Profile-based packet rate adaptation for wireless systems

• US 9,065,594 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Husted, Paul J., Kogan, Douglas J., Dua, Praveen
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Application Number:
  US12/719,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/318, 714/100, 714/1, 714/48, 714/746
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate

Abstract

Bluetooth file transfers using FTP do not provide upper-layer reliability checking and rely on the Bluetooth device physical layer providing reliable data to upper layers of a Bluetooth stack. However, reliability checks implemented by the physical layer are typically not very robust and in some cases may fail to detect errors, thus may provide corrupted data to the upper layers for further processing and may result in data corruption/transfer failure. Non-FTP Bluetooth file transfers are typically more robust when it comes to reliability checking because of upper layer reliability checks. Functionality can be implemented to vary packet transmission parameters depending on a Bluetooth profile implemented on a communication link. A packet error rate of received packets can be compared against a different set of thresholds depending on whether the Bluetooth profile is an FTP profile. Appropriate values of packet transmission parameters can be selected based on the above comparison.

Claims

1. A method for communication comprising:

determining, by a first wireless network device, whether a wireless communication profile associated with a plurality of packets received from a second wireless network device is a first wireless communication profile, wherein the first wireless communication profile defines a first protocol used for communication of packets;

determining a packet error rate associated with the plurality of packets;

comparing the packet error rate with a first set of packet error rate thresholds defined for the first protocol and associated with the first wireless communication profile, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile;

changing one or more packet transmission parameters associated with additional packets to be received based on the first protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds;

comparing the packet error rate with a second set of packet error rate thresholds defined for a second protocol and associated with a second wireless communication profile used for communication of the packets, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is not the first wireless communication profile; and

changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the second protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said comparing the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds, wherein the first set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a first combination of a packet transmit rate and a first slot duration for the first wireless communication profile, wherein the second set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a second combination of a second packet transmit rate and a second slot duration for the second wireless communication profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds comprises comparing the packet error rate to a lower limit packet error rate threshold and to an upper limit packet error rate threshold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

if the packet error rate is greater than the upper limit packet error rate threshold, decreasing a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount; and

if the packet error rate is less than the lower limit packet error rate threshold, increasing the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

if the packet error rate is greater than the upper limit packet error rate threshold, decreasing one of a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount or a slot duration by a first pre-defined slot duration value;

if the packet error rate is less than the lower limit packet error rate threshold, increasing one of the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount or the slot duration by a second pre-defined slot duration value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the packet error rate comprises one of determining the packet error rate received within a predefined time interval or determining the packet error rate associated with a predefined number packets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining whether the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile further comprises determining that a communication protocol implemented on a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device is an Object Exchange (OBEX) and a Radio Frequency Communication (RFCOMM) protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second set of packet error rate thresholds comprise an upper limit threshold for a long term packet error rate, a lower limit threshold for the long term packet error rate, an upper limit threshold for a short term packet error rate, and a lower limit threshold for the short term packet error rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining whether the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile further comprises at least one member of a group consisting of receiving an indication of the first wireless communication profile from a host device on which the first wireless network device is located, detecting packets exchanged during setup of a communication link between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device, and receiving the indication of the first wireless communication profile from an application-programming interface (API) of the first wireless communication profile.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

changing a transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

changing the transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of said comparing the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device are devices that implement Bluetooth protocols.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a performance indicator associated with the plurality of packets received at the first wireless network device;

comparing the performance indicator against a performance indicator threshold associated with the first wireless communication profile, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile;

implementing one or more reliability tests defined for the first protocol associated with the first wireless communication profile, based at least in part on said comparing the performance indicator against the performance indicator threshold associated with the first wireless communication profile;

determining whether the plurality of packets pass the one or more reliability tests;

if it is determined that the plurality of packets pass the one or more reliability tests, processing the plurality of packets; and

if it is determined that the plurality of packets do not pass the one or more reliability tests, requesting retransmission of the plurality of packets.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a lesser number of reliability checks than the second wireless communication profile,

wherein the reliability checks validate that the plurality of packets are uncorrupted during transmission between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device, and

wherein values of the first set of packet error rate thresholds are less than values of the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a reliability check at a physical layer and is defined to not perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer, and

wherein the second wireless communication profile is defined to perform the reliability check at the physical layer and is defined to perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

determining, by a first wireless network device, whether a wireless communication profile associated with a plurality of packets received from a second wireless network device, is a first wireless communication profile, wherein the first wireless communication profile defines a first protocol used for communication of packets;

determining a packet error rate associated with the plurality of packets;

comparing the packet error rate with a first set of packet error rate thresholds defined for the first protocol and associated with the first wireless communication profile, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile;

changing one or more packet transmission parameters associated with additional packets to be received based on the first protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds;

comparing the packet error rate with a second set of packet error rate thresholds defined for a second protocol and associated with a second wireless communication profile used for communication of the packets, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is not the first wireless communication profile; and

determining to change the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the second protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said comparing the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds, wherein the first set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a first combination of a packet transmit rate and a first slot duration for the first wireless communication profile, wherein the second set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a second combination of a second packet transmit rate and a second slot duration for the second wireless communication profile.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said operation of comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds comprises comparing the packet error rate to a lower limit packet error rate threshold and to an upper limit packet error rate threshold.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said operation of changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

if the packet error rate is greater than the upper limit packet error rate threshold, decreasing a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount; and

if the packet error rate is less than the lower limit packet error rate threshold, increasing the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said operation of changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

if the packet error rate is greater than the upper limit packet error rate threshold, decreasing one of a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount or a slot duration by a first pre-defined slot duration value; and

if the packet error rate is less than the lower limit packet error rate threshold, increasing one of the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount or the slot duration by a second pre-defined slot duration value.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said operation of changing the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises:

changing a transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

changing the transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of said comparing the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a lesser number of reliability checks than the second wireless communication profile,

wherein the reliability checks validate that the plurality of packets are uncorrupted during transmission between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device, and

wherein values of the first set of packet error rate thresholds are less than values of the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable mediums of claim 21,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a reliability check at a physical layer and is defined to not perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer, and

wherein the second wireless communication profile is defined to perform the reliability check at the physical layer and is defined to perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer.

23. A first wireless network device comprising:

a profile detection unit operable to determine whether a wireless communication profile associated with a plurality of packets received from a second wireless network device is a first wireless communication profile, wherein the first wireless communication profile defines a first protocol used for communication of packets; and

a transmit rate selection unit operable to;

determine a packet error rate associated with the plurality of packets received at the first wireless network device;

compare the packet error rate with a first set of packet error rate thresholds defined for the first protocol and associated with the first wireless communication profile, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is the first wireless communication profile;

change one or more packet transmission parameters associated with additional packets received based on the first protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of the transmit rate selection unit compare of the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds;

compare the packet error rate with a second set of packet error rate thresholds defined for a second protocol and associated with a second wireless communication profile used for communication of the packets, if it is determined that the wireless communication profile is not the first wireless communication profile; and

change the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the second protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said compare of the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds, wherein the first set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a first combination of a packet transmit rate and a first slot duration for the first wireless communication profile, wherein the second set of packet error rate thresholds are associated with a second combination of a second packet transmit rate and a second slot duration for the second wireless communication profile.

24. The first wireless network device of claim 23, wherein the transmit rate selection unit operable to change the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises the transmit rate selection unit operable to:

decrease a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount, if the packet error rate is greater than an upper limit packet error rate threshold associated with the first wireless communication profile; and

increase the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount, if the packet error rate is less than a lower limit packet error rate threshold associated with the first wireless communication profile.

25. The first wireless network device of claim 23, wherein the transmit rate selection unit operable to change the one or more packet transmission parameters associated with the additional packets to be received based on the first protocol comprises the transmit rate selection unit operable to:

decrease one of a packet transmit rate by a first pre-defined transmit rate amount or a slot duration by a first pre-defined slot duration value, if the packet error rate is greater than an upper limit packet error rate threshold; and

increase one of the packet transmit rate by a second pre-defined transmit rate amount or the slot duration by a second pre-defined slot duration value, if the packet error rate is less than a lower limit packet error rate threshold.

26. The first wireless network device of claim 23, further comprising:

a power management unit operable to;

change a transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of the compare of the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds.

27. The first wireless network device of claim 26, wherein the power management unit is operable to:

change the transmit power level associated with the additional packets based at least in part on the results of the compare of the packet error rate with the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

28. The first wireless network device of claim 23,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a lesser number of reliability checks than the second wireless communication profile,

wherein the reliability checks validate that the plurality of packets are uncorrupted during transmission between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device, and

wherein values of the first set of packet error rate thresholds are less than values of the second set of packet error rate thresholds.

29. The first wireless network device of claim 28,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a reliability check at a physical layer and is defined to not perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer, and

wherein the second wireless communication profile is defined to perform the reliability check at the physical layer and is defined to perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer.

30. A method for communication comprising:

determining, by a first wireless network device, that a wireless communication profile associated with a plurality of packets received from a second wireless network device, is a first wireless communication profile, wherein the first wireless communication profile defines a first protocol used for communication of packets;

determining a packet error rate associated with the plurality of packets received at the first wireless network device;

comparing the packet error rate with a first set of packet error rate thresholds defined for the first protocol and associated with the first wireless communication profile;

determining whether to change one or more packet transmission parameters associated with additional packets to be received based on the first protocol from the second wireless network device based at least in part on results of said comparing the packet error rate with the first set of packet error rate thresholds;

determining a performance indicator associated with the plurality of packets;

comparing the performance indicator against a performance indicator threshold defined for the first protocol; and

determining whether the plurality of packets pass one or more reliability tests defined for the first protocol, based at least in part on said comparing the performance indicator against the performance indicator threshold defined for the first protocol, wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a lesser number of reliability checks than a second wireless communication profile, wherein the reliability checks validate that the plurality of packets are uncorrupted during transmission between the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

if it is determined that the plurality of packets pass the one or more reliability tests, processing the plurality of packets; and

if it is determined that the plurality of packets do not pass the one or more reliability tests, requesting retransmission of the plurality of packets.

32. The method of claim 30,

wherein values of the first set of packet error rate thresholds are less than values of a second set of packet error rate thresholds associated with the second wireless communication profile.

33. The method of claim 32,

wherein the first wireless communication profile is defined to perform a reliability check at a physical layer and is defined to not perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer, and

wherein the second wireless communication profile is defined to perform the reliability check at the physical layer and is defined to perform the reliability check at layers higher than the physical layer.