Multiband Link Aggregation Protocol for Wireless Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless local-area networks (WLANs) face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth and response times due to multiple devices sharing resources, with devices limited by communication protocols and hardware bandwidth, and lack effective coordination among access points, restricting simultaneous communication with multiple access points.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multiband link aggregation (MB-LA) setup protocol that allows wireless devices to communicate with multiple access points simultaneously by transitioning through defined states, enabling link aggregation between different wireless air interfaces on various frequency bands, and managing packet exchanges through a controller device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If devices communicate with only one access point at a time, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth and throughput are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path by introducing multiple access points that can simultaneously serve a single device. The link aggregation protocol divides data traffic across multiple independent wireless links, allowing the device to achieve higher aggregate bandwidth while maintaining manageable complexity through structured protocol states (initial, setup, operating, teardown).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple wireless links from different access points into a single aggregated logical connection. By merging these parallel communication paths at the MAC layer through link aggregation, the system achieves increased throughput and bandwidth while presenting a unified interface to upper layers, thus managing complexity.
2Loss of time
If multiple devices share the same wireless resources, then network coverage is extended, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared wireless medium into dedicated aggregated links between each device and its associated access points. By establishing direct multi-link connections, the system reduces contention and collision overhead that occurs when many devices share the same medium, thereby improving response time even as device density increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a link aggregation protocol as an intermediary layer between the physical wireless medium and higher-layer applications. This intermediary manages packet distribution, reordering, and acknowledgment across multiple links, efficiently handling traffic from multiple devices without increasing response time.
3Productivity
If link aggregation is implemented, then throughput is improved, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic link aggregation protocol that adapts through defined states (initial, setup, operating, teardown). The protocol dynamically establishes, manages, and tears down aggregated links based on traffic needs, allowing throughput to be optimized while complexity is managed through state-based control rather than permanent complex configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the wireless communication by introducing aggregation identifiers, link priorities, and state transitions. These parameter changes enable structured management of multiple links, improving throughput while containing protocol complexity through standardized parameter handling rather than ad-hoc management.
4Productivity
If coordination among access points is added, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a link aggregation protocol as an intermediary coordination layer between access points and devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of inter-access-point coordination, packet distribution, and link management, thereby improving bandwidth utilization while shielding the overall system from excessive complexity through encapsulation of coordination logic.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to link aggregation between devices. A device may determine a first frequency band and a second frequency band for sending data to a second device in a multiband link aggregation session. The device may cause to send, in an initial state, a setup request frame to the second device for establishing the multiband link aggregation session. The device may receive, in a setup completion state, a setup response frame from the second device to establish the multiband link aggregation session. The device may cause to send, in an operating mode established state, the data to the second device over the first frequency band and/or the second frequency band in the multiband link aggregation session.