Multi-channel Wireless Control Frame Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in spectral utilization of millimeter wave (mmWave) channels due to the overhead of control frames, such as RTS, CTS, and ACK frames, which are small in size, while data frames, which are larger, are transmitted in mmWave channels, leading to underutilization of the wider bandwidth available in these channels.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multi-channel operations where control frames are transmitted in sub-7 GHz channels and data frames are transmitted in mmWave channels, utilizing new cross-channel control frames like RTS-mm, CTS-mm, T-CTS-mm, and ACK-mm to efficiently manage mmWave channel operations, thereby optimizing spectral usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control frames are transmitted in mmWave channels, then channel access control is maintained, but spectral utilization efficiency deteriorates due to overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission function by separating control frames from data frames across different frequency bands. Control frames (RTS, CTS, ACK) are transmitted in sub-7 GHz bands while data frames are transmitted in mmWave bands, allowing channel access control to be maintained in the reliable sub-7 GHz band while preserving the full bandwidth of mmWave for data transmission, thus resolving the spectral utilization efficiency problem.
2Ease of operation
If control frames are transmitted in mmWave channels, then protocol functionality is maintained, but data transmission rate deteriorates due to bandwidth underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication function into two segments operating on different frequency bands: sub-7 GHz for control signaling and mmWave for data transmission. This segmentation allows the mmWave channel to be dedicated entirely to high-rate data transmission without being fragmented by small control frames, thereby maintaining full protocol functionality while maximizing data transmission rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-7 GHz channel acts as an intermediary for control functions, handling RTS, CTS, and ACK frames that coordinate the mmWave data transmission. This intermediary approach allows the mmWave channel to focus solely on high-speed data transfer while the sub-7 GHz band manages the control plane, preserving both protocol functionality and transmission speed.
3Quantity of substance
If wider bandwidth is used in mmWave bands, then capacity for high-volume traffic is improved, but overhead from control frames increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into two functional bands: sub-7 GHz for control frames and mmWave for data frames. This segmentation ensures that the wide bandwidth of mmWave is fully utilized for high-volume data traffic without being consumed by small control frames, while the narrower sub-7 GHz band handles only the essential control signaling, thereby maximizing bandwidth capacity and minimizing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method performed by a first wireless device in a wireless network to perform multi-channel operations. The method includes transmitting a cross-channel request-to-send (RTS) frame to a second wireless device in a first channel, receiving a cross-channel clear-to-send (CTS) frame from the second wireless device in the first channel, responsive to receiving the cross-channel CTS frame in the first channel, transmitting a data frame to the second wireless device in a second channel, and receiving a cross-channel acknowledgement (ACK) frame that acknowledges the data frame from the second wireless device in the first channel.