WLAN Packet Reception Using Majority Voting for Bit Error Correction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly those using IEEE 802.11 technology, face challenges in receiving packets with bit errors due to decreased signal-to-noise ratio at extended ranges or with obstructions, leading to failed packet transmissions and increased retry limits.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize majority voting and auto-correlation to correct packets with bit errors by de-spreading, de-scrambling, and correlating bits, allowing for the creation of a corrected packet based on majority vote, especially for DSSS packets, which improves packet reception reliability and reduces the need for retries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the transmission distance is increased, then the coverage area is improved, but the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary de-spreading of the received signal using the known Barker code before majority voting. This preliminary processing separates the desired signal from noise and interference, improving the effectiveness of subsequent error correction and enabling reliable communication at extended ranges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system receives multiple copies of the same packet through retries and applies majority voting to determine the correct bit values. By comparing multiple identical transmissions, the system can correct bit errors caused by low signal-to-noise ratio, effectively extending the reliable coverage area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Area of stationary object

If the transmission distance is increased, then the coverage area is improved, but the packet reception accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidpacket reception accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system receives multiple copies of the same packet through retries and applies majority voting to determine the correct bit values. By comparing multiple identical transmissions, the system can correct bit errors caused by low signal-to-noise ratio, effectively extending the reliable coverage area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary de-spreading of the received signal using the known Barker code before majority voting. This preliminary processing separates the desired signal from noise and interference, improving the effectiveness of subsequent error correction and enabling reliable communication at extended ranges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If standard packet reception is used, then the system complexity is low, but the effective communication range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoideffective communication range

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary de-spreading of the received signal using the known Barker code before majority voting. This preliminary processing separates the desired signal from noise and interference, improving the effectiveness of subsequent error correction and enabling reliable communication at extended ranges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system receives multiple copies of the same packet through retries and applies majority voting to determine the correct bit values. By comparing multiple identical transmissions, the system can correct bit errors caused by low signal-to-noise ratio, effectively extending the reliable coverage area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11876537B2System and method for reception of wireless local area network packets with bit errors

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 SR TECH INC

AI summary

A method in a first wireless device (WD) supporting wireless communication with a second WD is described. A plurality of wireless packets is received from the second WD including at least a first wireless packet. At least another wireless packet of the plurality of wireless packets is one of a retry packet and a repeat packet of the first packet. Each wireless packet of the plurality of wireless packets includes a plurality of bits and a first group of bits. For each received wireless packet, the plurality of bits corresponding to the received wireless packet is de-spread, and the first group of bits is correlated with a predetermined group of bits. The method further includes performing a majority vote based on the correlation of the first group of bits of each received wireless packet and creating a corrected packet based in part on the majority vote.