Patent Application
20160301620
Aspects of the present disclosure relate, generally, to wireless communication and, more particularly, to setting parameters pertaining to service period (SP) for reduced latency in wireless communication.
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and other suitable services. Recent interest has been directed toward enhancing the efficiency of such communications as well as improving the overall user experience. Various communication networks may utilize a contention-based system for determining whether to transmit data over a channel. For example, an apparatus may ‘remain quiet’ (e.g., refrain from transmitting) and ‘listen’ (e.g., detect the presence of another signal on the channel) before ‘speaking’ (e.g., transmitting on the channel).
Such a contention-based system introduces a delay between each period of transmission. While the apparatus is ‘remaining quiet’ and ‘listening,’ the apparatus is not ‘speaking.’ Because the apparatus is unable to ‘speak’ during such periods of time, the following undesirable effects may be occurring: (1) the queues of data to be transmitted may be getting longer and possibly congested, and (2) latency may be introduced between each period of transmission. Such undesirable effects may adversely impact the user experience. For instance, such undesirable effects may introduce gaps in the transmission and eventual reception of latency-sensitive data, such as audio data. Accordingly, communication systems may benefit from enhancements that overcome such limitations and enhance the quality of the user experience.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of wireless communication by an apparatus. The method may include determining whether an amount of data at a medium access control (MAC) layer at the apparatus exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single transmission opportunity (TXOP). If the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, the method may also include setting a duration of a service period (SP) to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data, and transmitting the data during the set duration of the SP.
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include a memory, a transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the transceiver. The at least one processor may be configured to determine whether an amount of data at a MAC layer at the apparatus exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP. If the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, the at least one processor may also be configured to set a duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data, and utilizing the transceiver to transmit the data during the set duration of the SP.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium that includes computer-executable code. The computer-executable code may be configured for determining whether an amount of data at a MAC layer at an apparatus exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP. If the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, the computer-executable code may also be configured for setting a duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data, and transmitting the data during the set duration of the SP.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for wireless communication. The apparatus may include means for determining whether an amount of data at a MAC layer at the apparatus exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP. The apparatus may also include means for setting a duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data and transmitting the data during the set duration of the SP, if the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP.
These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures below, all embodiments of the present disclosure can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various embodiments of the disclosure discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments it should be understood that such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.
The processing system 101 may implement various aspects of the disclosure, an element, any portion of an element, and/or any combination of elements. In some configurations, the processing system 101 may include a user interface 112. The user interface 112 may be configured to receive one or more inputs from a user of the processing system 101. The user interface 112 may also be configured to display information (e.g., text and/or images) to the user of the processing system 101. The user interface 112 may exchange data to and/or from the processing system 101 via the bus interface 108.
The processing system 101 may also include a transceiver 110. The transceiver 110 may be configured to receive data and/or transmit data in communication with another apparatus. The transceiver 110 provides a means for communicating with another apparatus via a wired and/or wireless transmission medium. In some configurations, the transceiver 110 provides the means for receiving data from another apparatus and/or the means for transmitting data to another apparatus. The transceiver 110 may be configured to perform such communications using various types of technologies. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many types of technologies to perform such communication may be used without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The processing system 101 may also include a memory 114, one or more processors 104, a computer-readable medium 106, and a bus interface 108. The bus interface 108 may provide an interface between a bus 103 and the transceiver 110. The memory 114, the one or more processors 104, the computer-readable medium 106, and the bus interface 108 may be connected together via the bus 103. The processor 104 may be communicatively coupled to the transceiver 110 and/or the memory 114.
The processor 104 may include a data determination circuit 120. The data determination circuit 120 may include various hardware components and/or software modules that can perform various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with determining an amount of data at a particular protocol layer (e.g., a medium access control (MAC) layer). In some configurations, the data determination circuit 120 provides the means for determining whether an amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single transmission opportunity (TXOP).
The processor 104 may also include a parameter setting circuit 121. The parameter setting circuit 121 may include various hardware components and/or software modules that can perform various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with setting a duration of a service period (SP) and/or setting a duration of a service period interval (SPI). In some circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP. In such circumstances, the parameter setting circuit 121 provides the means for setting the duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data.
The processor 104 may also include a data transmission circuit 122. The data transmission circuit 122 may include various hardware components and/or software modules that can perform various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with transmitting data to another apparatus. As described above, in some circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, and the duration of the SP is set to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data. In such circumstances, the data transmission circuit 122 provides the means for transmitting the data during the set duration of the SP. However, in some other circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer does not exceed the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP. In such circumstances, the data transmission circuit 122 provides the means for transmitting the data without using the SP. That is, in such circumstances, the data transmission circuit 122 provides the means for transmitting the data using the single TXOP.
The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of the processor 104 of the processing system 101. Although various circuits have been described above, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the processor 104 may also include various other circuits 123 that are in addition and/or alternative(s) to circuits 120, 121, 122. Such other circuits 123 may provide the means for performing any one or more of the functions, methods, processes, features and/or aspects described herein.
The computer-readable medium 106 may include various instructions. The instructions may include computer-executable code configured to perform various functions and/or enable various aspects described herein. The computer-executable code may be executed by various hardware components (e.g., the processor 104) of the processing system 101. The instructions may be a part of various software programs and/or software modules.
The computer-readable medium 106 may include data determination instructions 140. The data determination instructions 140 may include computer-executable code configured for performing various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with determining an amount of data at a particular protocol layer (e.g., the MAC layer). In some configurations, the data determination instructions 140 may include computer-executable code configured for determining whether an amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP.
The computer-readable medium 106 may also include parameter setting instructions 141. The parameter setting instructions 141 may include computer-executable code configured for performing various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with setting a duration of a SP and/or setting a duration of a SPI. In some circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP. In such circumstances, the parameter setting instructions 141 may include computer-executable code configured for setting the duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data.
The computer-readable medium 106 may also include data transmission instructions 142. The data transmission instructions 142 may include computer-executable code configured for performing various functions and/or enable various aspects associated with transmitting data to another apparatus. As described above, in some circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, and the duration of the SP is set to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data. In such circumstances, the data transmission instructions 142 may include computer-executable code configured for transmitting the data during the set duration of the SP. However, in some other circumstances, the amount of data at the MAC layer does not exceed the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP. In such circumstances, the data transmission instructions 142 may include computer-executable code configured for transmitting the data without using the SP. That is, in such circumstances, the data transmission instructions 142 may include computer-executable code configured for transmitting the data using the single TXOP.
The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of the computer-readable medium 106 of the processing system 101. Although various instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) have been described above, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the computer-readable medium 106 may also include various other instructions 143 that are in addition and/or alternative(s) to instructions 140, 141, 142. Such other instructions 143 may include computer-executable code configured for performing any one or more of the functions, methods, processes, features and/or aspects described herein.
The memory 114 may include various memory modules. The memory modules may be configured to store, and have read therefrom, various values and/or information by the processor 104, or any of its circuits 120, 121, 122, 123. The memory modules may also be configured to store, and have read therefrom, various values and/or information upon execution of the computer-executable code included in the computer-readable medium 106, or any of its instructions 140, 141, 142, 143. The memory 114 may include parameter settings 130. For example, the parameter settings 130 may include data pertaining to the duration of the SP and/or the duration of the SPI in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the memory 114 may also include various other memory modules 131. The other memory modules 131 may be configured for storing information therein, and reading information therefrom, with respect to any of the features, functions, methods, processes, and/or aspects described herein.
One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the processing system 101 may include alternative and/or additional elements without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a processing system 101 that includes one or more processors 104. Examples of the one or more processors 104 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. The processing system 101 may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 103 and bus interface 108. The bus 103 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 101 and the overall design constraints. The bus 103 may link together various circuits including the one or more processors 104, the memory 114, and the computer-readable media 106. The bus 103 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art.
The one or more processors 104 may be responsible for managing the bus 103 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 106. The software, when executed by the one or more processors 104, causes the processing system 101 to perform the various functions described below for any one or more apparatuses. The computer-readable medium 106 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the one or more processors 104 when executing software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software may reside on the computer-readable medium 106. The computer-readable medium 106 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a register, a removable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing software and/or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 106 may also include, by way of example, a carrier wave, a transmission line, and any other suitable medium for transmitting software and/or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 106 may reside in the processing system 101, external to the processing system 101, or distributed across multiple entities including the processing system 101. The computer-readable medium 106 may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example and not limitation, a computer program product may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.
Tier 1 may include the host 202. The host 202 may include a root hub providing various virtual root hub ports 212, 214, 216. The host 202 may communicate wirelessly with one or more devices in Tier 2 via the virtual root hub ports 212, 214, 216. For example, virtual root hub 212 may communicate wirelessly with device D1204 (e.g., the display device) in Tier 2, and virtual root hubs 214, 216 may communicate wirelessly with the hub 206 (e.g., the router) in Tier 2.
The hub 206 (e.g., the router) may enable communication with downstream devices. For example, the hub 206 (e.g., the router) in Tier 2 may communicate with devices in Tier 3. The hub 206 (e.g., the router) may communicate with the device D2208 (e.g., the printer device) and the device D3210 (e.g., the storage device). Some communications received by a device in Tier 3 may originate from a host in Tier 1. For example, the communication received by device D2208 (e.g., the printer device) may originate from the host 202, and the communication received by device D3210 (e.g., the storage device) may also originate from the host 202.
One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the example illustrated in
In some configurations, a single apparatus may perform the operations of a host as well as a device. In
More specifically,
In some configurations, data traffic may flow from an upper layer (e.g., application layer 402) to an intermediate layer, such as a PAL 404. An example of a PAL 404 is a media agnostic (MA) universal serial bus (USB) PAL. The MA USB PAL may enable connectivity between a USB host and one or more USB devices, including USB hubs, over wireless mediums, such as IEEE 802.11 and/or Internet protocol (IP) links. The PAL 404 may also perform other functions and/or include other features not described herein without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. The data traffic may flow from the PAL 404 to another layer, such as the transport and network layer 406.
The transport and network layer 406 may facilitate the flow of the data traffic to one or more devices via IP links. For example, a host and a device may be separated by an IP network. The host and the device may be direct clients of a transmission control protocol (TCP). The data traffic may be packaged into IP datagrams and delivered through TCP connections. However, the transport and network layer 406 may not exist in all configurations of the present disclosure, such as when the data traffic is not being transmitted from the host to the device via IP links. The transport and network layer 406 may also perform other functions and/or include other features not described herein without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The data traffic may flow to a logical link control (LLC) layer 408. The LLC layer 408 may be the upper sublayer of a data link layer. The LLC layer 408 may provide multiplexing mechanisms to enable various network protocols to coexist within a multipoint network and to be transported over the same network medium. The LLC layer 408 may also control data flows as well as provide error management. The LLC layer 408 may also perform other functions and/or include other features not described herein without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. The LLC layer 408 interface between a network layer (e.g., transport and network layer 406) and a MAC layer (e.g., MAC layer 410).
The data traffic may flow from the LLC layer 408 to the MAC layer 410. The MAC layer 410 may be the lower sublayer of the data link layer. The MAC layer 410 may provide addressing and channel access control mechanisms that enable various terminals or network nodes to communicate within a multiple-access network having a shared medium (e.g., a wireless medium according to IEEE 802.11). The MAC layer 410 may emulate a full-duplex logical communication channel in a multi-point network, and such a channel may provide unicast, multicast, and/or broadcast communication service(s). The MAC layer 410 may also perform other functions and/or include other features not described herein without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. The MAC layer 410 may interface between a LLC layer (e.g., LLC layer 408) and a network physical (PHY) layer (e.g., PHY layer 412).
The PHY layer 412 may include network hardware transmission technologies. The PHY layer 412 may provide the means for transmitting data traffic. The PHY layer 412 may provide an electrical, mechanical, and/or procedural interface to the transmission medium. The PHY layer 412 may specify various attributes of the data traffic, such as the frequency on which the data traffic is transmitted, the modulating scheme of the data traffic, and other related attributes of the data traffic. The PHY layer 412 may also perform other functions and/or include other features not described herein without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. The PHY layer 412 may transmit the data traffic to the device via the wireless medium 414. The wireless medium 414 may be in accordance with IEEE 802.11. The wireless medium 414 may also be in accordance with various other technologies. The wireless medium 414 may interface between the PHY layer 412 of the host as well as the PHY layer 426 of the device.
With respect to the device, data traffic may flow from the application layer 416 to the PAL 418. Data traffic may also flow to the transport and network layer 420 and eventually to the LLC layer 422. Data traffic may also flow to the MAC layer 424 and eventually to the PHY layer 426. A description of various features and/or functions of such layers in the device is provided above with reference to the host and, therefore, will not be repeated.
Although the example illustrated in
The data frame N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 may be delivered to the MAC layer 410 from an upper layer. Such an upper layer may be any one or more of the layers shown in
After the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 are delivered to the MAC layer 410, the conventional apparatus may determine which of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 can be transmitted in various TXOPs. As described herein, a TXOP may include any one or more aspects of the TXOP described in IEEE 802.11e. Generally, a TXOP is a bounded (e.g., fixed) period of time during which a station transfers data frames. During the TXOP, an apparatus transmits as many data frames as possible, so long as the duration required for such a transmission does not exceed the maximum duration of the TXOP. If the data in the data frames is too large to be transmitted in a single TXOP, then such data is not be transmittable in a single TXOP. That is, an apparatus may determine that an amount of data exceeds a maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP when the amount of data is too large to be transmitted in a single TXOP. Conversely, the apparatus may determine that an amount of data does not exceed an amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP when the amount of data is not too large to be transmitted in a single TXOP. When the data is not transmittable in a single TXOP, the data can be fragmented into smaller portions. Although these smaller portions of data are each transmittable in a separate TXOP, more than one TXOP will be required for the transmission of the totality of the data.
The conventional apparatus may utilize a contention-based system for determining whether to transmit data over a channel. For example, the apparatus may ‘remain quiet’ (e.g., refrain from transmitting) and ‘listen’ (e.g., detect the presence of a signal on the channel) before ‘speaking’ (e.g., transmitting on the channel). The period of time corresponding to ‘remaining quiet’ and ‘listening’ pertains to “Delay Channel access,” which is identified as “DC” in diagram 550 of
During duration 520 of DC1, the apparatus may refrain from transmitting and detect the presence of a signal on the channel of interest. The apparatus may determine that a signal exists on that channel when the apparatus detects energy above a certain threshold on that channel. In such instances, the apparatus may determine that the channel is currently unavailable for use. In response, the apparatus may initiate a back-off procedure and, at a later time, initiate another detection of a signal on that channel. If the apparatus does not detect a signal on that channel, the apparatus may proceed with the TXOP (e.g. TXOP1).
The data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 may be arranged in various TXOPs. Each TXOP may have a particular duration. For example, TXOP1 has duration 522, and TXOP2 has duration 532. Notably, however, the total length of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 exceeds the duration 522 of TXOP1. Because the total length of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 exceeds the duration 522 of TXOP1, TXOP1 cannot accommodate all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508. That is, the amount of data (e.g., the total length of data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508) at the MAC layer 410 exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP (e.g., TXOP1). The maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP may sometimes be referred to as “Pmax.”
Nevertheless, the TXOP may be able to accommodate at least one data frame. For example, as illustrated in
However, as mentioned above, the conventional apparatus operates according to a contention-based system. Accordingly, the apparatus refrains from transmitting (e.g., ‘waits’) and detects the presence of a signal (e.g., ‘listens’) during duration 530 of DC2. As such, the apparatus is unable to transmit (e.g., ‘speak’) the remaining data frames N3 506, N4 508 during duration 530 of DC2. Because the apparatus is unable to transmit the remaining data frames N3 506, N4 508 during duration 530 of DC2, the transmission of the remaining data frames N3 506, N4 508 is delayed until duration 532 of TXOP2.
Such a delay (e.g., DC2) between each period of transmission (e.g., between TXOP1 and TXOP2) can have some undesirable effects that adversely impact the user experience. For example, the delay in transmission of the remaining data frames N3 506, N4 508 may result in queues of data in various layers of the protocol stack (e.g., any of the layers 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 illustrated in
Some types of data are latency-sensitive. In some configurations, data is considered latency-sensitive when a certain amount of delay in transmitting/receiving the data results in a poor user experience. A non-limiting example of latency-sensitive data is isochronous data. Isochronous data may include data that occurs regularly or at equal time intervals. Isochronous transfers may be utilized for transmitting real-time information, such as audio data and video data, and such transmissions may be sent at a constant rate. Isochronous transfers may lack error detection. Isochronous data may be allocated a dedicated portion of an available bandwidth to ensure that the data streams are delivered at a desired rate. Another non-limiting example of latency-sensitive data is interrupt data. Interrupt data may have a limited latency to or from a device, and an interrupt transfer may have a defined polling rate. Interrupt data may include event notifications, characters, and/or coordinates from a pointing device. One of ordinary skill in the art understands that various other types of latency-sensitive data exist and are within the scope of the present disclosure.
The duration 540 of the transmission (TX) for all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 is illustrated in diagram 550 of
Generally, the SP may refer to any period of time that is dedicated by a transmitting apparatus and/or a receiving apparatus for a specific transmission. For instance, a transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus can agree upon various parameters (e.g., start and end times of the SP, a duration of the SP, an interval or periodicity of the SP, etc.) associated with the SP. Such parameters may be agreed upon during a handshake procedure that occurs any time prior to the SP. For example, during the handshake procedure, the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus can agree to keep a particular channel available for a transmission of a particular duration. If the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus agree upon such parameters, the transmitting apparatus can expect that particular channel to be available for such a transmission and, accordingly, does not necessarily need to perform the contention-based procedures described above with reference to
Existing communication standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11ad) may describe a static SP and/or a dynamic SP. With regard to IEEE 802.11ad, a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP) may poll a directional multi-gig (DMG) station (STA) at the beginning of each beacon interval (BI). The DMG STA may respond with a service period request (SPR). Subsequently, the PCP may respond with a grant, which is applicable to the BI under consideration. However, such communication standards do not describe the specific parameters to which the apparatuses should be set in order to reduce the limitations described above with reference to the conventional apparatus (e.g., the limitations associated with congested queues and/or transmission latency).
According to various aspects of the present disclosure, the apparatus 100 may set a duration 610 of the SP. Information pertaining to the amount and/or size of data at a higher layer (e.g., PAL 404) may be provided to a lower layer (e.g., MAC layer 410) via a new primitive (e.g., a parameter called “wBytesPerInterval”). The duration of the SP may be set according to the duration required for transmitting that data. For example, the duration of the SP may be set such that the duration of the SP is greater than or equal to the duration required for transmitting that data. Diagram 650 illustrates an example of such a setting. For example, the duration 610 of the SP is set such that the duration 610 of the SP equals the duration required for transmitting all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508. That is, the duration 610 of the SP is equal to the sum of the duration required for transmitting N1 502 (e.g., L1 512), the duration required for transmitting N2 504 (e.g., L2 514), the duration required for transmitting N3 506 (e.g., L3 516), and the duration required for transmitting N4 508 (e.g., L4 518). Although the example illustrated in
According to various aspects of the present disclosure, the apparatus 100 may set a duration of an SPI to be greater than or equal to the duration 610 of the SP and less than or equal to a duration for transmitting the data without using the SP. That is, the apparatus 100 may set the duration of the SPI to be greater than or equal to the duration 610 of the SP and less than or equal to the duration for transmitting the data using two (or more) TXOPs. Generally, the SPI refers to a periodicity or interval of repetition of the SP. The SP occurs during a portion of the SPI. That is, each SPI may include at least one SP. After one SPI ends, another SPI may begin. Diagram 650 illustrates two non-limiting examples pertaining to the SPI. As a first example, the apparatus 100 may set a duration 620 of SPI1 to be equal to the duration 610 of the SP. That is, the duration 620 of SPI1 is equal to the duration required for transmitting all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508. As a second example, the apparatus 100 may set a duration 630 of SPI2 to be greater than the duration 610 of the SP. That is, the duration 630 of SPI2 is greater than the duration required for transmitting all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508. Nevertheless, in both of these examples, the durations 620, 630 of these SPIs (e.g., SPI1, SPI2) is less than or equal to the duration 540 (see
Various aspects of the present disclosure may be described by the following mathematical expression: SP≦SPI≦DurationTX, wherein SP represents the duration of the SP, SPI represents the duration of the SPI, and DurationTX represents the duration for the transmission without using the SP (e.g., the duration for the transmission using two or more TXOPs). In some configurations, DurationTX may be determined using the following mathematical expression: DurationTX=(n*l)/R+m*DC, wherein n represents the number of frames (e.g., data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508), l represents the average length (e.g., duration) of such data frames, R represents a PHY data rate, m represents the number of TXOPs (e.g., diagram 550 illustrates two TXOPs−TXOP1 and TXOP2—thus, m=2), and DC represents the average duration of the medium access delay (e.g., the average of duration 520 of DC1 and duration 530 of DC2). In some configurations, m may be determined using the following mathematical expression: m=(n*l)/Pmax, wherein Pmax represents the maximum amount of data transmittable in a single TXOP.
In some configurations, the duration of the SP and/or the duration of the SPI are set based on an indicator. A non-limiting example of such an indicator is a flag. Another non-limiting example of such an indicator is one or more bit values included in a header, a subheader, or a payload of the data frames (e.g., the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508) described in greater detail herein. One of ordinary skill will understand that such an indicator may be in various forms and have various characteristics without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
The indicator (e.g., flag) may indicate a latency requirement of the data. Some data (e.g., audio data) may be more latency-sensitive relative to other data (e.g., non-audio data). The indicator (e.g., flag) may be used to set the duration of the SP and/or the duration of the SPI such that the latency requirements of the data are satisfied. In some circumstances, the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 may have relatively high latency-sensitivity. Because the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 have relatively high latency-sensitivity, the duration of the SPI may be set such to the duration 620 of SPI1. Such a setting minimizes the medium access delay (e.g., DC1, DC2), thereby increasing the likelihood that the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 will be transferred in a manner that satisfies the latency requirements of that particular data. In some other circumstances, the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 may have relatively low latency-sensitivity. Because the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 have relatively low latency-sensitivity, the duration of the SPI may be set such to the duration 630 of SPI2. Although such a setting does not necessarily ensure the lowest possible medium access delay (e.g., DC1, DC2), the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 will nonetheless be transferred in a manner that satisfies the latency requirements of that particular data.
At time 702, the data is ready for transmission. With regard to the conventional apparatus, as illustrated in diagram 700, the data cannot be transmitted immediately at time 702. For example, the duration 520 of DC1 elapses before the data is transmitted during TXOP1. The data (e.g., data frames N1 502, N2 504) are transmitted during duration 522 of TXOP1. Some of the data frames (e.g., data frames N3 506, N4 508) are transmitted during the duration 532 of TXOP2, which begins after the duration 530 of DC2. For the conventional apparatus, data transmission is not complete until time 704.
In comparison, with regard to the apparatus 100, as illustrated in diagram 750, the data may be transmitted immediately (or approximately) at time 702. At time 702, the data is ready for transmission. Notably, the conventional apparatus does not include such aspects of the apparatus 100. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 transmits all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 in a single SP (e.g., during duration 610 of the SP). Because all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 are transmitted in a single SP, the apparatus 100 does not suffer from latency that is added during the medium access delays, such as those of DC1 and DC2 of the conventional apparatus (see diagram 700). In other words, in some configurations, the duration of the SP and/or the duration of the SPI are set such that the medium access delay (e.g., DC1 and DC2) is minimized (e.g., less than the medium access delay for transmitting the data using two or more TXOPs).
As illustrated in diagram 750, the apparatus 100 completes transmission of all of the data frames N1 502, N2 504, N3 506, N4 508 at time 754. Notably, time 754 is earlier than time 704, which is the time at which the conventional apparatus completes data transmission. Accordingly, a benefit of the apparatus 100 is time savings 760. The time savings 760 may refer to the difference between the time (e.g., time 704) at which the conventional apparatus completes data transmission and the time (e.g., time 754) at which the apparatus 100 completes data transmission. In some configurations, a total for the time savings 760 may be determined using the following mathematical expression: Total Time Savings=m*DC.
On the one hand, if the amount of data at the MAC layer 410 does not exceed the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, at block 802, the apparatus 100 may transmit the data without using a SP. Instead of using the SP for the transmission, the apparatus 100 may utilize a TXOP for the transmission. For example, referring to
On the other hand, if the amount of data at the MAC layer 410 exceeds the maximum amount of data transmittable in the single TXOP, at block 804, the apparatus 100 may set a duration of the SP to be greater than or equal to a duration required for transmitting the data. For example, referring to
At block 808, the apparatus 100 may set a duration of the SPI to be greater than or equal to the duration of the SP and less than or equal to a duration for transmitting the data without using the SP (e.g., using two or more TXOPs). For example, referring to
At block 810, the apparatus may transmit the data during the set duration of the SP. For example, referring to
The methods and/or processes described with reference to
Within the present disclosure, the word “exemplary” is used to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation or aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the term “aspects” does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The term “coupled” is used herein to refer to the direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object A physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, then objects A and C may still be considered coupled to one another—even if they do not directly physically touch each other. For instance, a first die may be coupled to a second die in a package even though the first die is never directly physically in contact with the second die. The terms “circuit” and “circuitry” are used broadly, and intended to include both hardware implementations of electrical devices and conductors that, when connected and configured, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure, without limitation as to the type of electronic circuits, as well as software implementations of information and instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the performance of the functions described in the present disclosure.
The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. A phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, b and c. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.”
