Single Logical Link Controller for Multi-Physical Wireless Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communications systems where end nodes have simultaneous physical connections to multiple physical attachment points, the existing technologies face challenges in maintaining reliable data transmission due to varying channel conditions and the need for multiple logical link control layers, leading to inefficiencies in resource usage and performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where multiple physical connections support a single logical link control layer, allowing MAC segments of an upper layer packet to be transmitted over different physical connections, and enabling re-transmissions to occur over alternative connections, thereby enhancing reliability and saving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple physical connections are established to improve bandwidth and reliability, then data transmission capacity increases, but the number of LLC layers increases leading to increased device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple physical connections under a single LLC layer, allowing the LLC to manage segments across multiple physical links without requiring separate LLC instances for each connection. This reduces the number of LLC layers from multiple to one, directly addressing the device complexity issue while maintaining the bandwidth benefits of multiple physical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The single LLC layer is designed to serve multiple physical connections simultaneously, making it a universal controller that can manage segments across different physical links. This multi-functional approach allows one LLC layer to perform the work that would otherwise require multiple specialized LLC layers, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple LLC layers are implemented for each physical attachment point, then reliable re-transmission is possible, but computing resources at end nodes and access nodes are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the re-transmission management function into a single LLC layer that handles multiple physical connections, eliminating the need for multiple separate LLC layers to perform the same function. This merging reduces the total computing resources required while maintaining reliable re-transmission capability across all physical connections.
3Reliability
If MAC frames are transmitted over the same physical connection to ensure proper re-assembly, then re-assembly reliability is maintained, but channel resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packets into MAC frames at the LLC layer and allows these segments to be distributed across multiple physical connections. The receiving end can properly re-assemble packets despite frames arriving from different physical links, maintaining re-assembly reliability while reducing channel resource usage by utilizing multiple available paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The single LLC layer acts as an intermediary that manages the distribution and tracking of MAC frames across multiple physical connections. It maintains information about which frames have been transmitted and received, enabling proper re-assembly even when frames traverse different physical paths, thus reducing the need to confine all frames to a single connection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A base station uses a common link layer controller corresponding to multiple physical attachment points, facilitating multiple concurrent wireless connections between different base station sector physical attachment points and the same wireless terminal using the same link layer link. A wireless terminal maintains multiple simultaneous wireless connections for the same link layer link. A packet of user data is fragmented into a plurality of grouping of MAC frames, thus a packet portion can be communicated over a connection. A single packet is sometimes communicated with different portions conveyed over different wireless connections. Automatic repeat request, implemented using the common link layer controller, allows for retransmission of a packet portion over a different connection than it was initially transmitted over. A wireless terminal sends connection request messages including lists of link layer identifiers associated with the wireless terminal. A base station sends response messages including an indication of whether logical link state was already present.