Multi-Channel Wireless Access for Bounded Latency and Jitter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Wi-Fi systems face challenges in guaranteeing low latency and bounded jitter, which limits their suitability for time-sensitive applications such as augmented and virtual reality, robotics, and industrial control, despite advancements in MIMO and higher modulation technologies.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that utilize multiple nodes, each associated with a different channel, to perform an access method in a wireless network, ensuring that if another node gains access within a determined time period, the active node releases the medium, allowing for active communication through combined virtual links to maintain medium occupancy and reduce overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If DCF access method is used to provide equal access opportunity to all devices, then fairness is improved, but latency becomes unbounded and unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequal access opportunityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the medium access into multiple virtual links, each with its own access parameters. This allows different QoS treatments for different traffic types while maintaining overall system fairness, resolving the contradiction between equal access and bounded latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes access parameters dynamically based on traffic type and channel conditions. By adjusting contention window sizes, transmission powers, and access probabilities, the system achieves both fairness for best-effort traffic and bounded latency for time-sensitive applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If MIMO and higher modulation technologies are used to increase spectral efficiency, then data rate is improved, but latency increases due to overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies MIMO and higher modulations selectively based on channel conditions and traffic requirements. For time-sensitive traffic, simpler modulation schemes with lower overhead are used, while spectral efficiency is maximized for non-time-critical traffic, resolving the contradiction between productivity and latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If multiple APs/BSs share the same space on different channels to increase capacity, then system capability is improved, but interference increases requiring complex coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs distributed coordination where each AP/BS independently adjusts its transmission parameters based on local channel conditions and interference measurements. This self-organizing approach increases system capacity while avoiding the complexity of centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If contention window is increased to reduce collision probability, then reliability is improved, but access time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidaccess time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The contention window size is dynamically adjusted based on observed collision rates and traffic conditions. During high collision periods, the window increases to improve reliability; during low collision periods, it decreases to reduce access time, resolving the contradiction between reliability and access time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3967098B1Device and method for gaining access to a medium of a wireless network
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3967098B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3967098B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3967098B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for a wireless network is disclosed. The device is configured to perform an access method, using a plurality of nodes, to gain access to a medium of the wireless network, wherein each node is associated with a different channel of the medium and the access method is performed by using separately each node. The device is further configured to transmit data using an active node that has gained access to the medium. Moreover, the device is further configured to, if another node also gains access to the medium after a determined time period from the access of the active node, control the active node to release the medium and to start the access method again, and control the other node to start transmitting data.