Compressed MAC Header Using Station ID Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, the transmission of data packets is inefficient due to the large portion of bandwidth used for transmitting header information, such as medium access control (MAC) headers, which exceeds the actual data payload, leading to increased overhead and reduced data transmission speed.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of compressed MAC headers, where certain fields like the duration field are omitted, and the use of shorter address fields, such as access identifiers (AIDs) instead of full MAC addresses, reduces the size of the MAC header, allowing for more efficient data transmission by minimizing the overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If full MAC addresses and complete header fields are transmitted, then address identification accuracy and header information completeness are improved, but transmission overhead increases and data transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress identification accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The MAC address is segmented into two parts: a station identifier (S-ID) field containing only the essential identifying portion, and the remaining address fields. This segmentation allows the receiver to identify the station using the compact S-ID while the complete MAC address can be reconstructed from stored information when needed, thus reducing transmission overhead while maintaining identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver is pre-configured with complete MAC address information through prior association or authentication processes. This preliminary action enables the receiver to store full MAC addresses locally, allowing subsequent transmissions to use compressed headers with only S-ID fields, as the receiver can reconstruct complete addresses from its stored information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If complete MAC headers with all fields are transmitted, then header information completeness is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates due to increased overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheader information completenessVSAvoidbandwidth utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The essential identifying information (S-ID) is extracted from the complete MAC address and placed in the header, while the redundant portions are omitted. The receiver uses its stored complete MAC address information to reconstruct the full address when processing the frame, thus transmitting only the necessary identifying portion while maintaining complete header functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The header format parameter is changed from containing complete MAC addresses (48 bits) to containing only S-ID fields (compressed format). This parameter change reduces the header size and transmission overhead while the semantic meaning and functional completeness are preserved through the receiver's ability to reconstruct full addresses from stored information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If shorter address fields like AIDs are used, then header size is reduced and transmission efficiency is improved, but address field information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidaddress field information completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The S-ID field acts as an intermediary between the complete MAC address and the transmitted data. It provides a compressed representation that enables efficient transmission while the receiver uses its stored complete MAC address information as a mediator to reconstruct the full address when processing frames, thus bridging the gap between compression and completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3066813B1Apparatus and methods for mac header compression
Publication Date: 2017.12.20 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3066813B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3066813B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3066813B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and devices for compression of wireless communications headers are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication includes a processing system configured to output a request for transmission to a second apparatus, the request indicating a request to the second apparatus to store first information; decode a response from the second apparatus to determine whether the second apparatus will store the first information; generate a first header, the first header generated without the first information therein if the second apparatus will store the first information; and output the first header for transmission to the second apparatus.