Optimizing Resources In Data Transmission

What is this patent about?

’574 is related to the field of data transmission, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently delivering data to multiple devices with varying capabilities and network conditions. Traditional methods often compromise quality and capacity by catering to the lowest common denominator, leading to inefficient use of network and device resources. The patent aims to optimize data transmission by dynamically selecting subcarriers based on the capabilities of the receiving devices.

The underlying idea behind ’574 is to analyze the capabilities of multiple receiving devices and then select an optimal set of subcarriers for data transmission that minimizes capacity loss. This involves comparing parameters associated with subcarriers in the capability profiles of the devices, identifying similarities and differences, and choosing subcarriers that best accommodate the diverse capabilities of the receivers. The goal is to maximize the overall efficiency of the data transmission by reducing the performance bottleneck caused by devices with limited capabilities.

The claims of ’574 focus on a method, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, an apparatus, and a system that all perform the same core functions: determining a first set of subcarriers based on capability information of a device, sending a first portion of data via that set, determining an updated set of subcarriers, and sending a second portion of data via the updated set. This implies a dynamic adaptation of subcarrier selection based on changing device capabilities or network conditions.

In practice, the invention involves a system that continuously monitors the capabilities of receiving devices, such as their modulation and demodulation capabilities, error correction capabilities, and signal-to-noise ratios. This information is used to create or update capability profiles for each device. A central server then analyzes these profiles to select subcarriers that minimize the capacity reduction metric, which quantifies the amount of bandwidth lost due to the need to accommodate devices with lower capabilities. The system can then adjust encoding and modulation parameters to further optimize the data transmission.

Unlike prior approaches that rely on static subcarrier assignments or cater to the lowest common denominator, ’574 dynamically adapts to the capabilities of individual devices. This allows for a more efficient use of network resources and a better overall user experience. The invention also supports carrier aggregation, where data is transmitted over multiple frequency bands, and scalable video coding, where data is transmitted at multiple bit rates, further enhancing its flexibility and adaptability. The dynamic subcarrier selection is the key differentiator.