AP Provision Period Scheduling for Low-Latency WLAN Service Periods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks struggle to provide low latency and reliable services for latency-sensitive applications due to contention for accessing the wireless medium, which can lead to delays in delivering packets within the required latency budget.
Innovation Solution
The AP reserves a provision period prior to the start of a low latency service period to ensure timely access to the medium, allowing stations to contend for or be allocated resources during this period, ensuring that the service period dedicated for low latency traffic can commence without delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If stations contend for access to the wireless medium during the provision period, then network resource utilization is improved, but the starting time of the low latency service period may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The AP performs preliminary actions by reserving the wireless medium in advance during the provision period and scheduling the low latency service period starting time before the contention period begins. This preliminary reservation ensures that the service period can start at the predetermined time without delay from medium access contention, while still allowing efficient resource utilization during the provision period.
2Loss of time
If the AP reserves the medium in advance for the low latency service period, then the service period starting time is guaranteed, but the network resource utilization during the provision period decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The time period before the low latency service period is segmented into two parts: a provision period where the AP reserves the medium for scheduled transmissions to maximize resource utilization, and a contention period where stations can access the medium. This segmentation allows the AP to guarantee the service period starting time while still enabling efficient network resource usage during the provision period through scheduled transmissions.
3Reliability
If stations set their NAV during the AP transmission opportunity, then medium access contention is reduced, but stations cannot access the medium during the provision period
Solution Approach 1:
The NAV setting behavior is made local and selective: stations are instructed to set their NAV only for the portion of the AP transmission opportunity that occurs after the provision period, while allowing medium access during the provision period itself. This localized NAV application maintains reliable medium access control for the critical service period while preserving station access capability during the provision period for resource utilization.
Data Source
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AI summary
To make effective the usage of network resources and timely handling of low latency traffic, and in particular IEEE 802.11 networks, it is described according to an aspect of the invention a method of communication comprising, at an access-point, AP: contending for access to a wireless medium, a provision period prior a start of a low latency, LL, service period, SP, dedicated for transmitting LL traffic; and upon gaining access to the wireless medium, reserving an AP transmission opportunity encompassing the LL SP, thereby allowing transmission of LL traffic during the LL SP.