Predictive Slot Scheduling for Directional Network Contention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directional networks experience communication contention and delays due to overlapping transmission and reception schedules between network devices, leading to packet loss and reduced network performance.
Innovation Solution
A predictive contention application or program that schedules transmission and reception slots for network devices prior to initiating communication, using a computer program product to compute and set the number of available slots and offsets, resolving contention efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transmission and reception schedules are set for network devices, then communication capacity is improved, but communication contention and delays occur when multiple devices have overlapping schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having network devices predict and reserve transmission and reception slots before actual communication occurs. Each device proactively schedules its transmission and reception time slots in advance, allowing the system to resolve contentions before they cause delays during actual data transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network devices exchange schedule information and contention status with their communication partners. This feedback loop allows devices to adjust their schedules based on detected contentions, resolving timing conflicts and optimizing communication capacity while minimizing delays.
2Device complexity
If simple transmission schedules are used, then device complexity is reduced, but packet loss increases due to unresolved contention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces packet loss by performing preliminary schedule resolution before data transmission. Devices pre-calculate and exchange transmission/reception slot assignments, allowing contentions to be resolved in advance rather than reacting to conflicts during transmission, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring complex real-time arbitration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication timeline into discrete transmission slots and reception slots for each device. This temporal segmentation allows the system to manage multiple devices independently in different time periods, reducing the complexity of coordinating simultaneous transmissions while ensuring reliable packet delivery through structured access periods.
3Productivity
If directional networks focus energy between transmitter and receiver, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but contention resolution becomes more difficult with multiple schedules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves contentions before directional energy-focusing transmissions occur by having devices pre-schedule their transmission and reception slots. This preliminary scheduling eliminates the need for complex real-time contention resolution during the high-efficiency directional transmission periods, maintaining spectrum efficiency while simplifying the resolution process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic schedule adjustment where devices can modify their transmission and reception slot assignments based on detected contentions and network conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to changing directional transmission requirements while maintaining efficient spectrum utilization and resolving contentions through flexible timing rather than complex static coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of scheduling at least one set of communication slots based on selected opportunities. The method comprises steps of providing a computer program product with a set of network devices of a transmission system, wherein each network device of the set of network devices of the transmission system comprises: a processor; and a computer readable medium that is accessible by the processor and stores the computer program product. When the product is executed by each processor of the transmission system, each processor is caused to: input a set of contention parameters into the computer program product, select whether the at least one set of communication slots relates to a set of transmission opportunities or a set of response opportunities, compute a number of communication slots that defines the at least one set of communication slots, schedule the at least one set of communication slots based on the selected opportunities.