Overlapping Wireless Frame Transmission via Signal Strength Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless networks face challenges in managing overlapping transmission opportunities (TXOPs) due to collision avoidance mechanisms that silence all devices, even if some could transmit without causing significant interference, leading to inefficiencies in network capacity and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a process where wireless devices determine whether to initiate an overlapping TXOP by measuring and comparing received signal strengths between devices, using a threshold to assess the interference margin and decide on overlapping transmissions without causing packet loss, allowing for distributed channel access and reduced interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If collision avoidance mechanisms silence all devices during a transmission opportunity, then interference is reduced and transmission reliability is improved, but network capacity and productivity deteriorate due to unused transmission opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different wireless devices to have different transmission permissions based on their local interference conditions. Specifically, devices that can transmit without causing significant interference to the primary TXOP are allowed to do so, while others remain silent. This creates a differentiated transmission policy where each device's behavior is optimized for its local situation, thereby improving network capacity without compromising the reliability of the primary transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by allowing a subset of devices to transmit during the TXOP rather than requiring all devices to remain silent or all devices to transmit. The coordinator selectively permits certain devices to overlap their transmissions based on interference thresholds, achieving partial utilization of the channel capacity while maintaining acceptable transmission reliability for the primary communication.
2Reliability
If all devices are silenced during a TXOP to avoid collisions, then transmission reliability is improved, but the network loses potential transmission opportunities and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action through the coordinator device that pre-assesses the interference conditions and determines in advance which devices are permitted to transmit during the TXOP. The coordinator evaluates the signal strength and interference potential of each device before the TXOP begins, and issues permission signals accordingly. This preliminary assessment allows the network to avoid collisions while maximizing the utilization of transmission opportunities, as devices are pre-approved to transmit without causing harmful interference.
3Productivity
If overlapping transmissions are allowed without coordination, then network capacity increases, but collision probability and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary that manages overlapping transmissions. The coordinator receives transmission requests from multiple devices, evaluates their interference potential based on signal strength measurements, and selectively grants permission to transmit. This intermediary control mechanism enables the network to safely allow overlapping transmissions from multiple devices while preventing harmful collisions, thereby increasing network capacity without proportionally increasing interference and collision risks.
Data Source
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AI summary
This document discloses a solution for enabling overlapping transmissions in a wireless network. An apparatus may be arranged to detect a response to a frame, the response transmitted from a first device as addressed to a second device different from the apparatus and comprising a first value indicating a received signal strength between the first device and the second device. The apparatus may determine a second value indicating a received signal strength of the response in the apparatus and cause transmission of a frame that overlaps with a transmission between the first device and the second device only if the second value in proportion to the first value is below a determined threshold.