Packet Aggregation for Home Network Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current home networking over coax technologies face inefficiencies in throughput due to bursty packet transmissions and overheads, leading to suboptimal use of available bandwidth, especially when dealing with multiple packets of varying sizes and priorities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing packet aggregation methods at the Ethernet Convergence Layer and MAC Layer, where nodes aggregate packets based on class and priority, forming aggregation frames that are transmitted efficiently with coordinated access, optimizing bandwidth utilization and reducing overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packets are transmitted individually with standard overheads, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but network throughput is reduced due to bursty packet transmissions and overheads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies packet aggregation by merging multiple individual packets into a single aggregated frame for transmission. This combines multiple packets that would otherwise be transmitted separately, reducing the number of transmission operations and minimizing overheads. The aggregation frame contains multiple packets with their respective headers and payloads, allowing them to be transmitted together as one unit, thereby significantly improving network throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments packets into different classes based on priority levels (e.g., real-time, non-real-time traffic). This segmentation allows the aggregation mechanism to handle different packet types differently, ensuring that high-priority packets are aggregated and transmitted efficiently while maintaining quality of service. The segmentation at the classification level enables targeted aggregation strategies that optimize throughput without compromising reliability.
2Loss of energy
If packet aggregation is implemented to improve throughput, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but transmission overheads and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification and aggregation of packets before transmission. Packets are pre-sorted into different classes and aggregated frames are prepared in advance, allowing the transmission process to be more efficient. This preliminary action reduces the complexity during actual transmission by having the aggregation structure already in place, thereby optimizing bandwidth utilization without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary aggregation frame structure that mediates between individual packets and the transmission medium. This aggregation frame acts as a container that organizes multiple packets, handling the complexity of aggregation externally rather than within each packet. The intermediary structure simplifies the transmission process by presenting a unified frame to the physical layer, thereby improving bandwidth efficiency without significantly increasing end-to-end processing complexity.
3Productivity
If packets of varying sizes and priorities are handled individually, then transmission flexibility is maintained, but effective data rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different packet classes with different handling characteristics within the aggregation framework. Each packet class (real-time, non-real-time) receives appropriate treatment based on its characteristics, allowing optimal aggregation strategies for each type. This maintains flexibility in handling varying packet sizes and priorities while improving overall effective data rate through class-specific aggregation optimizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic aggregation strategies that adapt to the characteristics of packets being transmitted. The aggregation mechanism can dynamically adjust based on packet size, priority, and traffic conditions, allowing flexible handling of varying packet types. This dynamic approach maintains versatility in packet processing while maximizing effective data rate by optimizing aggregation behavior according to real-time traffic conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for transmitting packets over a home network of communication channels, typically coax cable, including a set of nodes, at least one having a packet aggregation functionality in which the node forms an aggregation frame by aggregating one or more packets which have accumulated at the node and transmits the frame. A network coordinator coordinates access of the nodes to the channels. At least one node is operative to inform the coordinator when it has formed an aggregation frame comprising a plurality of packets and to provide the coordinator with comparison information comparing different transmission possibilities for the frame. The coordinator, preferably responsively, determines whether, when, and which of, the aggregated packets can be transmitted.