Relay Rate Signaling by Logical Channel in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems fail to consider data rate recommendations and limitations for indirectly connected communication devices, leading to inefficiencies and data losses in relay communication networks.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for controlling scheduling of communication resources in relay communication devices, which receive data rate recommendations from an access device or upstream relay, determine new recommendations based on logical channel identities, and transmit them to downstream devices, enabling efficient data rate adaptation and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rate signaling is performed using existing 802.11 mechanisms, then backward compatibility is maintained, but the relay node cannot accurately signal its available transmission rates to the mobile station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new intermediary field called 'relay rates' in the beacon frames that relay nodes transmit. This intermediary mechanism allows relay nodes to signal their available transmission rates to mobile stations without requiring changes to the mobile station's existing 802.11 client code, thus resolving the contradiction between signaling accuracy and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the mobile station performs complex calculations to determine optimal rates, then rate selection accuracy improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay node performs the complex calculations and determines the optimal transmission rates in advance before the mobile station needs to communicate. The relay node pre-calculates the best rates based on its own capabilities and the mobile station's observed transmission characteristics, then signals these pre-determined rates to the mobile station, eliminating the need for the mobile station to perform power-intensive calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay node autonomously determines its own optimal transmission rates based on its hardware capabilities and the observed mobile station behavior, without requiring the mobile station to perform complex rate selection calculations. The relay node serves itself by autonomously optimizing its transmission parameters.
3Reliability
If the mobile station waits for explicit rate confirmation from the access point, then rate selection reliability improves, but connection establishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay node performs rate determination in advance during the beacon frame transmission, before the mobile station needs to establish a connection. The relay node pre-calculates and signals the optimal rates in the beacon frames, so when the mobile station connects, the rate selection is already resolved, eliminating the need for time-consuming explicit confirmation exchanges.
Data Source
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AI summary
In cellular or other wireless networks, relay communication devices can be introduced to support an indirect network connection for remote communication devices in out-of-coverage (OoC) areas to thereby extend access device coverage and increase available data capacity for communication devices that may not be in optimal coverage of an access device. For directly connected communication devices, mechanisms for bit rate recommendation, bit rate query and desired bit rate indication are defined. However, these existing mechanisms do not work for communication devices indirectly connected via a relay communication device. It is therefore proposed to determine a new data rate recommendation and/or limit for one or more downstream communication devices at least partly based on an identity of a logical channel indicated in a received recommendation and/or limit.