METHOD FOR LINK QUALITY ESTIMATION IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20110310755A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Europe Ltd (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmid, Stefan, Schoeller, Marcus, Imai, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

A method for link quality estimation in a wireless network, is characterized in that nodes of the wireless network perform the steps of sending packets to other nodes, monitoring all packets received from other nodes being located within their communication range, and calculating sent-received ratios with respect to other nodes and deriving thereof a link quality towards the respective nodes.

Claims

1. Method for link quality estimation in a wireless network,

characterized in that nodes of said wireless network perform the steps of

sending packets to other nodes,

monitoring all packets received from other nodes being located within their communication range, and

calculating sent-received ratios with respect to other nodes and deriving thereof a link quality towards the respective nodes.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein nodes sending packets define monitoring intervals and instruct other nodes being located within their communication range accordingly.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said agreement on monitoring intervals is achieved by explicit signaling between a sending node and other nodes being located within its communication range.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein new monitoring intervals are started with each request for connection establishment.

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein monitoring intervals are defined as fixed time quanta starting at a pre-defined point in time.

6. Method according to claim 2, wherein nodes receiving packets create individual receipt reports for said sending nodes, said receipt reports including information about packets received from the respective sending node within said agreed monitoring interval.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said receipt report includes a packet counter of packets received from a sending node per monitoring interval.

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein said receipt report includes a packet reference indicating the beginning of said monitoring intervals.

9. Method according to claim 6, wherein said sent packets contain a packet reference, in particular a sequence number, and wherein said receipt report includes a packet loss ratio derived by the respective receiving node.

10. Method according to claim 6, wherein said receipt reports are periodically sent to the respective sending node.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein nodes sending packets record information about said sent packets.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein said recorded information about sent packets includes information items concerning the number of sent packets per monitoring interval.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein said recorded information about sent packets includes information items concerning a packet reference, in particular packet sequence numbers.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein knowledge of the communication protocol being used is additionally employed for deriving link quality.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein a stability value is determined for said calculated link quality.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein said stability value is gradually adapted based on the last received values.

17. Method according to claim 3, wherein new monitoring intervals are started with each request for connection establishment.

18. Method according to claim 7, wherein said receipt report includes a packet reference indicating the beginning of said monitoring intervals.

19. Method according to claim 12, wherein said recorded information about sent packets includes information items concerning a packet reference, in particular packet sequence numbers.