UWB MAC Data Subframes for Independent Packet Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current connection-oriented data transfer modes in ultra-wideband (UWB) communications face challenges such as garbled payloads due to limited link budget and interference, particularly when multiplexing multiple link layer packets, leading to potential loss of all packets in a MAC frame.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of data subframes within MAC frames, each containing a delimiter, Data Message Payload information element, and frame check sequence, along with independent frame check sequences for each packet, and optionally a duplicated MAC header, to enable independent decoding and robustness against packet loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple link layer packets are multiplexed in connection-oriented mode, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but the payload becomes long and prone to garbling due to limited link budget and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single MAC frame into multiple data subframes, with each subframe containing a portion of the multiplexed link layer packets. This segmentation reduces the length of each individual transmission unit, improving robustness against garbling while maintaining the ability to multiplex multiple packets. Each data subframe is independently decodable, ensuring that if one subframe is corrupted, other subframes can still be recovered.
2Quantity of substance
If a single MAC frame contains multiple multiplexed packets, then transmission capacity is improved, but loss of the entire MAC frame results in loss of all packets
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the MAC frame into multiple data subframes, the patent ensures that packets are distributed across separate subframes rather than being bundled in a single frame. This allows selective recovery of individual subframes, reducing the impact of packet loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates forward error correction (FEC) codes in each data subframe to provide beforehand cushioning against potential transmission errors. This pre-built redundancy allows the receiver to correct errors without requiring retransmission, cushioning against the harmful effect of packet loss.
3Reliability
If data subframes with independent delimiters and FCS are introduced, then robustness against packet loss is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces delimiters at the beginning of each data subframe to mark the start of independent packet segments. These delimiters enable the receiver to easily identify and separately process each subframe, simplifying the decoding process despite the increased structure. The delimiters act as clear boundaries that reduce the complexity of parsing compared to trying to identify packet boundaries within a single long frame.
Solution Approach 2:
Each data subframe includes its own frame check sequence (FCS) for error detection, providing beforehand cushioning against undetected errors. This distributed FCS approach simplifies error detection compared to a single FCS for the entire MAC frame, as each subframe can be independently verified without processing the entire frame.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless device may use UWB communications in connection-oriented mode to transmit data. In some embodiments, data subframes may be introduced into a MAC frame. In some embodiments, the data subframes contain a LL packet wrapped with its own delimiter, Data Message Payload information element, and frame check sequence. In some embodiments, the data subframes may also include a duplicated MAC header.