Packet-Based Link Aggregation for Wireless Multi-Link Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing data flows across multiple channels in wireless local area networks (WLANs), leading to suboptimal throughput and increased complexity due to varying load demands on different channels, especially in multi-link sessions where packets may be transmitted and received out of order or experience interference.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of packet-based link aggregation architectures, where a transmitting device maintains per-link or common transmit queues, and introduces multiple sequence numbers to manage data transmission across multiple wireless links, enabling efficient allocation and reordering of data units across parallel communication links, even when links operate in different radio frequency spectrum bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple wireless links are used for parallel communication, then throughput is improved, but packet ordering and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into multiple independent links, each with its own transmit queue and sequence number space. This allows parallel packet transmission across links while maintaining independent management of each link's packet flow, reducing the complexity of managing packets across aggregated links compared to a single unified queue system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sequence numbers as an intermediary mechanism to track and manage packets across multiple links. Each packet is assigned a sequence number that enables the receiver to reorder packets correctly, acting as a mediator that resolves the ordering problem without requiring complex cross-link coordination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If per-link transmit queues are maintained, then packet allocation flexibility is improved, but memory and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transmit buffer into separate per-link queues, allowing independent packet allocation to each link based on its current quality and availability. This segmentation provides flexibility in adapting to varying link conditions while keeping the allocation logic simple and modular, reducing processing overhead compared to a unified queue requiring complex allocation algorithms.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sequence numbers are introduced, then packet tracking accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates separate sequence number spaces for each link, allowing independent tracking of packets on each link. This segmentation enables precise packet tracking per link without requiring complex cross-link sequence number management, reducing the signaling overhead compared to a unified sequence number system that would need to account for all links simultaneously.
4Reliability
If dynamic allocation across links is implemented, then transmission reliability is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic packet allocation where packets can be allocated to different links based on real-time link quality and availability. This dynamic approach improves transmission reliability by adapting to changing conditions while using simple rules-based allocation logic, reducing control complexity compared to sophisticated optimization algorithms that would be needed for truly adaptive resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Wireless devices may support parallel communications over multiple wireless links, which may benefit a wireless system in terms of throughput and latency (among other benefits). However, such systems may experience increased system complexity, which may in some cases mitigate some of the benefits provided by the parallel communication links. The described techniques provide for aggregation architectures that address various such complexities. For example, devices communicating in accordance with the described techniques may format data to be transmitted into a set of data units that are allocated to a communication link based on various factors described herein. Correspondingly, a device that receives the data packets may reorder the packets in accordance with the described techniques.