Multi-Link Management Frame Link ID Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs), managing the transmission of management frames across different links in multi-link devices (MLDs) is challenging due to the need for secure and efficient communication, especially when legacy devices operate alongside newer protocols, leading to potential interference and operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a link ID or link ID bitmap in the frame body of management frames to specify which link the frame content applies to, allowing for secure and targeted transmission, and using a central key holder for encryption to prevent replay attacks, thereby enabling management frames to be transmitted on one link while applying to another or multiple links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If management frames are transmitted across multiple links in MLDs, then communication coverage and reliability are improved, but the complexity of frame encryption and link identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management frame into multiple parts: a non encrypted portion containing link identification information (link ID or link ID bitmap) and an encrypted portion containing management information. This segmentation allows receiving devices to first identify the target link from the unencrypted portion before processing the encrypted portion, reducing decryption complexity while maintaining reliable multi-link communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces link identification information as an intermediary element that mediates between the management frame and the decryption process. This intermediary contains link ID or link ID bitmap that indicates which link(s) the frame applies to, allowing devices to route and process frames efficiently without attempting to decrypt all frames, thus reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If link identification information is included in management frames, then frame routing precision is improved, but the frame size and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing link identification information only in the non encrypted portion of the management frame where it is needed for routing purposes, rather than embedding it throughout the entire frame. This allows precise frame routing while minimizing the amount of additional data, as the link ID field is compact and only appears once in the frame header.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a link ID bitmap that may include more link identifiers than currently active, allowing for future scalability without immediate overhead. The bitmap format provides partial action by only setting bits for relevant links while leaving other bits unset, enabling efficient routing precision with minimal active frame size increase.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a link ID bitmap is used instead of a single link ID, then adaptability to multiple links is improved, but the information field size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The link ID bitmap provides universal adaptability by being able to represent any combination of links through bit settings. A single bitmap field can indicate one link, multiple links, or all links, making the frame format universally applicable to any multi-link scenario without requiring different frame structures, thus achieving high adaptability with minimal field size increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from a single link ID value to a bitmap where each bit represents a link. This parameter change allows the same field size to represent exponentially more link combinations, providing high multi-link adaptability while keeping the field size compact (e.g., 8 bits can represent up to 256 different link combinations).
4Reliability
If management frames are encrypted for security, then security against replay attacks is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management frame processing into two stages: first, rapid identification of the target link using the unencrypted link ID portion; second, selective decryption only of frames destined for active links. This segmentation reduces overall processing time by avoiding decryption of frames that don't apply to the current device, while maintaining security through encryption of the management information portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by placing link identification information in an unencrypted portion of the frame that can be processed immediately upon reception. This allows devices to quickly determine whether a frame is relevant before investing computational resources in decryption, reducing average processing time while maintaining security for the actual management information.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for communicating elements between multi-link devices are disclosed. Apparatuses of a multi-link device (MLD) are disclosed, where the apparatuses comprise processing circuitry configured to encode a management frame, the management frame comprising a link information field, the link information field indicating a first link of the MLD for which management information is applicable and configure a non-access point (AP) of the MLD or a station (STA) of the MUD to transmit the management frame on a second link of the MLD. The processing circuitry is further configured to decode a second management frame, the second management frame comprising a second link information field, the second link information field indicating a second link of the MLD for which second management information is applicable.