AP Multi-Link Discovery Using Reduced Neighbor Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in enabling stations to quickly discover access point (AP) multi-link devices for efficient association, particularly in scenarios involving multiple frequency bands and channels.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves sending management frames that carry information about neighbor APs, including affiliation status within multi-link devices (MLD) and multiple BSSID sets, allowing stations to better select appropriate APs for association.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stations perform discovery processes via multiple links separately, then comprehensive AP discovery is achieved, but discovery time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discovery processes into a single unified discovery procedure. The AP MLD broadcasts a single beacon frame containing reduced neighbor report elements that aggregate information from multiple affiliated APs across different links, allowing stations to discover all available APs in one scanning operation rather than separately on each link.
Solution Approach 2:
The AP MLD pre-processes and consolidates neighbor AP information from multiple links before broadcasting it in the beacon frame. The reduced neighbor report elements are prepared in advance, containing pre-compiled affiliation status and BSSID set information, so stations receive ready-to-use discovery data without needing to perform separate link-by-link investigations.
2Loss of information
If detailed neighbor report elements are transmitted for each AP, then complete AP information is provided, but frame size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential discovery information needed for station decision-making from complete neighbor reports. The reduced neighbor report elements contain specifically selected fields (BSSID, affiliation status, BSSID set membership) that are sufficient for AP selection while excluding redundant detailed parameters, thereby reducing frame size and processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the neighbor report information into a standardized reduced format with fixed essential fields. Rather than transmitting complete variable-length neighbor reports for each AP, the information is segmented into uniform reduced elements that are easier to parse and process, reducing overall frame complexity while maintaining necessary discovery functionality.
3Productivity
If multiple BSSID sets are supported across frequency bands, then service transmission rate increases, but association complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different information presentation strategies for different BSSID set configurations. The reduced neighbor report elements include specific affiliation status indicators that adapt to whether APs belong to the same MLD or different MLDs, providing locally optimized information for each scenario. This allows stations to quickly determine association requirements without analyzing complex cross-band relationships.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an access point AP multi-link device discovery method and a related apparatus, for example, are applied to a WLAN supporting 802.11be. The method includes: A reporting AP sends a first management frame to a station. The first management frame carries information about a neighbor AP, and the reporting AP is affiliated to an AP multi-link device. The reported AP indicated by the information about the neighbor AP is affiliated to the same multi-link device as the reporting AP or belongs to a same multiple BSSID set as another AP in the multi-link device to which the reporting AP is affiliated. In this case, a station receiving the first management frame can learn of a structure of an AP MLD and a structure of a multiple BSSID set. This helps the station better select an appropriate AP for association.