WLAN Link Aggregation via Header Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional WLAN technologies face challenges in ensuring quality of service (QoS) for real-time applications due to limitations in access control and bandwidth allocation, particularly in managing priority levels for different types of transmission signals.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple network interface units in a station to forward packets to an access point (AP), where the AP modifies packet headers to maintain content integrity across different transmission types, enabling efficient link aggregation and increased bandwidth through the use of enhanced distributed coordination function (EDCF) and spanning tree protocol (STP) learning function disabling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DCF standard is used to control access to shared wireless media, then all devices can access the network, but real-time applications experience poor quality of service due to waiting for idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network into multiple virtual channels (VC0, VC1, VC2, VC3) corresponding to different packet priorities. Each virtual channel is assigned to specific network interface units (NIUs), allowing simultaneous access for different priority levels without mutual waiting, thus resolving the contradiction between network access reliability and idle waiting time for real-time applications.
2Reliability
If EDCF allocates idle periods for different signal priorities, then higher priority signals get better access, but total bandwidth is still limited by single wireless medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple physical network interface units (NIUs) into a single logical link for link aggregation. By combining the bandwidth of multiple NIUs while maintaining EDCF priority allocation, the system achieves both priority-based QoS and increased total bandwidth, resolving the contradiction between QoS reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of bandwidth expansion by utilizing multiple spatial channels (multiple NIUs) instead of only temporal allocation. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous high-priority and low-priority transmissions across different physical interfaces, increasing total bandwidth while preserving priority-based QoS through virtual channel mapping.
3Productivity
If multiple network interface units are used for link aggregation, then bandwidth increases, but packet routing and header modification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual channels (VC0-VC3) as intermediaries between multiple NIUs and the upper network layer. These virtual channels simplify packet routing by providing a standardized interface for priority-based packet distribution across multiple physical interfaces, reducing routing complexity while maintaining high bandwidth through link aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes packet parameters by modifying headers to include virtual channel identifiers that indicate priority levels. This parameter change enables automatic packet classification and routing based on priority without complex routing logic, simplifying the packet handling process while maintaining high bandwidth utilization through multiple NIUs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system with WLAN link aggregation comprises an access point, a station and a remote host. The station is equipped with a first network interface unit and a second network interface unit. The first network interface unit and the second network interface unit are configured to forward packets to or receive packets from the access point. After receiving packets from the first network interface unit, the second network interface unit or the remote host, the access point modifies headers of the packets and forwards the packets to the first network interface unit, the second network interface unit or the remote host.