Communication Frame Length Calculation for Reduced Interframe Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems using wireless, power line, or air media, it is challenging to accurately determine the end of a frame and avoid data collisions due to varying packet lengths and dynamic modulation parameters, leading to inefficient transmission and large interframe gaps.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with a frame length calculation section, communication control section, and frame generation section that calculates and transmits frame lengths concurrently with preamble and frame information, allowing for efficient packet combining with a small interframe gap, and includes error-tolerant modulation and coding for reliable frame transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packets are combined together with a single header to reduce overhead, then packet transmission efficiency is improved, but the interframe gap becomes large due to calculation time required before transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and determining the frame structure (including the number of packets to combine and the frame length) before the actual transmission begins. The frame length calculation section computes the required frame length based on the number of packets to be combined and the data rate, allowing the system to prepare the transmission parameters in advance. This prevents delays during transmission and reduces the interframe gap, as the calculation is performed as part of the frame generation process rather than after packet collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the frame length adjustable and adaptive based on the number of packets to be combined and the current data rate. The frame length calculation section dynamically computes the frame length using the formula: frame length = (number of packets × packet length + overhead) / data rate. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize transmission efficiency for different packet combinations while maintaining accurate timing information, thereby reducing unnecessary interframe gaps.
2Productivity
If the frame length is calculated in advance to enable efficient transmission, then transmission efficiency is improved, but it becomes impossible in systems with dynamic modulation parameters and variable packet lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and determining the frame structure (including the number of packets to combine and the frame length) before the actual transmission begins. The frame length calculation section computes the required frame length based on the number of packets to be combined and the data rate, allowing the system to prepare the transmission parameters in advance. This prevents delays during transmission and reduces the interframe gap, as the calculation is performed as part of the frame generation process rather than after packet collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the frame length adjustable and adaptive based on the number of packets to be combined and the current data rate. The frame length calculation section dynamically computes the frame length using the formula: frame length = (number of packets × packet length + overhead) / data rate. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize transmission efficiency for different packet combinations while maintaining accurate timing information, thereby reducing unnecessary interframe gaps.
3Reliability
If the interframe gap is set to accommodate maximum calculation time for many packets, then data collision is avoided, but transmission efficiency decreases when only a few packets are combined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating and determining the frame structure (including the number of packets to combine and the frame length) before the actual transmission begins. The frame length calculation section computes the required frame length based on the number of packets to be combined and the data rate, allowing the system to prepare the transmission parameters in advance. This prevents delays during transmission and reduces the interframe gap, as the calculation is performed as part of the frame generation process rather than after packet collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the calculated frame length information to set the interframe gap dynamically. The frame length calculation section provides the calculated frame length to the transmission control, which then sets the interframe gap based on this information. This feedback mechanism ensures that the interframe gap is precisely matched to the actual transmission requirements, avoiding both data collisions (by ensuring sufficient gap when needed) and unnecessary efficiency loss (by minimizing the gap when the frame is short).
Data Source
AI summary
A data communication frame is formed by a preamble portion (PREAMBLE) for demodulation and synchronization, a frame information portion (FC) containing a data type of the frame, a frame length portion (FL), and a data body portion (DATABODY) composed of more than one data packet combined together. If a request to transmit a packet is made from an upper layer, a communication apparatus 10 concurrently performs a process of calculating a frame length the frame would have if combining of the packet is performed and a process of transmitting the preamble portion and the frame information portion. The frame length depends on packets, while the preamble portion and the frame information portion do not depend on packets.