Millimeter Wave Groupcast Transmission via Sector Timer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In millimeter-wave communication systems, transmitting groupcast frames while changing directivity using beamforming requires multiple transmissions, increasing time and potentially leading to delayed data transmission and interference.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with MAC control circuitry that discovers communication partners and determines the best transmission sector for each, using a timer to control radio circuitry for efficient groupcast frame transmission only when the timer has not expired, reducing unnecessary transmissions and improving data rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If groupcast frames are sequentially transmitted while changing directivity using beamforming to cover all directions, then all directions can be covered, but transmission time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing sector determination through unicast frame transmission before groupcast frame transmission. The MAC control circuitry determines the best sector for each communication partner apparatus in advance by transmitting unicast frames and receiving responses, then stores this sector information. When groupcast transmission is needed, the pre-determined sectors are directly used, eliminating the need to sequentially test all sectors during groupcast transmission. This preliminary sector determination significantly reduces transmission time while maintaining comprehensive directional coverage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If groupcast frames are transmitted to multiple communication partners using beamforming, then all partners can receive the frame, but the number of transmissions increases with the number of sectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines the best sector for each communication partner apparatus in advance through unicast frame transmission and stores this information in the MAC control circuitry. When a groupcast frame needs to be transmitted to multiple partners, the system retrieves the pre-determined sectors and transmits the groupcast frame only in those specific sectors rather than sequentially transmitting in all possible sectors. This approach maintains the ability to serve multiple communication partners while dramatically improving transmission efficiency by eliminating redundant transmissions in sectors where no partners are present.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sequential transmission in multiple sectors is performed, then all directions are covered, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs sector determination in advance by transmitting unicast frames to each communication partner and identifying the best sector for each. This sector information is stored and reused for subsequent groupcast transmissions. When transmitting groupcast frames, the system only activates transmission in the pre-determined best sectors rather than sequentially scanning all sectors. This selective transmission based on pre-acquired sector information maintains comprehensive directional coverage for all communication partners while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding transmissions in sectors where no partners are located.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention groupcasts a groupcast frame in a short period of time by using millimeter wave communication. A communication device equipped with a MAC control circuit for controlling a procedure for discovering a communication partner device and a procedure for determining the best transmission sector, and also equipped with a wireless circuit for transmitting a unicast frame to the communication partner device by using the best transmission sector, wherein the MAC control circuit controls the wireless circuit so as to start a timer for each discovered communication partner device after the procedure for discovering communication partner devices is completed, and transmit a groupcast frame to communication partner devices for which the timer has not finished by using the best transmission sector upon receiving a groupcast frame transmission request from a higher layer before all timers have finished.