficient broadcast capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices transmit broadcast transmission request signals in advance during identified broadcast-capable slots before actual data transmission. This preliminary action allows other devices to prepare for potential interference or coordinate their transmissions, reducing scheduling complexity while enabling efficient broadcast operations.
2Device complexity
If unicast transmissions are scheduled to multiple devices individually, then resource allocation is simplified, but transmission efficiency decreases when the same data needs to be sent to multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The recurring timing structure is designed to support multiple functions: it accommodates both broadcast-capable slots and unicast-only slots within the same framework. This multi-functionality allows the system to efficiently handle both broadcast transmissions (when the same data is sent to multiple devices) and unicast transmissions (when different data is sent to individual devices) without requiring separate scheduling mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If broadcast transmission requests are allowed in all slots, then broadcast capability is maximized, but interference with unicast transmissions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timing structure is segmented into distinct slot types where certain slots are designated as broadcast-capable and others as unicast-only. This segmentation ensures that broadcast transmission requests are only permitted in appropriate slots, maximizing broadcast capability while preventing interference with unicast transmissions that occur in dedicated unicast slots.
Solution Approach 2:
Different slots within the timing structure have different qualities or permissions: broadcast-capable slots allow both broadcast and unicast requests, while unicast-only slots restrict requests to unicast only. This local differentiation of slot properties allows the system to optimize for broadcast capability where needed while protecting unicast transmissions from interference in other slots.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus related to broadcasting data in a peer to peer wireless communications network are described. A timing structure is utilized employing slots of a first type which support broadcast traffic transmissions and unicast traffic transmissions and slots of a second type which support unicast traffic transmission but do not support broadcast traffic transmissions. In various embodiments, traffic air link resource scheduling is performed in a decentralized manner on a slot by slot basis. In some such embodiments, a wireless device prior to transmitting a broadcast data traffic signal, transmits a broadcast transmission request signal, sometimes alternatively referred to as a broadcast indicator signal; and a wireless device prior to transmitting a peer to peer unicast signal, transmits a peer to peer traffic transmission request signal. In various embodiments, for slots of the first type, broadcast transmission requests have priority over peer to peer unicast transmission requests.