Rate adaptation in wireless systems

Abstract

Techniques and systems for rate adaption in wireless systems are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes generating confidence measures for a plurality of data rates based at least on a first indicator and a second indicator, the first indicator corresponding to packet loss associated with packets transmitted by a device at a first data rate that is selected from the plurality of data rates, and the second indicator corresponding to one or more signal quality values associated with one or more packets received by the device; selecting, from the plurality of data rates, a second data rate based at least on the confidence measures; and transmitting one or more additional packets at the second data rate.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 generating confidence measures for a plurality of data rates based at least on a first indicator and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator corresponds to packet loss associated with packets transmitted by a device at a first data rate that is selected from the plurality of data rates, and the second indicator corresponds to one or more signal quality values associated with one or more packets received by the device; 
 selecting, from the plurality of data rates, a second data rate based at least on the confidence measures; and 
 transmitting one or more additional packets at the second data rate. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the second data rate comprises selecting as the second data rate a data rate associated with a positive confidence measure of the confidence measures. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the confidence measures comprises determining an average value associated with the second indicator. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 determining a calibration value associated with the first indicator, the calibration value determined to refine the average value; and 
 determining a confidence measure based on the average value and the calibration value. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 identifying a nominal signal quality parameter from a nominal table containing a plurality of signal quality parameters including the second indicator, each of the plurality of signal quality parameters having a different value and corresponding to a different data rate supported by a channel through which packets are transmitted or received, 
 wherein selecting the second data rate is performed based on the first indicator, the second indicator, and the nominal signal quality parameter. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 monitoring a number of unsuccessful packets transmitted at the second data rate; and 
 adjusting, based on the monitored number, the second data rate to a third data rate at which packets are to be transmitted, the third data rate being lower than the second data rate. 
 
     
     
       7. A system comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transmit packets and receive packets; and 
 circuitry communicatively coupled with the transceiver, the circuitry configured to:
 generate confidence measures for a plurality of data rates based at least on a first indicator and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator corresponds to packet loss associated with packets transmitted by the transceiver at a first data rate that is selected from the plurality of data rates, and the second indicator corresponds to one or more signal quality values associated with one or more packets received by the transceiver, 
 select, from the plurality of data rates, a second data rate based at least on the confidence measures, and 
 cause the transceiver to transmit one or more additional packets at the second data rate. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to select as the second data rate a data rate associated with a positive confidence measure of the confidence measures. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine an average value associated with the second indicator. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a calibration value associated with the first indicator, the calibration value determined to refine the average value, and determine a confidence measure based on the average value and the calibration value. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to identify a nominal signal quality parameter from a nominal table containing a plurality of signal quality parameters including the second indicator, each of the plurality of signal quality parameters having a different value and corresponding to a different data rate supported by a channel through which packets are transmitted or received,
 wherein the second data rate is selected based at least on the first indicator, the second indicator, and the nominal signal quality parameter. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 monitor a number of unsuccessful packets transmitted at the second data rate; and 
 adjust, based on the monitored number, the second data rate to a third data rate at which packets are to be transmitted, the third data rate being lower than the second data rate. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first indicator includes a retry counter parameter, wherein the circuitry is configured to increment the retry counter parameter in response to a packet retransmission due to an unsuccessful transmission, and wherein the second data rate is selected based at least on the retry counter parameter. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 adjust the first indicator by a first predetermined value when a number of successive successful transmissions of the one or more additional packets at the second data rate exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and 
 adjust the first indicator by a second predetermined value when a number of successive unsuccessful transmissions of the one or more additional packets at the second data rate exceeds a second predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       15. A device comprising:
 circuitry configured to generate confidence measures for a plurality of data rates based at least on a first indicator and a second indicator, wherein the first indicator corresponds to packet loss associated with transmitted packets that are transmitted at a first data rate that is selected from the plurality of data rates, and the second indicator corresponds to one or more signal quality values associated with one or more received packets; and 
 a rate selector configured to select, from the plurality of data rates, a second data rate based at least on the confidence measures, and cause a transmission of one or more additional packets at the second data rate. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the rate selector is configured to select as the second data rate a data rate associated with a positive confidence measure of the confidence measures. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine an average value associated with the second indicator. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is configured to determine a calibration value associated with the first indicator, the calibration value determined to refine the average value, and determine a confidence measure based on the average value and the calibration value. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is configured to identify a nominal signal quality parameter from a nominal table containing a plurality of signal quality parameters including the second indicator, each of the plurality of signal quality parameters having a different value and corresponding to a different data rate supported by a channel through which packets are transmitted or received,
 wherein the second data rate is selected based at least on the first indicator, the second indicator, and the nominal signal quality parameter. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 monitor a number of unsuccessful packets transmitted at the second data rate; and 
 adjust, based on the monitored number, the second data rate to a third data rate at which packets are to be transmitted, the third data rate being lower than the second data rate. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first indicator is based on a retry counter parameter, wherein the circuitry comprises a retry processor configured to increment the retry counter parameter in response to a packet retransmission due to an unsuccessful transmission, and wherein the second data rate is selected based at least on the retry counter parameter. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 adjust the first indicator by a first predetermined value when a number of successive successful transmissions of the one or more additional packets at the second data rate exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and 
 adjust the first indicator by a second predetermined value when a number of successive unsuccessful transmissions of the one or more additional packets at the second data rate exceeds a second predetermined threshold.