C-TDMA Schedule Announcement Frames for Dynamic TXOP Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In coordinated time division multiple access (C-TDMA) schemes, wireless access points (APs) face inefficiencies due to unused TXOPs when they do not receive responses to schedule announcement frames, and the lack of identification of responding shared APs reduces resource allocation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
APs transmit frames with identifiers to allocate and share TXOPs, receiving responses that include AP identifiers, enabling efficient resource utilization and communication with identified shared APs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sharing AP transmits a schedule announcement frame during the TXOP to share the TXOP with other APs, then resource sharing capability is improved, but the portion of TXOP available for other communications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sharing AP transmits the schedule announcement frame at the beginning of the TXOP, before other communications occur. This preliminary action allows receiving APs to know in advance which time resources are allocated to them, enabling them to prepare for their transmissions and reducing the need for additional coordination frames that would further consume TXOP time.
2Productivity
If the sharing AP does not receive a response to the schedule announcement frame, then the TXOP may be unused, but transmitting the frame reduces the TXOP portion available for other communications
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where sharing APs transmit schedule announcement frames and wait for response frames from receiving APs. The response frame confirms whether the receiving AP successfully received and will use the allocated time resources. This feedback allows the sharing AP to determine if the TXOP is being utilized as planned, enabling it to take appropriate actions if the TXOP would otherwise go unused.
Solution Approach 2:
The TXOP sharing mechanism is dynamic rather than static. The sharing AP can adaptively adjust the schedule announcement based on received responses. If no response is received, the sharing AP can reallocate the previously announced time resources to other communications, thereby dynamically optimizing TXOP utilization based on actual network conditions and AP availability.
3Loss of information
If the response frame does not differentiate between different shared APs, then the sharing AP remains unaware of which APs responded, but the response mechanism adds complexity to the communication protocol
Solution Approach 1:
The response frame incorporates a receiver address field that is specifically tailored to identify the intended recipient (sharing AP). This localized identification approach allows each response frame to carry specific information about which AP is responding and to which sharing AP it is responding. The identification is embedded directly in the frame structure at the appropriate location, providing precise AP differentiation without requiring complex external tracking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for schedule announcement enhancements for coordinated time division multiple access (C-TDMA). Some aspects more specifically relate to a sharing AP indicating a schedule announcement for C-TDMA via a frame, such as a poll frame. The frame may include a query to determine interest of one or more shared APs to use a portion of a transmit opportunity (TXOP) obtained by the sharing AP or an indication allocating the portion of the TXOP to the shared APs. The sharing AP may receive a response to the frame via an associated poll response that may indicate an identifier of a shared AP. Various aspects relate more specifically to reallocating one or more fields in a poll frame to indicate information related to the shared TXOP.