Decentralized Traffic Scheduling With Dynamic Yielding Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems lacking centralized control, scheduling of traffic segments is challenging due to the need for adaptive and flexible resource allocation among wireless terminals, as rigid approaches can lead to inefficiencies in air link resource usage.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of decentralized scheduling methods in peer-to-peer networks, where wireless terminals make transmitter and receiver yielding decisions on a slot-by-slot basis, using dynamically generated thresholds based on historical link quality and quality of service information to manage interference and prioritize traffic transmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If rigid transmission determination approaches are used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but air link resource usage efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidair link resource usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission determination where wireless terminals adaptively adjust their transmission decisions based on real-time situational awareness of other terminals' needs and requirements. The system transitions from static rigid rules to dynamic adaptive behavior, allowing terminals to modify transmission parameters according to changing channel conditions and network state, thereby improving resource usage efficiency while maintaining implementation feasibility through standardized protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key operational parameters including transmission power levels, traffic segment selections, and timing adjustments based on measured channel conditions and quality of service requirements. By dynamically modifying these parameters rather than using fixed rigid rules, the system achieves better resource utilization while maintaining implementation simplicity through parameter-based control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If decentralized scheduling is implemented, then system adaptability is improved, but scheduling complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables wireless terminals to autonomously make transmission decisions through self-service mechanisms. Each terminal independently assesses channel conditions, determines quality of service requirements, and selects appropriate traffic segments without centralized coordination. This distributed self-service approach enhances system adaptability while managing complexity through standardized decision-making protocols and shared situational awareness information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where terminals exchange information about channel conditions, transmission success, and quality of service metrics. This feedback enables decentralized terminals to make informed adaptive decisions without requiring complex centralized scheduling, as each terminal uses received feedback to adjust its own transmission parameters and select appropriate traffic segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If higher priority connections are accommodated, then connection reliability is improved, but resource allocation flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidresource allocation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality principles by differentiating resource allocation and transmission opportunities based on connection priority levels. High-priority connections receive preferential treatment in terms of traffic segment selection and transmission timing, while lower-priority connections adapt to remaining resources. This localized quality differentiation maintains connection reliability for critical services while preserving overall resource allocation flexibility through priority-based scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2356874B1Methods and apparatus supporting adaptive decentralized traffic scheduling including a dynamic transmitter yielding threshold
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2356874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2356874B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2356874B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatus relating to scheduling of air link resources, e.g., traffic segments, in a wireless communications system are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless peer to peer networks in which traffic scheduling is decentralized, e.g. an ad hoc peer to peer network. An individual wireless terminal corresponding to a peer to peer connection which desires to transmit traffic signals make transmitter yielding decisions on a traffic slot by traffic slot basis. The transmitter yielding decision, in some embodiments, includes comparing a link quality estimate corresponding to a higher priority link intending to use the same traffic segment concurrently, to a dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold. The dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold is determined based on at least one of: quality of service information corresponding to its own link and historical link quality information corresponding to the higher priority link.