Wireless Channel Use Period Control for Latency Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless LAN systems face latency issues due to exclusive channel use by non-prioritized frames, which can lead to reduced bandwidth and compromised quality of service for prioritized frames, especially when non-prioritized frames are transmitted at low rates.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system that dynamically adjusts the channel use period for non-prioritized frames based on quality measurement information, allowing continuous transmission or fragmentation processing to minimize latency impact on prioritized frames, by setting longer or shorter channel use periods and limiting frame transmission accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If non-prioritized frames are transmitted with long channel use period, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but latency for prioritized frames increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of channel use period (TxOP) based on traffic conditions. The access point monitors queue depths and transmission rates, then adaptively sets the channel use period for non-prioritized frames. When prioritized traffic accumulates, the channel use period is reduced; when prioritized traffic is light, it is extended to improve bandwidth utilization. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by making the channel use period flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of channel use period (TxOP Limit) based on measured traffic conditions. The access point calculates a target channel use period by comparing actual transmission rate with a reference rate, and adjusts the TxOP parameter accordingly. This parameter change allows the system to optimize bandwidth utilization while preventing excessive latency for prioritized frames by adapting to real-time network conditions.
2Ease of operation
If non-prioritized frames are transmitted at low rates, then channel access fairness is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transmission strategies to different frame types (prioritized vs. non-prioritized) based on their quality requirements. Non-prioritized frames are allowed to use the channel with fair access control when prioritized traffic is light, while prioritized frames receive guaranteed access when needed. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing fairness to non-prioritized frames without compromising overall bandwidth utilization.
3Productivity
If channel use period is extended for non-prioritized frames, then transmission efficiency is improved, but quality of service for prioritized frames deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the access point continuously monitors the queue depth and transmission rate of prioritized frames, then uses this feedback to adjust the channel use period for non-prioritized frames. When prioritized queue depth exceeds a threshold or transmission rate falls below reference, the system reduces the channel use period to protect QoS. This feedback control resolves the contradiction by dynamically balancing transmission efficiency with QoS requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wireless communication system that performs priority control by setting, depending on a type of transmission data, a channel use period during which exclusive use of a channel after a right to access the channel is acquired is permitted. The wireless communication system includes a measurement unit that measures quality measurement information related to a quality of wireless communication, a parameter setting unit that makes, when a latency in transmission of a prioritized frame due to transmission of a non-prioritized frame is not expected based on the quality measurement information measured by the measurement unit, settings such that the channel use period for the transmission of the non-prioritized frame is changed to be longer, and a MAC frame generation unit that generates a MAC frame which permits continuous transmission of the non-prioritized frames within the channel use period set by the parameter setting unit.