Coordinated r-TWT Scheduling for Latency-Sensitive OBSS Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems struggle to meet the strict latency, throughput, and timing requirements of low-latency applications like real-time gaming and augmented/virtual reality due to interference and collisions between overlapping basic service sets (OBSSs) in dense environments.
Innovation Solution
Implement coordinated scheduling and signaling of restricted target wake time (r-TWT) service periods (SPs) between access points (APs) to orthogonalize or allocate resources for concurrent latency-sensitive traffic in different OBSSs, ensuring predictable latency and reduced jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coordinated r-TWT scheduling is implemented between OBSSs, then latency reliability and predictability are improved, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having APs exchange coordinated r-TWT signaling information before the service periods begin. The AP receives signaling information about OBSS r-TWT SPs in advance, determines orthogonal or non-interfering schedules, and transmits schedule information to STAs beforehand. This pre-coordination mechanism ensures latency reliability is improved without requiring complex real-time decisions during the actual data transmission, thus managing the device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the exchange of coordinated r-TWT signaling information between APs and the transmission of schedule information to STAs. The AP receives feedback about the OBSS scheduling through the signaling information, uses this feedback to determine non-interfering time slots, and communicates the finalized schedule to STAs. This feedback loop enables reliability improvement while keeping the complexity manageable through structured information exchange protocols.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If r-TWT service periods are orthogonalized in time, then interference between OBSSs is reduced, but throughput efficiency may decrease due to time slot fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing flexible scheduling where APs can determine whether to orthogonalize r-TWT SPs in time based on current network conditions. The system can dynamically switch between time-orthogonal schedules (to minimize interference) and overlapping schedules with coordinated resource allocation (to maximize throughput). This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize between interference reduction and throughput efficiency based on actual OBSS traffic patterns and requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies another dimension by introducing coordinated resource allocation in addition to time-orthogonalization. Instead of solely relying on time separation, the system can allocate resources across multiple dimensions including time, frequency, and spatial layers. This dimensional expansion allows overlapping r-TWT SPs to coexist without interference through coordinated resource sharing, thereby maintaining high throughput efficiency while reducing interference between OBSSs.
3Reliability
If multiple APs coordinate r-TWT scheduling, then latency-sensitive traffic reliability is improved, but signaling overhead and protocol complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the coordinated r-TWT signaling mechanism to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The signaling information exchanged between APs not only coordinates time slot allocation but also conveys interference characteristics, resource allocation decisions, and scheduling constraints. This multi-functional signaling approach improves traffic reliability through comprehensive coordination while minimizing signaling overhead by avoiding redundant information transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by having STAs receive schedule information that replicates the coordinated scheduling decisions made by APs. The STAs obtain copies of the scheduling information needed to execute low-latency communications during r-TWT SPs. This copying mechanism ensures reliability by distributing necessary scheduling knowledge throughout the network while managing overhead by transmitting only the essential scheduling parameters rather than complete coordination data.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for protecting latency-sensitive communications during restricted target wake time (r-TWT) service periods (SPs). Some implementations more specifically relate to coordinated scheduling of r-TWT SPs between OBSSs. In some aspects, a first AP may coordinate with a second AP in scheduling r-TWT SPs so that latency-sensitive traffic in a first BSS does not interfere or collide with latency-sensitive traffic in a second BSS overlapping the first BSS. In some implementations, the first and second APs may schedule their respective r-TWT SPs to be orthogonal in time. In some other implementations, the first and second APs may schedule their r-TWT SPs to overlap in time, while allocating coordinated resources to concurrent or overlapping latency-sensitive traffic in the first and second BSSs (such as in accordance with one or more multi-AP coordination techniques).