MLO Packet Duplication With Access-Point Duplicate Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for packet duplication and de-duplication in multi-link operation (MLO) wireless networks introduce bottlenecks and complexity, particularly in industrial environments, due to the normalization of duplicate transmissions and the reliance on a single server for de-duplication, which is unreliable and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The use of sequence numbers and flags to manage packet duplication and de-duplication across multiple communication links, where a sequence number is assigned to both primary and duplicate frames, and a flag indicates the duplicate frame's status, allowing efficient handling and storage of duplicates at access points without immediate acknowledgment, thereby reducing complexity and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single server handles de-duplication for multiple transmitters, then de-duplication can be performed, but the server becomes a bottleneck when the number of transmitters is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized de-duplication function into distributed de-duplication capabilities at each access point. Each access point independently performs de-duplication on received duplicate packets using sequence numbers, eliminating the single server bottleneck and distributing the processing load across multiple access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the de-duplication function from the central server and relocates it to the access points. This extraction removes the server as a bottleneck while maintaining the essential de-duplication capability at the network edge where packets are received.
2Reliability
If duplicate transmissions are performed on multiple links, then reliability is improved, but the transmitter OS stack complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sequence numbers as simple copy identifiers to mark duplicate packets. Instead of implementing complex duplication algorithms in the OS stack, the system generates sequence numbers that automatically identify duplicates, simplifying the transmitter stack while maintaining reliability through multi-link transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from algorithmic duplicate detection to parameter-based detection using sequence numbers. By attaching sequence number parameters to packets, the system enables simple comparison and duplicate identification without complex algorithms, reducing OS stack complexity.
3Reliability
If all duplicate packets are forwarded to the server, then de-duplication can be performed, but network efficiency decreases due to unnecessary traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary de-duplication at the access point before packets are forwarded to the server. By using sequence numbers to identify and filter duplicate packets at the access point level, the system prevents unnecessary duplicate traffic from reaching the server, improving network efficiency while maintaining accurate duplicate detection.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method includes associating an MLO device with 2 transmission radios to yield a first communication link between the device and a first MLO access point and a second communication link between the device and a second MLO access point, wherein the device is configured to label the first communication link as a primary link and the second communication link as a secondary link; generating a sequence number to be assigned to a frame to be transmitted on the primary link and to a duplicate copy of the frame to be transmitted on the secondary link; associating a flag with the duplicate copy of the frame on the secondary link; and sending, from the device to the first and the second MLO access points, the frame and the duplicate copy on the primary link and the secondary link, respectively.