Wireless Frame Delivery Using Per-Flow Sequencing to Cut Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication protocols often require in-order delivery of packets, which can lead to inefficiencies and delays due to mechanisms like packet aggregation and reordering, causing head-of-the-line blocking issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing out-of-order delivery of wireless communication frames by associating indicators with PDCP packets to differentiate delivery requirements and transmission flows, allowing for more efficient packet handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If in-order delivery mechanisms (packet aggregation, reordering) are used, then packet delivery reliability is improved, but head-of-the-line blocking occurs causing increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet delivery process by introducing per-flow sequence numbers and flow identifiers, allowing different packet flows to be independently tracked and delivered. This segmentation enables out-of-order delivery at the MAC layer while maintaining in-order delivery within each flow, resolving the contradiction between reliability and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to packet delivery by introducing flow-level sequencing alongside traditional packet sequencing. By adding flow identifiers and per-flow sequence numbers, packets can be delivered out-of-order in time while maintaining order within each flow dimension, eliminating head-of-the-line blocking without sacrificing reliability.
2Productivity
If per-flow sequence numbers and flow identifiers are implemented, then out-of-order delivery is enabled improving efficiency, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the MAC layer protocol multi-functional by enabling both in-order and out-of-order delivery modes within the same framework. The per-flow sequence numbers and flow identifiers serve multiple purposes: flow identification, sequencing, and delivery order control, reducing the need for separate mechanisms and limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key protocol parameters by introducing flow identifiers and per-flow sequence numbers as new variables in the MAC layer. These parameter changes enable flexible delivery modes where packets can be delivered out-of-order when flows are identified, but the protocol maintains backward compatibility and doesn't require complete redesign.
3Loss of time
If out-of-order delivery is implemented, then head-of-the-line blocking is reduced improving latency, but packet delivery order reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic delivery ordering where the delivery mode (in-order or out-of-order) is determined based on flow identification and sequence number tracking. Packets are delivered out-of-order only when their flow identifiers and sequence numbers confirm they belong to later flows, dynamically adapting delivery behavior to maintain reliability while reducing latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through per-flow sequence numbers that track the state of each flow independently. This feedback allows the system to verify packet order within flows even when overall delivery is out-of-order, ensuring reliability is maintained while enabling latency reduction through selective out-of-order delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
For example, a wireless communication station (STA) may be configured to determine whether a stream of frames is suitable for out-of-order delivery from a first Medium Access Control layer (MAC-layer) process to a second MAC-layer process, the second MAC-layer process is above the first MAC-layer process; and, based on a determination that the stream of frames is suitable for out-of-order delivery, to deliver to the second MAC-layer process one or more frames of the stream of frames according to an out-of-order delivery scheme.