U.S. patent number 9,271,164 [Application Number 14/246,136] was granted by the patent office on 2016-02-23 for method of increasing data throughput of a wireless network system by dynamically adjusting mtu/fragmentation size according to current transmission status.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ACER INCORPORATED. The grantee listed for this patent is ACER INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Tsung-Yo Cheng.
United States Patent |
9,271,164 |
Cheng |
February 23, 2016 |
Method of increasing data throughput of a wireless network system
by dynamically adjusting MTU/fragmentation size according to
current transmission status
Abstract
In a wireless network system which adopts a multi-layer data
transmission structure, a wireless channel is established between a
user equipment and a base station. A wireless transmission channel
is established between the user equipment and the base station. An
MTU/fragmentation size adopted in the wireless transmission channel
is set and dynamically adjusted according to the current
transmission status of the wireless transmission channel.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Tsung-Yo (New Taipei,
TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ACER INCORPORATED |
New Taipei |
N/A |
TW |
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Assignee: |
ACER INCORPORATED (Xizhi Dist.,
New Taipei, TW)
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Family
ID: |
52427579 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/246,136 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20150036511 A1 |
Feb 5, 2015 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61862092 |
Aug 5, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
43/0829 (20130101); H04W 28/04 (20130101); H04L
47/365 (20130101); H04L 1/00 (20130101); H04W
24/00 (20130101); H04L 1/0007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04W
28/06 (20090101); H04W 24/00 (20090101); H04W
28/04 (20090101); H04L 12/805 (20130101); H04L
1/00 (20060101); H04L 12/26 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;370/241,242 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pham; Chi H
Assistant Examiner: Lopata; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hsu; Winston Margo; Scott
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application
No. 61/862,092 filed on Aug. 5, 2013.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of data transmission between a user equipment and a
base station in a wireless network system having a multi-layer
structure, comprising: establishing a wireless transmission channel
between the user equipment and the base station; measuring a
transmission status of the wireless transmission channel by
measuring a packet loss rate or a packet error rate of a first
layer in the wireless transmission channel; setting a data
transmission parameter of a second layer in the wireless
transmission channel according to the transmission status; and
setting a maximum transfer unit (MTU)/fragmentation size adopted in
the wireless transmission channel according to the transmission
status, wherein: when the transmission status measured at a
specific time point is worse than a threshold, the
MTU/fragmentation size and the data transmission parameter are set
so as to allow the user equipment to operate at a first speed; when
the transmission status measured at the specific time point is not
worse than a threshold, the MTU/fragmentation size and the data
transmission parameter are set so as to allow the user equipment to
operate at a second speed; the first speed is smaller than a
current speed of the user equipment at the specific time point; the
second speed is larger than the current speed; and the first layer
is hierarchically higher than the second layer in the multi-layer
structure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the MTU/fragmentation
size according to the transmission status comprises: adjusting the
MTU/fragmentation size from a first value at the specific time
point to a second value smaller than the first value when the
transmission status measured at the specific time point is worse
than the threshold; and maintaining the MTU/fragmentation size at
the first value when the transmission status measured at the
specific time point is not worse than the threshold.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the MTU/fragmentation
size according to the transmission status comprises: adjusting the
MTU/fragmentation size from a first value acquired at the specific
time point to a second value smaller than the first value when the
transmission status measured at the specific time point is worse
than the threshold; and adjusting the MTU/fragmentation size from
the first value to a third value larger than the first value when
the transmission status measured at the specific time point is not
worse than the threshold.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the second value is equal to an
average of the first value and a minimum value; the third value is
equal to an average of the first value and a maximum value; the
maximum value is larger than the first value, the second value and
the third value; and the minimum value is smaller than the first
value, the second value and the third value.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: acquiring a current
value of the MTU/fragmentation size at the specific time; acquiring
an updated value which is smaller the current value; setting the
MTU/fragmentation size to the updated value when the transmission
status measured at the specific time point is worse than the
threshold and the updated value exceeds a minimum value; and
setting the MTU/fragmentation size to the minimum value when the
transmission status measured at the specific time point is not
worse than the threshold and the updated value does not exceed the
minimum value.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method of data transmission
in a wireless network system having a multi-layer structure, and
more particularly, to a method of increasing data throughput of a
wireless network system by dynamically adjusting MTU/fragmentation
size according to current transmission status.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With rapid development in technology, a user may easily connect to
a network using desktop computers, notebook computers, personal
digital assistants (PDAs) or smart phones. In order for electronic
equipment having varying specifications to be able to communicate
with other entities in the same network, an OSI (Open Systems
Interconnection) network model has been provided by ISO
(International Organization for Standardization) for managing the
network intercommunication between two network entities.
Third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) wireless networks,
as specified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
include wireless access networks in which different application
services, such as data services, voice over IP (VoIP) content or
video content, can be delivered over various communication
protocols, such as Internet protocol (IP) and Transmission Control
Protocol (TCP). Both IP and TCP define size limits for packets
transmitted over a network. The IP maximum transmission unit (MTU)
defines the maximum size of IP packet that can be transmitted. The
TCP maximum segment size (MSS) defines the maximum number of data
bytes in a packet (excluding the TCP/IP headers).
In computer networking, the size of an MTU/fragmentation may be
fixed according to the adopted network access interfaces (such as
Ethernet, WLAN, Token Ring or FDDI) or determined by relevant
systems (such as point-to-point serial links) at connecting time. A
larger MTU/fragmentation size brings greater efficiency improves
bulk protocol throughput because each packet carries more user data
while protocol overheads remain fixed. A larger MTU/fragmentation
size also means processing of fewer packets for the same amount of
data, especially in a system where per-packet-processing is a
critical performance limitation. However, large packets occupy a
slow link for more time than a smaller packet, causing greater
delays to subsequent packets, and increasing lag and minimum
latency. Large packets are also problematic in the presence of
communications errors since larger packets are more likely to be
corrupt at a given bit error rate. Corruption of a single bit in a
packet requires that the entire packet be retransmitted, and
retransmissions of larger packets take longer due to greater
payload.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of dynamically adjusting
MTU/fragmentation size to optimize data throughput rate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of data transmission
between a user equipment and a base station in a wireless network
system having a multi-layer structure. The method includes
establishing a wireless transmission channel between the user
equipment and the base station; measuring a signal transmission
status of the wireless transmission channel; and setting an
MTU/fragmentation size adopted in the wireless transmission channel
according to the transmission status.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that
is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a multi-layer structure according
to the OSI model.
FIGS. 2 and 8 are flowcharts illustrating methods of optimizing
data throughput rate in a wireless network system according to
embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 3-7 are diagrams illustrating methods of executing steps in
the embodiment of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the present invention, when a user equipment and a base station
in a wireless network system are in communication using a
multi-layer structure, the user equipment may dynamically adjust
the MTU/fragmentation size according to its current transmission
status, thereby improving the overall data throughput of the
wireless network system.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a multi-layer structure according
to the OSI model. From bottom to top, Layer 1.about.Layer 7
sequentially include physical layer, data link layer, network
layer, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and
application layer. The physical layer and the data link layer in
the OSI model are configured to handle network hardware connection
and may be implemented on various network access interfaces, such
as Ethernet, Token-Ring or Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI),
etc. The network layer in the OSI model is configured to deliver
messages between a transmitting entity and a receiving entity using
various protocols, such as identifying addresses or selecting
transmission path using IP, address Resolution Protocol (ARP),
Reverse Address Resolution Protocol RARP or Internet Control
Message Protocol (ICMP). The transport layer in the OSI model is
configured to deliver messages between different hosts using TCP
and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The session layer, the
presentation layer, and the application layer in the OSI model are
configured to provide various application protocols, such as
TELNET, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
(SMTP), Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP), Network News Transport Protocol (NNTP), Domain
Name System (DNS), Network Information Service (NIS), Network File
System (NFS), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). The present
invention may be applied to any wireless network system having a
multi-layer structure for data transmission. Also, various
communication standards, such as 2G, 3G or 4G, may be used to
establish a wireless transmission channel between the user
equipment and the base station in the wireless network system.
However, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and the types of the
communication standard do not limit the scope of the present
invention.
In the present invention, the user equipment may include
transportable electronic devices such as mobile telephones,
personal digital assistants, handheld, tablet, nettop, or laptop
computers, or other devices with similar telecommunication
capabilities. In other cases, the user equipment may include
non-transportable devices with similar telecommunications
capabilities, such as desktop computers, set-top boxes, or network
appliances. The base station is configured to provide local
coverage (an area where the user equipment can work) for the
wireless network system. However, the types of the user equipment
and the base station do not limit the scope of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of optimizing data
throughput rate in a wireless network system according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart in FIG. 1
includes the following steps:
Step 110: establish a wireless transmission channel between a user
equipment and a base station in the wireless network system;
execute step 120.
Step 120: user equipment measures a transmission status when
sending packets to or receiving packets from the base station;
execute step 130.
Step 130: set an MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer
according to the transmission status; execute step 120.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the transmission status
may be acquired by measuring the packet loss rate of the packet
error rate (PER) of the transport layer in step 120. The
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer may be set according
to the measured packet loss rate or PER in step 130.
FIGS. 3-6 are diagrams illustrating methods of executing step 130
in the embodiment of FIG. 2. T1-T5 denote the time points at which
the user equipment executes step 120. For illustrative purpose,
assume that the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer is
set to M0, which is the original/default MTU/fragmentation size of
the transport layer, when executing step 110. Also, it is assumed
that the packet loss rates or PERs measured at T1, T2 and T4 exceed
a threshold value M.sub.TH, while the packet loss rates or PERs
measured at T3 and T5 do not exceed the threshold value
M.sub.TH.
In the methods depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, if the packet loss rate
or PER measured at a specific time point does not exceed the
threshold value M.sub.TH, the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer is set to its current value at the specific time
point in step 130; if the packet loss rate or PER measured at the
specific time point exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH, the
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer is set to an updated
value smaller than its current value in step 130. More
specifically, when the packet loss rate or PER measured at T1
exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH, the user equipment is
configured set the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer to
M1 before T2. When the packet failure rate measured at T2 still
exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH after setting the
MTU/fragmentation size to M1, the user equipment is configured set
the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer to M2 before T3.
When the packet loss rate or PER measured at T3 does not exceed the
threshold value M.sub.TH after setting the MTU/fragmentation size
to M2, the user equipment is configured maintain the
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer at M2 before T4. When
the packet loss rate or PER measured at T4 again exceeds the
threshold value M.sub.TH after setting the MTU/fragmentation size
to M2, the user equipment is configured set the MTU/fragmentation
size of the transport layer to M3 before T5. Similar procedure may
be repeated after T5.
The present invention may adopt any decrement method for setting
the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer when executing
step 130 in the embodiment of FIG. 2. For example, the
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer may be set to an
updated value which is half of its current value (i.e. M1=M0/2,
M2=M1/2, and M3=M2/2), as depicted in FIG. 3. Or, the
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer may be decremented by
the same amount when necessary (i.e. |M1-M0|=|M2-M1|=|M3-M2|>0).
However, the type of method used for setting the MTU/fragmentation
size of the transport layer does not limit the scope of the present
invention.
Since the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer may be
lowered or maintained at its current value according the real-time
transmission status, the present invention can improve the overall
data throughput of the wireless system.
In the methods depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, a minimum
MTU/fragmentation size M.sub.MIN is further introduced so that the
updated value of the MTU/fragmentation size is not smaller than
M.sub.MIN. For example, if the minimum MTU/fragmentation size
M.sub.MIN is set to M0/4 and the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer is set to an updated value which is half of its
current value when necessary, then M1=M0/2, M2=M0/4, and M3=M0/4,
as depicted in FIG. 5. If the minimum MTU/fragmentation size
M.sub.MIN is set to M2 and the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer may be decremented by the same amount when
necessary, then |M1-M0|=|M2-M1|>0 and M3=M2). However, the type
of method used for setting the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer does not limit the scope of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of executing step 130 in
the embodiment of FIG. 2. T1-T5 denote the time points at which the
user equipment executes step 120. For illustrative purpose, assume
that the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer is set to
Mo, which is the original/default MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer, when executing step 110. Also, it is assumed that
the packet loss rates or PERs measured at T1, T4 and T5 exceed the
predetermined value, but the packet loss rates or PERs measured at
T2 and T3 do not exceed the predetermined value at T3. A maximum
MTU/fragmentation size M.sub.MAX and a minimum MTU/fragmentation
size M.sub.MIN are introduced so that the updated value of the
MTU/fragmentation size is between M.sub.MAX and M.sub.MIN.
In the method depicted in FIG. 7, if the packet loss rate or PER
measured at a specific time point does not exceed the threshold
value M.sub.TH, the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer
is set to an updated value which is the average of M.sub.MAX and
its current value at the specific time point in step 130; if the
packet loss rate or PER measured at the specific time point exceeds
the threshold value M.sub.TH, the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer is set to an updated value which is the average of
M.sub.MIN and its current value at the specific time point in step
130. More specifically, when the packet loss rate or PER measured
at T1 exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH, the user equipment is
configured set the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer to
M1 before T2, wherein M1=(M0+M.sub.MIM)/2. When the packet loss
rate or PER measured at T2 does not exceed the threshold value
M.sub.TH after setting the MTU/fragmentation size to M1, the user
equipment is configured set the MTU/fragmentation size of the
transport layer to M2 before T3, wherein M2=(M1+M.sub.MAX)/2. When
the packet loss rate or PER measured at T3 does not exceed the
threshold value M.sub.TH after setting the MTU/fragmentation size
to M2, the user equipment is configured set the MTU/fragmentation
size of the transport layer to M3 before T4, wherein
M3=(M2+M.sub.MAX)/2. When the packet failure rate measured at T4
again exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH after setting the
MTU/fragmentation size to M3, the user equipment is configured set
the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer to M4 before T5,
wherein M4=(M3+M.sub.MIN)/2. When the packet loss rate or PER
measured at T5 still exceeds the threshold value M.sub.TH after
setting the MTU/fragmentation size to M4, the user equipment is
configured set the MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer to
M5, wherein M5=(M4+M.sub.MIN)/2. Similar procedure may be repeated
after T5. However, the type of method used for setting the
MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer does not limit the
scope of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of optimizing data
throughput rate in a wireless network system according to another
embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart in FIG. 8
includes the following steps:
Step 110: establish a wireless transmission channel between a user
equipment and a base station; execute step 120.
Step 120: user equipment measures a transmission status when
sending packets to or receiving packets from the base station;
execute step 130.
Step 130: set an MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer
according to the transmission status; execute step 120.
Step 140: set a data transmission parameter of the physical layer
according to the transmission status; execute step 120.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the transmission status
may be acquired by measuring the packet loss rate or PER of the
transport layer in step 120. The data transmission parameter of the
physical layer set in step 140 may be the modulation technique
adopted by the user equipment.
The MTU/fragmentation size of the transport layer and the data
transmission parameter of the physical layer may be set according
to the measured packet loss rate or PER in steps 130 and 140,
respectively. The following table illustrates an embodiment of
setting the MTU/fragmentation size and the data transmission
parameter. As well-known to those skilled in the art, BPSK
represents binary phase shift keying, QPSK represents quadrature
phase shift keying, QAM represents quadrature amplitude modulation,
Mbps represents the speed of data transfer in megabits per second,
and coding rate is represented in form of A/B in which every A bits
of useful data is encoded into B bits of data (A and B are positive
integers and A.gtoreq.B). The arrows represent the directions of
adopting the settings ST1-ST19
TABLE-US-00001 MTU/ Frag- ment- Direction Direction Coding ation
(PER > (PER < Setting Modulation rate Mbps Size M.sub.TH)
M.sub.TH) ST1 BPSK 1/2 15 1024 .uparw. .dwnarw. ST2 QPSK 1/2 30
1248 ST3 QPSK 3/4 45 1248 ST4 16-QAM 1/2 60 1248 ST5 16-QAM 3/4 90
1248 ST6 64-QAM 2/3 120 2048 ST7 64-QAM 3/4 135 2048 ST8 64-QAM 5/6
150 2048 ST9 256-QAM 3/4 180 2048 ST10 256-QAM 5/6 200 2048
For illustrative purpose, assume that the setting ST5 is adopted
when step 110 and step 120 is executed at time points T1-T5. In the
case that the packet loss rates or PERs measured at T1-T4 exceed
the predetermined value, but the packet loss rate or PER measured
at T5 does not exceed the threshold value, the settings adopted
after T1-T5 are in a sequence of ST4, ST3, ST2, ST1 and ST2. In the
case that the packet loss rates or PERs measured at T1-T4 do not
exceed the predetermined value, but the packet loss rate or PER
measured at T5 exceeds the threshold value, the settings adopted
after T1-T5 are in a sequence of ST6, ST7, ST8, ST9 and ST8. In the
case the packet loss rates or PERs measured at T1, T2 and T4 exceed
the predetermined value, but the packet loss rates or PERs measured
at T3 and T5 do not exceed the threshold value, the settings
adopted after T1-T5 are in a sequence of ST4, ST3, ST4, ST3 and
ST4.
In conclusion, the present invention may provide a method of data
transmission in a wireless network system. When a user equipment
and a base station in the wireless network system are in
communication using a multi-layer structure, the MTU/fragmentation
size may be dynamically adjust according to the current
transmission status, thereby improving network resource utilization
and overall data throughput of the wireless network system.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *