Wireless Relay Path Diversity for Latency-Sensitive Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mission-critical wireless networks, such as factory automation systems, face high error tolerance requirements due to obstructions and interference, which existing error prevention solutions are insufficient to address, leading to potential catastrophic failures like robot malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a wireless relay that creates path and frequency diversity by overhearing initial transmissions and ACK/NACK responses, determining failed packets, and retransmitting them on a different frequency band, using global scheduling data to ensure reliable retransmissions and reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless relays are introduced to provide path diversity and frequency diversity for retransmissions, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless relay is introduced as an intermediary device between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The relay receives data signals from the first device, determines whether retransmission is needed based on feedback signals, and retransmits the data on a different frequency resource. This intermediary approach provides path diversity and frequency diversity to improve reliability without requiring the original transmitting devices to have complex multiple-path capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces frequency diversity by utilizing a second frequency resource different from the first frequency resource for retransmissions. This dimensional change from a single frequency to multiple frequencies provides an additional degree of freedom that improves packet delivery reliability. The relay operates in a different frequency dimension than the original transmission, creating diversity in the communication path.
2Reliability
If retransmissions are performed on a different frequency resource, then reliability is improved through frequency diversity, but loss of time increases due to additional transmission cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The relay receives the data signal from the first wireless device before the original transmission to the second wireless device completes. By capturing the data signal in advance and preparing it for potential retransmission, the system reduces the time penalty associated with retransmissions. The relay is already positioned with the data and can immediately retransmit on the alternative frequency if needed, without waiting for the original transmission to fail completely.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback signals (ACK/NACK) from the second wireless device to the first wireless device to determine whether retransmission is necessary. This feedback mechanism ensures that retransmissions only occur when actually needed, avoiding unnecessary time consumption. The relay uses this feedback information to decide whether to activate the alternative transmission path, optimizing the balance between reliability improvement and time loss.
3Reliability
If multiple frequency resources are utilized for data transmission and retransmission, then reliability is improved through path diversity, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless relay serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of managing multiple frequency resources. Rather than requiring the first and second wireless devices to independently manage multiple frequencies, the relay centralizes this function. It receives data on the first frequency, determines retransmission needs, and handles retransmissions on the second frequency, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining path diversity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device performs multiple functions: it acts as a regular wireless communication device for normal data transmission, a feedback monitoring device to detect transmission failures, and a retransmission device for sending corrected data signals. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components in each wireless device, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving reliable multi-frequency operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for using wireless relays to create path diversity in rebroadcasting data in wireless networks with latency sensitive applications. A first wireless communication device receives a data signal, the data signal being transmitted on a first frequency resource from a second wireless communication device to a third wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device receives an ACK/NACK signal being transmitted from the third wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device determines if the ACK/NACK signal is a NACK signal, and if so transmits the data signal at a second frequency resource during a third time period to the third wireless communication device.