Wireless LAN Channel Segmentation for Low Latency QoS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving low latency due to channel contention schemes that often exceed the latency requirements of applications like industrial internet of things (IIoT) and virtual reality, where stringent quality of service (QoS) targets are necessary.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a contention-based channel access mechanism where an access point (AP) configures a primary channel and secondary channels, prioritizing low latency communications over the secondary channels and discarding non-low latency transmissions if they overlap with low latency transmissions, ensuring that low latency data traffic meets stringent latency criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a contention-based channel access scheme is used for wireless communications, then channel access is simplified and distributed, but transmission latency increases beyond the criteria required by low latency applications
Solution Approach 1:
The available bandwidth is segmented into a primary channel and secondary channels. The primary channel is used for contention-based access by stations, while secondary channels are reserved for low latency communications. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the simplicity of contention-based access for general traffic while providing dedicated low latency paths for critical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
Low latency communications are extracted from the general contention-based channel access mechanism. By separating low latency traffic onto dedicated secondary channels, the patent removes the latency-inducing contention overhead from critical applications while maintaining the simplified access mechanism for other traffic types.
2Productivity
If all channels are used for contention-based channel access, then channel utilization is maximized, but low latency transmissions are blocked by overlapping transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the channel bandwidth into primary and secondary channels with distinct functions. The primary channel handles general contention-based access to maximize utilization, while secondary channels provide guaranteed low latency paths. This segmentation prevents low latency transmissions from being blocked by overlapping contention-based transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different channels are assigned different quality characteristics. The primary channel operates with standard contention-based access characteristics suitable for general traffic, while secondary channels operate with low latency characteristics suitable for critical applications. Each channel's local quality is optimized for its specific traffic type.
3Reliability
If transmissions on the primary channel are discarded to make room for low latency transmissions, then low latency QoS is improved, but packet loss increases for non-low latency traffic
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting traffic into different channels based on latency requirements, the patent prevents packet loss for low latency traffic while directing non-low latency traffic to appropriate channels. Stations with low latency requirements use secondary channels, while other traffic uses the primary channel, eliminating the need to discard transmissions and resulting in minimal packet loss overall.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for implementing low latency communications in a wireless local area network are provided. A first wireless communication device may implement a low latency basic service set (BSS) that allows contention-based channel access over a portion of a bandwidth. The first wireless communication device may configure a primary channel and one or more secondary channels within an available bandwidth. Communications with one or more wireless communication devices that have data traffic associated with a quality of service (QoS) parameter may be provided over one or more of the secondary channels. A transmission from a second wireless communication device on the primary channel may be discarded by the first wireless communication device, or the first wireless communication device may take over channel access from the second wireless communication device if such a transmission overlaps with low latency transmissions on the one or more secondary channels.