Direct Link Scheduling via Centralized Channel Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In WiFi networks using the IEEE 802.11 standard, direct links face challenges in managing channel resources efficiently, leading to channel contention and reduced radio resource utilization, especially in dense user scenarios where it becomes difficult to select non-basic channels due to the limited number of available wireless spectrums.
Innovation Solution
A direct link scheduling method where an access point multicasts or broadcasts scheduling information to terminal devices, obtaining sounding results from both devices on multiple direct links, and allocates channel resources based on these results to avoid channel contention by selecting available sub-channels and ensuring non-interfering transmission times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct links operate on basic channels to reduce channel selection difficulty, then channel availability is improved, but channel contention and conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The access point acts as an intermediary that collects sounding results from terminal devices and allocates channel resources centrally. This mediator coordinates channel usage across multiple direct links, preventing contention by ensuring that allocated sub-channels and time resources do not conflict between different link pairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of channel resource allocation from decentralized contention-based access to centralized scheduled allocation. By modifying how channel resources are distributed (from random contention to planned allocation), the system resolves the contradiction between channel availability and contention reduction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If direct links use non-basic channels to avoid channel contention, then channel conflict probability is reduced, but channel selection becomes difficult due to limited wireless spectrums
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless channel is segmented into multiple sub-channels within the basic channel bandwidth. Instead of treating the entire channel as a single resource, the system divides it into smaller sub-channels that can be independently allocated to different direct links, providing more granular channel selection options.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a time dimension to channel resource allocation by scheduling direct links in different time slots. This transforms the problem from a single-dimensional frequency selection issue to a two-dimensional resource allocation problem involving both frequency (sub-channels) and time, thereby increasing overall resource availability.
3Productivity
If multiple direct links operate simultaneously on the same channel, then channel utilization efficiency is improved, but channel conflicts and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The access point implements periodic scheduling of direct links, allocating channel resources in structured time intervals rather than allowing continuous simultaneous access. This periodic structure ensures that multiple direct links can share the channel systematically, maintaining high utilization while preventing interference through coordinated time division.
4Ease of operation
If terminal devices contend for channel resources independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but radio resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where terminal devices send sounding results to the access point, which then uses this information to make informed channel allocation decisions. This feedback loop allows the access point to optimize resource allocation based on actual channel conditions while maintaining device autonomy in the sense that devices still actively participate in the resource allocation process by providing channel quality information.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a direct link scheduling method, an access point and a terminal device. The method of the embodiments of the present invention includes: multicasting or broadcasting, by an access point, information about multiple direct links participating in a next direct link scheduled period; obtaining, by the access point in the direct link scheduled period, sounding results sent by the both terminal devices on each of the multiple direct links, and separately allocating channel resources to the multiple direct links according to the sounding results in the direct link scheduled period, where sub-channels in the channel resources on the direct links do not include unavailable sub-channels, or are selected from available sub-channels; and/or sub-channels or transmission time in channel resources of two direct links interfering with each other are or is different; and sending, by the access point, information about the allocated channel resource to the both terminal devices on each of the multiple direct links. The embodiments of the present invention can avoid channel contention between different direct links and reduce a probability that a conflict occurs because of the channel contention.