Collocated Transceiver Interference Reduction via Block Acknowledgment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interference between collocated communication modules using different wireless standards in handheld wireless network devices, such as WiMAX and WiFi, leads to reduced data rates and potential disconnection due to mutual interference, affecting device performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the device receives blocks of 802.11 packets during a designated time period while receiving WiMAX downlink frames and transmits block acknowledgments during the corresponding WiMAX uplink frames, reducing the need for individual packet acknowledgments and minimizing interference by scheduling data transmission and reception periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual packet acknowledgments are transmitted for each 802.11 packet received, then data transmission reliability is improved, but interference with WiMAX transmission increases and system throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual packet acknowledgments into a single block acknowledgment message. Instead of transmitting separate ACK frames for each received 802.11 packet, the system accumulates acknowledgments for multiple packets (up to 64 packets) and transmits them together in one block ACK frame, thereby reducing the total number of transmission events and minimizing interference with WiMAX while maintaining reliable data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic block acknowledgments where acknowledgments are transmitted at scheduled intervals rather than continuously for each packet. The block acknowledgment mechanism allows the receiver to acknowledge multiple packets periodically in a single transmission event, reducing the frequency of acknowledgment transmissions and thereby reducing interference with concurrent WiMAX operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If collocated communication modules operate simultaneously using different wireless standards, then device versatility is improved, but mutual interference increases causing data rate reduction and potential disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgment transmission process into block-level operations rather than packet-level operations. By grouping multiple packets into blocks and transmitting acknowledgments at the block level, the system reduces the total number of transmission events, thereby reducing interference between collocated WiMAX and WiFi modules while maintaining support for multiple wireless standards
Solution Approach 2:
The block acknowledgment mechanism acts as an intermediary layer between the 802.11 packet reception and the actual acknowledgment transmission. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to buffer and batch acknowledgments, reducing the direct conflict between WiFi acknowledgment transmissions and WiMAX data transmissions, thereby maintaining connection stability while supporting multiple standards
Data Source
AI summary
A network device including a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to, in accordance with a first wireless protocol, receive first data during a first time period and transmit second data during a second time period. The second communication module configured to, in accordance with a second wireless protocol, receive a plurality of packets during the first time period; not transmit an acknowledgement during the first time period for each packet of the plurality of packets in response to receiving each packet of the plurality of packets; and subsequent to receiving all of the plurality of packets, transmit a single acknowledgement during the second time period to indicate receipt of all of the plurality of packets.