EMLSR Link Switching via TXOP Termination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless LAN technologies face limitations in supporting high-throughput communications, especially in high-density environments, and there is a need for efficient methods to manage link switching and interference between multiple links in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-link device and access point system that operates in enhanced multi-link single radio (EMLSR) mode, where a processor manages frame exchanges and link switching by initiating control frames and terminating transmission opportunities before receiving beacon frames, optimizing link switching and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple links are used for high-throughput communication, then communication speed is improved, but interference between links increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the first station terminate its TXOP before the second station needs to transmit. The processor determines to terminate the TXOP based on predicted beacon reception timing, and the first station actually terminates transmission earlier than the beacon frame is received. This prevents interference between links by proactively resolving potential conflicts before they occur.
2Productivity
If link switching is performed to manage interference, then communication efficiency is improved, but switching delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the TXOP termination timing in advance based on the predicted beacon reception time. The processor calculates when the first station should terminate its transmission opportunity before the beacon frame is actually received, allowing for proactive link switching without waiting for interference to manifest. This reduces switching delay by preparing the link transition beforehand.
3Ease of operation
If TXOP is terminated early to prevent interference, then link switching is optimized, but frame exchange completeness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by having the second station transmit a response frame to the initial control frame after receiving the beacon frame. This feedback mechanism confirms that the frame exchange was successfully completed despite the early TXOP termination. The response frame serves as verification that the first station's premature termination did not compromise the completeness of the frame exchange protocol.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a multi-link device which includes a plurality of stations respectively operating in a plurality of links, but which, in an enhanced multi-link single radio (EMLSR) mode, does not perform transmission and reception in a second link of an EMLSR link while performing frame exchange in a first link of the EMLSR link, wherein the EMLSR link is a plurality of links to which the EMLSR mode is applied. The multi-link device comprises a transmission and reception unit, and a processor. When in the EMLSR mode, a first station, which is one of the plurality of stations included in the multi-link device, performs the frame exchange as a transmission opportunity (TXOP) holder in the first link, the processor ends the TXOP for the frame exchange before a point in time that arrives a predetermined time earlier than the point in time at which the multi-link device is to receive a beacon frame. The predetermined time is a delay time for the multi-link device to perform link switching.