Network Time Reservation Cancellation for Wireless Medium Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks, the hidden node problem leads to collisions due to unpredictable frame transmission times, resulting in inefficient use of the communication medium as reservation mechanisms often overestimate the required time for transmission.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism for canceling or trimming medium reservations in a communication system that supports reservation of a shared communication medium, allowing for efficient use of the medium by combining multiple frames into a single medium access and using a compact or backwards-compatible burst transmission format to manage reservations dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conservative reservation value is used to account for unpredictable transmission times, then collision avoidance is improved, but medium utilization efficiency deteriorates due to over-reservation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the reservation time flexible rather than fixed. The reservation mechanism dynamically adjusts the reserved time based on actual transmission needs, allowing the system to transition from a static conservative estimate to an adaptive time allocation that matches real-time requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of reservation time from a fixed conservative value to a variable quantity that can be adjusted based on actual transmission duration. This parameter change enables the system to optimize between collision avoidance and medium utilization by adapting the reservation time to match actual needs.
2Ease of operation
If a fixed reservation value is used when little knowledge is known about frame sequences, then ease of operation is improved, but medium utilization efficiency deteriorates due to excessive reservation time
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling nodes to autonomously determine their actual transmission time requirements and adjust their reservations accordingly. Each node independently monitors its own transmission sequence characteristics and modifies its reservation time without requiring external intervention or complex centralized scheduling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms where transmission outcomes and actual duration information are fed back to the reservation management system. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from actual transmission patterns and continuously optimize reservation times, transforming the initial fixed value into an adaptive parameter.
3Productivity
If multiple frames are combined in a single medium access, then productivity is improved through amortized overhead, but device complexity increases due to burst transmission management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple frames into a single burst transmission sequence. Instead of transmitting frames individually with separate overhead for each, the system merges them into one continuous transmission, amortizing the overhead across all frames and improving overall throughput efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems that support, for example, canceling or trimming reservations of a shared communication medium are described. In one embodiment, a method that adapts a network time reservation in a communication network may include, for example, one or more of the following: transmitting a preamble field; transmitting a legacy signal field; transmitting at least one paired field, each paired field comprising a signal field and a protocol data unit; and generating an interframe gap.