Long Range WLAN Channel Access Backoff Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In long-range wireless local area network (WLAN) communication scenarios, existing channel access methods are inefficient due to signal power attenuation and noise interference, leading to low communication efficiency for devices operating on unlicensed spectra.
Innovation Solution
A channel access method that involves a long-range transmission node increasing its backoff value in a random backoff process, accelerating the backoff speed and ensuring fairness through extended channel detection windows and inter-frame gaps, allowing for quicker channel access and improved transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional random backoff mechanism is used in long-range WLAN communication, then channel access fairness is maintained, but channel access success rate is low and communication efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the backoff parameter decrement rule from subtracting 1 to subtracting M (where M≥2) when the channel is idle, and adjusts the channel detection window size and inter-frame gap durations. These parameter changes enable long-range devices to access channels more efficiently while maintaining fairness through proportional backoff values.
2Measurement precision
If the channel detection window size is increased for long-range devices, then signal detection capability is improved, but channel access delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the channel detection window size parameter to be longer for long-range devices, improving their ability to detect weak signals. Simultaneously, it changes the backoff decrement parameter to M to reduce the number of detection cycles needed, thereby compensating for the increased detection window duration and reducing overall channel access delay.
3Productivity
If a standard backoff value is used for all devices, then simplicity is maintained, but long-range device transmission efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different backoff strategies to different device types: conventional devices use the standard backoff mechanism, while long-range devices use the enhanced mechanism with backoff decrement M and extended detection windows. This localized differentiation improves long-range transmission efficiency without unnecessarily complicating conventional device operations.
4Speed
If the backoff decrement is increased to M for long-range devices, then backoff speed is accelerated and channel access is improved, but fairness with conventional devices may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sets the backoff decrement parameter to M for long-range devices while conventional devices continue to decrement by 1. By proportionally adjusting other parameters (detection window size, inter-frame gaps) and using appropriate contention window sizes, the patent maintains fairness in channel access probability between different device types despite the different backoff speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a channel access method and an apparatus, and relates to the field of communication technologies, to resolve a problem that it is difficult for a long range communication device to access a channel, and communication efficiency is low. The method includes: A first device detects a channel status in first duration. If a channel is in an idle state, M is subtracted from a value of a first counter, where M is a positive integer greater than 1. If the value of the first counter is greater than 0, the first device detects the channel status in next first duration; or if the value of the first counter is less than or equal to 0, the first device transmits data through the channel.