Wireless Access Point RU Segmentation for Low-Latency Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems struggle to meet the latency requirements of non-periodic low-latency traffic in wireless LANs, as they are designed primarily for periodic low-latency traffic.

Innovation Solution

An access point and wireless terminal apparatus utilize a processor to group subcarriers into units, allowing parallel transmission of non-periodic low-latency traffic during waiting periods or after regular traffic completion, using OFDMA and dedicated resource units (RUs) to prioritize and manage latency-sensitive communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the access point uses R-TWT function to set periodic service periods for low-latency traffic, then latency and jitter of periodic low-latency traffic are reduced, but non-periodic low-latency traffic cannot meet its latency requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency of periodic low-latency trafficVSAvoidcapability to handle non-periodic low-latency traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The available subcarriers are segmented into two distinct units: a first unit dedicated to low-latency traffic and a second unit for other traffic. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously maintain periodic low-latency traffic service while providing dedicated resources for non-periodic low-latency traffic, resolving the contradiction between optimizing periodic traffic and adapting to non-periodic traffic requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The access point preliminarily establishes a dedicated first unit for low-latency traffic before non-periodic traffic occurs. When non-periodic low-latency traffic arrives, the processor can immediately check the communication state of the second unit and transmit the traffic using the first unit during waiting periods or after regular traffic completion, ensuring latency requirements are met without waiting for periodic service periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the access point prioritizes transmission of low-latency traffic during service periods, then latency is reduced, but communication efficiency for other traffic decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency of low-latency trafficVSAvoidcommunication efficiency of other traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different quality of service is applied to different subcarrier units: the first unit is optimized for low-latency traffic with priority transmission, while the second unit handles other traffic with standard scheduling. This local quality differentiation allows the system to reduce latency for low-latency traffic without significantly impacting the overall communication efficiency of other traffic, as the second unit continues to operate independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4697841A1Access point and wireless terminal device
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 NT T INC
  • EP4697841A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4697841A1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(C)
  • EP4697841A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An access point of the embodiment includes a communication circuit and a processor. The communication circuit transmits and receives wireless signals using a plurality of subcarriers. The processor establishes links with a plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses using the communication circuit. The processor groups the plurality of subcarriers to set a plurality of units including a first unit associated with low-latency traffic and a second unit associated with other traffic. When low-latency traffic occurs, the processor checks a communication state of the second unit, when the second unit is transmitting first traffic in a downlink direction, the processor transmits the occurred low-latency traffic to one of the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses using the first unit in parallel with the transmission of the first traffic, and when the second unit is receiving second traffic in an uplink direction, the processor transmits the occurred low-latency traffic to one of the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses using the first unit during a waiting period for the transmission of the second traffic or after the reception of the second traffic is completed.