U.S. patent application number 15/638909 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-26 for determining transmission rates when transmitting parallel data streams from a wireless station of a wireless network.
This patent application is currently assigned to GainSpan Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is GainSpan Corporation. Invention is credited to Indudharswamy G. HIREMATH, Pankaj Vyas, Greg Winner.
Application Number | 20170310612 15/638909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56925902 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170310612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HIREMATH; Indudharswamy G. ;
et al. |
October 26, 2017 |
DETERMINING TRANSMISSION RATES WHEN TRANSMITTING PARALLEL DATA
STREAMS FROM A WIRELESS STATION OF A WIRELESS NETWORK
Abstract
A wireless station (STA) of a wireless network transmits
parallel data streams. The STA maintains transmission profiles,
each corresponding to a respective data stream of parallel data
streams. A transmission profile contains a set of rules or
parameters, which are used for determining various characteristics
in relation to transmission of packets in the corresponding data
stream. The STA queues packets of each data stream in a
corresponding queue. The STA selects a packet from a queue, and
determines a transmission rate for the selected packet according to
a transmission profile of the queue. The STA transmits the packet
at the determined transmission rate. In an embodiment, the wireless
network corresponds to an IEEE 802.11 network.
Inventors: |
HIREMATH; Indudharswamy G.;
(Bangalore, IN) ; Vyas; Pankaj; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Winner; Greg; (Orange, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GainSpan Corporation |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GainSpan Corporation
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
56925902 |
Appl. No.: |
15/638909 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14659622 |
Mar 17, 2015 |
9699119 |
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15638909 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 52/0261 20130101;
Y02D 30/70 20200801; H04W 52/265 20130101; Y02D 70/142 20180101;
H04L 49/90 20130101; H04W 52/0251 20130101; H04W 52/04 20130101;
Y02D 70/144 20180101; H04W 52/281 20130101; H04W 72/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/861 20130101
H04L012/861; H04W 52/04 20090101 H04W052/04; H04W 52/02 20090101
H04W052/02; H04W 52/02 20090101 H04W052/02; H04W 72/02 20090101
H04W072/02 |
Claims
1. A method of transmitting parallel data streams from a wireless
station (STA) of a wireless network, said method being implemented
in said STA, said method comprising: maintaining a plurality of
transmission profiles, each transmission profile in the plurality
of transmission profiles corresponding to a respective data stream
of said parallel data streams; queueing packets of each data stream
in a corresponding queue; selecting a first packet from a queue;
determining a transmission rate for said first packet according to
a transmission profile of said queue; and transmitting the packet
at the determined transmission rate.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first queue contains a first
sequence of packets of a first data stream received in a first
order, wherein a second queue contains a second sequence of packets
of a second data stream received in a second order, wherein all of
said first sequence of packets and said second sequence of packets
are together transmitted in a transmission order, wherein a first
packet of said first sequence of packets is transmitted immediately
after a second packet of said second sequence of packets in said
transmission order, wherein said determining determines that said
first packet is to be transmitted at a first transmission rate
based on a first profile associated with said first data stream,
and that said second packet is to be transmitted at a second
transmission rate based on a second profile associated with said
second data stream, wherein said first packet is transmitted at
said first data rate and said second packet is transmitted at said
second data rate.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first profile is a low power
profile and said second profile is a high throughput profile.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein a first application executing in
said STA generates said first sequence of packets and a second
application executing in said STA generates said second sequence of
packets.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first sequence of packets
represents measurement data from a sensor, and said second sequence
of packets represents video data.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein an initial transmission rate
corresponding to said low power profile is selected based on a
strength of a wireless signal received at said STA, wherein an
initial transmission rate corresponding to said high throughput
profile is a predetermined minimum required rate.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein in the event of an unsuccessful
transmission, a first lower transmission rate is set as the new
transmission rate for said low power profile if said first lower
transmission rate is successful, wherein in the event of an
unsuccessful transmission, a second lower transmission rate is set
as the new transmission rate for said high throughput profile only
if said first lower transmission rate is successful and is greater
than said predetermined minimum required rate, wherein if said
second lower transmission rate is lower than said predetermined
minimum required rate, then said predetermined minimum required
rate is set as the new transmission rate.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein for packets of said low power
profile, a higher transmission rate than a current transmission
rate is attempted after a first number of successful transmissions
at said current transmission rate, wherein for packets of said high
throughput profile, a higher transmission rate than a current
transmission rate is attempted after a second number of successful
transmissions at said current transmission rate, wherein said
second number is greater than said first number.
9. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing one or more
sequences of instructions for enabling a wireless station (STA) of
a wireless network to transmit parallel data streams, wherein
execution of said one or more instructions by one or more
processors contained in said STA enables said STA to perform the
actions of: maintaining a plurality of transmission profiles, each
transmission profile in the plurality of transmission profiles
corresponding to a respective data stream of said parallel data
streams; queuing packets of each data stream in a corresponding
queue; selecting a first packet from a queue; determining a
transmission rate for said first packet according to a transmission
profile of said queue; and transmitting the packet at the
determined transmission rate.
10. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein
a first queue contains a first sequence of packets of a first data
stream received in a first order, wherein a second queue contains a
second sequence of packets of a second data stream received in a
second order, wherein all of said first sequence of packets and
said second sequence of packets are together transmitted in a
transmission order, wherein a first packet of said first sequence
of packets is transmitted immediately after a second packet of said
second sequence of packets in said transmission order, wherein said
determining determines that said first packet is to be transmitted
at a first transmission rate based on a first profile associated
with said first data stream, and that said second packet is to be
transmitted at a second transmission rate based on a second profile
associated with said second data stream, wherein said first packet
is transmitted at said first data rate and said second packet is
transmitted at said second data rate.
11. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 10, wherein
said first profile is a low power profile and said second profile
is a high throughput profile.
12. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein
a first application executing in said STA generates said first
sequence of packets and a second application executing in said STA
generates said second sequence of packets.
13. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12, wherein
said first sequence of packets represents measurement data from a
sensor, and said second sequence of packets represents video
data.
14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 11, wherein
an initial transmission rate corresponding to said low power
profile is selected based on a strength of a wireless signal
received at said STA, wherein an initial transmission rate
corresponding to said high throughput profile is a predetermined
minimum required rate.
15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 14, wherein
in the event of an unsuccessful transmission, a first lower
transmission rate is set as the new transmission rate for said low
power profile if said first lower transmission rate is successful,
wherein in the event of an unsuccessful transmission, a second
lower transmission rate is set as the new transmission rate for
said high throughput profile only if said first lower transmission
rate is successful and is greater than said predetermined minimum
required rate, wherein if said second lower transmission rate is
lower than said predetermined minimum required rate, then said
predetermined minimum required rate is set as the new transmission
rate.
16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein
for packets of said low power profile, a higher transmission rate
than a current transmission rate is attempted after a first number
of successful transmissions at said current transmission rate,
wherein for packets of said high throughput profile, a higher
transmission rate than a current transmission rate is attempted
after a second number of successful transmissions at said current
transmission rate, wherein said second number is greater than said
first number.
17. A wireless station (STA) of a wireless network, said STA
comprising: a processing block, a memory, and a transmitter
circuit, said memory to store instructions which when retrieved and
executed by said processing block causes said STA to perform the
actions of: maintaining a plurality of transmission profiles, each
transmission profile in the plurality of transmission profiles
corresponding to a respective data stream of said parallel data
streams; queuing packets of each data stream in a corresponding
queue; selecting a first packet from a queue; determining a
transmission rate for said first packet according to a transmission
profile of said queue; and transmitting, using said transmitter
circuit, the packet at the determined transmission rate.
18. The STA of claim 17, wherein a first queue contains a first
sequence of packets of a first data stream received in a first
order, wherein a second queue contains a second sequence of packets
of a second data stream received in a second order, wherein all of
said first sequence of packets and said second sequence of packets
are together transmitted in a transmission order, wherein a first
packet of said first sequence of packets is transmitted immediately
after a second packet of said second sequence of packets in said
transmission order, wherein said determining determines that said
first packet is to be transmitted at a first transmission rate
based on a first profile associated with said first data stream,
and that said second packet is to be transmitted at a second
transmission rate based on a second profile associated with said
second data stream, wherein said first packet is transmitted at
said first data rate and said second packet is transmitted at said
second data rate.
19. The STA of claim 18, wherein said first profile is a low power
profile and said second profile is a high throughput profile.
20. The STA of claim 19, wherein a first application executing in
said STA generates said first sequence of packets and a second
application executing in said STA generates said second sequence of
packets.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/659,622, filed Mar. 17, 2015, issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 9,699,119, on Jul. 4, 2017, which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to
wireless networks, and more specifically to determining
transmission rates when transmitting parallel data streams from a
wireless station of a wireless network.
Related Art
[0003] A wireless network generally includes two or more wireless
stations capable of communicating with each other on a wireless
medium. Wireless networks may also include switches such as access
points (AP) or router nodes in the communication path between
wireless stations. Electromagnetic radiation in the atmospheric
space is used as the basis for the wireless communication, as is
well known in the relevant arts.
[0004] A data stream contains an ordered sequence of packets, which
are generated by applications executing in a wireless station. An
application can generate multiple data streams, though different
data streams being generated by different applications is more
common Each data stream generally needs to be transmitted by the
corresponding wireless station such that the packets eventually
reach another application executing in another wireless
station.
[0005] Two data streams are said to be parallel when there is a
requirement to transmit packets in each stream according to the
sequence order, but the applications at either end do not impose
specific requirement on how the packets from the two streams are
otherwise interspersed in the combined transmission sequence. The
transmission sequence is generally determined based on factors such
as any applicable QoS (quality of service) requirements (e.g.,
aggregate bandwidth to be allocated to each application, latency
acceptable, etc.).
[0006] Wireless stations often transmit each packet with a
corresponding transmission rate, which is one of several
transmission rates the wireless station is capable of transmitting
at. Transmission rate is measured as the number of bits transmitted
in a unit time (typically a second). A higher transmission rate
often implies more transmission throughput, but can be susceptible
to errors. However, lower transmission rates can lead to enhanced
power consumption due to the longer duration taken for completion
of transmission.
[0007] Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to
determining transmission rates when transmitting parallel data
streams from a wireless station of a wireless network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Example embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings briefly
described below.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example environment in which
several aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the manner in which a
wireless station (STA) of a wireless network transmits parallel
data streams, in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing relevant blocks/components
of a STA that are operational in determining transmission rates of
packets of parallel data streams, in an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating transmission of parallel
data streams according to corresponding transmission profiles by a
STA, in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the implementation
details of a STA in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate
identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar
elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is
indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference
number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Overview
[0015] A wireless station (STA) of a wireless network transmits
parallel data streams. The STA maintains transmission profiles,
each corresponding to a respective data stream of parallel data
streams. The STA queues packets of each data stream in a
corresponding queue. The STA selects a packet from a queue, and
determines a transmission rate for the selected packet according to
a transmission profile of the queue. The STA transmits the packet
at the determined transmission rate. In an embodiment, the wireless
network corresponds to an IEEE 802.11 network.
[0016] Several aspects of the invention are described below with
reference to examples for illustration. It should be understood
that numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set
forth to provide a full understanding of the invention. One skilled
in the relevant arts, however, will readily recognize that the
invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific
details, or with other methods, etc. In other instances, well-known
structures or operations are not shown in detail to avoid obscuring
the features of the invention.
2. Example Environment
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an example
environment in which several aspects of the present disclosure can
be implemented. The example environment is shown containing only
representative devices and systems for illustration. However, real
world environments may contain more or fewer systems/devices. FIG.
1 is shown containing access point (AP) 110, wireless stations
(STA) 120 and 130, and internet 190.
[0018] Internet 190 extends the connectivity of devices (STA 120
and STA 130) in BSS 150 to various systems (not shown) connected
to, or part of, internet 190. Internet 190 is shown connected to AP
110 (which may be viewed as operating as a border router as well)
through a wireless path 119. Internet 190 may be implemented using
protocols such as IP. In general, in IP environments, an IP packet
is used as a basic unit of transport, with the source address being
set to the IP address assigned to the source system from which the
packet originates and the destination address set to the IP address
of the destination system to which the packet is to be eventually
delivered. The IP packet is encapsulated in the payload of layer-2
packets when being transported across WLANs.
[0019] An IP packet is said to be directed to a destination system
when the destination IP address of the packet is set to the IP
address of the destination system, such that the packet is
eventually delivered to the destination system. When the packet
contains content such as port numbers, which specifies the
destination application, the packet may be said to be directed to
such application as well. The destination system may be required to
keep the corresponding port numbers available/open, and process the
packets with the corresponding destination ports.
[0020] Each of STAs 120 and 130 represents an end device that may
execute various user applications. STAs 120 and 130 may communicate
with each other via AP 110. Further one or both of STA 120 and 130
may communicate with devices in internet 190 also via AP 110. In an
embodiment, AP 110, STA 120 and STA 130 form a basic service set
(BSS) 150 consistent with IEEE 802.11 family of standards. The
antenna of STA 120 is shown numbered as 125. While the components
and devices of FIG. 1 are noted as being designed to operate
according to IEEE 802.11 family of standards, in other embodiments,
the components and devices of FIG. 1 may be designed to operate
consistent with other wireless standards such as, for example, IEEE
802.15.4.
[0021] The user application(s) being executed in a STA (120 or 130)
may generate parallel data streams, each containing a corresponding
ordered sequence of IP packets. For example, respective
applications executing in STA 120 may generate a video data stream,
a voice data stream and a sensor data stream representing
temperature or pressure values (obtained from a sensor connected to
STA 120, but not shown). The data streams may be destined to a same
or a correspondingly different device (either STA 130 or a device
in internet 190).
[0022] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to determining
transmission rates when transmitting parallel data streams from a
wireless station of a wireless network, as described below with
examples.
3. Transmitting Parallel Data Streams
[0023] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the manner in which a
STA of a wireless network transmits parallel data streams, in an
embodiment of the present disclosure. Merely for illustration, the
flowchart is described below as being performed in STA 120.
However, the features can be implemented in STA 130 also, as well
as in other environments, without departing from the scope and
spirit of various aspects of the present invention, as will be
apparent to one skilled in the relevant arts by reading the
disclosure provided herein.
[0024] In addition, some of the steps may be performed in a
different sequence than that depicted below, as suited to the
specific environment, as will be apparent to one skilled in the
relevant arts. Many of such implementations are contemplated to be
covered by several aspects of the present disclosure. The flow
chart begins in step 201, in which control immediately passes to
step 210.
[0025] In step 210, STA 120 maintains transmission profiles, each
corresponding to a respective data stream of parallel data streams.
A transmission profile contains a set of rules or parameters, which
are used for determining various characteristics in relation to
transmission of packets in the corresponding data stream. The set
of rules may differ for data streams having dissimilar transmission
requirements or transmission objectives. For example, a data stream
that needs to meet a minimum throughput requirement (i.e.,
effective number of packets per unit time successfully transmitted
to destination device) may have a transmission profile different
from a data stream that needs to minimize transmission power
requirements at STA 120.
[0026] In an embodiment, the set of rules corresponding to a
transmission profile includes rules for selecting an initial
(start) transmission rate, the specific lower rates to be attempted
in case of failure of a current transmission, conditions for
reducing the transmission rate (fallback) and conditions for
increasing the transmission rate (climb-up). Thus, in the example
of three parallel streams, namely, a video data stream, a voice
data stream and a sensor data stream, STA 120 maintains three
transmission profiles, respective one for each of the three
streams. Control then passes to step 220.
[0027] In step 220, STA 120 queues packets of each data stream in a
corresponding queue. Thus, in the above-noted example, STA 120
maintains three separate queues, one for each of the video data
stream, the voice data stream and the sensor data stream, and
queues the packets (for example, as they are generated) in the
respective queue. Control then passes to step 230.
[0028] In step 230, STA 120 selects a packet from one of the
queues. The determination as to which queue a packet is selected
from may be determined, for example, by the medium access control
(MAC) protocol, such as EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access)
in case of 802.11 MAC. Alternatively, or in addition, such
selection may be based on inputs from the transmission profiles
corresponding to the respective queues. Control then passes to step
240.
[0029] In step 240, STA 120 determines the transmission rate (to be
used for the packet selected in step 230) according to the
transmission profile of the queue from which the packet was
selected. In other words, the rules within the transmission profile
associated with the queue determine the transmission rate. Control
then passes to step 250.
[0030] In step 250, STA 120 transmits the packet (selected in step
230) at the determined transmission rate. Control then passes to
step 230, and steps 230, 240 and 250 are repeated for another
packet.
[0031] Accordingly, the transmission rate for packets in one data
stream may be based on one transmission profile and the
transmission rate for packets in another data stream may be based
on another transmission profile. Thus, STA 120 transmits parallel
data streams, with the specific transmission rate of each packet of
the corresponding data stream determined by the corresponding
profile.
[0032] In an embodiment, the transmission rate is determined by a
rate adaptation module in STA 120, and the interaction between
corresponding blocks/modules in the embodiment is illustrated next
with an example.
4. Blocks
[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing relevant blocks/components
of STA 120 operational in determining transmission rates of packets
of parallel data streams, in an embodiment of the present
disclosure. The diagram is shown containing applications 301, 302
and 303, queues 311, 312 and 313, look-up tables (LUT) 321, 322 and
323, rate adaptation module 330, queue selection logic 340,
transmit (TX) block 370, antenna 125, and profiles 391, 392 and
393. The same path/connection (e.g., 335-337 and 331-333) is shown
with the same reference number, though shown as disconnected lines,
merely for ease of depiction of the blocks and their
interrelationships.
[0034] Each of applications 301, 302 and 303 represents a
respective set of software instructions that execute to provide
desired user features. For example, application 301 may represent a
video application that generates a video data stream (and an audio
stream, though not shown), application 302 may represent a
voice/speech application that generates a voice data stream, and
application 303 may represent a sensor data stream. The three data
streams are parallel data streams. Applications 301, 302 and 303
respectively store (in the form of a queue) generated data packets
in queues 311, 312 and 313 respectively via respective paths 351,
352 and 353.
[0035] LUT 321 stores a value representing the transmission rate to
be used (by TX block 370, described below) to transmit a next
packet from queue 311. LUT 321 receives the value from rate
adaptation module 330 (described below) on path 335. LUT 322 stores
a value (received from rate adaptation module 330 on path 336)
representing the transmission rate to be used by TX block 370 to
transmit a next packet from queue 312. LUT 323 stores a value
(received from rate adaptation module 330 on path 337) representing
the transmission rate to be used by TX block 370 to transmit a next
packet from queue 313. Each of the values stored in LUT 321, 322
and 323 gets over-written (replaced) when rate adaptation module
330 writes a corresponding new value in LUT 321, 322 and 323. As
will be clear from the description below, each queue 311, 312 and
313, is associated with a corresponding transmission profile.
[0036] Queue selection logic 340 determines the specific one of
queues 311, 312 and 313 from which TX block 370 is to select a next
packet for transmission based on the three profiles 391, 392 and
393, accessible (retrieved) via respective paths 331, 332 and 333.
Queue selection logic 340 may make the determination based on
bandwidth, latency requirements, etc., of data streams
corresponding to the profiles, and/or according to a MAC protocol
such as EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access) in case of
802.11 MAC. As an example, queue selection logic 340 may maintain
three separate counters, one for each queue, and initialize the
counters to corresponding predetermined values. Each of the three
counters then count downwards upon transmission of each packet
(from any of the queues). When the corresponding counter reaches
zero, queue selection logic 340 indicates to TX block 370 on path
347 the specific queue from which a next packet is to be
transmitted. The initial value from which a counter starts
count-down reflects the bandwidth, latency requirements, etc. Thus,
for example, the initial count for a low-bandwidth data stream
would be larger than the initial count for a high-bandwidth data
stream.
[0037] TX block 370 receives (on path 347) from queue selection
logic 340 an indication of which queue a next packet is to be
transmitted from, and retrieves the packet from the corresponding
queue. TX block 370 retrieves the transmission rate to be used for
transmitting the retrieved packet from the corresponding one of
LUTs 321, 322 and 323, via respective paths 382, 384 and 386. Thus,
if the packet to be transmitted was retrieved from queue 311, TX
block 370 retrieves the transmission rate from LUT 321. If the
packet to be transmitted was retrieved from queue 312, TX block 370
retrieves the transmission rate from LUT 322. If the packet to be
transmitted was retrieved from queue 313, TX block 370 retrieves
the transmission rate from LUT 323. TX block 370 then transmits the
packet (from the corresponding one of queues 311, 312 and 313,
retrieved via respective paths 381, 383 and 385) at the
corresponding transmission rate.
[0038] In response to transmission of a packet, TX block 370 either
receives an acknowledgement (within a predetermined window of time
following transmission of the packet by TX block 370) or does not
receive any acknowledgement from the destination device to which
the packet was addressed. Receipt of an acknowledgement indicates
that the transmitted packet was successfully received by the
destination device, while the lack of an acknowledgement indicates
that the packet was not received by the destination device. TX
block 370, in turn, forwards a message (success/failure) to rate
adaptation module 330 on the corresponding one of paths 371, 372
and 373 (depending on whether the packet transmitted was retrieved
from queue 311, 312 or 313 respectively), with the message
specifying whether an acknowledgement was received on not.
[0039] Rate adaptation module 330 operates to determine the
transmission rate with which a packet is to be transmitted (for
each packet in each of queues 311, 312 and 313), based on a
corresponding transmission profile. It is assumed herein that the
transmission profiles for packets in queues 311, 312 and 313 are
respectively contained in 391 (Profile-1), 392 (Profile-2) and 393
(Profile-3). Rate adaptation module 330 accesses the profiles 391,
392 and 393 via respective paths 331, 332 and 333. Queue 311
contains packets of a video data stream and is associated with
Profile-1 (391). Queue 312 contains packets of a voice/speech data
stream and is associated with Profile-2 (392). Queue 313 contains
packets of a sensor data stream and is associated with Profile-3
(393).
[0040] Rate adaptation module 330 employs the rules in a
transmission profile (in conjunction with success/failure messages
from TX block 370) to determine the transmission rate for a next
packet in a queue, and stores the rate in the corresponding LUT.
Rate adaptation module 330 may compute one or more parameters in
determining the transmission rate for a next packet from a
corresponding queue. As noted above with respect to an embodiment,
corresponding to each profile, rate adaptation module 330
determines an initial (start) transmission rate for a (first)
packet corresponding to the profile/queue, the specific lower rates
to be attempted in case of failure of a current transmission (as
determined by the success/failure message received on the
correspond path 371, 372 and 373), conditions for reducing the
transmission rate (fallback), and conditions for increasing the
transmission rate (climb-up). In the embodiment, transmission rates
for packets following a start/initial packet are determined by rate
adaptation module 330 based on the conditions and the specific
lower rates noted above.
[0041] Example transmission profiles and the manner in which rate
adaptation module 330 computes a transmission rate consistent with
the corresponding transmission profile are briefly described
next.
5. Transmission Profiles
[0042] In an embodiment, two types of transmission profiles may be
employed in STA 120, one when high packet throughput is the
objective, and the other when minimization of transmission power in
STA 120 is the objective. The two profiles are respectively termed
"High-Throughput Profile", and "Low-Power Profile".
[0043] In the low-power profile, the emphasis is on minimizing
power consumption in TX block 370 (FIG. 3). In general, use of
higher transmission rates reduces power consumption. However, a
large number of retries (retransmission of a packet when no
acknowledgement of receipt by the destination is received) may be
wasteful of power. Therefore, the low-power profile is aggressive
in climb-up as well as fallback to maximize power save. STA 120
uses the low-power profile for transmitting packets of the sensor
data stream, and thus Profile-3 (393) contains the low-power
profile.
[0044] In the high-throughput profile, the emphasis is on meeting
the minimum required data throughput (i.e., being able to
sustainably transmit a minimum required number of bits per second).
To maintain minimum required throughput, climb-up is aggressive
till the minimum required transmission rate is reached, but not
aggressive in climb-up thereafter. Fallback is not aggressive,
i.e., on transmission failure, the current transmission rate is not
reduced immediately, but is reduced only upon repetitive
transmission failures. STA 120 uses the high-throughput profile for
transmitting packets of each of the video data stream and voice
data stream, but may employ different parameter (or threshold)
values for the two streams, as briefly noted below. Thus, each of
Profile-1 (391) and Profile-2 (392) contain the high-throughput
profile but possibly with different thresholds.
[0045] The manner in which initial (start) transmission rate, the
specific lower rates to be attempted in case of failure of a
current transmission, conditions for reducing the transmission rate
(fallback) and conditions for increasing the transmission rate
(climb-up) are determined for each of the low-power profile and
high-throughput profile are briefly described next, with a more
detailed algorithm listing being provided in appendices A and B
below.
[0046] For each profile, rate adaptation module 330 maintains a
`success` counter, a `failure` counter, a `winning/losing streak`
counter (streakcounter) and a `rateEpoch` counter corresponding to
each transmission rate. Additionally, STA 120 maintains for each
profile, a single global epoch counter.
[0047] The success counter and failure counter are used to count
the total number of successes and failures for each transmission
rate, and are updated after each transmission at that transmission
rate. If the transmission was successful at the first attempt, then
the corresponding success counter is updated. If transmission was
successful with retries, then the success counter corresponding to
the successful transmission is incremented, and the failure
counters for all the rates that were attempted, but failed, are
decremented.
[0048] On every successful transmission (at a transmission rate),
the streakcounter corresponding to that transmission rate is
incremented. On the first failure at a transmission rate, the
streakcounter is set to -1, and for each subsequent failure, the
streakcounter is decremented by 1. Upon a next successful
transmission, the streak counter is set to 1, and incremented on
every subsequent successful transmission (assuming there are no
failures in between). The winning/losing streak (i.e., the value in
the streakcounter) is used for transmission rate selection during
climb-up (as described below).
[0049] The global epoch counter is incremented on transmission of
every frame/packet. Each time a transmission rate is attempted
(whether the transmission is successful or not), the rateEpoch
counter corresponding to the transmission rate is incremented. The
difference between global epoch counter value and the rateEpoch
counter value for a transmission rate specifies the number of
frames transmitted since that rate was attempted last.
[0050] The manner in which the counters noted above are used by
rate adaptation module 330 to determine a transmission rate for a
next packet corresponding to a transmission profile is briefly
described next with respect to an embodiment. Description for the
low-power profile is provided first followed by description for the
high-throughput profile.
[0051] For the low-power profile, rate adaptation module 330
selects the initial transmission rate based on received signal
strength indicator (RSSI), which is a measure of the power level
being received by the antenna of a wireless receiver (here antenna
of STA 120). The higher the RSSI, the stronger the signal, and less
noisy the wireless channel (in general). Accordingly, if the RSSI
is very high, STA 120 selects a correspondingly high initial
transmission rate. For lower values of the RSSI, STA 120 selects
correspondingly lower values of the initial transmission rate.
[0052] Rate adaptation module 330 uses a set of retry rates in case
of failure of (every) current transmission rate. Retry rates are a
set of increasingly lower transmission rates from the current
transmission rate. If a current rate is unsuccessful, then lower
rates from the set are attempted successively. If a rate from the
set results in successful transmission, then STA 120 falls back to
(i.e., employs) the successful retry rate. However, if all the
rates in the retry rate set result in unsuccessful transmission,
then STA 120 selects that rate from the rate set which has had more
successes than failures (i.e., the rate for which value of its
success counter is greater than value of its failure counter).
[0053] Rate adaptation module 330 attempts climb-up after three
successful transmissions at the current rate. Once three successful
transmissions at the current rate are successful, rate adaptation
module 330 attempts transmission at the highest possible rate
(allowed by the standard) if the streakcounter corresponding to the
highest possible rate is non-negative. However, if the
streakcounter of the highest possible rate is negative, then rate
adaptation module 330 determines the number of frames that have
been transmitted (at other rates) since transmission at the highest
possible rate was last attempted, with rate adaptation module 330
obtain such number of frames by subtracting the rateEpoch counter
value corresponding to the highest possible rate from the global
epoch counter. If such difference is greater than the absolute
value of the streakcounter of the highest possible rate, the rate
(termed contingentRate) may be considered at a later time
point.
[0054] Rate adaptation module 330 may then evaluate a next lower
rate (from the highest possible rate) and the similar
determinations as noted above with respect to the highest possible
rate are performed. If rate adaptation module 330 finds a rate for
which streakcounter is non-negative, then such rate is selected as
the transmission rate. However, if rate adaptation module 330 does
not find even one rate higher than the current rate for which
streakcounter is non-negative, then the highest contingentRate is
set as the next transmission rate.
[0055] For the high-throughput profile, rate adaptation module 330
selects the minimum required physical layer (PHY) rate
corresponding to the throughput rate of the data stream of the
profile as the initial rate. As an example, for the video data
stream, a throughput rate of 5 Mbps may be deemed necessary, and a
corresponding minimum required PHY rate would (approximately) be 8
Mbps. If 8 Mbps is not available for use (e.g., standard may not
allow such a rate), rate adaptation module 330 selects the next
higher rate (say 9 Mbps) as the initial rate.
[0056] For the high-throughput profile also, rate adaptation module
330 maintains a set of retry rates for each current transmission
rate. However, the manner in which rate adaptation module 330
applies fallback to lower rates in the event of an unsuccessful
transmission is different from that applied in the low-power
profile. If a current rate is unsuccessful, then lower rates from
the retry rate set are attempted successively. If a rate from the
set results in successful transmission, then rate adaptation module
330 falls-back to (i.e., employs) the successful retry rate only if
the successful rate is greater than or equal to minimum required
PHY rate (noted above). However, if the successful retry rate is
less than the minimum required PHY rate, and if the first attempted
transmission rate (the `current rate` noted above) is greater than
the minimum required PHY rate, then rate adaptation module 330
falls back to minimum required PHY rate, i.e., sets the minimum
required PHY rate as the next transmission rate.
[0057] On the other hand, if the successful retry rate is less than
the minimum required PHY rate, and if the first attempted
transmission rate is also less than the minimum required PHY rate,
then rate adaptation module 330 falls back to the retry rate that
was successful. However, if all the retry rates (in the retry rate
set) were unsuccessful, then rate adaptation module 330 sets the
lowest rate from the rate set that has a has had more successes
than failures (i.e., the rate for which value of its success
counter is greater than value of its failure counter).
[0058] Rate adaptation module 330 attempts climb-up after three
successful transmissions (three being an example of a threshold,
which can be different for a different high-throughput profile such
as for the voice/speech application 302) at the current rate if the
current rate is lower than the minimum required PHY rate. However,
if the current rate is greater than equal to the minimum required
PHY rate, rate adaptation module 330 attempts climb-up only after
ten successful transmissions (ten being another example of a
threshold) at the current rate. The selection of the higher rate
for climb up is identical to that used for low-power profile,
except that an evaluated rate is stored as a contingent rate only
if the difference between the global epoch counter and the
rateEpoch counter for the evaluated rate is greater than the
absolute value of (three times the streakcounter for the evaluated
rate), wherein the number three is another example of a
threshold.
[0059] It may be observed from a comparison of the two profiles
described above that different considerations are used in
determining the transmission rate according to the two profiles.
For example, and as noted above, the emphasis in low-power profile
is minimization of transmission power, and hence the initial rate
is selected to be as high as possible (based on RSSI). On the other
hand, for the high-throughput profile, throughput is the emphasis,
and the initial rate is the minimum required PHY rate. Further, in
low-power profile, fallback is less aggressive than in high
throughput profile, while climb-up is more aggressive than in
high-throughput profile.
[0060] The low-power profile and high-throughput profile are
provided merely as examples, and any other transmission profile as
suited for the specific environment or application can instead be
also used.
[0061] Description of a diagram illustrating transmission of
parallel data streams according to the low-power profile and
high-throughput profile is provided next.
6. Illustration
[0062] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating transmission of parallel
data streams according to corresponding transmission profiles by
STA 120, in an embodiment. In FIG. 4, the un-hashed bars represent
corresponding packets of a video stream, while the hashed bars
represent corresponding packets of a sensor data stream. Packets of
the video data stream are transmitted with transmission rates
determined according to the high-throughput profile, while packets
of the sensor data stream are transmitted with transmission rates
determined according to the low-power profile. For simplicity,
packets of the voice data stream are not shown in FIG. 4. In the
diagram bars with a cross mark across them are assumed to be
unsuccessful packet transmissions, while bars without a cross mark
across them are assumed to be successful transmissions.
[0063] Packet 401 is assumed to be the initial packet of the video
data stream, and is successfully transmitted at the minimum
required PHY rate (e.g. 9 Mbps), as noted above. Packets 402, 403,
405, 406, 408, 409, 410, 411 and 412 are subsequent packets of the
video stream, and are each transmitted successfully at the minimum
required PHY rate. Since ten successive packets of the video data
stream were successful, the next packet 413 is transmitted at the
highest possible rate (65 Mbps), which is also assumed to be
successfully transmitted.
[0064] Packet 404 is assumed to be the initial packet of the sensor
data stream, and is successfully transmitted at the highest rate
selected based on RSSI. Packets 407 and 414 are subsequent packets
of the sensor data stream, and are each transmitted successfully at
the same rate as packet 404. Since three successive packets of the
sensor data stream were successfully transmitted, the next packet
416 is transmitted at the highest possible rate (65 Mbps), and is
also assumed to be successfully transmitted.
[0065] Packets 413 and 415 of the video data stream are assumed to
be successfully transmitted at the highest possible rate (65 Mbps).
However, packet 417 transmitted at 65 Mbps is assumed to be a
failed transmission. Accordingly, packet 417 is re-transmitted at
the next lower rate (which is lower than 65 Mbps but greater then 9
Mbps), and the transmission at the lower rate is assumed to be
successful, and the lower rate becomes the fallback rate since it
would be greater than the minimum required PHY rate. Packet 418 is
also transmitted at the same rate as successful transmission
417.
[0066] Packet 419 of the sensor data stream transmitted at 65 Mbps
is assumed to be a failed transmission. Accordingly, packet 419 is
re-transmitted at the next lower rate, and the transmission at the
lower rate is assumed to be successful, and the lower rate becomes
the fallback rate.
[0067] Further packets of the data streams may be transmitted in
accordance with the respective transmission profiles, described in
detail above. The description is continued with an illustration of
the implementation details of a STA in an embodiment.
7. Wireless Station
[0068] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the implementation details
of a STA in an embodiment of the present disclosure. STA 120 is
shown containing processing block 510, input/output (I/O) block
520, random access memory (RAM) 530, real-time clock (RTC) 540,
battery 545, non-volatile memory 550, sensor block 560, transmit
(TX) block 570, receive (RX) block 580, switch 590, and antenna
595. The whole of STA 120 may be implemented as a system-on-chip
(SoC), except for battery 545 and antenna 595. Alternatively, the
blocks of FIG. 5 may be implemented on separate integrated circuits
(IC). Terminal 599 represents a ground terminal. STA 130 may also
be implemented as shown in FIG. 5, and as described below.
[0069] Battery 545 provides power for operation of STA 120, and may
be connected to the various blocks shown in FIG. 5 (although shown
connected only to RTC 540). While STA 120 is shown as being
battery-powered, in another embodiment, STA 120 is mains-powered
and contains corresponding components such as transformers,
regulators, power filters, etc. RTC 540 operates as a clock, and
provides the `current` time to processing block 510.
[0070] I/O block 520 provides interfaces for user interaction with
STA 120, and includes input devices and output devices. The input
devices include a camera (which generates video signals/data),
microphone (which generates voice/speech signals/data), keyboard
and a pointing device (e.g., touch-pad, mouse). I/O block 520
provides the signals/data generated by the input devices to
processing block 510 after appropriate processing. Applications 301
and 302 may respectively process (e.g., form packets from)
corresponding data received from the camera and microphone
respectively. Output devices in I/O block 520 includes a display
unit and corresponding display signal processing circuitry, which
receives data from processing block 510 and processes the data for
display on the display unit. A user may provide various
transmission profiles (e.g., 391, 392 and 393 of FIG. 3) via I/O
block 520.
[0071] Sensor block 560 may contain one or more sensors, as well as
corresponding signal conditioning circuitry, and provides to
processing block 510, measurements/values of physical quantities
such as temperature, pressure, etc., sensed via wired path 562 or
wireless path 568. Sensor block 560 may perform analog-to-digital
conversion of the measurement/values prior to forwarding the
measurements/values to processing block 510. Application 303 (of
FIG. 3) may further process the (digitized) measurements/values and
form packets containing such values.
[0072] Antenna 595, corresponds to antenna 125 of FIGS. 1 and 3,
and operates to receive from, and transmit to, a wireless medium,
corresponding wireless signals (e.g., according to IEEE 802.11
(WLAN) standards). Switch 590 may be controlled by processing block
510 (connection not shown) to connect antenna 595 to one of blocks
570 and 580 as desired, depending on whether transmission or
reception of wireless signals is required. Switch 590, antenna 595
and the corresponding connections of FIG. 5 are shown merely by way
of illustration. Instead of a single antenna 595, separate
antennas, one for transmission and another for reception of
wireless signals, can also be used. Various other techniques, well
known in the relevant arts, can also be used instead.
[0073] TX block 570, which corresponds to TX block 370 of FIG. 3,
receives, from processing block 510, packets (such as those of the
parallel data streams described above) to be transmitted on a
wireless signal (e.g., according to a wireless standard such as
IEEE 802.11), generates a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal
(according to the standard), and transmits the RF signal via switch
590 and antenna 595. TX block 570 may contain RF and baseband
circuitry for generating and transmitting wireless signals, as well
as for medium access operations. Alternatively, TX block 570 may
contain only the RF circuitry, with processing block 510 performing
the baseband and medium access operations (in conjunction with the
RF circuitry).
[0074] RX block 580 represents a receiver that receives a wireless
(RF) signal (e.g., according to IEEE 802.11) bearing data and/or
control information via switch 590, and antenna 595, demodulates
the RF signal, and provides the extracted data or control
information to processing block 510. RX block 580 may contain RF as
well as baseband processing circuitry for processing a WLAN signal.
Alternatively, RX block 580 may contain only the RF circuitry, with
processing block 510 performing the baseband operations in
conjunction with the RF circuitry.
[0075] Non-volatile memory 550 is a non-transitory machine readable
medium, and stores instructions, which when executed by processing
block 510, causes STA 120 to operate as described above. In
particular, the instructions enable STA 120 to operate as described
with respect to the flowchart of FIG. 2. Further, nonvolatile
memory 550 may store instructions corresponding to applications
301, 302 and 303, and may either be executed directly from
non-volatile memory 550 or be copied to RAM 530 for execution. Some
form of multitasking kernel may in addition be stored and executed
in non-volatile memory 550 (or alternatively in RAM 530) to enable
parallel execution of the applications 301-303, as well as the code
required to implement the operations of the flowchart of FIG.
2.
[0076] RAM 530 is a volatile random access memory, and may be used
for storing instructions and data. In addition, RAM 530 may be used
to store the transmission profiles (391-393) described above. RAM
530 may also be used to store LUTs 321-323, queues 311-313, and any
data used by applications 301-303.
[0077] RAM 530 and non-volatile memory 550 (which may be
implemented in the form of read-only memory/ROM/Flash) constitute
computer program products or machine (or computer) readable medium,
which are means for providing instructions to processing block 510.
Processing block 510 may retrieve the instructions, and execute the
instructions to provide several features of the present
disclosure.
[0078] Processing block 510 (or processor in general) may contain
multiple processing units internally, with each processing unit
potentially being designed for a specific task. Alternatively,
processing block 510 may contain only a single general-purpose
processing unit. Rate adaptation module 330 may either be
implemented as a sub-portion (i.e., in hardware form) of processing
block 510, or may represent software instructions (stored in either
non-volatile memory 550 or RAM 530) and executed by processing
block 510. Processing block 510 may execute instructions stored in
non-volatile memory 550 or RAM 530 to enable STA 120 to operate
according to several aspects of the present disclosure, described
above in detail.
8. Conclusion
[0079] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the
breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by
any of the above-described embodiments, but should be defined only
in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *