OFDMA Virtual Interfaces for Co-Located AP Interference Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems with multiple co-located access points suffer from interference and high latency due to the limitations of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) schemes, particularly in scenarios requiring low latency and high reliability, such as in aircraft cabins and autonomous vehicle control.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism that distributes spectrum over frequency, time, and space domains to allow simultaneous transmissions among access points and clients using virtual wireless interfaces, with separate sets of subcarriers for intra- and inter-AP communications, minimizing interference through schedule-based traffic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If OFDMA digital modulation scheme is used to support multiple users simultaneously, then throughput is improved, but interference between co-located access points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the available spectrum into multiple orthogonal subcarriers and divides them into distinct resource pools. Each access point is assigned specific subcarrier sets, creating frequency-division isolation that enables simultaneous transmissions without interference while maintaining high throughput through parallel data streams across multiple subcarriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of resource allocation by distributing spectrum across frequency, time, and space domains. Virtual wireless interfaces are created with dedicated subcarrier assignments, transforming the single-dimension OFDMA approach into a multi-dimensional resource management system that resolves interference while preserving throughput.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple co-located access points are deployed to extend network coverage, then coverage area is improved, but latency increases due to traffic coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined subcarrier assignments and resource pool configurations for each access point before transmission occurs. This preliminary allocation eliminates the need for real-time traffic coordination and contention resolution, allowing access points to transmit immediately on their assigned frequencies, thus extending coverage while maintaining low latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates dynamic virtual wireless interfaces that can be activated or deactivated based on traffic demands. The system dynamically allocates specific subcarrier sets to different access points and interfaces, enabling flexible coverage extension without the static coordination overhead that causes latency in traditional systems.
3Reliability
If OFDMA scheme is used for high reliability communication, then reliability is improved, but ability to separate different application traffic is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the OFDMA resource pool into multiple virtual wireless interfaces, each with dedicated subcarrier assignments. This segmentation enables different application traffic types to be separated into different interfaces while maintaining the high reliability of OFDMA through orthogonal frequency division, as each interface operates independently on its assigned frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific subcarrier sets to different virtual interfaces based on their traffic requirements. Each interface receives optimized frequency resources tailored to its specific application needs, enabling traffic separation while maintaining the overall reliability benefits of the OFDMA scheme across the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless network includes a plurality of access points with at least pairwise overlapping wireless coverage, each of the access points comprising an OFDMA modulation system and a channel scheduler coupled to the OFDMA modulation system which is configured to set up a number of virtual wireless interfaces of the access point, each virtual wireless interface being associated with a dedicated set of subcarriers within the OFDMA spectrum. At least one first of the virtual wireless interfaces is configured to host all communication links between the access point and local mobile clients to the access point. A least one second of the virtual wireless interfaces is configured to host communication links between the access point and one of the neighbouring access points.