Access Point TWT Negotiation with Simultaneous MAC Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE 802.11ah standard's TWT mechanism is inefficient in negotiating target wake times with multiple stations, lacking flexibility and requiring individual negotiations, which hampers overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An access point generates and sends multiple MAC frames simultaneously to multiple stations using OFDMA or MU-MIMO technologies, enabling simultaneous negotiation of target wake times with each station, including trigger information for uplink scheduling and receiving acknowledgment or additional MAC frames to determine the negotiated parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the AP negotiates TWT with individual STAs sequentially using the existing TWT mechanism, then each STA can receive its TWT parameter, but the negotiation efficiency is low and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual TWT negotiation processes into a single group-based negotiation. The AP sends one TWT group setup frame containing TWT parameters for multiple STAs simultaneously, rather than negotiating with each STA separately. This merging of negotiation processes directly improves efficiency and reduces the total time required.
Solution Approach 2:
The TWT group setup frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it negotiates TWT parameters for multiple STAs, assigns them to groups, and provides trigger information for uplink transmission. This multi-functional approach allows the AP to handle multiple STAs' TWT negotiations in a single operation, improving productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the AP classifies STAs into TWT groups with a unified wake time, then energy saving is improved, but the method lacks flexibility in negotiating with multiple STAs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TWT parameters within the group structure. Each STA in a TWT group has its own TWT parameter set (including target wake time, service period, etc.), allowing individualized negotiation while maintaining group management. This segmentation provides flexibility without requiring completely separate negotiations for each STA.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a group dimension to the TWT negotiation structure. Instead of only individual STA-level negotiations, it introduces group-level organization where STAs can be managed in groups while still having individual parameters. This dimensional change allows efficient group management with retained individual flexibility.
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AI summary
This application provides a method for negotiating a target wake time TWT, an access point AP, and a station STA. The method includes: generating, by the AP, a plurality of first media access control MAC frames, where the plurality of first MAC frames are corresponding to a plurality of stations STA in a one-to-one manner, and each of the plurality of first MAC frames carries a target wake time TWT parameter of a corresponding STA or instruction information for instructing a corresponding STA to send a TWT parameter to the AP; and sending, by the AP, a corresponding first MAC frame to each of the plurality of STAs simultaneously, where the first MAC frame is used to determine a TWT parameter with a STA corresponding to the first MAC frame. According to embodiments of this application, the AP can simultaneously negotiate with the plurality of STAs a TWT parameter of each STA by sending the corresponding first MAC frame to each of the plurality of STAs simultaneously. Therefore, negotiation efficiency can be improved.