Multi-AP Acknowledgment Timing for Reliable Joint WLAN Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods in WLANs using multiple access points (APs) face challenges in maintaining appropriate communication when conventional one-to-one communication fails.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that performs first and second settings to transmit Block Acknowledgments (BA) at delayed timings, allowing collaborative data reception and transmission among multiple APs, utilizing Delayed Ack capabilities and Joint Reception processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional one-to-one communication method is used in multi-AP collaborative reception, then communication simplicity is maintained, but communication reliability deteriorates and appropriate communication becomes incapable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgment function into two distinct types: immediate Ack for the coordinating AP and delayed BA for coordinated APs. This segmentation allows each AP type to use the most appropriate acknowledgment method for its specific role in the collaborative reception system, thereby maintaining high reliability while managing complexity through functional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the coordinating AP acts as a mediator that receives data from the STA, processes it collaboratively with coordinated APs, and then manages the acknowledgment flow. This intermediary structure enables reliable multi-AP communication by centralizing the coordination logic and allowing coordinated APs to simply transmit delayed BAs without complex decision-making.
2Speed
If Block Acknowledgment is transmitted immediately upon data reception, then response speed is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates in collaborative multi-AP scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having coordinated APs transmit their BAs at delayed timing after the coordinating AP has received and processed the data. This preliminary timing arrangement ensures that the coordinating AP can first confirm successful collaborative reception before triggering the coordinated APs to send their acknowledgments, thereby maintaining reliability while achieving fast overall response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a periodic acknowledgment pattern where coordinated APs transmit BAs at predetermined delayed intervals after data reception. This periodic structure creates a reliable rhythm in the communication flow, ensuring that acknowledgments are sent at optimal moments when the coordinating AP has had time to process the data but before the transmission window closes.
3Reliability
If multiple APs collaboratively receive data, then data reception reliability is improved, but acknowledgment coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgment coordination into distinct roles: the coordinating AP handles immediate Ack transmission and overall coordination, while coordinated APs handle delayed BA transmission. This role segmentation simplifies the coordination complexity by assigning specific functions to each AP type, allowing multiple APs to collaborate reliably without each AP needing to make complex coordination decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinating AP serves as an intermediary that manages the acknowledgment coordination between the STA and coordinated APs. It receives data collaboratively, determines successful reception, and triggers the delayed BA transmission from coordinated APs. This intermediary approach centralizes the coordination logic, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reception reliability through multi-AP collaboration.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus which communicates with a first other communication apparatus and a second other communication apparatus, the communication apparatus performing operations including performing first settings to receive data in collaboration with the first other communication apparatus, performing second settings with the second other communication apparatus to transmit a Block Acknowledgment (BA) at a delayed timing, transmitting, in a case where at least part of first data transmitted from the second other communication apparatus is received, an Acknowledgment (Ack) to the second other communication apparatus; and transmitting, in a case where at least part of the first data received by the first other communication apparatus is received from the first other communication apparatus, the BA to the second other communication apparatus after transmitting of the Ack.