Method and apparatus for performing wi-fi communication

Abstract

The present disclosure proposes a method and apparatus for a wireless station for transmitting data (e.g., low-latency data) requiring preemption during Wi-Fi communication. A method for a first wireless station (STA) performing Wi-Fi communication, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises the steps of: receiving, from an access point, first information related to preemption for the first wireless station, together with a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station; and on the basis of the first information, transmitting, to the access point, a frame including second information indicating preemption for only the first wireless station, wherein the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

Description

Method and device for performing Wi-Fi communication

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for Wi-Fi communication between electronic devices.

[0002] Recently, with the advancement of wireless technology, wired networks are being replaced by wireless networks, which are widely used by many people. In other words, since wireless technology can overcome the mobility limitations of wired networks, many technologies utilizing wireless networks are being actively researched.

[0003] A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), also known as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), allows users to access the Internet via mobile devices or laptops within a certain distance from an Access Point (AP). The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as a wireless local area network (WLAN) product based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. WiFi communication primarily uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. In particular, with the popularization of mobile devices, wireless LANs, which have potential as open wireless networks, are rapidly expanding, and WiFi is being used to provide high-speed data services to entire cities, including schools, airports, hotels, and offices.

[0004] The Internet is evolving from a human-centric network where humans create and consume information to an Internet of Things (IoT) network where information is exchanged and processed between distributed components such as objects. The Internet of Everything (IoE) technology, which combines IoT technology with big data processing technology through connections to cloud servers, is also emerging. To implement the IoT, technological elements such as sensing technology, wired and wireless communication and network infrastructure, service interface technology, and security technology are required. Recently, technologies such as sensor networks for connecting objects, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and machine-type communication (MTC) are being researched.

[0005] In an IoT environment, intelligent IT (Internet Technology) services can be provided that collect and analyze data generated from connected objects, creating new value in human life. IoT, through the convergence and integration of existing IT (information technology) technologies with various industries, can be applied to fields such as smart homes, smart buildings, smart cities, smart or connected cars, smart grids, healthcare, smart appliances, and advanced medical services.

[0006] The present disclosure proposes a method and device for a wireless station for transmitting data requiring preemption (e.g., low-latency data) during Wi-Fi communication.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of a first wireless station performing Wi-Fi communication includes the steps of: receiving first information instructing preemption activation for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point, wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station; and transmitting second information instructing preemption of only the first wireless station to the access point based on the first information; wherein the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations that require low-latency data transmission.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of an access point performing Wi-Fi communication includes the steps of transmitting first information indicating preemption for a first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) to a first wireless station, wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station; and receiving a frame including second information declaring preemption (PRT) for only the first wireless station from the first wireless station; wherein the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first wireless station performing Wi-Fi communication includes a transceiver; and at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive first information indicating preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point, wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station, and transmit a frame including second information indicating preemption (PRT) for only the first wireless station to the access point, wherein the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an access point performing Wi-Fi communication includes a transceiver; and at least one processor; and is configured to transmit first information indicating preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) to a first wireless station, wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station, and receive a frame including second information declaring preemption (PRT) for only the first wireless station from the first wireless station, wherein the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device can improve the performance of low-latency data transmission by granting priority to a specific terminal when operating an EDCA (enhanced distributed channel access)-based transmission right preemption method for transmitting data (e.g., low-latency data) that requires preemption in a downlink transmission opportunity period during Wi-Fi communication.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining a short-range communication connection type of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a wireless communication system including an access point and a wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the arrival of DL (downlink) low-latency traffic and UL (uplink) low-latency traffic during a DL (transmit opportunity) TXOP according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of UL traffic transmission of at least one wireless station to which an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA)-based preemption mechanism is applied according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which an access point indicates whether preemption (PR) is enabled through an ACK (acknowledge) frame in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a new DL low-latency packet arrives at an access point in the application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for granting priority to a target wireless station in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation when priority is granted to a target wireless station in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the target wireless station does not transmit a PRT (PR indication only for target STA) to an access point.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a target wireless station is given priority in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but a new DL low-latency packet arrives at the access point.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an access point receiving a PRI when a target wireless station is given priority in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the target wireless station does not transmit a PRT to the access point, and thus a PR activation instruction is transmitted to all wireless stations requiring preemption.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a method for granting priority to a target wireless station based on UORA (UL OFDMA-based random access) in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the size of uplink data exceeds a threshold value by piggybacking uplink data to an ACK frame and giving priority to a target wireless station in application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a case in which the size of uplink data is greater than a threshold value, in a manner of granting priority to a target wireless station by piggybacking uplink data to an ACK frame in application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 19 is an operation illustrating an operation of an access point transmitting a frame including trigger information when priority is granted to a target wireless station in application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0032] In describing the embodiments, descriptions of technical details that are well known in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains and are not directly related to the present disclosure will be omitted. This is to more clearly convey the gist of the present disclosure without obscuring it by omitting unnecessary explanations.

[0033] For the same reason, some components in the attached drawings are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted. Furthermore, the dimensions of each component do not entirely reflect its actual size. Identical or corresponding components in each drawing are assigned the same reference numbers.

[0034] The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided only to make the present disclosure complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the disclosure, and the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

[0035] At this time, it will be understood that each block of the processing flowchart drawings and combinations of the flowchart drawings can be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be installed in a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment create a means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s). These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-available or computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement the functions in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-available or computer-readable memory can also produce a manufactured item that includes an instruction means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s).

[0036] Since the computer program instructions may be installed on a computer or other programmable data processing device, a series of operational steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing device to create a computer-executable process, so that the instructions that cause the computer or other programmable data processing device to perform the steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s) may also be able to provide steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block(s).

[0037] Additionally, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that contains one or more executable instructions for performing a specific logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementation examples, the functions described in the blocks may occur out of order. For example, two blocks depicted in succession may actually be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on their respective functions.

[0038] Here, the term '~ unit' used in the present embodiment means software or hardware components such as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and the '~ unit' performs certain roles. However, the '~ unit' is not limited to software or hardware. The '~ unit' may be configured to be on an addressable storage medium and may be configured to play one or more processors. Accordingly, according to some embodiments, the '~ unit' includes components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, processes, functions, properties, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functions provided within the components and '~ units' may be combined into a smaller number of components and '~ units' or further separated into additional components and '~ units'. Additionally, the components and '~parts' may be implemented to activate one or more CPUs within the device or secure multimedia card. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the '~parts' may include one or more processors.

[0039] The term 'terminal' or 'device' used herein may refer to a mobile station (MS), user equipment (UE), user terminal (UT), wireless terminal, access terminal (AT), terminal, subscriber unit (SS), subscriber station (SS), wireless device, wireless communication device, wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), mobile node, mobile, or other terms. Various embodiments of the terminal may include a cellular telephone, a smart phone having a wireless communication function, a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a wireless communication function, a wireless modem, a portable computer having a wireless communication function, a photographing device such as a digital camera having a wireless communication function, a gaming device having a wireless communication function, a music storage and playback home appliance having a wireless communication function, an internet home appliance capable of wireless internet access and browsing, as well as portable units or terminals integrating combinations of such functions. In addition, the terminal may include, but is not limited to, an M2M (Machine to Machine) terminal, an MTC (Machine Type Communication) terminal / device. In this specification, the terminal may also be referred to as an electronic device or simply a device.

[0040] The exemplary embodiments are described below for simplicity only with respect to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems. It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments are equally applicable to other wireless networks (e.g., cellular networks, pico-networks, femto-networks, satellite networks), as well as systems that utilize signals of one or more wired standards or protocols (e.g., Ethernet and / or HomePlug / PLC standards). As used herein, the terms "WLAN" and "Wi-Fi®" may include communications governed by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, BLUETOOTH®, HiperLAN (a set of wireless standards primarily used in Europe and comparable to the IEEE 802.11 standards), and other technologies having a relatively short radio propagation range. Accordingly, the terms "WLAN" and "WiFi" may be used interchangeably herein. Additionally, while described below with respect to an infrastructure WLAN system including one or more Access Points (APs) and a plurality of wireless stations (STAs), the exemplary embodiments are equally applicable to other WLAN systems including, for example, multiple WLANs, peer-to-peer (or independent basic service set) systems, Wi-Fi Direct systems, and / or hotspots.

[0041] Additionally, while the present disclosure describes the exchange of data frames between wireless devices, the exemplary embodiments may be applied to the exchange of any data unit, packet, and / or frame between wireless devices. Thus, the term "frame" may include any frame, packet, or data unit, such as, for example, protocol data units (PDUs), media access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs), and physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDUs). The term "A-MPDU" may mean aggregated MPDUs.

[0042] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, circuits, and processes, to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The term "connected," as used herein, means directly connected or connected via one or more intervening components or circuits. The term "connected access point" refers to an access point with which a given wireless station is currently associated and / or connected (e.g., there is an established communications channel or link between the access point and the given wireless station). Furthermore, in the following description and for purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that such specific details may not be necessary to practice the exemplary embodiments. In other instances, well-known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the present disclosure.

[0043] The operating principles of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In the following description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of related known functions or configurations will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined based on the functions of the present disclosure and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with the electronic device (104) or a server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0045] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a non-volatile memory (134). According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0046] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, in the electronic device (101) itself where artificial intelligence is performed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0047] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0048] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0049] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0050] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0051] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of a force generated by the touch.

[0052] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0053] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0054] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0055] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0056] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0057] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0058] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0059] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0060] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi), or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN)). These various types of communication modules can be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0061] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0062] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0063] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0064] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0065] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102 or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0066] FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining a short-range communication connection type of an electronic device according to various embodiments.

[0067] According to various embodiments, referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1) may be connected to an access point (AP) (200) based on a plurality of communication methods based on Wi-Fi. According to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) and a communication module (190) (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1).

[0068] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may receive a communication signal from the outside or transmit a communication signal to the outside based on a Wi-Fi communication method (e.g., IEEE 802.11be). For example, the communication module (190) may operate based on IEEE 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, or 802.11bn among Wi-Fi communication methods, and in particular, IEEE 802.11be or 802.11bn has improved performance by supporting a wider bandwidth, higher data throughput, and shorter delay time compared to IEEE 802.11ax.

[0069] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may include a transceiver (191) for transmitting and receiving data with an external device and a communication processor (193) (e.g., a communication processor (not shown) or a short-range wireless communication module (e.g., a Wi-Fi chipset)). According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may further include a memory.

[0070] According to various embodiments, the transceiver (191) may convert a baseband transmission signal into a wireless signal or convert a received wireless signal into a baseband reception signal.

[0071] According to various embodiments, the communication module (190) may further include, in addition to the transceiver (191) and the communication processor (193), components for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), for example, a modulator, a digital-analog converter (D / A converter), a frequency converter, an A / D converter, an amplifier, and / or a demodulator.

[0072] Although not shown, according to various embodiments, the electronic device (101) may be electrically connected to a communication module of the access point (200) and may include at least one antenna module (e.g., antenna module (197) of FIG. 1) that supports a communication protocol and / or frequency band supported by the communication module of the access point (200).

[0073] According to various embodiments, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a communication connection (e.g., the first network (198) of FIG. 1) with the access point (200). For example, the communication connection may include a Wi-Fi network. For example, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a wireless connection with the access point (200) using a 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band wireless local area network (WLAN) standard such as IEEE 802.11ac, 802.11ax, 802.11be, or 802.11bn. Alternatively, the communication processor (193) may control the transceiver (191) to form a wireless connection with the access point (200) using the 60 GHz band WLAN standard of IEEE 802.11ad or 802.11ay.

[0074] According to various embodiments, a method of communicating between an electronic device (101) and an access point (200) using a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard may be referred to as a communication method based on an STA mode.

[0075] According to various embodiments, the processor (120) may include an application processor. The processor (120) may perform a specified operation of the electronic device (101) or control other hardware (e.g., a communication module (190)) to perform a specified operation.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may support an operation of transmitting data to an external network and / or an operation of receiving data from an external network by a plurality of electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices (101)) based on a connection between the plurality of electronic devices (e.g., electronic devices (101)) and an external network (e.g., the Internet, an external LAN, or a cellular network).

[0077] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may be a wireless router. The access point (200) may be a dedicated wireless router or a general-purpose device supporting mobile hotspot functionality, and there are no limitations on its implementation. For example, the access point (200) may include the same components as the electronic device (101), such as a processor (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1) and / or a communication module (e.g., the communication module (190) of FIG. 1)).

[0078] According to various embodiments, the access point (200) may transmit and receive data with an external device, such as a server (e.g., server (108) of FIG. 1) or an electronic device (101). For example, the access point (200) may transmit at least a portion of the data received from the server to the electronic device (101). According to various embodiments, the access point (200) and the electronic device (101) may transmit and receive UL (uplink) / DL (downlink) data during an operation period. For example, the access point (200) may transmit traffic to the electronic device (101) only during an operation period set based on schedule information received from the electronic device (101).

[0079] Figure 3 illustrates a wireless communication system including an access point and a wireless station.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 3, a wireless communication system (300) may include an access point (310), client electronic devices corresponding to wireless stations (320, 330, 332, 334, 336), and a wireless local area network (WLAN) (305).

[0081] A wireless communication system (300) may be formed by an access point (310) that provides a wireless communication channel or link to one or more wireless stations (STAs) (320, 330, 332, 334, 336).

[0082] The access point (310) is assigned a unique media access control (MAC) address. While the WLAN (305) is illustrated as an infrastructure basic service set (BSS), in other exemplary embodiments, the WLAN (305) may be an independent basic service set (IBSS) network, or a peer-to-peer (P2P) network (e.g., operating according to Wi-Fi Direct protocols).

[0083] The wireless stations (320, 330, 332, 334, 336) may be any suitable Wi-Fi enabled wireless device or electronic device, including, for example, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet device, a laptop computer, etc. The wireless stations (320, 330, 332, 334, 336) may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, an electronic device, or any other suitable terminology.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 3, the illustrated wireless stations (320, 330, 332, 334, 336) may include one non-LL (legacy) client electronic device (320) that does not require low latency (LL) transmission and four LL client electronic devices (330, 332, 334, 336) that require low latency transmission. The traffic of the wireless stations (330, 332, 334, 336) that require low latency (LL) transmission may require a certain traffic speed, for example, may require data transmission of 1500 bytes per 40 mn. In one embodiment, the four LL client electronic devices may include electronic devices that require low latency transmission and thus transmission through preemption or electronic devices that require high priority transmission.

[0085] As a method for performing data transmission of a plurality of wireless stations (330, 332, 334, 336) corresponding to UL clients connected to the access point (310) illustrated in FIG. 3, a "PCF (point coordination function) transmission method" and a "DCF (distributed coordination function) transmission method" can be used.

[0086] "PCF (point coordination function) transmission" refers to a transmission method in which the access point directly asks wireless stations for data transmission and puts them on hold for data transmission.

[0087] "DCF (distributed coordination function) transmission" refers to a transmission method in which a wireless station detects and waits in advance to avoid collisions before transmitting data in an environment where multiple wireless stations compete to transmit data.

[0088] The above DCF transmission method is a concept for providing services in a contention period, and can handle waiting time by dividing traffic priorities into IFSs (inter-frame spaces) to request channel use. In other words, priority can be determined by the size of the waiting time, and the shorter the waiting time, the higher the priority packet. The IFS can include SIFS (short IFS), PIFS (PCF IFS), and DIFS (DCF IFS).

[0089] The SIFS has the shortest period, high priority, and is mainly used as a waiting time for control information. The PIFS has a medium-length period and medium priority (PIFS=SIFS+1 slot time). The DIFS has the longest period compared to the SIFS and PIFS, has a low priority, and is mainly used as a waiting time for channel check (DIFS=SIFS+2 slot time). That is, during the DIFS period, it listens (or waits) for the availability of the channel. If the channel is busy during the DIFS period, transmission can be delayed.

[0090] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the arrival of DL low-latency traffic and UL low-latency traffic during a DL TXOP according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0091] Figures 4a and 4b are drawings explaining communication between an access point and a wireless station using the DCF method.

[0092] Figure 4a illustrates a case where DL low-latency traffic arrives during a DL TXOP.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 4a, even if a new DL low latency packet arrives (430) while the access point (400) is transmitting a long DL PPDU (physical layer convergence procedure protocol data unit) (420), the access point may wait for transmission of the new DL low latency packet until transmission of the PPDU is completed during a TXOP (427) period (435). The wireless station (410) may transmit an ACK frame (425) for the long DL PPDU (420). After the TXOP (427), the access point (400) may transmit the low-latency DL PPDU (440) that was being waited for, and the low-latency TXOP (447) may be operated with a different length from the TXOP (427) for the long DL PPDU (420) that does not require low latency. The wireless station (410) can transmit an ACK frame for the low-latency DL PPDU (440) (445).

[0094] Figure 4b illustrates a case where UL low-latency traffic arrives during a DL TXOP.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 4b, even if a new UL low latency packet arrives (470) from a wireless station (410) while the access point (400) is transmitting a long DL PPDU (450), the wireless station (410) may wait for transmission of the new UL low latency packet (475) until transmission of the PPDU is completed during the TXOP (460) period. The wireless station (410) may transmit an ACK frame (455) for the long DL PPDU (450). After the TXOP (460), the wireless station (410) may transmit the low-latency UL PPDU that was being waited for (480), and the low-latency TXOP (490) may be operated with a different length from the TXOP (460) for the long DL PPDU (450) that does not require low latency. The access point (400) can transmit an ACK frame (483) for the low-latency DL PPDU (480).

[0096] However, in a case like Fig. 4, even for low-latency packets, the TXOP period for the preceding DL packet transmission must be waited for, which may not satisfy the requirements of low-latency packets. In other words, the MAC-based DCF transmission method described above processes all data transmissions in a wireless network environment by arriving at a queue and gives equal probabilistic opportunities to all users to access the channel. Therefore, as the number of users participating in the network increases, the probability of data collision increases relatively, and the number of data retransmissions due to collisions also increases. Therefore, it is necessary to improve multimedia data transmission and QoS (Quality of Service) guarantee.

[0097] Accordingly, EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access), which is used to provide a better QoS environment than the above MAC, is a method for guaranteeing QoS by dividing each single TXOP (Transmit Opportunity) into four ACs (Access Categories) (0, 1, 2, 3) according to the type of traffic (e.g., Best Effort, Background, Video, etc.) and assigning differentiated priorities to each category, and assigning differentiated parameters to each AC to give higher priority traffic more transmission opportunities (i.e., giving it a chance to compete first). This refers to a contention-based media access method.

[0098] To address the issue of low-latency packets being processed with the same priority as packets that do not require low-latency, as illustrated in FIG. 4, an EDCA-based preemption mechanism can be used. That is, the access point can provide wireless stations requesting high-priority traffic (e.g., low-latency data transmission) with a priority opportunity to compete within a DL TXOP.

[0099] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of UL traffic transmission of at least one wireless station to which an EDCA-based preemption mechanism is applied according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 5, an access point (500) and a wireless station (510) can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (510) depicted in FIG. 5 may include electronic devices (330, 332, 334, 336) that require low-latency transmission (or high-priority transmission) as described in FIG. 3. That is, although the wireless station (510) depicted in FIG. 5 illustrates a single wireless station, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may include all wireless stations that require preemption and are connected to the access point (500). In one embodiment, the wireless station (510) depicted in FIG. 5 may correspond to a low-latency client that is a target of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 5, an access point (500) may transmit a DL PPDU 1 with a preemption (PR) enabled indication to a wireless station (510) that is a low-latency client (or has a high priority) (520). The DL PPDU may be one of smaller PPDUs into which a long DL PPDU is divided. The wireless station (510) may then transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 1 to the access point (500) (525). Thereafter, the wireless station (510) may transmit a PR indication (PRI) frame to the access point (500) within a PIFS (530), i.e., after an SIFS (535) after transmitting the ACK frame, in a contention situation. The wireless station (510) illustrated in FIG. 5 may include all wireless stations that require preemption and are connected to the access point (500) as described above, and thus, at least one wireless station that has received a preemption activation (PR enabled) instruction may transmit the PRI frame in a contention situation. As described above, the SIFS (535) has a higher priority and a shorter period than the PIFS (530). After transmitting the PRI, the wireless station (510) may ignore the NAV (network allocation vector) set by the access point (300) in the previous frame and may not receive the DL PPDU 2 (545). Accordingly, the wireless station (510) may transmit UL low-latency data in an EDCA-based contention situation even in the section where the DL PPDU 2 was scheduled to be transmitted (550).

[0102] In one embodiment, if a wireless station (510) corresponding to a low-latency client does not transmit a PRI frame, the access point (500) may perform PIFS of the next DL PPDU transmission. The PR activation indicator may be transmitted in the PHY header of a DL PPDU or a BA (block ACK) frame transmitted by the access point. The access point may include limit information on the time allocated to the EDCA low-latency transmission together with the PR activation indicator.

[0103] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which an access point indicates preemption (PR) enabled through an ACK frame in the application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0104] The access point (600) and the wireless station (610) illustrated in FIG. 6 can be interconnected and communicate with each other, like the access point (200) and the electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (610) illustrated in FIG. 6 may include electronic devices (330, 332, 334, 336) that require low-latency transmission (or high-priority transmission) as described in FIG. 3. That is, although the wireless station (610) illustrated in FIG. 6 illustrates a single wireless station, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may include all wireless stations that require preemption and are connected to the access point (600). In one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless station (610) illustrated in FIG. 6 may correspond to a low-latency client that is a target of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 6, the access point (600) can transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (610) with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (620). Thereafter, the wireless station (610) can transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (600) (625).

[0106] Thereafter, the wireless station (610) may transmit a PRI frame to the access point (600) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device within the PIFS (630), i.e., after the SIFS (635) after transmitting the ACK frame (640). As described above, the SIFS (635) has a higher priority and a shorter period than the PIFS (630). The PRI frame may correspond to a CTS (clear to send) frame.

[0107] After transmitting the PRI frame, the wireless station (610) may transmit UL low-latency data competitively to at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device to the access point (600) without receiving DL PPDU 2 (642) (644).

[0108] Thereafter, the access point (600) may provide a preemptive opportunity to at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client by including the PR enabled indication in the ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (610) (646). The wireless station (610) may transmit a PRI frame to the access point (600) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device within the PIFS (650), i.e., after the SIFS (655) after transmitting the ACK frame, based on the PR enabled indication included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (600) (660).

[0109] Thereafter, the wireless station (610) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (600) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device after transmitting the PRI frame (665). In this case, the access point (600) may provide a preemptive opportunity to at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client by including the PR activation indication in the ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (610) (666). Thereafter, the access point (600) may transmit DL PPDU 2 to the wireless station (610) after the PIFS (670), if it does not receive a PRI from at least one wireless station corresponding to the low-latency client during the PIFS (670) and the TXOP is not exhausted (675). Thereafter, the wireless station (610) may transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (600) (677).

[0110] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a packet requesting a new DL low-delay arrives at an access point in the application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0111] The access point (700) and the wireless station (710) illustrated in FIG. 7 can be connected and communicated with, like the access point (200) and the electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (710) illustrated in FIG. 7 may include electronic devices (330, 332, 334, 336) that require low-latency transmission (or high-priority transmission) as described in FIG. 3. That is, although the wireless station (710) illustrated in FIG. 7 illustrates a single wireless station, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may include all wireless stations that require preemption and are connected to the access point (700). In one embodiment, the wireless station (710) illustrated in FIG. 7 may correspond to a low-latency client that is a target of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 7, an access point (700) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to a wireless station (710) with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (720). Thereafter, the wireless station (710) may transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (700) (725).

[0113] Thereafter, the wireless station (710) may transmit a PRI frame to the access point (700) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device within the PIFS (730), i.e., after the SIFS (735) after transmitting the ACK frame (740). As described above, the SIFS (735) has a higher priority and a shorter period than the PIFS (730). The PRI frame may correspond to a CTS (clear to send) frame. The purpose of the PR activation indication transmitted by the access point (700) and the PRI frame transmitted by the wireless station (710) is not to identify a low-latency electronic device, but to determine whether there is an electronic device containing pending low-latency data during the PIFS period.

[0114] After transmitting the PRI frame, the wireless station (710) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (700) competitively with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device (744) without receiving DL PPDU 2 (742).

[0115] Thereafter, the access point (700) may provide a preemptive opportunity to at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client by including the PR enabled indication in the ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (710) (746). The wireless station (710) may transmit a PRI frame to the access point (700) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device within the PIFS (750), i.e., after the SIFS (755) after transmitting the ACK frame, based on the PR enabled indication included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (700) (760).

[0116] Thereafter, the wireless station (710) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (700) in a contention situation with at least one wireless station corresponding to a low-latency client electronic device after transmitting the PRI frame (764). Thereafter, a new DL low-latency packet may arrive at the access point (700) (765). In this case, when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data to the wireless station (710), the access point (700) may transmit a PR-disenabled indication to the wireless station (710) for transmitting the new DL low-latency packet (766). The access point (700) may transmit the ACK frame and, after SIFS (770), transmit DL PPDU 2 (775). The wireless station (710) can transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (700) (775).

[0117] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the PR activation instruction or PRI is based on an EDCA-based preemption mechanism, whereby wireless stations requesting traffic transmission with the same priority compete to transmit both PRI frames and UL data at an equal level. In this case, collisions may occur between multiple low-latency (or high-priority) wireless stations due to transmission of PRI frames and UL data. Therefore, in addition to granting preemption opportunities by prioritizing them based on service standards, a method is needed to provide differentiated preemption opportunities to specific target wireless stations.

[0118] The following FIGS. 8 to 11 describe embodiments for granting differential priority to a target wireless station when transmitting UL low-latency (or high-priority) traffic during a DL TXOP in an EDCA transmission.

[0119] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for granting priority to a target wireless station in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] The access point (800) and wireless station (810) illustrated in FIG. 8 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (810) illustrated in FIG. 8 can be a low-latency client that is the target of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for continuous preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 8, the access point (800) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (810) together with a preemption enable (PR enabled) indication (820). In one embodiment, the preemption enable (PR enabled) indication may optionally include an additional indication (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) that means that only the wireless station (810) receiving the DL PPDU 1 (i.e., the target wireless station) may make a preemption request. In one embodiment, the preemption enable (PR enabled) indication transmitted by the access point (800) together with the DL PPDU 1 in FIG. 8 may be referred to as a second preemption enable (PR enabled) indication that is distinct from the preemption enable (PR enabled) indications of FIGS. 5 to 7. In one embodiment, the additional indication or the second preemption enable (PR enabled) indication may be referred to as information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)).

[0122] In one embodiment, instead of transmitting (820) a preemption enable (PR enabled) indication together with DL PPDU 1 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the access point (800) may transmit information (PRT) requesting preemption only for a wireless station (810) receiving the DL PPDU 1 (i.e., a target wireless station) together with a preemption disable (PR disabled) indication (or an indication to disable the preemption enable (PR enabled)). In one embodiment, the access point (800) may transmit information (PRT) requesting preemption only for a wireless station (810) receiving the DL PPDU 1 (i.e., a target wireless station) together with DL PPDU 1 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0123] Thereafter, the wireless station (810) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) to the access point (800) while simultaneously transmitting an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU1 (825). In one embodiment, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 8, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (800), the wireless station (810) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) by including it in a frame other than the ACK frame (e.g., a CTS frame). Thereafter, the wireless station (810) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (800) within the PIFS (830), i.e., after an SIFS (835) after transmitting the ACK frame including the PRT (840). In one embodiment, the wireless station (810) may transmit the PRT together with the UL low-latency data to the access point (800) (840) in order to continuously preempt transmission opportunities. As described above, the SIFS (835) has a higher priority and a shorter period than the PIFS (830), so that the wireless station (810), which is a target wireless station, may secure priority over other low-latency client wireless stations. After transmitting the PRT, the wireless station (810) may not receive DL PPDU 2 (842). In one embodiment, the wireless station (810) may continuously transmit data or ACK frames including the PRT until a PR-disabled instruction is given by the access point (800) in order to continuously preempt transmission opportunities.

[0124] Thereafter, when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (810) after SIFS (850), the access point (800) may provide a preemptive opportunity for the target wireless station, which is distinguished from the PR activation / deactivation instruction, by including the PRT information (855). The wireless station (810) may transmit the UL low-latency data after SIFS (850) without competition with other low-latency client wireless stations based on the PRT included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (800) (865). In one embodiment, even in this case, the wireless station (810) may transmit the UL low-latency data including the PRT if it needs to continuously preempt the transmission opportunity and before receiving the PR-disenabled instruction from the access point (800).

[0125] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation when priority is granted to a target wireless station in the application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the target wireless station does not transmit a PRT to an access point.

[0126] The access point (900) and wireless station (910) illustrated in FIG. 9 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (910) illustrated in FIG. 9 can be a low-latency client that is subject to an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for continuous preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 9, the access point (900) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (910) along with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (920). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0128] Thereafter, the wireless station (910) may transmit information requesting preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) to the access point (900) while simultaneously transmitting an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 (925). In one embodiment, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 9, the wireless station (910) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame (e.g., a CTS frame) rather than an ACK frame after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (900).

[0129] Thereafter, the wireless station (910) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (900) within the PIFS (930), that is, after the SIFS (935) after transmitting the ACK frame including the PRT (940). In one embodiment, the wireless station (910) may transmit the PRT together with the UL low-latency data to the access point (900) in order to secure a continuous transmission opportunity (940). As described above, the SIFS (935) has a higher priority than the PIFS (930) and a shorter period, thereby securing priority compared to other low-latency client wireless stations. After transmitting the PRT, the wireless station (910) may not receive DL PPDU 2 (942). In one embodiment, the wireless station (910) may transmit data or ACK frames including PRT continuously until a PR-disenabled instruction is received from the access point (900) to preempt continued transmission opportunities.

[0130] Thereafter, when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (910) after SIFS (950), the access point (900) may include information indicating that preemption activation is applied only to the target STA (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) to provide a preemption opportunity for the target wireless station, which is distinct from the PR activation / deactivation indication (955). The wireless station (910) may transmit the UL low-latency data without contention after SIFS (950) based on the PRT included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (900) (965). The access point (900) may transmit an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data to the wireless station (910) after SIFS (970) (975). In one embodiment, if a wireless station (910) corresponding to a target wireless station does not need to preempt a persistent transmission opportunity and transmits the UL low-latency data without a PRT and the TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (900) may indicate (975) to at least one wireless station or at least all wireless stations connected to the access point (900) that PR is enabled and requires preemption. In one embodiment, if a wireless station (910) does not need to preempt a persistent transmission opportunity and transmits the UL low-latency data without a PRT and the TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (900) may indicate to at least one wireless station or at least all wireless stations that are low-latency clients that PR is enabled and requires preemption. Thereafter, if the access point (900) does not receive a PRI from at least one wireless station that transmitted the PRI during the PIFS (980) and the TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (900) can transmit DL PPDU 2 after the PIFS (980) (985).After receiving DL PPDU 2, the wireless station (910) can transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (900) after SIFS (986) (987).

[0131] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a target wireless station is given priority in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but a new DL low-latency packet arrives at the access point.

[0132] The access point (1000) and wireless station (1010) illustrated in FIG. 10 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1010) illustrated in FIG. 10 can be a low-latency client that is subject to an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for continuous preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0133] Referring to FIG. 10, the access point (1000) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (1010) along with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (1020). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0134] Afterwards, the wireless station (1010) may transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU1 to the access point (1000) and at the same time transmit information requesting preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) (1025). In one embodiment, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 10, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (1000), the wireless station (1010) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame (e.g., a CTS frame) rather than an ACK frame.

[0135] Thereafter, the wireless station (1010) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (1000) within the PIFS (1030), i.e., after the SIFS (1035) after transmitting the ACK frame including the PRT (1040). In one embodiment, the wireless station (1010) may transmit the PRT together with the UL low-latency data to the access point (1000) in order to secure a continuous transmission opportunity (1040). As described above, the SIFS (1035) has a higher priority and a shorter period than the PIFS (1030).

[0136] After transmitting the PRT, the wireless station (1010) may not receive DL PPDU 2 (1042). In one embodiment, the wireless station (1010) may transmit data or ACK frames continuously including the PRT until a PR-disabled instruction is given from the access point (1000) to secure continued transmission opportunities.

[0137] Thereafter, when transmitting an ACK frame for UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1010) after SIFS (1050), the access point (1000) may provide a preemption opportunity for the target wireless station, which is distinct from the PR activation / deactivation indication, by including information indicating that preemption activation is applied only to the target STA (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) (1055). The wireless station (1010) may transmit UL low-latency data after SIFS (1050) based on the PRT included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (1000) (1065).

[0138] Afterwards, a new DL low-latency packet may arrive at the access point (1000) (1075). In this case, when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data to the wireless station (1010), the access point (1000) may transmit a PR-disabled instruction to the wireless station (1010) for transmitting the new DL low-latency packet (1077). The access point (1000) may transmit the ACK packet and, after SIFS (1080), transmit DL PPDU 2 (1083). The wireless station (1010) may transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (1000) (1085).

[0139] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of an access point receiving a PRI when a target wireless station is given priority in applying an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the target wireless station does not transmit a PRT to the access point, and thus a PR activation instruction is transmitted to all wireless stations requiring preemption.

[0140] The access point (1100) and wireless station (1110) illustrated in FIG. 11 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1110) illustrated in FIG. 11 can be a low-latency client that is the target of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for continuous preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0141] Referring to FIG. 11, the access point (1100) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (1110) along with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (1120). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0142] Afterwards, the wireless station (1110) may transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (1100) and at the same time transmit information requesting preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) (1125). In one embodiment, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 11, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (1100), the wireless station (1110) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame (e.g., a CTS frame) rather than an ACK frame.

[0143] Thereafter, the wireless station (1110) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (1100) within PIFS (1130), i.e., after SIFS (1135) after transmitting the ACK frame including the PRT (1140). In one embodiment, the wireless station (1110) may transmit the UL low-latency data without including the PRT if there is no need for continued transmission opportunity preemption thereafter. After transmitting the PRT, the wireless station (1110) may not receive DL PPDU 2 (1142).

[0144] Thereafter, when the access point (1100) does not receive a PRT from the wireless station (1110), when transmitting an ACK frame for UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1110) after SIFS (1150), the access point (1100) may indicate that PR is activated to at least one wireless station, including the target wireless station, which is a low-latency client (1155). Thereafter, the access point (1100) may receive PRIs transmitted by wireless stations, which are low-latency clients within the BSS, after SIFS (1163), during PIFS (1160) (1170). The access point (1100) may receive UL low-latency data based on the received PRI from the corresponding wireless station (1175).

[0145] Thereafter, when the access point (1100) transmits an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1110) after SIFS (1176), the access point (1100) can indicate to other low-latency client wireless stations, including the target wireless station, that PR is activated (1177).

[0146] Thereafter, if the access point (1100) does not receive PRIs from wireless stations that are low-latency clients during PIFS (1180) and TXOPs are not exhausted after transmitting the ACK frame, the access point (1100) can transmit DL PPDU 2 after PIFS (1180) (1185). The wireless station (1110) can transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (1100) (1187).

[0147] The IEEE 802.11ax standard utilizes OFDMA technology to provide high-quality services to users. OFDMA is a multi-user channel access technology that divides the frequency channel into smaller units to allow multiple users to transmit data simultaneously. These smaller units are called Resource Units (RUs) (i.e., time and frequency resources). The uplink channel access method uses Random Access (RA). In this method, the access point does not allocate RUs to terminals, but rather acquires RUs for data transmission through competition among terminals within the BSS.

[0148] UORA (Uplink OFDMA-based Random Access) is a representative protocol that operates in a random access manner. In the UORA protocol, terminals use the OFDMA Contention Window (OCW) and OFDMA BackOff (OBO) counters to select an RU for data transmission. The OBO counter is randomly selected within the range of 0 and OCW. After receiving a trigger frame (TF) transmitted by the AP, the terminals decrement the OBO counter by the number of RUs included in the TF. Terminals with an OBO counter value less than or equal to 0 randomly select an RU to transmit their data and transmit the data. Terminals with an OBO counter value greater than 0 wait for the next TF reception.

[0149] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a method for granting priority to a target wireless station based on UORA (UL OFDMA-based random access) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0150] The access point (1200) and wireless station (1210) illustrated in FIG. 12 can be interconnected and communicate with each other, like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1210) illustrated in FIG. 12 can be a target wireless station for low-latency clients and continuous preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 12, the access point (1200) may transmit a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction and UORA trigger information to the wireless station (1210) along with DL PPDU 1 (1220). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0152] Thereafter, the wireless station (1210) can transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (1200) (1225). If the DL PPDU 1 received in operation 1220 includes a preemption enable (PR enabled) indication and UORA trigger information, the wireless station (1210) can transmit UL low-latency data in the UORA manner in the time domain in which the ACK frame is transmitted in operation 1225 (1227). In one embodiment, if the length of uplink data to be transmitted exceeds the length of the ACK frame, the wireless station (1210) can divide the UL low-latency data and transmit it, and in order to transmit the remaining UL low-latency data after transmitting in operation 1227 by granting a preemption opportunity, the wireless station (1210) can transmit the information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in operation 1225. In one embodiment, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (1200), the wireless station (1210) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame other than an ACK frame (e.g., a CTS frame).

[0153] When transmitting an ACK frame for UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1210) after SIFS (1230), the access point (1200) may provide a preemption opportunity for the target wireless station, which is distinct from the PR activation / deactivation indication, by including information that preemption activation is applied only to the target STA (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) (1233).

[0154] Thereafter, the wireless station (1210) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (1200) after SIFS (1235) after transmitting the ACK frame including the PRT (1240). In one embodiment, if there is no need for continued transmission opportunity preemption, the wireless station (1210) may transmit the UL low-latency data without including the PRT.

[0155] In one embodiment, if the length of the UL low-latency data to be transmitted is less than or equal to the length of the ACK frame, the wireless station (1210) may not include PRT information in the ACK frame in operation 1225 and may transmit all of the UL low-latency data in operation 1227.

[0156] After operation 1240, if the access point (1200) does not receive a PRT from the wireless station (1210), when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1210) after an SIFS (1250) after receiving the UL low-latency data, the access point (1200) may indicate that PR is enabled to at least one wireless station, including the target wireless station, which is a low-latency client (1255). Thereafter, the access point (1200) may receive PRIs transmitted by wireless stations which are low-latency clients within the BSS after an SIFS (1263) during the PIFS (1260) (1270). The access point (1200) may receive UL low-latency data based on the received PRI from the corresponding wireless station (1275).

[0157] Thereafter, the access point (1200) can indicate to other low-latency client wireless stations, including the target wireless station, that PR is enabled (1277) when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1210) after SIFS (1276).

[0158] Thereafter, if the access point (1200) does not receive PRI from wireless stations that are low-latency clients during PIFS (1280) and TXOP is not exhausted after transmitting the ACK frame, the access point (1200) can transmit DL PPDU 2 after PIFS (1280) (1285). The wireless station (1210) can transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 2 to the access point (1200) (1287).

[0159] Hereinafter, FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a method of granting priority to a target wireless station by piggybacking uplink data to an ACK frame even if the target wireless station does not receive a UORA according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 illustrates an operation when the size of the uplink data exceeds a threshold value, and FIG. 14 illustrates an operation when the size of the uplink data is less than or equal to the threshold value.

[0160] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a case where the size of uplink data exceeds a threshold value by transmitting uplink data by adding it to an ACK frame (piggybacking) and giving priority to a target wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0161] The access point (1300) and wireless station (1310) illustrated in FIG. 13 can be interconnected and communicate with each other like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1310) illustrated in FIG. 13 can be a low-latency client that is subject to an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for persistent preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0162] Referring to FIG. 13, the access point (1300) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (1310) along with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (1320). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0163] Thereafter, the wireless station (1310) can transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (1300) (1325). If the DL PPDU 1 received in operation 1320 includes a preemptive enable (PR enabled) indication, the wireless station (1310) can transmit UL low-latency data by piggybacking it in the time domain in which the ACK frame of operation 1325 is transmitted (1327). That is, the wireless station (1310) can transmit the ACK and UL low-latency data by aggregating them. In one embodiment, when the length of uplink data to be transmitted exceeds the length of the ACK frame, the wireless station (1310) may divide and transmit UL low-latency data, and in order to transmit the remaining UL low-latency data after transmitting in operation 1327 and to be given a preemption opportunity, the wireless station (1310) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in operation 1325. In one embodiment, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (1300), the wireless station (1310) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame other than an ACK frame (e.g., a CTS frame).

[0164] In order to transmit UL low-latency data of the wireless station (1310) in operation 1327, the access point (1300) allocates at least one RU that can be used for UL low-latency data transmission to the wireless station (1310) in advance, and the wireless station (1310) can transmit UL low-latency data with the RU if there is UL low-latency data. In this case, in one embodiment, if there is a DL PPDU and a PR enabled indication in operation 1320, the wireless station (1310) can use one RU for ACK transmission in operation 1325, and use the remaining RUs within the entire band for UL low-latency data transmission in operation 1327. In one embodiment, the access point (1300) may explicitly instruct the wireless station (1310) which RU to use for UL low-latency data transmission by signaling a PR enabled indication in operation 1320. In one embodiment, the wireless station (1310) may only transmit an ACK for a DL PPDU when there is no UL low-latency data to avoid wasting resources.

[0165] Thereafter, the access point (1300) may transmit an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1310) after SIFS (1333) after receiving the UL low-latency data in operation 1327 (1335). In one embodiment, the access point (1300) may include information in the ACK frame that preemption activation is applied only to the target STA (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) to provide a preemption opportunity for the target wireless station that is distinct from the PR activation / deactivation indication.

[0166] Thereafter, the wireless station (1310) can transmit UL low-latency data without contention (1345) after SIFS (1340) based on the PRT included in the ACK frame transmitted by the access point (1300) in operation 1335. The access point (1300) can transmit an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data to the wireless station (1310) after SIFS (1350) (1355).

[0167] In one embodiment, if a wireless station (1310) corresponding to a target wireless station does not need to preempt a persistent transmission opportunity and transmits the UL low-latency data without a PRT and TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (1300) may indicate that PR is enabled to at least one wireless station or at least all wireless stations within the BSS of the access point (1300) that preemption is required (1355). In one embodiment, if a wireless station (1310) does not need to preempt a persistent transmission opportunity and transmits the UL low-latency data without a PRT and TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (1300) may indicate that PR is enabled to at least one wireless station or at least all wireless stations within the BSS that are low-latency clients. Thereafter, if the access point (1300) does not receive a PRI from at least one wireless station that transmitted the PRI during the PIFS (1360) and the TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (1300) may transmit DL PPDU 2 after the PIFS (1360) (1365). The wireless station (1310) may transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (1300) (1367).

[0168] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a case where the size of UL low-delay data is less than or equal to a threshold value, in a manner of giving priority to a target wireless station by piggybacking UL low-delay data to an ACK frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0169] The access point (1400) and wireless station (1410) illustrated in FIG. 14 can be interconnected and communicate with each other, like the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1410) illustrated in FIG. 14 can be a low-latency client that is subject to an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for persistent preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0170] Referring to FIG. 14, the access point (1400) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to the wireless station (1410) along with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (1420). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0171] Thereafter, the wireless station (1410) can transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (1400) (1425). If the DL PPDU 1 received in the above operation 1420 includes a PR enabled indication, the wireless station (1410) can transmit UL low-latency data by piggybacking it on resources in the time domain for transmitting the ACK frame in operation 1425 (1427). That is, the wireless station (1410) can aggregate and transmit the ACK and UL low-latency data. The resource allocation method for transmitting the UL low-latency data of the wireless station (1310) in the above operation 1427 may correspond to the resource allocation method described in operation 1327 of FIG. 13.

[0172] Thereafter, the access point (1400) may transmit an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1410) after SIFS (1433) after receiving the UL low-latency data of operation 1427 (1435). In one embodiment, if the access point (1400) does not receive a separate PRT from the wireless station (1410), the access point (1400) may include information indicating that PR is enabled in the ACK frame and may instruct at least one wireless station, which is another low-latency client, including the target wireless station (1435).

[0173] Thereafter, the access point (1400) can receive PRIs transmitted by wireless stations, which are low-latency clients within the BSS, during PIFS (1440) and after SIFS (1443) (1445). The access point (1400) can receive UL low-latency data based on the received PRI from the corresponding wireless stations (1450).

[0174] Thereafter, the access point (1400) may transmit an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1410) after SIFS (1453). In one embodiment, the access point (1400) may include information indicating that PR is enabled in the ACK frame and instruct other low-latency client wireless stations, including the target wireless station, to do so (1455).

[0175] Thereafter, after transmitting the ACK frame, the access point (1400) may transmit DL PPDU 2 after PIFS (1465) if it does not receive PRI from wireless stations that are low-latency clients during PIFS (1465) and TXOP is not exhausted (1470). The wireless station (1410) may transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 2 to the access point (1400) (1475).

[0176] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a first wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0177] Referring to FIG. 15, in step 1510, a first wireless station may receive first information indicating preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point. In one embodiment, a basic service set (BSS) including the access point may include the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station. In step 1520, the first wireless station may transmit a frame including second information indicating preemption indication only for target STA (PRT) to the access point. In one embodiment, the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station may be wireless stations that require low-latency data transmission. In one embodiment, the first wireless station may have a higher transmission priority than the at least one second wireless station. In one embodiment, the second information indicating preemption indication only for target STA (PRT) of the first wireless station may be transmitted in a first ACK (acknowledge) frame.

[0178] In one embodiment, the first wireless station may transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame, and the uplink data frame may be transmitted together with the second information (PRT).

[0179] In one embodiment, the first information may include at least one of information indicating preemption activation (PR enabled) of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station, and information indicating preemption only for the first wireless station (PRT).

[0180] In one embodiment, the first wireless station may receive a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame from the access point, and the second ACK frame may be received together with third information indicating preemption activation of only the first wireless station based on the second information (PRT).

[0181] In one embodiment, the first wireless station may transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT), the first wireless station may receive a third ACK frame from the access point together with fourth information indicating preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station.

[0182] In one embodiment, the first wireless station may transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter-frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT) and a new downlink packet arrives at the access point, the first wireless station may receive a fourth ACK frame together with fifth information instructing preemption (PR) disabled. In one embodiment, the new downlink packet may include a packet requiring low latency.

[0183] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0184] Referring to FIG. 16, in step 1610, the access point may transmit first information indicating preemption of the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit). In one embodiment, a basic service set (BSS) including the access point may include the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station. In step 1620, the access point may receive a frame including second information indicating preemption of only the first wireless station (preemption indication only for target STA (PRT)) from the first wireless station. In one embodiment, the first wireless station may have a higher transmission priority than the at least one second wireless station.

[0185] In one embodiment, the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station may be wireless stations that require low-latency data transmission.

[0186] The second information indicating preemption of only the first wireless station (preemption indication only for target STA (PRT)) may be transmitted by being included in a first ACK (acknowledge) frame. In one embodiment, the first information may include at least one of information indicating activation of preemption of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station (PR enabled) and information indicating preemption only for the first wireless station (PRT).

[0187] In one embodiment, the access point may receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter-frame space (SIFS) after receiving the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, the uplink data frame may be transmitted together with the second information (PRT).

[0188] In one embodiment, the access point may transmit a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame to the first wireless station. In one embodiment, the second ACK frame may be transmitted together with third information indicating preemption activation only for the first wireless station based on the second information (PRT).

[0189] In one embodiment, the access point may receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT), the access point may receive a third ACK frame from the first wireless station together with fourth information indicating preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station.

[0190] In one embodiment, the access point may receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT) and a new downlink packet arrives at the access point, the access point may transmit a fourth ACK frame together with fifth information instructing the first wireless station to disable preemption (PR). In one embodiment, the new downlink packet may include a packet requiring low latency.

[0191] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a wireless station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0192] In FIG. 17, the terminal may include a processor (1701), a transceiver (1702), and a memory (1703). The processor (1701), the transceiver (1702), and the memory (1703) of the terminal may operate according to the method(s) described in the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16 . However, the components of the terminal are not limited to the above-described examples. For example, the terminal may include more or fewer components than the above-described components. In addition, the processor (1701), the transceiver (1702), and the memory (1703) may be implemented in the form of at least one chip.

[0193] The transceiver (1702) is a general term for a receiver and a transmitter, and can transmit and receive signals with a terminal or other network entity through the transceiver (1702). At this time, the transmitted and received signals may include at least one of control information and data. To this end, the transceiver (1702) may include an RF transmitter that up-converts and amplifies the frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver that low-noise amplifies and frequency-downconverts the received signal. This is only one embodiment of the transceiver (1702), and the components of the transceiver (1702) are not limited to the RF transmitter and RF receiver. In addition, the transceiver (1702) can receive a signal and output it to the processor (1701), and transmit the signal output from the processor (1701) to another network entity through the network.

[0194] The memory (1703) can store programs and data necessary for the operation of the terminal according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16. In addition, the memory (1703) can store control information and / or data included in a signal obtained from the terminal. The memory (1703) can be configured as a storage medium or a combination of storage media, such as a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD.

[0195] The processor (1701) may control a series of processes so that the terminal can operate according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16. The processor (1701) may include at least one processor.

[0196] When the wireless station illustrated in FIG. 17 is referred to as a first wireless station, the at least one processor may control to receive first information indicating preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point. In one embodiment, a basic service set (BSS) including the access point may include the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station. The at least one processor may control to transmit a frame including second information indicating preemption indication only for target STA (PRT) for the access point only. In one embodiment, the first wireless station may have a higher transmission priority than the at least one second wireless station.

[0197] In one embodiment, the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station may be wireless stations that require low-latency data transmission.

[0198] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, the uplink data frame may be transmitted together with the second information (PRT). In one embodiment, the first information may include at least one of information (PR enabled) indicating preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station, and information (PRT) indicating preemption only for the first wireless station. In one embodiment, the first wireless station may control to receive a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame from the access point. The second ACK frame may be received together with third information indicating preemption activation only for the first wireless station based on the second information (PRT).

[0199] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT), the at least one processor may control to receive a third ACK frame from the access point together with fourth information instructing preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station.

[0200] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to transmit an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT) and a new downlink packet arrives at the access point, the processor may control to receive a fourth ACK frame together with fifth information instructing the first wireless station to disable preemption (PR). In one embodiment, the new downlink packet may include a packet requiring low latency.

[0201] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an access point according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0202] In FIG. 18, the access point may include a processor (1801), a transceiver (1802), and a memory (1803). The processor (1801), the transceiver (1802), and the memory (1803) of the access point may operate according to the method(s) described in the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16 . However, the components of the access point are not limited to the above-described examples. For example, the access point may include more or fewer components than the above-described components. In addition, the processor (1801), the transceiver (1802), and the memory (1803) may be implemented in the form of at least one chip.

[0203] The transceiver (1802) is a general term for a receiver and a transmitter, and can transmit and receive signals with an access point or other network entity through the transceiver (1802). At this time, the transmitted and received signals may include at least one of control information and data. To this end, the transceiver (1802) may include an RF transmitter that up-converts and amplifies the frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver that low-noise amplifies and frequency-converts the received signal. This is only one embodiment of the transceiver (1802), and the components of the transceiver (1802) are not limited to the RF transmitter and RF receiver. In addition, the transceiver (1802) can receive a signal and output it to the processor (1801), and transmit the signal output from the processor (1801) to another network entity through the network.

[0204] The memory (1803) can store programs and data necessary for the operation of the access point according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16. In addition, the memory (1803) can store control information and / or data included in a signal acquired from the access point. The memory (1803) can be configured as a storage medium or a combination of storage media, such as a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and a DVD.

[0205] The processor (1801) may control a series of processes so that the access point can operate according to at least one of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 16. The processor (2101) may include at least one processor.

[0206] The at least one processor may be controlled to transmit first information indicating preemption of the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit). In one embodiment, a basic service set (BSS) including the access point may include the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station. In one embodiment, the at least one processor may be controlled to receive second information indicating preemption of only the first wireless station (preemption indication only for target STA (PRT)) from the first wireless station. In one embodiment, the first wireless station may have a higher transmission priority than the at least one second wireless station.

[0207] In one embodiment, the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station may be wireless stations that require low-latency data transmission.

[0208] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may be controlled to receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after receiving the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, the uplink data frame may be transmitted together with the second information (PRT). In one embodiment, the first information may include at least one of information indicating preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station (PR enabled) and information indicating preemption only for the first wireless station (PRT).

[0209] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control transmission of a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame to the first wireless station. In one embodiment, the second ACK frame may be transmitted together with third information indicating activation of preemption only for the first wireless station based on the second information (PRT).

[0210] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, the access point may receive a third ACK frame from the first wireless station together with fourth information indicating preemption activation of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station, if the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT).

[0211] In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to receive an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame. In one embodiment, the at least one processor may control to transmit a fourth ACK frame together with fifth information instructing preemption (PR) disabled to the first wireless station when the uplink data frame does not include the second information (PRT) and a new downlink packet arrives at the access point. In one embodiment, the new downlink packet may include a packet requiring low latency.

[0212] FIG. 19 is an operation illustrating an operation of an access point transmitting a frame including trigger information when priority is granted to a target wireless station in application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0213] FIG. 19 illustrates an operation in which, in the application of an EDCA-based preemption mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, priority is given to a target wireless station, and although the target wireless station transmits a PRT, the access point additionally transmits a frame containing trigger information to the target wireless station and wireless stations within the BSS, taking into account other wireless stations (hidden nodes) within the BSS that cannot hear the PRT. This is for the purpose of further preventing hidden nodes from transmitting PRI by having the access point transmit a frame containing trigger information to wireless stations within the BSS.

[0214] The access point (1900) and wireless station (1910) illustrated in FIG. 19 may be interconnected and communicate with each other, similar to the access point (200) and electronic device (101) described in FIG. 2. The wireless station (1910) illustrated in FIG. 19 may be a low-latency client subject to an EDCA-based preemption mechanism and a target wireless station for persistent preemption of transmission opportunities.

[0215] Referring to FIG. 19, an access point (1900) may transmit DL PPDU 1 to a wireless station (1910) with a preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction (1920). The preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction may correspond to the preemption enable (PR enabled) instruction transmitted in operation 820 of FIG. 8.

[0216] Afterwards, the wireless station (1910) may transmit an ACK frame for DL ​​PPDU 1 to the access point (1900) and at the same time transmit information requesting preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) (1925). In one embodiment, unlike as illustrated in FIG. 11, after receiving DL PPDU 1 from the access point (1900), the wireless station (1910) may transmit information requesting / declaring preemption only for the target wireless station (PR indication only for target STA (PRT)) in a frame (e.g., a CTS frame) rather than an ACK frame.

[0217] Afterwards, the wireless station (1910) may not receive DL PPDU 2 after transmitting a frame (e.g., an ACK frame) including the PRT (1933).

[0218] Thereafter, the access point (1900) may transmit a frame including information for triggering UL low-latency data transmission of the wireless station (1910) (i.e., the target wireless station) after SIFS (1931) after receiving the ACK frame including the PRT (1932). In one embodiment, the access point (1900) may transmit a frame including information for triggering UL low-latency data transmission of the wireless station (1910) (i.e., the target wireless station) after SIFS (1931) after receiving the ACK frame including the PRT to the target wireless station and wireless stations within the BSS. In one embodiment, the access point (1900) may not transmit DL PPDU 2 to be transmitted after DIFS (1930) (1933).

[0219] Thereafter, the wireless station (1910) may transmit UL low-latency data to the access point (1900) after SIFS (1935) after receiving (1932) a frame containing information that triggers UL low-latency data transmission of the target wireless station (1940).

[0220] In one embodiment, the wireless station (1910) may transmit the UL low-latency data without including the PRT when transmitting the UL low-latency data if there is no need for continued transmission opportunity preemption thereafter. If the access point (1900) does not receive the PRT from the wireless station (1910), when transmitting an ACK frame for the UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1910) after SIFS (1950), the access point (1900) may indicate that PR is enabled (PR-enabled) to at least one wireless station that is a low-latency client within the BSS (1955).

[0221] Thereafter, the access point (1900) can receive (1970) the PRI transmitted by the wireless stations, which are low-latency clients within the BSS, during the DIFS (1960) and after the PIFS (1963). As described above, the PIFS has a longer period than the SIFS, and thus can be used to transmit data having a lower priority than data transmitted using the SIFS. As described in the operation 1932, the access point (1900) can transmit a frame including information for triggering UL low-latency data transmission of the wireless station (1910) (i.e., the target wireless station) after the SIFS after receiving the ACK frame including the PRT. By setting the time interval before the PRI transmission to the PIFS, the system can be operated with the information for triggering UL low-latency data transmission of the target wireless station having a higher priority than the PRI.

[0222] The access point (1900) can receive UL low-latency data based on the received PRI from the corresponding wireless station (1975).

[0223] Thereafter, the access point (1900) may indicate to at least one wireless station that is a low-latency client within the BSS that PR is enabled (1977) when transmitting an ACK frame for UL low-latency data transmitted by the wireless station (1910) after SIFS (1976).

[0224] Thereafter, if the PRI is not received from the wireless stations which are low-latency clients during the DIFS (1980) after transmitting the ACK frame, and the TXOP is not exhausted, the access point (1900) can transmit DL PPDU 2 after the DIFS (1980) (1985). As described above, the DIFS has a longer waiting time than the SIFS and PIFS, and can be used to transmit data which has a lower priority than the data transmitted using the SIFS and PIFS. As described above in operation 1970, the access point (1900) can receive the PRI transmitted by the wireless stations which are low-latency clients within the BSS after the PIFS, and can transmit DL PPDU 2 after waiting for reception of the PRI during the DIFS (1980).

[0225] The wireless station (1910) may transmit an ACK frame for the DL PPDU 2 to the access point (1900) (1987).

[0226] In the specific embodiments of the present disclosure described above, components included in the present disclosure are expressed singularly or plurally, depending on the specific embodiment presented. However, the singular or plural expressions are selected to suit the presented situation for convenience of explanation, and the present disclosure is not limited to singular or plural components. Components expressed in plural may be composed of singular elements, or components expressed in singular may be composed of plural elements.

[0227] While the detailed description of this disclosure has described specific embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the scope of the claims described below, but also by equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A method by a first wireless station (STA) performing Wi-Fi communication, A step of receiving first information related to preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point, wherein a BSS (basic service set) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station; and A step of transmitting a frame including second information (preemption indication only for target STA, PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station to the access point based on the first information; A method characterized in that the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

2. In paragraph 1, A method characterized in that the second information is transmitted by being included in a first ACK (acknowledge) frame corresponding to the PPDU.

3. In paragraph 2, Further comprising a step of transmitting an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame; A method characterized in that the above uplink data frame is transmitted together with information (PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station.

4. In the first paragraph, the first information is information indicating preemptive activation (PR enabled) of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station, and A method characterized in that it includes at least one piece of information indicating that only the first wireless station can make a preemption request.

5. In paragraph 3, further comprising a step of receiving a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame from the access point; A method characterized in that the second ACK frame is received together with third information instructing preemptive activation of only the first wireless station based on the second information.

6. In the second paragraph, further comprising a step of transmitting an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame; A method characterized in that it further comprises the step of receiving a third ACK frame corresponding to the uplink data frame from the access point together with fourth information indicating preemption activation (PR enabled) of the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station, when the uplink data frame does not include information (PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station.

7. In the second paragraph, a step of transmitting an uplink data frame to the access point after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after transmitting the first ACK frame; and A method characterized in that it further comprises the step of receiving a fourth ACK frame corresponding to the uplink data frame together with fifth information instructing the first wireless station to disable preemption (PR) when the uplink data frame does not include information (PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station and a new downlink packet arrives at the access point.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the new downlink packet includes a packet requiring low delay.

9. In a method by an access point performing Wi-Fi communication, A step of transmitting first information related to preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) to the first wireless station, wherein a BSS (basic service set) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station; and A step of receiving a frame including second information (preemption indication only for target STA, PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station from the first wireless station based on the first information; A method characterized in that the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

10. In paragraph 9, A method characterized in that the second information is transmitted by being included in a first ACK (acknowledge) frame corresponding to the PPDU.

11. In paragraph 10, Further comprising a step of receiving an uplink data frame from the first wireless station after a short inter frame space (SIFS) after receiving the first ACK frame; A method characterized in that the above uplink data frame is transmitted together with information (PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station.

12. In paragraph 9, the first information is: Information indicating preemptive activation of the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station (PR enabled), and A method characterized in that it includes at least one piece of information (PRT) indicating that only the first wireless station can make a preemption request.

13. In paragraph 11, further comprising a step of transmitting a second ACK frame for the uplink data frame to the first wireless station; A method characterized in that the second ACK frame is transmitted together with third information instructing preemptive activation of only the first wireless station based on the second information.

14. In the first wireless station (STA) performing Wi-Fi communication, Transmitter and receiver; and At least one processor; comprising: Receiving first information related to preemption for the first wireless station together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit) from an access point, wherein a BSS (basic service set) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station, and It is configured to transmit a frame including second information (preemption indication only for target STA, PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station to the access point based on the first information, A first wireless station, characterized in that the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

15. For access points that perform Wi-Fi communication, Transmitter and receiver; and At least one processor; comprising: Transmitting first information related to preemption for a first wireless station (STA) together with a PPDU (PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) protocol data unit), wherein a basic service set (BSS) including the access point includes the first wireless station and at least one second wireless station, and It is configured to receive a frame including second information (preemption indication only for target STA, PRT) indicating preemption of only the first wireless station from the first wireless station based on the first information, An access point, characterized in that the first wireless station and the at least one second wireless station are wireless stations requiring low-latency data transmission.

Images