Inter-RAT Supervisory Layer for Multi-Link Wireless Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems cannot efficiently combine multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs) for improved reliability, as they operate independently, leading to limited radio link reliability due to correlated channel impairments and inability to leverage redundancy across different RATs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an Inter-Radio Access Technology Supervisory Layer (IRSL) that manages concurrent use of multiple RATs by processing data across different protocol stacks, allowing for selective transmission and reception of priority data over multiple radio links to enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple RATs are used independently, then device compatibility and coverage are improved, but radio link reliability remains limited due to correlated channel impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple RATs (e.g., WiFi and cellular) into a unified communication system where data can be transmitted simultaneously over both links. The merging allows the system to leverage diversity between uncorrelated radio channels to achieve reliability levels (near five 9s) that are impossible with a single radio link, while maintaining compatibility with existing multi-RAT devices.
2Reliability
If redundancy is introduced in transmitted signal, then reliability can be improved, but wireless channel characteristics with correlated impairments prevent achieving greater reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol layer that acts as an intermediary between the application layer and multiple physical radio interfaces. This intermediary manages data duplication and transmission across multiple RATs, coordinating the use of uncorrelated channels to overcome the limitations of correlated impairments within each individual RAT and achieve superior reliability.
3Reliability
If single radio link is used, then device complexity is reduced, but achievable reliability level is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function across multiple independent radio interfaces (e.g., WiFi and cellular radios), each operating autonomously according to its own protocol stack. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the simplicity of individual single-radio configurations while achieving high reliability through coordinated use of multiple segmented radio links.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method are provided for concurrently using a plurality of radio access technologies (RATs) to support a wireless-enabled communications session. A set of data is processed at a client node to identify a subset of priority data. The set of data and the subset of priority data are respectively provided to a first and second protocol stack, which correspond to a first and second RAT. The first and second protocol stacks are then used to control the transmission of a first and second set of transmitted data, which in turn respectively comprise the set of data and the subset of priority data. The first and second sets of transmitted data are received by an access node, which uses corresponding first and second protocol stacks to control their reception. The first and second sets of transmitted data are then processed to generate a set of received data.