Millimeter-Wave Relay Device Bounded Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless networks face limitations in bandwidth and spatial reuse when operating at conventional microwave frequencies, particularly in multi-hop deployments, and there is a need for increased bandwidth for mobile devices, which millimeter-wave frequencies can address but with challenges in spectral efficiency and delay.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless network architecture that uses millimeter-wave frequencies for per-symbol relay operations, where relay devices receive, decode, and retransmit independent symbol streams to client devices using beamforming and spatial multiplexing, with dynamic re-beamforming and quasi-static routing schedules to minimize delay and optimize channel usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If millimeter-wave frequencies are used to increase bandwidth, then throughput is improved, but delay increases due to multi-hop relay operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into independent symbol streams that can be processed and retransmitted separately through multiple relay devices. Each symbol stream is handled independently, allowing parallel processing and reducing the cumulative delay effect across multiple hops while maintaining high throughput via millimeter-wave frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary beamforming and channel estimation before actual data transmission. Relay devices pre-establish optimal transmission paths and configure their beamforming weights in advance, which minimizes processing delay during the actual symbol retransmission while enabling efficient use of millimeter-wave spectrum for high throughput.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional microwave frequencies are used, then spectral efficiency is maintained, but bandwidth and spatial reuse are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from conventional microwave to millimeter-wave band, accessing previously unavailable spectrum resources. This parameter change increases available bandwidth by several orders of magnitude while the patent compensates for millimeter-wave propagation limitations through advanced beamforming and relay techniques that maintain spectral efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimension through multi-antenna beamforming and multi-hop relay networks. By exploiting the spatial domain with directional beamforming at millimeter-wave frequencies, the system achieves both increased bandwidth utilization and maintained spectral efficiency through three-dimensional signal processing rather than relying solely on frequency spectrum.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multi-hop relay deployments are implemented, then spatial reuse is improved, but delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by implementing overlapping transmission intervals across relay hops. While one relay device is transmitting symbols to the next hop, another relay device simultaneously receives symbols from its upstream neighbor. This continuous operation eliminates idle waiting time between hops, maintaining spatial reuse benefits while minimizing cumulative delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic relay selection and adaptive routing where relay devices can dynamically switch between different transmission paths based on real-time channel conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the network to optimize the number of hops for each data flow, reducing delay while maintaining spatial reuse through flexible resource allocation across multiple relay paths.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~4
AI summary
Embodiments of a wireless station to operate as a per-symbol relay device and method for retransmission of symbols between client devices and a master device using millimeter-wave links is generally disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the relay device may receive one or more of independent symbol streams from the master device. Each independent symbol stream may comprise packets that include groups of one or more symbols. Each group within a packet may be destined for a different one of the client devices. The relay device may separately decode each symbol or group of symbols to generate an independent stream of symbols for retransmission to the client devices using beamforming. The relay device may be arranged to receive, decode, and retransmit each symbol or group of symbols within a delay that is bounded by the number of symbols in the group.