Dynamic Transmit Power Adjustment for Wireless Network Collisions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication networks face inefficiencies due to the hidden terminal problem, where nodes out of range cannot sense transmission activities, leading to collisions and reduced network capacity, and existing solutions like RTS/CTS exchange only partially address this, increasing interference and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves transmitting data frames using adjustable transmit power levels, determining the cause of unsuccessful transmissions, and re-transmitting using a different power level, along with generating configuration frames to manage collisions and adjust power settings dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If transmit power level is increased to extend communication range, then communication range is improved, but interference among nodes increases and network capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidinterference among nodes

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmit power adjustment where nodes continuously monitor reception quality and adjust their transmit power levels in real-time. The system transitions from static high power transmission to dynamic power control, allowing nodes to optimize their communication range while minimizing interference by reducing power when acceptable reception quality is achieved at lower levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmit power parameter dynamically based on reception feedback. Nodes monitor reception quality metrics and adjust their transmit power level accordingly, transitioning between different power states to balance communication range requirements with interference minimization, thereby resolving the contradiction between extended range and reduced interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If transmit power level is increased to ensure successful transmission, then transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission success rateVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts transmit power based on actual reception quality feedback rather than using constant high power. Nodes monitor reception metrics and reduce power consumption by transmitting at lower levels when acceptable quality is achieved, while only increasing power when necessary to maintain transmission reliability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where receiving nodes send reception quality information back to transmitting nodes. This feedback loop enables the transmitting nodes to adjust their power consumption levels based on actual transmission success and reception quality, avoiding unnecessary high power consumption while maintaining reliable transmissions when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If RTS/CTS frame exchange is used to manage hidden terminal problem, then collision reduction is improved, but device complexity and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision reductionVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power adjustment mechanism from the traditional RTS/CTS handshaking process. Instead of relying solely on complex protocol exchanges to manage hidden terminals, the system uses simpler power-level-based collision avoidance combined with reception feedback, reducing the complexity burden while maintaining collision reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using complex control frames (RTS/CTS) to manage transmission conflicts, the patent inverts the approach by using reception quality feedback to directly control transmit power levels. This inversion simplifies the protocol by replacing complex pre-transmission control with simpler post-reception power adjustment, reducing device complexity while maintaining collision avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8098680B2Method and system for managing transmissions in a wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2012.01.17 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

The present invention provides a method for managing transmissions in a wireless communication network (100). The method at a first node (102) of a plurality of nodes of the wireless communication network includes transmitting (304) a data frame to a second node (104) using a first transmit power level. The method further includes determining (306) whether an acknowledgement for the transmitted data frame is received from the second node. Further, the method includes determining (308) a cause of unsuccessful transmission when the acknowledgement is not received from the second node. Moreover, the method includes re-transmitting (310) the data frame to the second node using a second transmit power level when the cause of unsuccessful transmission is determined as a collision. Furthermore, the method includes setting (312) a transmit power level of the first node to a third transmit power level.