Multi-Link Association Identifier Allocation Across Collocated AP MLDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing non-access point multi-link devices (non-AP MLDs) accessing non-collocated access point multi-link devices (AP MLDs) involves identifying and allocating unique association identifiers to avoid repetition across different collocated AP MLDs.
Innovation Solution
Non-AP MLDs send request messages to collocated AP MLDs to establish links, receiving unique association identifiers allocated by each AP MLD, using existing multi-link reconfiguration or association request messages to minimize protocol changes and reduce signaling overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-AP MLD sends link establishment requests to multiple collocated AP MLDs independently, then each AP MLD can allocate association identifiers locally, but identifier repetition occurs across different AP MLDs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the identifier allocation process by introducing a master AP MLD that coordinates identifier assignment across multiple collocated AP MLDs. The master AP MLD divides the identifier space and assigns specific ranges to each collocated AP MLD, ensuring uniqueness while maintaining independent local allocation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The master AP MLD acts as an intermediary between non-AP MLDs and collocated AP MLDs for identifier management. It receives identifier allocation requests, coordinates with the appropriate collocated AP MLD, and ensures that allocated identifiers do not conflict with those assigned to other non-AP MLDs accessing the non-collocated AP MLD.
2Measurement precision
If new protocol messages are designed for association identifier allocation, then identifier management becomes more precise, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing multi-link reconfiguration request messages and association request messages serve dual purposes: both for link configuration and for association identifier allocation. By adding identifier allocation functionality to existing messages rather than creating new dedicated messages, the system achieves precise identifier management while minimizing signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the association identifier allocation process with the existing link establishment and reconfiguration procedures. The identifier allocation information is merged into existing message frameworks, allowing the same signaling infrastructure to handle both link management and identifier assignment tasks efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system. In the method, when a non-access point multi-link device establishes a connection to a collocated access point multi-link device in a non-collocated access point multi-link device, the collocated access point multi-link device that is requested to establish the connection allocates an association identifier to the non-access point multi-link device, and the allocated association identifier has not been allocated by the collocated access point multi-link device before. This can avoid repetition of association identifiers of different non-access point multi-link devices accessed by a same collocated access point multi-link device, thereby implementing proper management of the non-access point multi-link devices. This application may be applied to wireless local area network systems of 802.11 series protocols such as a next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11be, Wi-Fi 8, and Wi-Fi AI, and may be further applied to a wireless personal area network system that is based on ultra-wideband UWB, a sensing sensing system, and the like.