Dynamic Priority Arbitration for Co-located Wireless Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Co-located wireless communication modules in multi-radio devices face interference and coordination challenges due to shared resources, leading to contention and potential starvation of certain modules, which can result in degraded performance and increased latency in applications like VoIP and video streaming.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a priority increaser and decision inverter module to dynamically adjust packet priorities based on latency and contention events, allowing for dynamic re-prioritization and arbitration to ensure timely transmission of critical packets, thereby mitigating contentions and improving Quality of Service (QoS).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple wireless communication modules share common resources (antenna, transmitter, medium), then device complexity is reduced and resource utilization is improved, but transmission interference increases and communication reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an arbitration module as an intermediary between multiple wireless communication modules and shared resources. This module receives transmission requests from different modules (e.g., BT, WLAN, cellular), evaluates their priorities and contention status, and makes arbitration decisions to grant resource access. This mediator resolves conflicts without requiring complex inter-module coordination, maintaining low device complexity while improving communication reliability through systematic resource management.
2Device complexity
If static priority arbitration is used among co-located modules, then coordination complexity is reduced, but transmission latency increases and quality of service deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic priority adjustment within the arbitration module. Instead of fixed static priorities, the system continuously monitors transmission status, contention events, and QoS requirements to adaptively adjust module priorities in real-time. When a module experiences starvation or high-latency conditions, its priority is increased dynamically. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple coordination architecture while significantly reducing transmission latency and improving overall quality of service.
3Loss of time
If dynamic priority adjustment is implemented to reduce latency, then quality of service is improved, but arbitration complexity increases and device performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arbitration module incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor transmission outcomes, contention events, and QoS metrics from each wireless communication module. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts priorities dynamically - for example, increasing priority for modules experiencing transmission failures or excessive latency. This feedback-driven approach achieves low-latency performance without requiring overly complex arbitration logic, as adjustments are made based on observable performance metrics rather than speculative algorithms.
4Productivity
If common resources are shared among multiple radios, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but harmful interference increases and transmission quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The arbitration module serves as an intermediary that manages access to shared resources, preventing simultaneous transmissions that would cause interference. It sequences transmission requests from different modules (BT, WLAN, cellular) and coordinates their access to common resources like antennas and transmitters. This mediation maintains high resource utilization efficiency by keeping resources actively allocated while minimizing harmful interference through controlled, sequential access rather than uncoordinated simultaneous use.
Data Source
AI summary
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and methods of communication by co-located wireless communication modules. For example, a device may be configured to receive a latency attribute indicating an allowed latency to transmit a packet using one or more shared resources shared between a plurality of wireless communication modules; receive a first priority level indicating a first transmission priority of the packet; increase the first priority level to a second priority level based on a comparison between the allowed latency and a time from reception of the latency attribute; and send the second priority level to an arbitration module, the second priority level to indicate to the arbitration module a second transmission priority to transmit the packet using the shared resources.