Multi-Channel Wireless Frame Aggregation With Retransmission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless LAN systems face challenges in performing channel bonding due to interference from other networks, leading to inefficient data transmission and reduced utilization of frequency channels, and frame aggregation technologies lack effective retransmission control, resulting in decreased transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A communication device and method that multiplexes subframes in both the time and frequency axes using multi-channel aggregation frames, with a continuation request signal to manage retransmissions and optimize channel utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If channel bonding technology is applied to increase data transmission amount, then transmission capacity is improved, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to interference from other networks on frequency channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission amountVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into multiple subframes and transmits them through different frequency channels. Each subframe contains a portion of the overall data, allowing the system to divide the transmission task across multiple channels to increase total throughput while maintaining reliability through diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency parameter by transmitting identical or redundant data across multiple frequency channels. This frequency diversity approach ensures that if one channel experiences interference, the same data can be received through another channel, thereby maintaining reliability while utilizing multiple channels for increased capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If frame aggregation technology is applied to transmit multiple subframes as one frame, then transmission efficiency is improved, but retransmission control capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidretransmission control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the aggregated frame into multiple subframes, each with individual identification. This segmentation allows the receiver to acknowledge receipt of specific subframes and enables selective retransmission of only those subframes that were not successfully received, rather than retransmitting the entire aggregated frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiver sends acknowledgments for successfully received subframes within the aggregated frame. This feedback enables the transmitter to identify which subframes need retransmission, improving retransmission control efficiency while maintaining the high throughput benefits of frame aggregation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the same data is transmitted multiple times using different timings and frequency channels to ensure high reliability, then transmission reliability is improved, but transmission line utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission line utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple transmissions of the same data into a single aggregated frame structure that is transmitted once across multiple frequency channels. This combining approach achieves the reliability benefits of redundant transmission without the inefficiency of repeated transmissions, as the aggregated frame utilizes the available channels simultaneously rather than sequentially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3876593B1Communication devices and communication methods
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3876593B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3876593B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3876593B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication device is provided that performs highly reliable data communication using a plurality of channels. The communication device includes: a generation unit that generates a transmission frame including an aggregation frame in which a sequence of subframes is multiplexed in a time axis direction and a frequency channel axis direction; and a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the transmission frame. The generation unit generates the aggregation frame aggregated to cause each of the subframes included in the sequence to be stored at least once in each of frequency channels, and arranges in the aggregation frame at least one slot for receiving a continuation request signal.