Frequency Tone MAC Scheduling for Full-Duplex Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MAC designs are not optimized for full-duplex communications, where both transmitting and receiving occur simultaneously on a single channel, leading to inefficiencies in scheduling and increased need for handshake signals like RTS and CTS.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses frequency tones to coordinate and arbitrate communication schedules between nodes, allowing simultaneous transmission and reception by grouping nodes based on these tones, thereby reducing the need for handshake signals and improving scheduling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional MAC scheduling is used for full-duplex communications, then existing protocols can be maintained, but scheduling efficiency deteriorates and handshake signals like RTS and CTS become necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scheduling parameter from time-based sequential access to frequency-based parallel access. By assigning different frequency tones to different node pairs, the system enables simultaneous transmissions without traditional handshake signals, resolving the contradiction between scheduling efficiency and protocol complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces frequency as an additional dimension for scheduling decisions. Instead of managing nodes sequentially in time, the system multiplexes multiple node pairs across different frequency tones, allowing parallel full-duplex communications and eliminating the need for traditional RTS-CTS handshakes
2Productivity
If frequency tones are used to group nodes for simultaneous transmission, then full-duplex communication efficiency improves, but the scheduling mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Each node transmits its own frequency tone to indicate readiness for communication. The access point collects these tones and automatically groups nodes based on frequency collisions, eliminating the need for complex centralized scheduling algorithms while achieving efficient full-duplex communication
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses frequency tone transmissions as feedback signals from nodes to the access point. By listening for which tones are transmitted, the access point automatically determines communication groups and schedules, simplifying the scheduling mechanism while maintaining high communication efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a systems and method for using frequency tones to schedule full-duplex communications between at least two full-duplex communication nodes. Communication nodes having data to transmit send, as part of two contention rounds, two separate and randomly selected frequency tones. In the first contention round, all nodes having data to transmit simultaneously transmit a frequency tone. Based on these first frequency tones, groups of nodes are formed. Each group of nodes in turn transmits a second set of frequency tones, and a schedule of full-duplex communications is created based on the second frequency tones.