Radio Communication Apparatus Dynamic Rate Adaptation
Solution Overview
Problem
In IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs, the conventional method for determining transmission rate during burst transmission is inadequate as it fails to adapt to changing signal quality, leading to increased retransmissions and reduced throughput due to the inability to adjust the transmission rate during burst transmission.
Innovation Solution
A radio communication apparatus that sequentially transmits frames at multiple transmission rates and uses an inquiry signal to determine which frames are received, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the transmission rate based on feedback from the receiving apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transmission rate is determined based on received-signal quality information before burst transmission, then transmission can be initiated, but the transmission rate cannot be adjusted during burst transmission even when signal quality changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the receiving apparatus send back reception status information (ACK/NACK signals or block acknowledgment frames) for each transmitted frame or group of frames. This feedback enables the transmitting apparatus to determine whether frames were successfully received and to adjust transmission rates dynamically during burst transmission, resolving the contradiction between maintaining transmission continuity and adapting to changing signal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the transmission rate dynamic by allowing it to change during burst transmission based on real-time reception status feedback. Instead of fixing the transmission rate before burst transmission, the system continuously monitors reception outcomes and adjusts rates mid-burst, enabling adaptation to fading and signal quality changes while maintaining transmission reliability.
2Productivity
If burst transmission is performed at a fixed transmission rate determined before transmission, then transmission continuity is maintained, but retransmissions increase when signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving apparatus provides feedback through ACK/NACK signals or block acknowledgment frames indicating which frames were successfully received. This feedback loop allows the transmitting apparatus to identify failed transmissions and adjust rates or retransmit accordingly, reducing unnecessary retransmissions while maintaining high throughput through efficient error handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically modifying transmission rates based on its own reception performance. The transmitting apparatus monitors the reception status of its own transmissions and autonomously adapts its transmission strategy without external intervention, optimizing both throughput and reliability through self-service rate control.
3Productivity
If transmission rate is increased to improve throughput, then data transmission efficiency increases, but transmission failures increase when signal quality is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission rate adjustment where the rate changes continuously during burst transmission based on real-time reception feedback. When signal quality deteriorates, the system automatically reduces the transmission rate to maintain reliability, while exploiting good signal conditions to transmit at higher rates for improved throughput, thus dynamically optimizing the trade-off between efficiency and success rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission rate parameter in response to varying signal conditions and reception outcomes. By monitoring reception status and adjusting the transmission rate parameter dynamically, the system adapts to changing channel conditions, maintaining high data transmission efficiency when possible while ensuring transmission success when signal quality degrades.
Data Source
AI summary
A radio communication apparatus for transmitting and receiving a plurality of frames to and from another radio communication apparatus, comprises a first transmitting unit configured to sequentially transmit a plurality of frames at a plurality of transmission rates to the another radio communication apparatus, a second transmitting unit configured to transmit, to the another radio communication apparatus, an inquiry signal for inquiring which frames included in the frames are received by the another radio communication apparatus, a receiving unit configured to receive, from the another radio communication apparatus, information indicating which frames included in the frames are received or fail to be received, and a rate setting unit configured to set the first transmitting unit to a transmission rate used for next transmission of frames to the another radio communication apparatus, based on the received information.