MoCA Frame Bundling for Throughput and Latency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
MoCA networks face limitations in throughput for small-sized packets due to PHY packet overhead and protocol overhead, as well as latency issues stemming from store-and-forward transmission techniques.
Innovation Solution
The method involves aggregating multiple small-sized client data frames into a larger PHY burst packet and bundling client data packets into a MAC frame, allowing for reduced protocol overhead and latency by making bandwidth requests before data frames arrive and transmitting them in a single transaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple small-sized packets are transmitted individually in MoCA network, then protocol overhead and PHY packet overhead increase, but transmission simplicity is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small-sized MoCA MAC frames into a single aggregated MoCA MAC frame, allowing multiple client data packets to be transmitted together in one PHY packet. This combining approach reduces the number of separate transmissions needed, thereby reducing both protocol overhead and PHY packet overhead while improving effective MAC throughput for small packet sizes
2Reliability
If store-and-forward transmission technique is used in MoCA network, then transmission reliability is maintained, but latency increases due to waiting for complete packet reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing the transmitting node to send a bandwidth request before the complete user packet is received. The node can begin the bandwidth request process as soon as the packet header is received, rather than waiting for the entire packet. This preliminary action significantly reduces latency while maintaining transmission reliability through the store-and-forward mechanism
3Reliability
If minimum transmission time of 52 us is allocated to each packet in MoCA standard, then transmission reliability is maintained, but idle time increases for small packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small packets into a single aggregated frame that fills the minimum 52 us transmission time slot more efficiently. By aggregating multiple small client data packets into one larger frame, the system reduces the number of idle periods between transmissions while maintaining the minimum transmission time requirement, thereby reducing overall idle time and improving throughput
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for aggregating Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) Medium Access Control (MAC) frames. The method sends a Multiframe Reservation Request (MRR) requesting a transmission time slot, and receives a grant in response to the MRR. Subsequent to sending the MRR, a plurality of MoCA MAC frames are accepted and assembled into a physical layer (PHY) burst packet that is transmitted in the granted time slot. A method is also provided for bundling client data packets into a MoCA MAC frame. The method sends a Bundledpacket Reservation Request (BRR) requesting a transmission time slot, and receives a grant in response to the BRR. Subsequent to sending the BRR, a plurality of client data packets are accepted and concatenated into a bundled MoCA MAC frame. The bundled MoCA MAC frame is transmitted in a PHY packet in the granted time slot.