Millimeter-Wave Link Traffic Rerouting via WLAN for LOS Blockages
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency wireless communication systems, such as those operating at 60 GHz, are prone to line-of-sight (LOS) blockages, which can cause interruptions in high-definition audio and video streaming due to their limited ability to diffract around obstacles, leading to disruptions in network connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A computing device equipped with a processing resource that proactively identifies LOS blockages by comparing signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) between millimeter-wave and WLAN connections, and implements a Fast Session Transfer (FST) function to seamlessly reroute network traffic from millimeter-wave links to WLAN channels, ensuring continuous connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If millimeter-wave links are used for high-definition streaming, then data transmission rate is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to LOS blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively identifies LOS blockages by comparing SNR values before complete connection failure occurs. The processing resource monitors SNR of both millimeter-wave and WLAN connections, and when the millimeter-wave SNR falls below a threshold, it initiates traffic rerouting to WLAN before the connection fully deteriorates, preventing streaming disruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces WLAN as an intermediary communication path between the content source and display device. When millimeter-wave links are blocked, traffic is seamlessly rerouted through WLAN infrastructure, providing an alternative transmission medium that overcomes the LOS limitation while maintaining high-definition streaming capability
2Power
If millimeter-wave links are used, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but stability deteriorates in obstructed environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between millimeter-wave and WLAN connections based on real-time SNR conditions. The processing resource continuously monitors connection quality and adapts the transmission path accordingly, transitioning from high-capacity millimeter-wave when available to stable WLAN when obstructed, maintaining both bandwidth efficiency and connection stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (communication frequency band) based on environmental conditions. When millimeter-wave SNR indicates LOS blockage, the system transitions to WLAN frequency bands, effectively changing the transmission medium's physical parameters to overcome obstacles while maintaining stable high-definition streaming
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, a computing device may comprise a processing resource and a memory resource storing machine-readable instructions to cause the processing resource to proactively identify a line-of-sight (LOS) blockage of a network signal transmitted on a millimeter-wave link, and reroute network traffic from the millimeter-wave link to a wireless local area network (WLAN) transmission channel in response to identifying the LOS blockage of the network signal.