Multi-Band MAC Traffic Streams With Unified Block Acknowledgment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IEEE 802.11 communication devices are limited to single-band operations, which hinder the realization of multi-fold throughput gains from multi-band aggregation, particularly in high-definition video streaming, due to the lack of efficient multi-band Traffic Stream (TS) and Block Acknowledgment (BA) mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-band communication device with multiple transceivers and Media Access Control (MAC) circuitry that facilitates simultaneous transmission and acknowledgment across multiple frequency bands, using unified TS and BA setups through enhanced ADDTS and ADDBA frame exchanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-band operation is used in current IEEE 802.11 devices, then device complexity is reduced, but communication throughput is limited and cannot achieve multi-fold gains from multi-band aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into multiple independent frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) with separate transceivers for each band. Each band operates independently with its own traffic stream and block acknowledgment mechanism, allowing simultaneous multi-band communication while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal MAC layer protocols that function across all frequency bands. The same ADDTS and ADDBA frame structures, along with block acknowledgment mechanisms, are applied universally to each band, enabling multi-band operation without requiring fundamentally different protocols for each frequency range
2Reliability
If multi-band Traffic Stream setup is implemented across all frequency bands, then communication reliability is improved through frequency diversity, but the number of ADDTS and ADDBA frame exchanges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary Traffic Stream setup and Block Ack agreement establishment on all frequency bands before actual data transmission begins. By pre-configuring all necessary protocols and parameters across every band in advance, the system eliminates the need for dynamic setup during communication, reducing overall setup time and ensuring immediate reliability when transmission starts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the setup procedures for multiple frequency bands into a coordinated sequence where ADDTS and ADDBA exchanges are performed systematically across all bands. The MAC layer consolidates the management of multiple traffic streams and block acknowledgments, reducing redundant operations and optimizing the overall setup process
Data Source
AI summary
Communication devices and methods for multi-band traffic streams are provided. One exemplary embodiment provides a multi-band communication device which includes at least a plurality of transceivers and Media Access Control (MAC) circuitry. In operation, the transceivers each transmit signal frames on different ones of a plurality of frequency bands. The MAC circuitry is coupled to the transceivers and, in operation, receives a multi-band block acknowledgement frame on one of the plurality of frequency bands acknowledging the signal frames transmitted on the plurality of frequency bands. Another exemplary embodiment provides MAC circuitry which in operation generates and transmits a multi-band block acknowledgement frame on one of the plurality of frequency bands acknowledging the signal frames received on the plurality of frequency bands.