Communication Devices Using Unlicensed Special Access Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication devices in unlicensed bands face challenges such as the hidden-node problem, leading to collisions and increased latency due to congestion in the wireless medium, especially when operating in multi-channel environments.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an unlicensed special access channel (USAC) allows for specific requests and traffic types to use part or all of an unlicensed channel, enabling communication devices to access the primary and secondary channels even when the primary channel is busy, thereby reducing collisions and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If devices use listen-before-talk (LBT) on the primary communication channel, then collisions are avoided, but channel access latency increases when the primary channel is busy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidchannel access latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a secondary communication channel as an intermediary path for control information exchange. When the primary channel is busy, devices can use the secondary channel to transmit control frames, thereby bypassing the congestion on the primary channel and reducing access latency while maintaining collision avoidance through the LBT mechanism on the secondary channel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds an additional dimensional path (secondary communication channel) for control information exchange. This creates a multi-dimensional communication architecture where control traffic can be routed through alternative paths when the primary path is congested, effectively reducing latency without sacrificing reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all control information is transmitted over the primary communication channel, then legacy devices get fair access, but channel congestion increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelegacy device compatibilityVSAvoiddata throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control information traffic by separating it from data traffic and routing it through a dedicated secondary communication channel. This segmentation allows data traffic to flow efficiently on the primary channel while control information uses the secondary channel, preventing congestion and maintaining high throughput while ensuring legacy device compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary communication channel acts as an intermediary dedicated to control information exchange. This intermediary path handles control traffic separately, preventing it from congesting the primary data channel, thereby maintaining both legacy device compatibility and high data throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If devices defer transmission when the primary channel is busy, then collisions are avoided, but communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision-free communicationVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the secondary communication channel as an intermediary for control information exchange. When the primary channel is busy, devices can immediately transmit control frames on the secondary channel (after LBT), avoiding the need to defer transmission and thereby reducing latency while maintaining collision-free communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables preliminary exchange of control information on the secondary channel before data transmission on the primary channel. This preliminary action allows devices to coordinate and schedule transmissions in advance, reducing the need for deferral and minimizing latency while maintaining collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250081229A1Communication devices and methods

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A first communication device comprises circuitry configured to exchange control information with one or more second communication devices on a primary communication channel, exchange data with one or more second communication devices on one or more secondary communication channels and/or the primary communication channel, receive an access request to access the primary communication channel and/or one or more secondary communication channels by a second communication device on an access channel that is a different channel than the primary communication channel, the access request indicating one or more parameters of the desired communication, and transmit an access response on the access channel, the access response including time information indicating information regarding the time of desired communication and channel information indicating parameters of the communication channels of the desired communication.