AP-orchestrated overlaid transmissions for low-latency wireless

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in unlicensed bands, face challenges in supporting low-latency and high-reliability data traffic due to inefficient channel access mechanisms, leading to high collision probabilities and poor channel usage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves an Access Point (AP) reserving a TXOP on a wireless channel and determining transmit parameters for associated stations. The AP sends a message triggering scheduled transmissions and allows additional stations to perform overlaid transmissions with specific parameters, enabling efficient use of radio resources and reducing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If distributed channel access (DCF) is used, then devices can access the channel independently, but channel collision probability increases and channel usage efficiency deteriorates under high load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent channel accessVSAvoidchannel usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The AP acts as an intermediary that coordinates channel access for multiple STAs. Instead of allowing direct distributed access between STAs (which causes collisions), the AP mediates by scheduling uplink transmissions, allocating RUs, and controlling the TXOP structure, thereby eliminating collisions while maintaining efficient channel usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional distributed access model by implementing centralized scheduling at the AP. Rather than STAs independently accessing the channel (bottom-up approach), the AP controls and schedules all uplink transmissions (top-down approach), fundamentally changing the access paradigm to eliminate collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If centralized channel access with AP control is implemented, then channel collision probability decreases, but channel access delay increases due to scheduling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel usage efficiencyVSAvoidchannel access delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The AP performs preliminary actions by pre-allocation of RUs and pre-scheduling of uplink transmissions within the TXOP structure. By preparing the channel allocation in advance and notifying STAs of their scheduled resources, the system eliminates waiting time and scheduling delays during actual transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous useful action by utilizing the entire TXOP duration for productive transmissions. The structured allocation ensures that the channel remains continuously utilized without idle periods or re-scheduling overhead, maintaining high efficiency while providing deterministic access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If traditional OFDMA with single RU allocation per STA is used, then resource allocation is simple, but flexibility in supporting diverse traffic requirements (especially low-latency traffic) is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidtraffic requirement flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel access into two distinct types: scheduled transmissions for regular traffic and random access transmissions for low-latency traffic. This segmentation allows each transmission type to have optimized resource allocation rules, with scheduled traffic using traditional RU allocation and random access traffic using contention-based access without requiring RU assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts resource allocation based on traffic requirements. For latency-sensitive traffic, the AP allows random access transmissions that can immediately utilize available resources without waiting for scheduling. This dynamic behavior enables the system to flexibly respond to diverse traffic patterns while maintaining overall resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4399932B1AP-orchestrated overlaid transmissions
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4399932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4399932B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4399932B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

An access point (10) of a wireless communication system reserves a transmit opportunity, TXOP, on a wireless channel. Further, the access point (10) determines, for a wireless station (11) associated with the access point (10), a first set of one or more transmit parameters to be applied in a first wireless transmission from the wireless station (11) to the access point (10). Further, the access point (10) sends a message (405) for triggering the first wireless transmission by the wireless station (11). The message (405) indicates the first set of one or more transmit parameters. Further, the message (405) indicates a second set of one or more transmit parameters and that at least one additional wireless station (11) receiving the message (405) is allowed to perform a second wireless transmission in the TXOP for a duration smaller than the first wireless transmission and using the indicated second set of one or more transmit parameters and radio resources which are at least in part overlapping with radio resources allocated to the first wireless transmission.