Wireless network device

Abstract

A wireless network device includes a time-critical queue, a classification queue, a controller, and a transmitter. The classification queue is associated with an access category and a link. The controller is coupled to the classification queue to obtain a transmission opportunity for the access category according to a set of contention parameters for the access category. The transmitter is coupled to the controller and the time-critical queue to generate a data frame from data in the time-critical queue if the time-critical queue stores data when the transmission opportunity is obtained, and transmit the data frame to another wireless network device via the link.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to wireless networks, and more particularly to a wireless network device for transmitting timely data in a stable, reliable, and low-latency manner. Background Technology

[0002] The IEEE 802.11be communication protocol is the next-generation wireless access technology for Wi-Fi 7, supporting multiple links and multiple wireless circuits, 320MHz bandwidth, 4096 quadrature amplitude modulation, and 16 spatial streams to provide users with a high-speed transmission experience. With the development of virtual reality, augmented reality, real-time gaming, and other applications, the demand for low-latency applications is increasing, and wireless network devices need to transmit timely data in a stable, reliable, and low-latency manner. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a wireless network device including a timeliness queue, a classification queue, a controller, and a transmitter. The classification queue is related to access categories and links. The controller is coupled to the classification queue and is used to obtain a transmission opportunity for an access category based on a set of contention parameters for that access category. The transmitter is coupled to the controller and the timeliness queue and, when a transmission opportunity is obtained, if data is stored in the timeliness queue, generates a data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue and transmits the data frame to another wireless network device via the link. Attached Figure Description

[0004] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0005] Figure 2 This shows a timing diagram of the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) mechanism based on carrier-detection multiple access / collision avoidance.

[0006] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a latency optimization architecture 3 of an EDCA mechanism for a wireless network device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a data frame according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another data frame in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of one type of time-sensitive queue.

[0010] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission delay of a wireless network device in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-link communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multi-link communication system 1 includes an access point multi-link device (AP MLD) 10 and a non-access point multi-link device (non AP MLD) 12. The multi-link communication system 1 is compatible with the IEEE 802.11be communication protocol.

[0012] Access point multilink device 10 includes access points (APs) 101 and 102 and a service access point (SAP) 16. Non-access point multilink device 12 includes stations (STAs) 121 and 122 and an SAP 18. SAP 16 performs data conversion between the access point multilink device 10 and the logical link control (LLC) layer and its lower layers, while SAP 18 performs data conversion between the non-access point multilink device 12 and the LLC layer and its lower layers. Access points 101 and 102, SAP 16, stations 121 and 122, and SAP 18 can be logical devices and can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Links 141 and 142 can be established between access point multilink device 10 and non-access point multilink device 12. For example, access point 101 can communicate with site 121 via link 141, and access point 102 can communicate with site 122 via link 142. Link 141 can be established in a channel in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz frequency band, and link 142 can be established in a channel in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz frequency band, but in a different channel than link 141. For example, link 141 can be established in a channel in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, and link 142 can be established in a channel in the 5 GHz frequency band.

[0013] Sites 121 and 122 can utilize the carrier sense multiple access / collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) mechanism to compete for the transmission medium through random backoff. The IEEE 802.11 communication protocol employs the enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) mechanism to ensure quality of service (QoS). Figure 2This displays a timing diagram of the EDCA mechanism based on CSMA / CA. To avoid collisions, before sending a new frame, stations 121 and 122 detect whether the channel is idle during the arbitration inter-frame space (AIFS). If data transmission is in progress on the channel, stations 121 and 122 will detect that the transmission medium is busy (202). If the channel is idle, stations 121 and 122 will wait for a randomly selected backoff time before sending a new frame (204).

[0014] The EDCA mechanism defines four Access Categories (ACs): Background (BK), Best Effort (BE), Video (VI), and Voice (VO), which compete for the transmission opportunity (TXOP). The access category is related to the length of the AIFS period and the length of the backoff time. Generally, the length of the AIFS period and the length of the backoff time for access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK increase in that order. The method for obtaining the length of the AIFS period and the length of the backoff time will be explained in detail in later paragraphs. Data in access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK may have a priority order defined in the EDCA mechanism, or a high priority order defined by the access point multilink device 10 or the non-access point multilink device 12; this is called time-sensitive data. For example, a higher priority A_VO (Alternative VO) is added for time-sensitive data VO, and VO and A_VO share a random backoff contention mechanism. Similarly, a higher priority A_VI (Alternative VI) is added for time-sensitive data VI, and VI and A_VI share a random backoff contention mechanism. The priority of time-sensitive data in access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK can be higher than the priority of access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK defined in the EDCA mechanism. The non-access point multi-link device 12 can provide low-latency transmission services for time-sensitive data in access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK to enhance transmission reliability and reduce data latency.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a latency optimization architecture 3 of an EDCA mechanism in a wireless network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless network device may be... Figure 1Access point multi-link device 10 and / or non-access point multi-link device 12 are described in the following paragraphs. Access point multi-link device 10 will be used as a wireless network device to illustrate embodiments of the invention; however, those skilled in the art can apply the invention to non-access point multi-link device 12 based on similar principles. The latency optimization architecture 3 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The latency optimization architecture 3 can receive media access control (MAC) service data units (MSDUs) from the LLC layer. Once an access class (VO, VI, BE, or BK) has a transmission opportunity, the time-sensitive MSDU is transmitted via link 141 and / or 142 to the non-access point multi-link device 12, thereby increasing the throughput of time-sensitive data and reducing the latency of time-sensitive data. Furthermore, if the access point multi-link device 10 simultaneously obtains transmission opportunities on links 141 and 142, the delay optimization architecture 3 can repeatedly transmit time-sensitive MSDUs to the non-access point multi-link device 12 via links 141 and 142, thereby improving the transmission reliability of time-sensitive data and reducing the number of retransmissions.

[0016] The latency-optimized architecture 3 includes a timeliness queue (QTS), category matching units 301 and 302, classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2, controllers 321 and 322, and transmitters 381 and 382. The timeliness queue (QTS) and classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2 can be designed as First-In-First-Out (FIFO). The timeliness queue (QTS) is a low-latency queue independent of the classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2.

[0017] Category matching unit 301, classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, controller 321, and transmitter 381 may be associated with link 141. Category matching unit 301 may be coupled to classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1 and timeliness queue QTS, classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1 may be coupled to controller 321, and controller 321 may be coupled to transmitter 381. Similarly, category matching unit 302, classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2, controller 322, and transmitter 382 may be associated with link 142. Category matching unit 302 can be coupled to classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2 and timeliness queue QTS. Classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2 can be coupled to controller 322, and controller 322 can be coupled to transmitter 382. Timeliness queue QTS can be shared on links 141 and 142.

[0018] Each classification queue QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2 can be associated with a specific access class. For example, classification queues QVO1 and QVO2 can be associated with access class VO and data that can be temporarily stored in access class VO; classification queues QVI1 and QVI2 can be associated with access class VI and data that can be temporarily stored in access class VI; classification queues QBE1 and QBE2 can be associated with access class BE and data that can be temporarily stored in access class BE; and classification queues QBK1 and QBK2 can be associated with classification queue BK and data that can be temporarily stored in access class BK. The wireless network device can customize the priority of the transmission stream (TS) based on traffic demand. For example, the non-access point multi-link device 12 can submit a request to the access point multi-link device 10 to add a custom QoS type based on traffic demand via an Add Stream Request (ADDTS Request). The Add Stream Request carries a traffic specification (TSPEC), and the TSPEC of the Add Stream Request can carry parameters of the requested TS. For example, the Add Stream Request TSPEC can carry the service interval related to data latency, the data rate related to throughput, the data direction (uplink, downlink, or bidirectional), and the user priority (UP). The non-access point multi-link device 12 can set a time-sensitive TS by setting the UP of the requested TS to be higher than the access category defined by the EDCA mechanism. Access point multilink device 10 can transmit an Add Stream Response (ADDTSResponse) to non-access point multilink device 12 in response to an Add Stream Request. The Add Stream Response includes a TSPEC, and the TSPEC can carry a traffic stream identifier (TSID) and a corresponding UP. The TSID has 4 bits, where the most significant bit (MSB) is always "1", so the valid values ​​of the TSID are 8 to 15, and a maximum of 8 TSs can be defined.In addition, each MSDU may have QoS control information, including a traffic identifier (TID). The TID has 4 bits and its valid value is 0 to 15. When the TID is one of 0 to 7, the QoS control information is related to the 8 traffic categories (TC) defined by the EDCA mechanism. When the TID is one of 8 to 15, the QoS control information is related to the TS category defined by the non-access point multi-link device 12. That is, the TID is equal to the TSID in the TSPEC with added streaming response.

[0019] In some embodiments, the access point multilink device 10 may record custom TS and EDCA mechanism-defined ACs, and corresponding TIDs, as shown in Table 1:

[0020] Priority UP AC or TS TID lowest 1 BK 1 2 BK 2 0 BE 0 3 BE 3 4 A_VI 4 5 VI 5 6 VO 6 Highest 7 A_VO 7 0～7 TS1 8 0～7 TS2 9 0～7 TS3 10 0～7 TS4 11

[0021] Table 1

[0022] As shown in Table 1, TIDs 0 to 7 can be associated with the four access classes (ACs) defined by the EDCA mechanism, and TIDs 8 to 11 can be associated with custom transport streams TS1 to TS4. The category matching unit 301 receives the MSDU and its corresponding TID from the LLC layer, and uses Table 1 to determine the AC or TS to which the MSDU belongs based on the corresponding TID, and allocates it to one of the classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, or the timeliness queue QTS. For example, if the MSDU's TID is 6, the category matching unit 301 can determine that the MSDU belongs to access class VO and allocate the MSDU to classification queue QVO1. If the MSDU's TID is 11, the category matching unit 301 can determine that the MSDU belongs to transport stream TS4 and is a timeliness MSDU, and allocate the MSDU to the timeliness queue QTS. In some embodiments, if the category matching unit 301 determines that the MSDU is timeliness-sensitive, then the timeliness-sensitive MSDU is allocated to the timeliness queue QTS. For example, the timeliness MSDUs of the transmission streams TS1 to TS4 are all assigned to the timeliness queue QTS. In other embodiments, the timeliness queue QTS contains multiple sub-timeliness queues. If the category matching unit 301 determines that an MSDU is time-sensitive, the timeliness MSDU and its TID are transmitted to the corresponding sub-timeliness queue among the multiple sub-timeliness queues. Each sub-timeliness queue can store the timeliness MSDU according to its TID. For example, the first sub-timeliness queue can store the timeliness MSDU with TID 8, and the second sub-timeliness queue can store the timeliness MSDU with TID 9.

[0023] The controller 321 can obtain the transmission opportunity of data for each access class on the link 141 based on a set of contention parameters for each access class. Access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK can each correspond to four sets of contention parameters. Each set of contention parameters can include the minimum contention window CWmin[AC], the maximum contention window CWmax[AC], and the number of AIFSs AIFSN[AC], as shown in Table 2.

[0024]

[0025] Table 2

[0026] Where Cwmin[AC] is the minimum contention window for access class (AC);

[0027] Cwmax[AC] is the maximum contention window for the access class (AC), and aCWmax is greater than aCWmin; and

[0028] AIFSN[AC] represents the number of arbitration inter-frame intervals for access class (AC), expressed in terms of time slots.

[0029] The backoff time for each access class can be randomly selected from the interval between its minimum contention window CWmin[AC] and its maximum contention window CWmax[AC]. For example, the backoff time for access class BK can be randomly selected from the interval between aCWmin and aCWmax. The AIFS for each access class can be calculated using the AIFS number AIFSN[AC] according to formula (1). For example, the AIFS for access class BK can be (7aSlotTime + aSIFSTime).

[0030] AIFS[AC]=AIFSN[AC]x aSlotTime+aSIFSTime Formula (1)

[0031] Where AIFS[AC] is the arbitration inter-frame interval for access class AC;

[0032] AIFSN[AC] is the number of arbitration inter-frame intervals for access class AC;

[0033] aSlotTime is the slot time; and

[0034] aSIFSTime is the short inter-frame space (SIFS) time.

[0035] According to formula (1), the smaller the AIFSN[AC] and / or the smaller the Cwmin[AC] / Cwmax[AC], the higher the priority, the higher the probability of obtaining a transmission opportunity, and the better the service quality. Table 2 shows that the AIFSN[AC] of access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK increases in sequence, and their Cwmin[AC] / Cwmax[AC] also increases in sequence. Therefore, the priority of the four access categories from high to low is access category VO, VI, BE, and finally BK.

[0036] Controller 321 may include enhanced distributed channel access function (EDCAF) modules 331 to 361 and an internal collision arbitration circuit 371. EDCAF modules 331 to 361 may correspond to access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK, respectively, and may be coupled to category queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, and QBK1, respectively, and coupled to the internal collision arbitration circuit 371. The internal collision arbitration circuit 371 may be coupled to transmitter 381. EDCAF modules 331 to 361 may generate AIFS and backoff times for access categories VO, VI, BE, and BK, respectively. Each EDCAF module 331 to 361 may include its own AFIS timer and its own backoff timer. When the AFIS timer and backoff timer of only one of the EDCAF modules 331 to 361 expire, the corresponding access category can obtain a transmission opportunity on link 141. When the AFIS timer and backoff timer of multiple access classes (EDCAF331 to 361) expire simultaneously, the internal collision arbitration circuit 371 can determine which access class can obtain the transmission opportunity on link 141 according to the priority order defined in Table 1 (Column 1 of Table 1). For example, if the AFIS timer and backoff timer of EDCAF331 and 361 expire, access class VO will obtain the transmission opportunity on link 141 because Table 1 shows that the priority of access class VO is greater than the priority of access class BK.

[0037] When an EDCAF acquires a transmission opportunity, it can detect the status of the corresponding classification queue and timeliness queue (QTS). If data is stored in the timeliness queue (QTS) and / or the corresponding classification queue, the transmitter 381 generates a data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and / or the corresponding classification queue, and transmits the data frame to the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141.

[0038] In some embodiments, if the timeliness queue (QTS) stores data and the classification queue for the access category seeking a transmission opportunity does not contain data, then the data frame contains only the data from the timeliness queue (QTS) and not the data from the access category seeking a transmission opportunity, and can be a non-orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (non-OFDMA) frame, such as... Figure 4 Data frame 4 is shown. Transmitter 381 can transmit data frame 4 via link 141 to the non-access point multi-link device 12 in non-OFDMA mode. For example, if access class VO obtains a transmission opportunity, and EDCAF 331 detects that there is data stored in the timeliness queue QTS and no data in the class queue QVO1, then the data frame generated by transmitter 381 may include the data in the timeliness queue QTS but not the data of access class VO. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a data frame 4 according to one embodiment of the present invention, where the horizontal axis represents time T and the vertical axis represents frequency F. Data frame 4 may include a preamble 40 and timeliness data 42. Timeliness data 42 may be data in a timeliness queue (QTS).

[0039] In other embodiments, if data is stored in both the timeliness queue (QTS) and the classification queue corresponding to EDCAF, the transmitter 381 may allocate a first resource unit (RU) of the data frame to the data of the access category that has obtained a transmission opportunity, and allocate a second resource unit of the data frame to the data in the timeliness queue (QTS). The transmitter 381 may load the data of the access category that has obtained a transmission opportunity into the first resource unit and the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) into the second resource unit to transmit the data frame to the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141. The data frame includes data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and data in the classification queue of the access category that has obtained a transmission opportunity, and may be an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) frame, such as... Figure 5Data frame 5 is shown. Transmitter 381 can transmit data frame 5 via link 141 to the non-access point multi-link device 12 in OFDMA mode. For example, if access class VO obtains a transmission opportunity, and EDCAF 331 detects that data is stored in the timeliness queue QTS and the classification queue QVO1, then the data frame generated by transmitter 381 can contain the data in the timeliness queue QTS and the data in the classification queue QVO1. Transmitter 381 can load the data in the classification queue QVO1 into a first resource unit and load the data in the timeliness queue QTS into a second resource unit to transmit data frame 5 in OFDMA mode. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another data frame 5 in an embodiment of the present invention, where the horizontal axis represents time T and the vertical axis represents frequency F. Data frame 5 may include a preamble 50, access class (AC) data 52, timeliness data 54, and padding data 56. Access class data 52 may be access class data carried in the first resource unit for acquiring a transmission opportunity. Timeliness data 54 may be data carried in the timeliness queue (QTS) of the second resource unit.

[0040] In other embodiments, if there is no data in the timeliness queue QTS and data is stored in the classification queue of the access category that obtained the transmission opportunity, the data frame only contains the data of the access category that obtained the transmission opportunity and does not contain the data in the timeliness queue QTS, and may be a non-OFDMA frame. Transmitter 381 can transmit the data frame via link 141 to the non-access point multi-link device 12 in non-OFDMA mode. For example, if access category VO obtains a transmission opportunity, EDCAF 331 detects that there is no data in the timeliness queue QTS and data is stored in the classification queue QVO1, then the data frame generated by transmitter 381 may contain the data in the classification queue QVO1 but not the timeliness data. Except that the timeliness data 42 is replaced by the data in the classification queue QVO1, the data frame may be similar to... Figure 4 Data frame 4.

[0041] In other embodiments, if there is no data in both the timeliness queue (QTS) and the classification queue for the access category of acquiring a transmission opportunity, the transmitter 381 does not transmit any data frames.

[0042] Classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2, controller 322, and transmitter 382 can acquire transmission opportunities on link 142. Controller 322 may include EDCAF modules 332 to 362 and an internal collision arbitration circuit 372. EDCAF modules 332 to 362 may be coupled to classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2, and coupled to the internal collision arbitration circuit 372, respectively. The internal collision arbitration circuit 372 may be coupled to transmitter 382. The operating principle and circuit settings of category matching unit 302, classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2, controller 322, and transmitter 382 are similar to those of category matching unit 301, classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, controller 311, and transmitter 381, and will not be described again here.

[0043] In some embodiments, controller 321 may obtain a first transmission opportunity for the first access class based on a first set of contention parameters for the first access class, and controller 322 may obtain a second transmission opportunity for the second access class based on a second set of contention parameters for the second access class. If data is stored in the timeliness queue QTS, transmitter 381 may generate a first data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue QTS and transmit the first data frame to station 121 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141. Transmitter 382 may generate a second data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue QTS and transmit the second data frame to station 122 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 142. For example, the first access class may be access class VO, and the second access class may be access class BK. Controller 321 may obtain a first transmission opportunity for access class VO based on a first set of contention parameters for access class VO, and controller 322 may obtain a second transmission opportunity for access class BK based on a second set of contention parameters for access class BK. If the timeliness queue (QTS) stores data, transmitter 381 can generate a first data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and transmit the first data frame to station 121 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141. Transmitter 382 can generate a second data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and transmit the second data frame to station 122 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 142.

[0044] In other embodiments, controller 321 may obtain a first transmission opportunity for the first access class based on a first set of contention parameters for the first access class, and controller 322 may obtain a second transmission opportunity for the first access class based on the first set of contention parameters for the first access class. If data is stored in the timeliness queue QTS, transmitter 381 may generate a first data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue QTS and transmit the first data frame to station 121 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141. Transmitter 382 may generate a second data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue QTS and transmit the second data frame to station 122 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 142. For example, the first access class may be access class VO, controller 321 may obtain a first transmission opportunity for access class VO based on a first set of contention parameters for access class VO, and controller 322 may obtain a second transmission opportunity for access class VO based on a first set of contention parameters for access class VO. If the timeliness queue (QTS) stores data, transmitter 381 can generate a first data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and transmit the first data frame to station 121 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141. Transmitter 382 can generate a second data frame based on the data in the timeliness queue (QTS) and transmit the second data frame to station 122 of the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 142.

[0045] Since the timeliness queue (QTS) is shared across links 141 and 142, data in the timeliness queue QTS can be transmitted to the non-access point multi-link device 12 via link 141 or 142 whenever any access class obtains a transmission opportunity, increasing the throughput of timeliness data. Furthermore, since the timeliness queue QTS is independent of the class queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2, and is not affiliated with any EDCAFs 331 to 361, 332 to 362, the wireless network device can transmit data in the timeliness queue QTS whenever any access class obtains a transmission opportunity. This increases the transmission opportunities for timeliness data, effectively reducing the latency of timeliness data.

[0046] Although Figure 3 The latency optimization architecture 3 uses only two links. Those skilled in the art can modify the latency optimization architecture 3 in accordance with the spirit of the invention to make it applicable to other numbers of links. For example, the classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2, controller 322, and transmitter 382 can be removed from the latency optimization architecture 3 to be applicable to a single link. In another embodiment, another set of classification queues, controllers, and transmitters can be added to the latency optimization architecture 3, and the timeliness queue QTS can be coupled to the newly added transmitter to be applicable to three links.

[0047] In addition, although Figure 3 Each link of the latency optimization architecture 3 is associated with only 4 classification queues. However, the number of classification queues is not limited to 4. Those skilled in the art can modify the latency optimization architecture 3 in accordance with the spirit of this invention to provide other numbers of classification queues.

[0048] Figure 6 for Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a time-sensitive queue (QTS). The time-sensitive queue (QTS) includes sub-time-sensitive queues (QTS1 to QTS4), corresponding to transmission streams TS1 to TS4 respectively. Sub-time-sensitive queues (QTS1 to QTS4) can be coupled to transmitters 381 and 382. Sub-time-sensitive queues (QTS1 to QTS4) can receive time-sensitive MSDUs and TIDs, where TID is a positive integer between 8 and 11. Sub-time-sensitive queues (QTS1 to QTS4) can temporarily store time-sensitive MSDUs for different TSs. For example, when a timeliness MSDU and TID are received and TID is 8, sub-timeliness queue QTS1 can temporarily store the timeliness MSDU of transmission stream TS1; when a timeliness MSDU and TID are received and TID is 9, sub-timeliness queue QTS2 can temporarily store the timeliness MSDU of transmission stream TS2; when a timeliness MSDU and TID are received and TID is 10, sub-timeliness queue QTS3 can temporarily store the timeliness MSDU of transmission stream TS3; and when a timeliness MSDU and TID are received and TID is 11, sub-timeliness queue QTS4 can temporarily store the timeliness MSDU of transmission stream TS4. When one of the classification queues QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, and QBK1 obtains a first transmission opportunity and / or one of the classification queues QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, and QBK2 obtains a second transmission opportunity, if at least one of the sub-timeliness queues QTS1 to QTS4 stores data, then transmitter 381 generates and transmits a first data frame to station 121 based on the data in at least one of the sub-timeliness queues QTS1 to QTS4, and / or transmitter 382 generates and transmits a second data frame to station 122 based on the data in at least one of the sub-timeliness queues QTS1 to QTS4. Although Figure 6 The Time-Release Queue (QTS) contains four sub-time-release queues, and the QTS can also be implemented using other numbers of sub-time-release queues. For example, time-release queues can be categorized based on other TSIDs.

[0049] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the transmission delay of a wireless network device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] At time t1, time-sensitive data is input into the time-sensitive queue QTS. At time t2, the time-sensitive data is ready to be output from the time-sensitive queue QTS. The interval between time t1 and time t2 can be called the queue latency Tq, which is the time from when the time-sensitive data enters the queue to when it is ready to be transmitted. Using TSID as the classification criterion for time-sensitive queues, which is not shared with access category queues, can effectively reduce queue latency.

[0051] At time t2, access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK begin competing for transmission opportunities. At time t3, one of the access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK acquires a transmission opportunity. The interval between time t2 and time t3 can be called the channel access latency Tc1, which is the time for data of access class VO, VI, BE, or BK to acquire a transmission opportunity (grant TXOP). Channel access latency Tc1 is related to the corresponding group contention parameters of access classes VO, VI, BE, or BK. Since time-sensitive data does not need to compete for transmission opportunities and uses one of the access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK to acquire a transmission opportunity, the channel access latency Tc1 of time-sensitive data is significantly reduced.

[0052] At time t4, the wireless network device receives a negative acknowledgement (NACK) message for data transmission, acknowledging the transmission failure. Access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK then re-compete for transmission opportunities. The interval between time t3 and time t4 can be called the initial transmission delay Ti, which is the time from the start of transmission to the acknowledgment of transmission failure. At time t5, one of the access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK acquires a transmission opportunity, and time-sensitive data can use the transmission opportunity of one of the access classes VO, VI, BE, and BK to start transmission again. The interval between time t4 and time t5 can be called the channel access delay Tc2. At time t6, the wireless network device receives an acknowledgement (ACK) message for data transmission, acknowledging the transmission success. The interval between time t5 and time t6 can be called the retransmission delay Ts. The interval between time t4 and time t6 can be called the retransmission delay Tr, which is the time from transmission failure to transmission success, and is equal to the sum of the channel access delay Tc2 and the retransmission delay Ts (Tr = Tc2 + Ts). When a transmission fails and the backoff procedure is re-entered, the channel access delay Tc2 increases exponentially, causing the retransmission delay Tr to grow exponentially.

[0053] Since the timeliness queue (QTS) is shared on links 141 and 142, if links 141 and 142 simultaneously obtain transmission opportunities, the timeliness data can be duplicated and transmitted concurrently on both links. Transmitting the same timeliness data on links 141 and 142 increases transmission reliability and improves the success rate, thereby reducing retransmission latency Tr. Furthermore, because the timeliness queue (QTS) is shared on links 141 and 142, when transmission fails and timeliness data needs to be retransmitted, it can be transmitted through the original transmission link or through access opportunities obtained from other links, effectively reducing channel access latency Tc2 during retransmission and lowering retransmission latency Tr.

[0054] Figures 3 to 6 The implementation method introduces an independent timeliness queue (QTS), which utilizes the characteristics of multiple links and OFDMA transmission technology to achieve delay optimization while enhancing transmission reliability.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims of the present invention shall be covered by the present invention.

[0056] [Symbol Explanation]

[0057] 1: Multi-link communication system

[0058] 10: Access Point Multilink Device

[0059] 101, 102: Access Points

[0060] 12: Non-access point multi-link device

[0061] 121, 122: Stations

[0062] 141, 142: Links

[0063] 16, 18: Service Access Points

[0064] 202: Busy Status

[0065] 204: New Frame

[0066] 3: Delay-optimized architecture

[0067] QTS: Time-sensitive queue

[0068] 301 and 302: Category Matching Units

[0069] QVO1, QVI1, QBE1, QBK1, QVO2, QVI2, QBE2, QBK2: Classification queues

[0070] 321 and 322: Controller

[0071] 321 and 322: Controller

[0072] 331 to 361, 332 to 362: Enhanced distributed channel access mechanism working module

[0073] 371 and 372: Internal collision arbitration circuit

[0074] 381 and 382: Transmitters

[0075] 4, 5: Data Frames

[0076] 40, 50: Prefix codes

[0077] 42, 54: Timeliness data

[0078] 52: Accessing Category Data

[0079] 56: Fill in the data

[0080] MSDU: Media Access Control Service Data Unit

[0081] QTS1 to QTS4: Sub-timeliness queues

[0082] t1 to t6: Time

[0083] TID: Traffic Identifier

[0084] Tq: Queue delay

[0085] Tc1, Tc2: Channel access latency

[0086] Ti: Initial transmission delay

[0087] Ts: Retransmission Delay

[0088] Tr: Retransmission delay.

Claims

1. A wireless network device, comprising: an age queue configured to receive age data; a first classification queue associated with a first access category and a first link; a first controller coupled to the first classification queue and configured to obtain a first transmission opportunity for the first access category based on a first set of contention parameters for the first access category; and a first transmitter coupled to the first controller and the time-sensitive queue, wherein when the first transmission opportunity is obtained through the first access category and the age data is not contending for the first transmission opportunity with the first access category, generating a first data frame including the age data in the age queue if the age data is stored in the age queue, and transmitting the first data frame to another wireless network device through the first link using the first transmission opportunity.

2. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein if the data is stored in the age queue and there is no data in the first classification queue, the first data frame includes the data in the age queue and no data for the first access category.

3. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein if the data is stored in the age queue and there is data in the first classification queue, the first transmitter is configured to allocate a first resource unit of the first data frame to the data in the first classification queue and a second resource unit of the first data frame to the data in the age queue.

4. The wireless network device of claim 1, further comprising: a second classification queue associated with a second access category and a second link, the second link being different from the first link; a second controller coupled to the second classification queue and configured to obtain a second transmission opportunity for the second access category based on a second set of contention parameters for the second access category; and a second transmitter coupled to the second controller and the age queue and configured to generate a second data frame based on the data in the age queue if the data is stored in the age queue when the second transmission opportunity is obtained, and transmit the second data frame to the another wireless network device through the second link.

5. The wireless network device of claim 1, further comprising: a second classification queue associated with the first access category and a second link, the second link being different from the first link; a second controller coupled to the second classification queue and configured to obtain a second transmission opportunity for the first access category based on the first set of contention parameters for the first access category; and a second transmitter coupled to the second controller and the age queue and configured to generate a second data frame based on the data in the age queue if the data is stored in the age queue when the second transmission opportunity is obtained, and transmit the second data frame to the another wireless network device through the second link.

6. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the age queue temporarily stores the data when the wireless network device determines that the data is age data based on a communication specification information element.

7. The wireless network device of claim 1, wherein the time-critical queue comprises a plurality of sub-time-critical queues coupled to the first transmitter. The first transmitter is configured to generate the first data frame based on data stored in at least one of the plurality of sub-time-critical queues if the at least one of the plurality of sub-time-critical queues has data stored therein when the first transmission opportunity is acquired.

8. The wireless network device of claim 1, further comprising a second classification queue associated with a second access category and the first link. The first controller is further coupled to the second classification queue and configured to calculate a first backoff time based on the first set of contention parameters of the first access category, calculate a second backoff time based on a second set of contention parameters of the second access category, and determine that the first access category acquires the first transmission opportunity based on a predetermined priority order when the first backoff time and the second backoff time expire at the same time.

9. The wireless network device of claim 1, further comprising a first category matching unit coupled to the time-critical queue and the first classification queue and configured to receive medium access control data and a corresponding traffic identifier, and assign the medium access control data to the time-critical queue or the first classification queue based on the corresponding traffic identifier.

10. The wireless network device of claim 9, wherein the time-critical queue comprises a plurality of sub-time-critical queues coupled to the first transmitter. The first category matching unit is configured to assign the medium access control data to one of the plurality of sub-time-critical queues and the first classification queue based on the corresponding traffic identifier.

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