AP-Coordinated P2P Transmission for Low-Delay WLAN Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies face challenges in efficiently implementing peer-to-peer (P2P) communication due to its distributed control nature, which has hindered its adoption in WLAN systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for supporting P2P communication in WLAN environments, particularly in IEEE 802.11 systems, involving AP-initiated P2P transmission, where an access point (AP) manages and schedules P2P transmission by broadcasting time information and allocating transmission opportunities, allowing direct data exchange between stations (STAs) with reduced delay and improved throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If P2P communication is implemented in WLAN with distributed control, then direct data transmission between terminals can be achieved, but system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Access Point (AP) as an intermediary to manage and coordinate P2P communications between STAs. The AP receives P2P requests, allocates resources, schedules transmissions, and manages channel access, thereby reducing the control burden on individual terminals while enabling efficient direct data transmission. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by centralizing control functions.
2Loss of time
If traditional WLAN communication is used, then centralized control through AP is maintained, but transmission delay increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into control plane (through AP) and data plane (direct STA-to-STA). Control messages are routed through the AP for management, while actual data transmissions occur directly between terminals. This segmentation allows the system to maintain centralized control for coordination while enabling low-latency direct data paths, thereby reducing transmission delay and improving throughput.
3Speed
If direct P2P transmission is enabled between terminals, then transmission delay is reduced, but resource allocation and channel management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The AP serves as a mediator that handles resource allocation and channel management for P2P transmissions. It receives P2P requests from terminals, determines appropriate transmission parameters, allocates time-frequency resources, and coordinates channel access. This allows fast direct transmissions while maintaining ease of resource management through centralized AP control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If P2P communication protocol is added to WLAN, then direct terminal communication is enabled, but protocol complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges P2P communication functionality into the existing WLAN infrastructure by utilizing existing AP roles and procedures. P2P requests are handled as special cases of standard WLAN frames, resource allocation uses existing scheduling mechanisms, and channel access leverages established contention protocols. This integration approach enables versatile P2P communication while minimizing additional protocol complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitting STA can directly communicate with a receiving STA in a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) system. The transmitting STA can transmit, to an AP, a request signal for a P2P transmission at a determined time or a random time and, when a trigger frame is received from the AP, the transmitting STA can perform P2P communication with a receiving STA on the basis of the trigger frame.