Access Point Desensing for Spatial Reuse in WLANs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless local area networks (WLANs) face challenges in efficiently utilizing resources, particularly in scenarios where multiple devices share the same resources, and there is a need to operate with both newer and legacy protocols.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves adjusting the duration field on CTS frames and coordinating between access points (APs) to increase spatial reuse by raising receiver minimum input level sensitivity and/or decreasing transmission power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple devices share the same wireless resources, then bandwidth utilization improves, but interference between devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between nearby APs and far-away APs based on their spatial relationship. Nearby APs are restricted from transmitting during certain periods to avoid interference, while far-away APs can transmit freely. This localized restriction enables spatial reuse only where appropriate, improving overall bandwidth utilization without causing harmful interference to nearby devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wireless medium access into different time periods based on AP proximity. By dividing the transmission opportunity into restricted periods (when nearby APs are active) and unrestricted periods (when only far-away APs are active), the system enables multiple devices to share resources efficiently while managing interference through temporal segmentation.
2Productivity
If transmission power is decreased to reduce interference, then spatial reuse improves, but signal strength for distant devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts transmission power based on the spatial relationship between APs and devices. When an AP is classified as nearby, it restricts its transmissions during certain periods, effectively reducing its transmitted power impact. When classified as far-away, the AP can transmit at full power. This dynamic approach enables spatial reuse improvement without compromising signal strength for distant devices.
3Length of stationary object
If receiver minimum input level sensitivity is raised to detect weaker signals, then reception range improves, but ability to filter interference deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by classifying APs into nearby and far-away categories before transmission occurs. This pre-classification enables the system to restrict transmissions from nearby APs during certain time periods, creating a controlled environment where devices can raise their receiver sensitivity thresholds without being overwhelmed by interference from nearby transmitters.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for desensing spatial reuse where an apparatus of a first AP comprises processing circuitry configured to: negotiate a service period (SP) with a second AP, the SP having a start time and a duration, during the SP reduce a transmit (Tx) power (TxP) of the AP or raise a receiver minimum input level sensitivity of the AP, and refrain from transmitting to stations (STAs) associated with the first AP that are outside a radius of the spatial reuse radius (R-SR) of a basic service set (BSS) of the first AP.