Intelligent Reverse Direction Grants via Queue Size Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reverse direction grants (RDGs) in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are not intelligently used, leading to inefficiencies in data throughput due to unawareness of the amount of network layer data to be sent by stations, resulting in unnecessary acquisition or relinquishment of transmission opportunities, thereby wasting time on the wireless medium.
Innovation Solution
Implementing queue size based intelligent RDGs by using traffic identifier (TID) counters to track pending data transmission and calculating TXOP durations based on TID counter values, ensuring the TXOP duration is exactly long enough to complete data transfer between stations, thereby optimizing the use of transmission opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reverse direction grants are used without intelligent queue size tracking, then the system is simpler to implement, but data throughput decreases due to unnecessary acquisition or relinquishment of transmission opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having stations report their queue sizes to the access point, and the access point using this feedback information to make intelligent decisions about transmission opportunity allocation. The access point tracks the queue size of each station and uses this information to determine whether to grant reverse direction transmission opportunities, thereby avoiding unnecessary acquisitions or relinquishments and improving throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having stations report their queue sizes in advance before transmission opportunities are granted. The access point receives and stores this queue size information beforehand, allowing it to make informed decisions about RDG allocation before the actual transmission occurs, thus optimizing throughput without requiring complex real-time calculations.
2Loss of time
If transmission opportunities are acquired without knowing the amount of pending data, then the medium access protocol is simpler, but time is wasted on the wireless medium due to unnecessary transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The access point receives feedback information from stations about their pending data amounts (via TID counters) and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate transmission opportunity duration. This prevents stations from acquiring transmission opportunities when they have no data to send, thereby reducing idle time on the wireless medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transmission opportunity duration based on the queue size information. Instead of using fixed or random TXOP durations, the system adjusts the TXOP duration parameter dynamically according to the actual amount of data pending at each station, as indicated by the TID counters, thus minimizing wasted time on the wireless medium.
3Productivity
If RDGs are granted without intelligent calculation, then the medium access control is easier to implement, but data throughput is reduced due to inefficient use of transmission opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The access point uses feedback from TID counter values to intelligently calculate and allocate reverse direction grants. The system monitors the queue sizes of stations and uses this information to determine optimal RDG allocations, ensuring that transmission opportunities are granted only when needed and for the appropriate duration, thereby maximizing throughput without overly complicating the allocation process.
Solution Approach 2:
Stations self-report their queue sizes through TID counters, providing the access point with the information needed for intelligent RDG allocation. This self-service approach allows the system to optimize throughput without requiring complex centralized monitoring or control mechanisms, as each station independently provides its own queue status information.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for increasing throughput of WLANs using queue size based intelligent reverse direction grants (RDGs). RDGs have been introduced in many WLANs to reduce the amount of overhead associated with variants of the CSMA/CD MAC protocol. Reducing overhead increases the WLANs achievable data throughput. However, RDGs are not intelligently used in WLANs, limiting their effectiveness.