Radio LAN Terminal Control Apparatus for Channel Switching Overhead
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio LAN systems face issues where older terminals cannot recognize new control information frames, leading to misinterpretation of transmission prohibition and increased channel switching overhead, and newer terminals struggle to switch between 20 MHz and 40 MHz bandwidths due to recognition limitations and high overhead.
Innovation Solution
A terminal control apparatus generates radio data with prohibition time interval information in recognizable header regions for older terminals and uses multiple channels for newer terminals, ensuring all can recognize and respond to transmission prohibitions and releases, thereby reducing channel switching overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If new control information frames are introduced for 40 MHz bandwidth operation, then transmission speed is improved, but older terminals cannot recognize the frames leading to misinterpretation of transmission prohibition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the terminal control apparatus transmits control information frames in duplicate: once in the legacy format (recognizable by older terminals) and once in the new format (with 40 MHz bandwidth information). This intermediary dual-format transmission ensures both old and new terminals can recognize the frames, preventing misinterpretation while enabling high-speed transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The control information frame structure is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple terminal types. The frame includes a legacy header region that older terminals can recognize and interpret, while also containing new fields that newer terminals can utilize for 40 MHz bandwidth operation. This universal frame design ensures all terminals can process the control information correctly.
2Productivity
If control information is transmitted using multiple channels for 40 MHz bandwidth, then transmission capacity is improved, but channel switching overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control information transmission into two parts: a legacy header region transmitted on the primary channel (20 MHz) for compatibility, and a data region containing 40 MHz bandwidth information transmitted on extended channels. This segmentation allows the control apparatus to maintain backward compatibility while enabling high-speed transmission, reducing the need for complete channel switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal control apparatus performs preliminary action by transmitting control information frames in advance that contain prohibition time interval information. This allows terminals to prepare for upcoming channel changes or transmission prohibitions before they occur, reducing reactive channel switching overhead and improving overall transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
When prohibiting data transmission by a radio communication terminal, such as a radio communication terminal L-STA, a terminal control apparatus generates radio data including information about a data transmission prohibition time interval in an L-SIG which is a header region which each radio communication terminal can recognize in common, and, if a use state checking unit 21 has checked to see that a channel CH_a is being not used, transmits the radio data to the radio communication terminal L-STA and so on in the form of frames which the radio communication terminal L-STA can recognize by using the channel CH_a.