Access Point Transmission Scheduling via Coordination Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the 802.11ad wireless fidelity standard, the lack of a direct communication channel between synchronization APs and member APs in a cluster limits the control over transmission scheduling, leading to inefficient spatial sharing and joint transmission, resulting in low scheduling and communication efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first access point sends a scheduling request message to second access points, including scheduling sets and transmission time identifiers, allowing for coordinated scheduling of station group members across access points, thereby improving transmission efficiency and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a direct communication channel is established between synchronization AP and member APs, then control over transmission scheduling is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordination AP as an intermediary between the synchronization AP and member APs. The coordination AP establishes a direct communication channel with the synchronization AP to receive scheduling information, then relays this information to member APs through existing wireless communication. This mediator approach enables centralized scheduling control without requiring direct communication channels between all AP pairs, thus improving automation while avoiding excessive complexity.
2Device complexity
If independent scheduling is implemented by each AP, then device complexity is reduced, but spatial sharing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scheduling functions of multiple APs into a unified coordinated scheduling system. The coordination AP consolidates scheduling decisions for multiple member APs based on information from the synchronization AP, enabling joint transmission and spatial sharing. This merging approach improves productivity through coordinated resource allocation while keeping individual AP implementations relatively simple.
3Device complexity
If indirect methods are used to obtain cluster parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but information accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the coordination AP receives scheduling information from the synchronization AP, processes it, and relays accurate information to member APs. This feedback loop ensures that member APs obtain accurate and up-to-date cluster parameters and interference information through the coordinated scheduling channel, improving information accuracy while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a transmission scheduling method. The method includes: A first access point AP sends a scheduling request message to one or more second access points APs, where the scheduling request message is used to indicate elements scheduled by the second access point and a time in which the second access point schedules the elements. The at least one second AP may determine, based on the scheduling request message, whether to schedule a scheduling set element, served by the at least one second AP, in the scheduling set to perform transmission in a corresponding transmission time range. Particularly, when the scheduling set element is a station group, based on a definition of the station group, the at least one second AP may determine whether to schedule a station group, served by the at least one second AP, to perform transmission in a corresponding transmission time, thereby improving efficiency of scheduling and transmission.