Multi-band Wireless Base Station Channel Polling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless network devices are limited to communicating within specific frequency bands, such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and are unable to interoperate with devices operating on different bands, restricting multi-band communication capabilities in wireless communications networks.
Innovation Solution
A wireless network apparatus and method that employs multiple channel queues for data transmission across various frequency bands, utilizing a controller to manage channel access and return times through beacon packets, allowing communication across different bands compliant with IEEE standards 802.11, 802.11a, and others, using an adaptive polling scheme based on traffic patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional network devices are designed for one frequency band, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to communicate across multiple frequency bands is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless network device is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting communication across multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). The device incorporates multiple channel queues, each configured for specific frequency bands, allowing a single device to serve both 802.11b/g and 802.11a standards simultaneously, thereby achieving multi-band communication capability without requiring separate dedicated devices for each band
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments its communication functionality by implementing separate channel queues for different frequency bands. Each channel queue is independently configured and managed, allowing the device to handle multiple bands through modular, segmented structures rather than requiring a completely integrated multi-band interface, thus managing complexity through segmentation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple channel queues are implemented for different frequency bands, then multi-band communication capability is improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel polling mechanism operates autonomously based on configured parameters. The device automatically polls channel queues in sequence, retrieves data packets, and manages transmission timing without requiring manual intervention for each channel switch. The system self-manages the complexity of multi-channel coordination through automated polling cycles and configured access time values
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs feedback mechanisms through beacon packets that carry channel access time values and return to channel values. These feedback signals automatically adjust and coordinate the polling timing across different channel queues, enabling the system to self-regulate channel access and manage multiple frequency bands without increasing operational complexity for the user
3Reliability
If channel polling with beacon packets is used to manage multiple channels, then coordination between frequency bands is improved, but communication delay and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device implements periodic channel polling with configured access time values that determine how long each channel queue is active before switching to the next. This periodic structure ensures reliable coordination by systematically cycling through channels in predetermined time intervals, while the configurable nature of the polling period allows optimization to minimize overall communication delay
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of channel access time values and return to channel values before actual data transmission begins. By pre-configuring the polling timing and channel switch intervals, the device establishes reliable coordination parameters in advance, allowing efficient time management during operation without requiring real-time adjustments that would increase delay
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless network apparatus and corresponding method and computer program comprises channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands; a memory to store a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and a controller to select one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, and on that channel, cause a start beacon packet to be sent, exchange packets of data for an interval specified by the channel access time value, cause a stop beacon packet to be sent at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value, and cause a further start beacon packet to be sent at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value.