Multi-AP Scheduling Using Expiry Imminence Flow Priority
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication standards lack sufficient granularity in traffic indicators to convey the urgency of data delivery, leading to misprioritization of time-sensitive traffic flows in multi-access point coordination (MAPC) networks, particularly in Wi-Fi 7/9 environments supporting deterministic applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing methods to compute and exchange 'expiry imminence' metrics across access points (APs) to reflect the time remaining before data flows exceed their delivery deadlines, enabling dynamic and flow-specific prioritization in MAPC operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional traffic indicators (TIDs or buffer occupancy) are used for scheduling, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of traffic urgency is insufficient leading to misprioritization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new parameter 'expiry imminence metric' that quantifies the urgency of data flow delivery based on time remaining before deadline. This parameter transforms the scheduling approach from using static TIDs or simple buffer occupancy to using dynamic time-remaining metrics, enabling precise measurement of traffic urgency without requiring complex scheduling algorithms. The metric is calculated as a function of current time and deadline, providing a straightforward yet precise urgency indicator.
2Manufacturing precision
If more granular flow-specific information is exchanged between APs, then scheduling accuracy is improved, but loss of information and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential urgency information (expiry imminence metric) from the complete flow state and transmits this single metric between APs. Instead of exchanging comprehensive flow descriptors, buffer states, or detailed QoS parameters, the system transmits only the calculated expiry imminence value, which encapsulates the critical timing information needed for accurate scheduling decisions while minimizing signaling overhead.
3Productivity
If dynamic priority adjustment based on real-time urgency is implemented, then productivity of time-sensitive applications is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the expiry imminence metric at the point of data flow identification, before scheduling decisions are made. By pre-computing the urgency metric based on known deadlines and current time, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time priority recalculations during scheduling. This preliminary action simplifies the scheduling algorithm while maintaining dynamic responsiveness to urgency changes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides techniques for expiry imminence reporting in multi-AP coordination (MAPC). A first AP collects traffic metadata associated with a data flow. The first AP collects an expiry imminence metric for the data flow based on the traffic metadata. The first AP encodes the expiry imminence metric into a coordination message, and transmits the coordination message to a second AP for engaging in access scheduling coordination.