Increasing data throughput on a wireless local area network in the presence of intermittent interference

• US 20030126492A1
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Cavin, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0007 by modifying the frame length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/203 Details of error rate determination, e.g. BER, FER or WER
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method for increasing data throughput on a wireless local area network in the presence of intermittent interference. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving a data packet through a wireless channel. Quality of the wireless channel is evaluated. A packet error ratio (PER) value is calculated for the data packet. The PER value is checked as to whether it is within an acceptable level. A determination is made as to whether an intermittent noise is affecting the PER value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a data packet through a wireless channel;

evaluating quality of said wireless channel;

calculating a packet error ratio (PER) value for said data packet;

checking whether said PER value is within an acceptable level; and

determining whether an intermittent noise is affecting said PER value.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether said intermittent noise is due to a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said data packet is wirelessly transmitted from a first wireless device to a second wireless device at a bit rate, said first and second wireless devices both compatible to a common wireless protocol.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising stepping up said bit rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is less than a raise rate threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising stepping down said bit rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is greater than a drop rate threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising stepping down said bit rate if said intermittent noise is caused by a non-FHSS or constant interference source.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising propagating against said data rate to said second wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said FHSS wireless device is a Bluetooth device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said data packet is received at an 802.11(b) device.

10. A method comprising:

evaluating a data packet for any error;

checking whether said data packet includes a packet error;

calculating a packet error ratio (PER) for said data packet; and

raising data rate setting at which subsequent data packet are transmitted if no packet error exists and said PER is less than a raise rate threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising backing off said data rate if an error exists and said PER value is greater than a drop rate threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising stepping down said data rate if an intermittent noise from a non-FHSS or constant interference source causes a packet error.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a signal strength value and saving said value in a memory location; and

evaluating a value for said data packet, wherein said data rate is increased if an average signal strength value based on prior data packets is above a signal strength raise rate threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising determining whether said packet error is due to intermittent interference.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said intermittent interference is caused from a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) device.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising stepping down said data rate if said interference is not caused by said FHSS device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transceiver to send and receive a data packet via wireless communications;

a network interface card coupled to said wireless transceiver, said network interface card to connect to another wireless device to form a wireless local area network; and

firmware comprising control logic to calculate a packet error ratio (PER) value for said data packet, check whether said PER value is within an acceptable level, determine whether an intermittent noise is affecting said PER value, step up data transfer rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is less than a raise rate threshold and said intermittent noise is due to a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control logic is to further determine whether said intermittent noise is due to said FHSS wireless device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said FHSS wireless device is a Bluetooth device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said apparatus is a 802.11(b) protocol compatible wireless device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said control logic is to further step down said bit rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is greater than a drop rate threshold.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said control logic is to further step down said bit rate if said intermittent noise is caused by a non-FHSS source.

23. A machine readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program, said computer program being executable by a machine to perform a method comprising:

calculating a packet error ratio (PER) value for said data packet;

checking whether said PER value is within an acceptable level;

determining whether an intermittent noise is affecting said PER value;

determining whether said intermittent noise is due to a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) wireless device; and

stepping up a bit rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is less than a raise rate threshold.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 23 further comprising stepping down said bit rate at which said data packet is transmitted if said PER value is greater than a drop rate threshold.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 24 further comprising stepping down said bit rate if said intermittent noise is caused by a non-FHSS source.