Joint AP Transmission Buffering to Cut Air Interface Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face issues with high occupancy of air interface resources and delays when multiple access points coordinate data transmission, affecting transmission quality and network load.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus that includes a sending module to send a buffer indication to secondary access points, allowing them to buffer data before transmission, and a processing module to determine if a joint transmission is needed, reducing air interface resource occupancy and delay by coordinating data delivery among access points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the master AP sends data to coordinated APs using wireless sharing, then data can be shared among APs, but a large quantity of air interface resources are occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharing capabilityVSAvoidair interface resource occupancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wired connection as an intermediary medium between the master AP and coordinated APs for data sharing. Instead of directly using wireless air interface for AP-to-AP data transfer, the system uses a wired backbone network as a mediator, which has higher bandwidth and does not consume wireless air interface resources. This resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative data sharing path that maintains adaptability while reducing air interface resource occupancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the master AP sends data to coordinated APs using wired sharing, then air interface resources are saved, but a delay is high which affects transmission quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair interface resource usageVSAvoiddata transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the master AP send data to coordinated APs in advance through the wired connection before the actual downlink transmission is needed. The coordinated APs buffer this pre-transferred data and are ready to immediately transmit it to STAs when required, eliminating the need for real-time wired data transfer during transmission. This approach saves air interface resources while minimizing delay by preparing data beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the master AP instructs coordinated APs to perform joint transmission, then transmission quality can be improved, but network load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network into a master AP that performs coordination functions and coordinated APs that execute transmission tasks. The master AP segments the decision-making process (sending buffer status indications and joint transmission indications) from the data transmission process (performed by coordinated APs). This segmentation allows the system to improve transmission quality through coordinated transmission while distributing network load across multiple APs, preventing any single AP from becoming a bottleneck.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3806535B1Communication appartus for a joint transmission
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3806535B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3806535B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3806535B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a joint transmission method and an AP, and relate to the communications field. In the joint transmission method provided in this application, a first AP sends a buffer indication to a second AP, so that the second AP buffers data in a process in which the first AP sends the data to at least one STA. Therefore, a delay can be reduced while air interface resources occupied are reduced, and user experience is effectively improved.