Convergence Sublayer for Single Frequency Network Broadcasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadband wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently providing multimedia content due to the lack of a standard air interface for data transmission and high network resource consumption, particularly in managing user handoffs and reducing convergence protocol overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for encapsulating data packets in a single frequency network, where content streams are formatted according to a first protocol, fragmented, and packed into data units based on a predetermined container size, then broadcast synchronously by multiple transmitters using Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) signals, eliminating the need for handoffs and reducing network resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple base stations transmit different signals to maintain user communication as users move about the network, then user communication is maintained, but network resources are consumed for tracking and handoff management
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple base stations are merged into a single frequency network where they transmit the same signal simultaneously. This combining approach eliminates the need for handoff tracking and reduces network resource consumption while maintaining user communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The same signal is copied and transmitted by multiple base stations across the network. This copying strategy allows users to receive the same content from any base station without requiring handoff management, reducing the energy consumption associated with tracking user movements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If convergence protocols are used to map upper layer application data to air interface protocol, then data transmission is enabled, but protocol overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary protocol overhead by implementing a simplified convergence protocol specifically designed for single frequency networks. This extracted approach maintains data transmission capability while reducing the complexity and overhead of conventional convergence protocols.
3Productivity
If broadband wireless networks provide multimedia content to large groups of customers, then content delivery is achieved, but network resources are consumed for bi-directional communication
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into a broadcast component for content delivery and a control component for management. This segmentation allows multimedia content to be delivered efficiently to large groups via broadcast without consuming excessive network resources for bi-directional communication, as the bulk content transmission uses unidirectional broadcast.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient delivery of multimedia content by synchronizing multiple base stations to transmit the same signal, reducing network resource consumption and enabling macro-diversity for mobile stations, while utilizing previously inefficient spectrum portions.
Implementation Method 1
The data units may be encapsulated to form second protocol data packets. The second protocol data packets may be provided to a transmitter that is synchronized to one or more transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second protocol data packets. In one example, the broadcast signal is an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) signal.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of encapsulating data and a single frequency network configured to perform the method are disclosed. A content stream of data packets is received, and the data packets in the content stream are formatted in accordance with a first protocol. Information identifying a container size established for the content stream is received. The data packets formatted in accordance with the first protocol are fragmented and packed to form data units formatted in accordance with a second protocol, and the data units are sized based on the container size. The data units formatted in accordance with the second protocol are encapsulated to form second protocol data packets. The second protocol data packets are provided to a transmitter that is synchronized to one or more transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second protocol data packets.