Compressed Traffic Indication Map for Wireless Paging Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless network technologies face inefficiencies in network control, particularly in terms of bandwidth, time, and power consumption due to large traffic indication maps (TIMs) used for paging, which require all stations to listen to extensive messaging, leading to increased overhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that assigns paging identifiers to stations, allowing them to selectively decode and listen to only relevant paging messages by partitioning the paging identifier space into sets and using explicit or implicit indexing, thereby reducing the size and complexity of paging messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large traffic indication maps (TIMs) are used for paging, then all stations can be paged, but bandwidth consumption and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the paging identifier space into multiple paging identifier sets, where each set contains a subset of paging identifiers. Stations are assigned to specific sets, allowing the access point to page only the relevant subset of stations rather than transmitting a complete TIM for all stations. This segmentation reduces the size of paging messages and bandwidth consumption while maintaining the ability to page all stations when necessary.
2Reliability
If large traffic indication maps (TIMs) are used for paging, then all stations can be paged, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the paging identifier space into multiple sets and using set indexing, the access point can page specific subsets of stations more quickly without transmitting complete TIMs. This reduces the time required for paging operations while maintaining the capability to page all stations by transmitting indexes for multiple sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point pre-configures paging identifier sets and assigns stations to specific sets in advance. This preliminary organization allows for efficient paging operations where the access point only needs to transmit set indexes rather than complete TIMs, significantly reducing paging time while maintaining comprehensive paging coverage.
3Reliability
If large traffic indication maps (TIMs) are used for paging, then all stations can be paged, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Stations are assigned to specific paging identifier sets, allowing them to efficiently determine whether they need to wake up to receive paging messages by checking their assigned set indexes. This reduces the power consumption of stations as they don't need to continuously monitor complete TIMs, while the access point maintains the ability to page all stations by transmitting indexes for multiple sets.
4Ease of operation
If explicit indexing is used for paging identifier sets, then stations can efficiently identify their sets, but message overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a hybrid approach where set indexes can be explicitly indicated when needed for clear station identification, but also allows for implicit or omitted indexing when the context is clear. This partial use of explicit indexing maintains ease of operation for stations to identify their sets while reducing overall message overhead compared to always using explicit indexes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for reducing overhead paging are described. One example of such a method includes generating a compressed traffic indication map (TIM) element, the compressed TIM element comprising a partial virtual bitmap field constructed from at least one encoded block field that includes an encoded block information field identifying at least one encoding mode for encoded block information, and sending the compressed TIM element to an at least one station (STA) associated with the access point that supports at least one multiple basic service set identifier (BSSID). The method may also include, in response to the at least one encoding mode comprising an offset, length, bitmap (OLB) mode, encoding the encoded block information field to include a length subfield followed by contiguous subblock subfields, each subblock subfield including a corresponding subblock of a partial virtual map.