Radio Link Aggregation via Symbol Block Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication network technologies face inefficiencies in aggregating data over radio links, particularly due to limited bandwidth capacity, inflexibility, and high latency, especially when handling both TDM and packet services, with prior solutions like VCAT and LCAS being ineffective for adaptive modulation and coding.
Innovation Solution
A network entity with a scheduler that associates symbol blocks from input streams to output links or streams using a one-to-one correspondence, allowing for flexible and efficient grouping or ungrouping of traffic across multiple links, adapting to varying characteristics and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional TDM radio links are used to support high bandwidth requirements, then reliability is improved, but bandwidth capacity is limited and underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the high-rate traffic into multiple lower-rate streams that are transmitted over separate radio links. Each stream is assigned to a specific link, allowing the system to aggregate bandwidth from multiple links while maintaining the reliability characteristics of individual TDM links. This segmentation enables support for Gigabit Ethernet and STM-4 over multiple radio links.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple radio links into a single aggregated connection to achieve higher total bandwidth capacity. By combining the capacity of multiple links through link bundling, the system overcomes the bandwidth limitations of individual TDM radio links while maintaining their reliability through the use of protection switching mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If link bundling is used to increase bandwidth capacity, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal aggregation mechanism that can handle multiple types of traffic (TDM, packet, Ethernet) over multiple radio links through a common scheduling and multiplexing framework. The system provides multi-functional capability to manage both synchronous and asynchronous traffic types while maintaining a unified control structure, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from separate handling mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If adaptive modulation is used to increase bandwidth under good conditions, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but flexibility is reduced for handling both TDM and packet services
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements dynamic link assignment and scheduling where the characteristics of each radio link are continuously monitored and the traffic assignment is adjusted in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying link conditions while maintaining flexibility in handling different service types. The scheduler dynamically associates symbol blocks with appropriate output links based on current link quality and service requirements.
4Productivity
If VCAT and LCAS are used for link aggregation, then bandwidth adjustment is improved, but effectiveness for adaptive modulation and coding is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of link aggregation by implementing a scheduling-based approach rather than the container-based VCAT/LCAS method. The system uses dynamic parameter adjustment at the symbol block level, allowing effective integration with adaptive modulation and coding schemes. This enables the aggregation mechanism to work effectively with variable-rate links while maintaining the bandwidth adjustment capabilities needed for dynamic traffic requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device distributes a plurality of symbol blocks, received via a plurality of input streams, to a plurality of output links comprised in a defined connection according to a mapping of the symbol blocks to the output links. Responsive to an input stream of the plurality of input streams being empty such that an expected symbol block is not received, the network device distributes idle data to the output link mapped to the expected symbol block to maintain the mapping of the symbol blocks to the output links. The network device transmits the symbol blocks and idle data over the defined connection via the plurality of output links and according to the distribution.