Access Point Channel Access Parameter Adjustment for Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining low latency and jitter for real-time applications due to unmanaged networks, contention-based channel access, and legacy stations that do not support scheduled periods, leading to interference and delays during scheduled intervals.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a communication method where the access point adjusts channel access and transmission opportunity parameters for requesting stations to ensure fair access while prioritizing low latency traffic, using control frames to manage channel access and trigger-based mechanisms within scheduling intervals, allowing non-scheduled stations to access the wireless spectrum without disrupting scheduled communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If scheduled intervals are introduced to improve low latency and jitter for real-time applications, then latency and jitter performance is improved, but the complexity of channel access management increases due to contention-based mechanisms and legacy stations
Solution Approach 1:
The communication mechanism is segmented into different access modes: scheduled access for low latency traffic and contention-based access for other traffic. The scheduling interval is divided into protected periods for scheduled stations and available periods for contention-based access, allowing complex latency requirements to be met without forcing all stations to use complex scheduled access.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality of service characteristics are applied locally to different traffic types and stations. Scheduled stations receive guaranteed access during scheduling intervals with prioritized treatment, while legacy and non-scheduled stations use standard contention-based mechanisms. This allows low latency performance for critical traffic without uniformly increasing system complexity for all stations.
2Loss of time
If scheduled intervals are implemented to ensure low latency communication, then latency performance is improved, but network reliability decreases due to non-scheduled stations accessing the medium during scheduled periods
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary actions by setting up scheduling intervals in advance and notifying scheduled stations before the actual communication occurs. The AP reserves the medium for scheduled stations during scheduling intervals and uses control frames to prevent non-scheduled stations from accessing the medium during these protected periods, ensuring reliability before conflicts occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point acts as an intermediary between scheduled and non-scheduled stations, managing channel access rights during scheduling intervals. The AP uses control frames and CA parameters to mediate between the need for guaranteed low latency access for scheduled stations and the need to allow access for non-scheduled stations, preventing conflicts and ensuring schedule reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If channel access parameters are adjusted for non-scheduled stations during scheduling intervals, then fair access for non-scheduled stations is improved, but the priority of low latency traffic may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by allowing non-scheduled stations to access the medium only during specific portions of time slots when scheduling intervals are not active or during protected periods. CA parameters are adjusted to limit non-scheduled station access to non-critical periods, providing fair access opportunities without compromising the guaranteed low latency performance for scheduled traffic during critical scheduling intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A first communication device configured to communicate with one or more second and third communication devices, the first communication device comprising circuitry configured to receive a request for a transmission opportunity (TXOP) from a second communication device, the requested transmission opportunity overlapping with a scheduling interval during which communication of the first communication device with one or more third communication devices is planned, set access information, including one or more channel access (CA) parameters and/or one or more TXOP parameters, for the second communication device that indicates to the second communication device if and how it may communicate with the first communication device before and/or during the scheduling interval, and transmit the access information to at least the second communication device.