Base Station STA Relocation for WLAN Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless local area networks (WLANs), the presence of weak link STAs with low communication quality or those incapable of performing UL MU or SR communication hinders the effectiveness of spatial reuse and multi-user communication, leading to reduced throughput and unfair communication opportunities due to inefficient resource allocation and lack of adaptive connection management.

Innovation Solution

The AP optimizes the connection destination of STAs based on the distribution of implementation statuses of SR and UL MU communication, investigating and adjusting parameters to connect isolated STAs to more suitable APs, thereby improving network throughput and fairness by reallocating resources and resetting parameters for better communication opportunities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If weak link STAs are included in UL MU or SR communication, then communication coverage is improved, but communication quality and throughput deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts weak link STAs from the main communication group and relocates them to different BSSs. The AP identifies STAs with poor communication quality and transfers them to other APs' BSSs, thereby removing the harmful effect of weak links on overall network throughput while maintaining coverage for these STAs in their new BSS contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different connection management strategies to different STAs based on their individual communication qualities. Instead of uniform treatment, each STA is evaluated and assigned to the BSS where it can achieve the best communication quality, optimizing local performance for each STA while improving global network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conservative signal detection threshold is used, then packet detection reliability is improved, but communication opportunities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket detection reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication opportunities
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of signal detection thresholds based on actual communication conditions and STA characteristics. Instead of using a fixed conservative threshold, the system adapts threshold values to balance reliable packet detection with maximizing communication opportunities, allowing more aggressive thresholds when conditions permit and more conservative thresholds when reliability is critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If STAs remain connected to original AP, then connection stability is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the AP continuously monitors communication quality metrics of connected STAs. When quality degradation is detected, the system triggers STA relocation to appropriate BSSs. This feedback loop maintains connection stability by only changing associations when necessary, while optimizing resource allocation efficiency through data-driven relocation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3897040B1Communication device and communication method
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3897040B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3897040B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3897040B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a communication device that favorably implements SR communication and MU communication. A communication device that operates as a base station includes a determination unit that determines a communication status in a BSS of the communication device, and a control unit that controls transmission and reception of a signal regarding connection change of a terminal according to the communication status to and from a surrounding base station. The determination unit determines the presence of a small number of terminals falling outside a distribution of implementation statuses of spatial reuse communication or multi user communication of entire subordinate terminals, and transmits a signal requesting the small number of terminals to be connected to the surrounding base station or transmits a signal inquiring of the surrounding base station acceptance of the small number of terminals.