Abstract:
A method for transferring information over a between a first node and a second node includes the steps of transmitting a frame from the first node to the second node. The frame contains link data enabling a determination of a link mode. Upon receipt of the frame at second node, a determination is made of a link mode using the link data contained in the frame, and data is transmitted from the second node to the first node using the determined link node.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from and incorporates herein by reference the entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/344,610, filed on Nov. 8, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to link adaptation, and more particularly, to a method for link adaptation without transferring link mode information between communicating nodes.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN) standard was developed in 1997 and enabled wireless LAN communications between various nodes. The IEEE 802.11 standard was extended with a new physical layer, based on OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and used with several high order QAM (quadrature amplitude modulator) constellations and various convolutional coding rates that enable up to seven different data rates. A similar standard designated IEEE 802.11b for the 2.4 GHz band was also standardized and provides four different data rates.  
           [0006]    Neither the standardization bodies nor any existing link adaptation algorithm defines any exchange mechanism for sending link adaptation control messages. The lack of an exchange mechanism for link adaptation messages has posed a considerable hurdle for 802.11 performance. Designers are required to rely upon indirect indications as to whether a correct link adaptation choice has been accomplished. Examples of these include the presence or absence of certain returned acknowledgments. Thus, some method of controlling link adaptation without explicit link mode signaling is needed.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with a system and method for transferring information over a link between a first node and a second node. A frame is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The frame contains link data enabling the second node to determine a link mode for future transmissions. The frame is received at the second node wherein a determination of a link mode from the second node to the first node is made using the link data contained within the frame. Transmissions may then be made from the second node to the first node using the determined link mode. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional link adaptation process;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a link adaptation process according to the method of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the method described with respect to FIG. 2;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 illustrates the method of the present invention within a closed loop environment; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram describing the method illustrated in FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated an example of a traditional link adaptation process. Node A sends at  10  a frame that enables Node B to determine reception quality. Node B uses this information within some type of algorithm or process  15  to select an optimal link mode for the communications directed from Node A to Node B. Node B subsequently informs Node A at  20  of the recommended link adaptation (LA) mode. Node A uses the recommended link mode for succeeding transmissions  25 . This procedure is repeatedly employed for successive communications and enables continuous adaptation to changing link conditions. This procedure is similar to a closed loop transmit power control and may well be integrated within the power control circuitry.  
         [0015]    In some wireless systems, one of the nodes may be physically attached to an access network. The access network may make the decision to use a certain link mode whereas the other nodes merely provides link mode recommendations or send mere measurement reports. This results in a slight asymmetry that is not directly apparent from FIG. 1 as Node A and Node B are not equivalent to each other. The main problem with this type of system is that there is no explicit signaling method defined for IEEE 802.11, and thus, the method is only applicable if the standard is extended with link adaptation signaling.  
         [0016]    One conceivable link adaptation scheme for 802.11, which lacks an explicit link adaptation feedback mechanisms uses an indirect feedback which may be utilized by exploiting the presence and absence of return acknowledgments. The link modes are ramped up or down as a function of the response. However, this approach requires communications to endure for some time in order for a suitable rate to be found. The method of ramping up/down the link rate is not very efficient, as frame errors must be intentionally induced to determine the operating point.  
         [0017]    The problem of requiring a signaling scheme for link adaptation lies in the method of the traditional link adaptation system that is implemented within a closed loop system requiring information to be transmitted between entities. Referring now to FIG. 2, wherein there is proposed an open loop link adaptation approach according to the present invention. This is made possible by exploiting channel reciprocity available in many wireless systems. However, additional information is required to enable this scheme. First, knowledge must be provided of which transmit power frames are sent, and an interference level at the receiving node must also be provided (preferable in a indicated interference level field). The interference level may be illustrated by spectral distribution.  
         [0018]    Referring now to the method illustrated and described with respect to the diagram of FIG. 2 and the flow chart of FIG. 3. Initially, the transmit power level and the interference level of Node A are stored at step  30  in a frame to be transmitted from Node A to Node B. Additionally, some means for enabling a channel determination is included within the frame at step  35 . There are essentially two ways of estimating a channel, either a so called pilot sequence (this may also be called pilot, pilot symbol, channel estimation sequence/symbol, training sequence/symbol), or through so-called blind channel estimation. Blind channel estimation, which is not so common, does not rely on specified pilot sequence, but may instead use data carrying symbols (or similar) and certain properties for the modulation in use. For example, knowledge of permitted modulation amplitudes and/or phase can be used to determine channel information. For the pilot sequence case, the receiver which has knowledge of the training sequence can make a good channel estimation. The design of the pilot sequences differ from system to system as also from modulation method to method. For example, the pilot sequences used for 802.11a is accordingly specified in the standard. Node A transmits the frame at step  40  from Node A to Node B, and the frame is received at step  45 .  
         [0019]    In the IEEE 802.11 protocol, the frame could, for example, be a CF-POLL frame issued by an Access Point (AP) to a station (STA). Node A would convey the used transmit power and desired receive power within the same CF-POLL frame. The latter depends on the interference level experience at Node A and hence is the receive power level.  
         [0020]    After Node B receives at step  45  the frame from Node A, Node B will have all the necessary information required to select a link rate/mode for subsequent messages transmitted from Node B to Node A. Using this information, Node B determines the link rate/mode at step  50 . Node B may also take into account previous communication and derived channel information that is (still) relevant in determining link mode. Note that Node B determines the link mode for transmissions from Node B to Node A in contrast with the system described with respect to FIG. 1, wherein Node B determines the link mode for transmissions from Node A to Node B. Note that the particular algorithm or method used for determining the link rate/mode utilizing the information provided in the frame received from Node A may be done in any number of manners.  
         [0021]    However, several approaches may be used. One approach may be to apply a radio resource management policy that the entire network benefits from, or a policy that single nodes strive to optimise their own performance without any particular concern of interference generated and harming other communications. The policy in a 802.11 network is more similar to the latter, i.e., each node tries to maximize their own performance. In light of this, each node may strive to select a link modem, but also transmit power, in such a manner that the nodes throughput is maximized. Optionally, while maximizing the throughput, each node may also select not to transmit with excessive power when using the fastest link mode, thereby saving transmit power and extending battery life time (whenever the battery is used).  
         [0022]    One typical method to select link mode that incorporates the features of the invention is to minimize the transmit power of node B, under the condition that throughput is maximized (and for the highest rate mode arbitrarily close to the highest rate). This may be conceptualised by an outgoing objective function f q =f(S LM ,P TX ,H,I), where S LM  is the set of all link modes, P TX  is the transmit power within an allowed transmit power range of node B, H is the channel determined from node A to B (we assume reciprocity, or at least near reciprocity, of the channel) and I is the interference level at node A. The objective function may for example be the expected throughput, but other optimisation criteria can be employed as well (e.g. packet error rate). Now, we may impose a certain minimum quality condition, Q min , that the objective function f q  must meet. Subsequently, the link modes within the set S LM  are tested for the allowed range of P TX . The Combination that meets the condition Q min  and consumes the least power P TX  is selected. Alternatively, if P TX  can&#39;t be varied, the link mode giving the optimum quality, given by f q , is selected.  
         [0023]    It is important to note that although we discuss link adaptation, it is generally not just limited to changing link modes (signal constellation and forward error correction coding) but may well include power control, provided the transmit power is not a fixed level. However, in the original 802.11 standard, transmit power is fixed, and hence the link adaptation will only include changes in link mode (i.e. constellation and FEC). Transmissions from Node B to Node A are performed at step  55  using the determined link mode.  
         [0024]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated an extension of the proposed open loop link adaptation method enabling closed loop link adaptation. The first portion of the process operates the same as that described with respect to FIG. 2 wherein the transmit power level and the interference level of Node A are stored at step  60  in a frame to be transmitted from Node A to Node B.  
         [0025]    Additionally, some means for enabling a channel determination is included within the frame at step  65 . There are essentially two ways of estimating a channel, either a so called pilot sequence or through so-called blind channel estimation as discussed previously. Node A transmits the frame at step  70  from Node A to Node B and the frame is received at step  75 . After Node B receives at step  75  the frame from Node A, Node B will have all the necessary information required to select a link rate/mode for subsequent messages transmitted from Node B to Node A. Using this information, Node B determines the link rate/mode at step  80 . Transmissions from Node B to Node A are performed at step  85  using the determined link mode.  
         [0026]    Upon receipt of a transmission at Node A from Node B using the determined link adaptation mode, Node A determines at step  90  whether an optimal link mode was used in the transmission from Node B to Node A. If so, control returns to step  60  and transmitter power level and interference level information are stored within a frame for transmission back to Node B. However, if it is determined that the optimal link mode was not used, Node A may enforce a link mode change for subsequent transmissions from Node B by manipulating the indicated transmit power level, interference level or a combination of both by storing at 95 modified versions of these within the frame to be transmitted back to Node B. This would cause the link mode determination at Node B to provide a substantially more optimal link mode. Lack of an optimal link mode may be the result of the improper setting of power levels or perhaps measurement inaccuracies existing within the channel transmissions. This would continue until an optimal link mode was achieved.  
         [0027]    A particular situation may arise if other stations overhearing communications may misinterpret the link rate margin if it is adjusted as describe above. The problem is that an indicated interference level according to the closed loop extension at, for example, Node A (or possibly transmit power level) may cause other stations to use wrong link adaptations or transmit power later on. Whether this is a significant problem is not certain. However, in order to avoid this, two methods requiring standardization are proposed. These implementations are optional.  
         [0028]    First, it is noted that certain frames can only be sent first in a frame exchange sequence. Examples of such frames are RTS, CTS and CF-POLL in 802.11. As it makes little sense to perform any closed loop adaptation for the first two frames, those frames shall never contain adjusted indicated interference levels, and therefore always enable other stations to determine correct transmit parameters when overhearing communications. It shall be standardized which frames that signal correct indicated interference level (or possibly transmit power level) levels.  
         [0029]    A second method is based on that a bit is added to the PLCP service field which specifies if the correct parameter is shown or not. One interpretation of this bit is that it signals whether open loop or closed loop mode is used. In open loop, other STAs may unrestrictedly use information unrestricted, but if closed is signaled, other STAs shall be more careful of using the information. Effectively, open loop will be signaled for the first two frames.  
         [0030]    An additional benefit of the closed loop extension is that it can be useful when the link is non-reciprocal, such as when various antenna diversity arrangements are deployed. The closed loop extension is also directly applicable to extend open loop power control to closed loop power control as link adaptation and power control operate in complementary but different signal-to-noise ratio regions.  
         [0031]    Although the invention has been described in the context of 802.11, a person skilled in the art readily observe that said invention is applicable in other standards, systems etc, where similar conditions prevail.  
         [0032]    Indicated “interference field” and “transmit power field” may also relate to vectors rather than just scalars. The reason is that the link modes may encompass, not just various signal constellations (or more generally arbitrary modulation schemes) and forward error correction over a single radio channel, but multiple parallel radio channels and associated coding and modulation may be used whenever the transmitter, receiver or both employ multiple antennas. When N transmit antennas and M receive antennas are employed, one will in effect have M*N number of channels. This is called a MIMO channel (multiple input multiple output) and can be used in conjunction with forward error correcting coding to enhance robustness, spectral efficiency or both.  
         [0033]    An alternative is that the transmitter has N antennas and the receiver has only one antenna. This type of channel is called MISO (multiple input single output) and may be primarily used for enhancing communication robustness. Although SIMO channels (single input multiple output) also exist as concept, there is no need to use a vector indication at the transmit side as the transmitter only has one antenna. Various types of forward error correction coding methods have been developed, and still are, as the research area of MIMO/MISO communication area is relatively new, for MIMO and MISO over the last several years. A worked out taxonomy is still lacking for MIMO/MISO coding, therefore various names flourish in the research area. Examples of codes that may be used over MIMO/MISO channels are STC (Space Time Coding), MIMO codes (only useful for MIMO), transmit diversity (only useful for MISO), MISO codes (only useful for MISO), BLAST (Bell Labs Layered Space-Time) codes (only useful for MIMO).  
         [0034]    It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and, while the invention shown and described herein has been characterized as particular embodiments, changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.