Wireless Mesh Transmission Window Fairness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless mesh network technologies do not provide fairness with respect to data rate capabilities of stations, leading to inefficient data transmission as the transmission opportunity window is identical for all stations within the same traffic class, regardless of their data transmission rate.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling the transmission opportunity window in wireless mesh networks by obtaining a fairness metric during mesh profile negotiation, which involves exchanging and determining the transmission opportunity window based on the data rate capabilities of individual stations and their neighbors, ensuring fair access to the wireless medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the transmission opportunity window is set to be identical for all stations within the same traffic class, then the system maintains simplicity in window allocation, but fairness with respect to data rate capabilities is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the transmission opportunity window allocation based on individual station characteristics. Specifically, stations with higher data rate capabilities are assigned larger transmission opportunity windows, while stations with lower capabilities receive smaller windows. This is achieved by calculating a fairness metric that considers each station's data rate capability and using this metric to dynamically adjust the window size, ensuring that each station receives treatment appropriate to its local characteristics rather than a uniform allocation.
2Productivity
If the transmission opportunity window is increased for high data rate stations, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but complexity in determining appropriate window sizes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a mechanism where stations report their data rate capabilities to the network, and the network responds by calculating fairness metrics and adjusting transmission opportunity window allocations accordingly. The fairness metric calculation incorporates feedback from multiple stations' capabilities and historical transmission patterns, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes window sizes based on actual network conditions and station performance, thereby managing complexity through systematic feedback processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-negotiating and establishing fairness metrics during the mesh profile negotiation phase, before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary establishment of fairness parameters and capabilities allows the system to have transmission opportunity windows ready-determined based on projected fairness requirements, reducing the complexity of real-time window determination while maintaining efficiency.
3Reliability
If fairness metrics are obtained during mesh profile negotiation, then fairness provision is enabled, but the negotiation process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fairness metric negotiation into the existing mesh profile negotiation process. Rather than creating a separate, complex fairness negotiation phase, the invention integrates fairness parameter exchange and metric calculation into the already-established mesh profile negotiation framework. This combining of fairness provisions with the existing negotiation structure enables fairness provision while minimizing additional complexity, as the fairness metrics are obtained as part of the standard joining and negotiation procedures already required in mesh networks.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention allows fairness provision in wireless mesh networks with respect to the data rate that stations communicate. A fairness metric is obtained during a mesh profile negotiation performed in order for a wireless station to join a wireless mesh network. Predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the wireless station are sent to previously joined wireless stations in a predetermined neighborhood of the wireless station. From the previously joined wireless stations their respective predetermined mesh transmission parameters are received. In response to a first predetermined event, a transmission opportunity window is determined for the wireless station based on the obtained fairness metric, the predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the wireless station, and the predetermined mesh transmission parameters of the previously joined wireless stations.