IEEE 802.11 Reliability via RTS CTS Channel Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IEEE 802.11 networks face challenges in achieving ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) due to increased delays in packet losses and lack of medium reservation for multicast/groupcast transmissions, which limits their ability to meet the reliability and latency requirements for mission-critical applications.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a station generating configurations that meet reliability requirements by determining available channels through RTS/CTS exchanges, selecting a configuration for simultaneous transmission of multiple frame copies using opportunistic channel bonding and high modulation and coding schemes, and employing mechanisms like Groupcast with Retries (GCR) and Dynamic Bandwidth Operation (DBO) to optimize channel allocation and redundancy levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transmission rate is decreased to increase the range of transmission, then the reliability is improved, but the latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission by sending multiple copies of the same frame simultaneously over different channels (channel segmentation) and different time slots (time segmentation). This allows the system to maintain higher transmission rates while improving reliability through redundancy, resolving the contradiction between reliability and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension for transmission by utilizing multiple channels simultaneously (frequency dimension) and multiple time slots (time dimension). This multi-dimensional approach allows the system to achieve both high reliability through redundancy and low latency by parallel transmission, breaking the traditional trade-off.
2Reliability
If Forward Error Correction (FEC) or error correction techniques are added to protect frames, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex FEC techniques, the patent employs a simpler copying mechanism where multiple identical copies of each frame are transmitted simultaneously over different channels. This copying approach provides error protection through redundancy while avoiding the computational complexity of traditional FEC methods.
3Reliability
If multiple copies of frames are transmitted simultaneously over multiple channels, then the reliability is improved, but the channel bandwidth requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel selection and configuration where the number of channels and copies transmitted is adjusted based on current network conditions, traffic requirements, and available resources. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize the balance between reliability improvement and bandwidth consumption, transmitting only the necessary number of copies.
4Reliability
If medium reservation is implemented for multicast/groupcast transmissions, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary medium reservation through RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send) handshaking before actual data transmission. This preliminary action secures the channel resources in advance, preventing collisions and ensuring reliable transmission without requiring complex continuous reservation mechanisms throughout the transmission process.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are described herein for increasing reliability in IEEE 802.11 networks. A first station (STA) may generate a set of configurations that meets reliability requirements of a traffic flow associated with a frame. Each of the set of configurations may comprise a number of replications of the frame, a channel bandwidth, and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The first STA may transmit, to a second STA, a plurality of request to send (RTS) frames over a plurality of channels The first STA may receive, from the second STA, a plurality of clear to send (CTS) frames indicating whether the plurality of channels are available. The first STA may then select, based on the number of available channels, a first configuration from the set of configurations. The first STA may transmit, based on the first configuration, a plurality of copies of the frame simultaneously over the available channels.