Coordinated AP TXOP Duration and Bandwidth Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks using IEEE 802.11 standards do not effectively coordinate access point transmissions, leading to inefficient medium utilization and increased congestion, as nearby access points typically do not share frequency resources during transmission opportunities (TXOPs).
Innovation Solution
A method where a first access point identifies and allocates frequency bandwidth to other nearby access points for coordinated access point transmission sessions, adjusting TXOP duration based on allocated bandwidth, and synchronizes symbol boundaries for concurrent data transmission, allowing multiple access points to share access to the wireless medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If access points transmit independently without coordination, then each AP can access the medium autonomously, but medium utilization becomes inefficient and congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple access points are merged into a coordinated transmission group where they share TXOP resources. The APs synchronize their transmissions and coordinate frequency bandwidth allocation, transforming independent competing devices into a unified collaborative system that improves medium utilization while managing complexity through standardized coordination protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination mechanism enables access points to perform multiple functions: independent transmission when alone, coordinated transmission when in groups, dynamic frequency allocation, and adaptive TXOP sharing. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different network conditions and coordination scenarios, resolving the contradiction between efficiency and complexity
2Reliability
If access points share frequency bandwidth for coordinated transmissions, then congestion is reduced and fairness improves, but coordination overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency bandwidth is segmented and allocated to different APs in coordination groups. Each AP receives specific frequency resources for its coordinated transmissions, allowing fair sharing of the medium while reducing interference. This segmentation enables multiple APs to transmit simultaneously on different frequencies, improving fairness without requiring complex time-synchronization overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where APs report their transmission status, channel conditions, and resource usage to the coordination manager. This feedback enables dynamic adjustment of frequency allocation and TXOP duration, ensuring fair access while optimizing resource utilization and reducing coordination overhead through data-driven decisions
3Productivity
If TXOP duration is extended for coordinated transmissions, then more data can be transmitted efficiently, but the opportunity for other devices to access the medium is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The TXOP duration is made dynamic rather than fixed. Coordination groups can extend their TXOP duration when traffic conditions warrant efficient bulk transmissions, while the system retains the flexibility to shorten or terminate TXOPs when other devices need medium access. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting TXOP length to actual network conditions, maintaining both efficiency and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters including TXOP duration, frequency bandwidth allocation, and coordination group composition based on network conditions, traffic patterns, and device requirements. These parameter changes enable the system to optimize for efficiency when needed while maintaining adaptability to allow other devices access when appropriate, resolving the contradiction between extended TXOP benefits and medium access flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for wireless communications. In some implementations, a first access point (AP) may identify other APs to participate in a coordinated access point transmission session, may obtain a transmit opportunity (TXOP) for transmitting wireless signals over a frequency bandwidth, may allocate corresponding portions of the frequency bandwidth to the identified APs for downlink (DL) transmissions during the TXOP, may select a duration of the TXOP for the coordinated access point transmission session based at least in part on an amount or percentage of the first AP's frequency bandwidth that is allocated to the one or more identified APs for the coordinated access point transmission session, and may output information indicative of at least one of the selected TXOP duration or the corresponding portions of the frequency bandwidth allocated to the respective identified AP by the first AP.