Asynchronous Wireless Node Scheduling via Frequency Division Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face challenges in achieving efficient media access control, particularly in asynchronous communication and overlapping transmissions, leading to interference and poor resource utilization due to the complexity of centralized planning and ad-hoc deployments.

Innovation Solution

The method involves nodes communicating asynchronously and scheduling transmissions based on consideration of neighboring nodes' transmissions, using separate control and data channels for concurrent data and control information exchange, and adapting transmission parameters to minimize interference, with frequency division multiplexing to improve spectral efficiency and fairness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If centralized planning is used to optimize spectral efficiency and quality of service, then network performance is improved, but deployment complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiddeployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each node independently determines its own communication schedule by exchanging scheduling information with compatible communication nodes. The scheduler at each node autonomously selects transmission opportunities based on received scheduling information, eliminating the need for centralized planning while achieving efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The network is divided into groups of compatible communication nodes that can operate independently. Each group manages its own scheduling without interference from other groups, allowing decentralized control while maintaining overall system efficiency through localized optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If ad-hoc network deployment is used to simplify setup, then ease of deployment is improved, but spatial efficiency and interference mitigation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment easeVSAvoidspatial efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Nodes exchange scheduling information feedback loops to coordinate transmissions. Each node receives scheduling information from compatible nodes and uses this feedback to determine its own transmission schedule, enabling ad-hoc deployment to achieve efficient spatial utilization through distributed coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling mechanism dynamically adapts to changing network conditions without requiring fixed centralized control. Nodes can independently adjust their transmission schedules based on real-time interference conditions and channel availability, maintaining high spatial efficiency in dynamic ad-hoc environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If carrier sense multiple access is used to mitigate interference, then interference protection is improved, but resource utilization and fairness control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference protectionVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Nodes perform preliminary scheduling by exchanging scheduling information before actual data transmission. This advance coordination allows nodes to reserve transmission opportunities and avoid collisions proactively, improving both interference protection and resource utilization by planning transmissions in advance rather than reacting to carrier sense.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling mechanism maintains continuous coordination between nodes through ongoing exchange of scheduling information. This continuous feedback enables fairer resource allocation and better utilization by ensuring all nodes are aware of upcoming transmissions and can plan accordingly, eliminating the fairness issues inherent in carrier sense approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If carrier sense multiple access is used to mitigate interference, then interference protection is improved, but hidden and exposed node problems increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference protectionVSAvoidhidden and exposed nodes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Scheduling information acts as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates transmissions between nodes. This intermediary scheduling protocol allows nodes to communicate their transmission intentions to neighbors, enabling them to avoid hidden and exposed node problems by having explicit knowledge of planned transmissions before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2291044B1Conditional requests for asynchronous wireless communication
Publication Date: 2016.07.06 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2291044B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2291044B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2291044B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wireless media access control supports asynchronous communication and overlapping transmissions. Here, a wireless node may determine whether to request or schedule a transmission based on control messages it receives from neighboring nodes. In some implementations a scheduled transmission may be divided up into several segments so that a transmitting node may receive and transmit control messages between segments. In some implementations a monitoring period is defined after a scheduled transmission period to enable the transmitting node to acquire control information that may otherwise have been transmitted during the scheduled transmission period. In some implementations data and control information are transmitted over different frequency division multiplexed channels to enable concurrent transmission of the data and control information.