Wireless Medium Reservation Mechanism for Shared Spectrum Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, particularly those operating in shared frequency bands like the 6 GHz band, there is a need to coordinate channel access among master devices to prevent interference and ensure efficient use of the wireless medium, as existing CSMA/CA techniques are insufficient in managing collisions and optimizing resource utilization among multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves master devices contending for access during a medium reservation window (MRW), advertising reservations for timeslots within a medium utilization period (MUP), and servicing client devices during reserved timeslots, while also allowing sharing of unused channels or spatial dimensions with other devices, thereby optimizing channel access and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CSMA/CA techniques are used for medium access, then collision prevention is improved, but coordination capability among master devices in shared frequency bands deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the medium access process into two distinct phases: a contention phase where master devices compete for access rights, and a reservation phase where the winning device allocates specific timeslots to other master devices. This segmentation allows CSMA/CA to effectively prevent collisions during the contention phase while enabling coordinated resource allocation during the reservation phase, thereby resolving the contradiction between collision prevention and coordination capability.
2Ease of operation
If master devices contend for access using CSMA/CA, then medium access control is simplified, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the winning master device proactively transmit reservation messages to other master devices before actual data transmission occurs. This preliminary reservation of timeslots allows for efficient resource allocation and avoids unnecessary collisions during data transmission, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency while maintaining simple CSMA/CA operation during the initial contention phase.
3Reliability
If exclusive access is granted to the winning device, then collision prevention is improved, but interference with other master devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timeslot allocation function from the basic CSMA/CA mechanism. After the winning device gains exclusive access rights through CSMA/CA, it uses reservation messages to extract and assign specific timeslots to other master devices. This allows the system to maintain collision prevention through exclusive access while managing interference by coordinating specific transmission intervals for multiple master devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fixed timeslots are allocated to master devices, then channel access coordination is improved, but flexibility in resource allocation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the reservation messages to define flexible timeslot allocations rather than fixed schedules. The winning master device can dynamically allocate timeslots based on the specific needs and requirements of other master devices, enabling adaptable coordination while maintaining relatively simple implementation through message-based reservation rather than complex centralized scheduling.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for coordinating access to a shared wireless medium among multiple master devices operating on the same frequency band. In some implementations, master devices may contend for access to the shared medium during a medium reservation window (MRW). During the MRW, master devices may advertise their intent to reserve at least a portion of the shared medium for one or more timeslots within a subsequent medium utilization period. The reservation messages may be broadcast to other master devices in the vicinity to prevent other master devices from accessing the wireless medium during a reserved timeslot. In some implementations, the owner of a timeslot may share at least a portion of its timeslot with other master devices. For example, the timeslot owner may enable other master devices to utilize an unused portion of the wireless medium, such as unused channels, spatial streams, or time.