Multi-Rate Link Quality Estimation for Stable Network Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link quality metrics in communication networks are often developed for only one modulation scheme, leading to network instability due to large variations in link quality when different modulation schemes are used, and metrics from a single communication layer may be too precise or volatile.
Innovation Solution
A technique to generate link quality metrics that consider multiple modulation schemes by weighing successful and unsuccessful communications across different modulation schemes, combining communication metric data to create a more stable and representative link quality metric, and updating these metrics at both network and link layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If link quality metrics are developed for only one modulation scheme, then the metrics are simple and easy to calculate, but network stability deteriorates due to large variations in link quality when different modulation schemes are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal link quality metric that functions across multiple modulation schemes. The metric aggregates communication success data from different modulation schemes (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM) into a single unified measure, allowing the same metric to evaluate link quality regardless of which modulation scheme is currently being used. This resolves the contradiction by making the metric multi-functional rather than scheme-specific.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges communication metric data from multiple modulation schemes into a single combined link quality metric. By aggregating success and failure data across different modulation schemes and computing a unified metric (such as a weighted average or combined probability), the system eliminates the need for separate metrics for each scheme while maintaining stability across modulation changes.
2Device complexity
If link quality metrics are determined based on metrics from a single communication layer, then the calculation is simple, but the link quality metric becomes excessively volatile and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-layer metric to a multi-layer metric by incorporating data from both the MAC layer and network layer. The MAC layer provides communication success/failure data for individual transmissions, while the network layer provides routing and path information. By combining these dimensional perspectives, the metric achieves greater precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the link quality assessment into multiple communication layers (MAC layer and network layer), each contributing specific types of metric data. The MAC layer segment provides transmission-level success rates, while the network layer segment provides path-level reliability information. This segmentation allows comprehensive precision while maintaining manageable calculation complexity through modular data collection.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are directed to using communication metric data associated with multiple modulation schemes to achieve a link quality metric that is representative of the link as a whole, across the multiple modulation schemes that may be employed on the link. A calculation of a link quality metric may be triggered by a network layer transmission attempt, with communication metrics accumulated at the link layer of the link. A filter used to calculate the link quality metric may be updated based on network layer transmission attempts, based on successful and/or unsuccessful transmissions at a Media Access Control (MAC) layer of the link. More generally, a calculation of link quality may be triggered by a higher layer transmission attempt while being calculated based on transmission attempts at a lower layer of the link.