Wireless Packet Scheduling for Contention-Free Industrial Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for scheduling data packets from an industrial controller to industrial devices over a wireless communication network face challenges such as reduced timing predictability, multi-packet contention, and increased latency due to the shared and unpredictable nature of wireless radio resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and scheduler entity that receive traffic pattern characteristics and timing information related to radio resources, allowing for the scheduling of data packets with added delays to spread them evenly across available radio resources, thereby reducing contention and maintaining predictable transmission timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data packets are transmitted over wireless communication network without scheduling, then mobility and relocation ease are improved, but timing predictability and transmission reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-scheduling data packets onto radio resources before transmission. The scheduler entity determines traffic pattern characteristics and proactively assigns specific radio resources (time slots, frequency resources) to data packets based on predicted traffic patterns, ensuring timing predictability is maintained even in wireless environments with mobility support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by dynamically adjusting scheduling decisions based on traffic pattern characteristics. The scheduler modifies transmission timing, resource allocation, and delay parameters adaptively according to observed traffic patterns, maintaining reliability while supporting wireless mobility.
2Productivity
If multiple data packets are transmitted simultaneously over shared radio resources, then transmission speed and productivity are improved, but contention and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the transmission process into discrete scheduled units. Data packets are segmented and assigned to specific radio resources (time slots, frequency resources) through scheduling, preventing simultaneous access conflicts. This segmentation of radio resources eliminates contention while maintaining high transmission throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduler entity acts as an intermediary between the industrial controller and the wireless transmission medium. It mediates resource allocation by intelligently assigning radio resources to data packets based on traffic patterns, preventing direct conflicts between simultaneous transmissions while maximizing overall transmission efficiency.
3Productivity
If delays are added to spread data packets across radio resources, then timing distribution and resource utilization are improved, but transmission latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making delay decisions adaptive rather than fixed. The scheduler dynamically determines optimal delays based on real-time traffic pattern characteristics and radio resource availability. This dynamic approach spreads packets efficiently across resources while minimizing unnecessary delays, balancing resource utilization with latency requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic action by scheduling data packets according to periodic radio resource patterns (frame structures, time slots). The scheduler aligns packet transmissions with periodic radio resource opportunities, creating predictable timing distributions that improve resource utilization while maintaining bounded latency through regular transmission intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for scheduling a plurality of data packets from an industrial controller to one or more industrial devices over a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving, from the industrial controller, traffic pattern characteristics associated with the plurality of data packets intended to the one or more industrial devices. The method includes receiving, from a network node in the wireless communication network, timing information related to a plurality of radio resources for transmission of the plurality of data packets. The method includes scheduling the plurality of data packets on the plurality of radio resources using the traffic pattern characteristics and the timing information related to the plurality of radio resources.