Wireless Terminal Protection Frame for Low-Power Direct Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless LAN networks face limitations in establishing flexible, low-power connections between wireless terminals and external devices not part of the infrastructure network, leading to inflexibility and increased power consumption due to the need for ad-hoc network setups and longer communication paths through access points.
Innovation Solution
Employing virtual carrier-sensing mechanisms with protection frames that include duration information to reserve the communication medium, allowing direct low-power connections between wireless terminals and external devices without disconnecting from the infrastructure network or setting up ad-hoc networks, and optimizing receiver performance for reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wireless terminal establishes a direct connection with an external device outside the infrastructure network, then communication flexibility and power efficiency are improved, but network management and medium protection become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the infrastructure network's virtual carrier-sensing mechanism as an intermediary to manage and protect direct ad-hoc connections between wireless terminals and external devices. The protection frame sent to the infrastructure network acts as a mediator that coordinates medium access without requiring complex peer-to-peer network management protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the infrastructure network's virtual carrier-sensing mechanism serve multiple functions: it continues to manage infrastructure network traffic while simultaneously protecting direct ad-hoc connections between terminals and external devices. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate management mechanisms.
2Reliability
If a wireless terminal uses high transmission power to communicate with external devices, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent sends a protection frame in advance to reserve the communication medium before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that the medium is protected from other transmissions, allowing the terminal to use lower transmission power while maintaining communication reliability through medium protection rather than relying solely on high power.
3Reliability
If a wireless terminal listens to the communication medium continuously to avoid collisions, then collision avoidance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the medium protection function from continuous listening and concentrates it in a specific protection frame mechanism. Instead of continuously monitoring the medium, the terminal sends a protection frame that reserves the medium for a specific duration, extracting only the necessary protection information and eliminating the need for continuous listening.
4Productivity
If a wireless terminal establishes an ad-hoc network for direct communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but network setup overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of ad-hoc direct communication with the infrastructure network's management capabilities. Terminals can communicate directly like in ad-hoc mode for efficiency, while the infrastructure network's virtual carrier-sensing mechanism provides management and protection, eliminating the need for separate ad-hoc network setup procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to link establishment in a wireless communication terminal. In order to obtain flexible and low power connections between a wireless terminal belonging to a short-range wireless network and an external wireless communication device not belonging to that network, a protection frame is sent either from the wireless communication terminal or from the external wireless communication device. The protection frame includes duration information used for virtual carrier-sensing in the short-range wireless network. In response to the protection frame, data is transferred between the wireless communication terminal and the external wireless communication device during a time period indicated by the duration information.