Multi-Access Point Offloading for Low-Latency Traffic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-AP environments, existing transmission procedures often result in delayed or discarded low-latency traffic due to busy APs waiting for block acknowledgments from STAs, leading to inferior transmission quality and inefficient spectrum utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-AP offloading scheme where an AP can offload non-low latency traffic to another AP, allowing immediate transmission of low-latency traffic by freeing up resources and enabling concurrent transmission using coordinated spatial reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an AP transmits data to a STA and waits for block acknowledgment, then reliable data transmission is ensured, but low-latency traffic is delayed or discarded when the AP is busy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the non-low-latency traffic from the AP's transmission queue and offloads it to a different AP. This allows the original AP to focus on transmitting low-latency traffic without being blocked by acknowledgment waiting for non-latency-sensitive data, thereby reducing latency while maintaining transmission reliability through the offloading mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a multi-AP coordination mechanism as an intermediary. The coordinating AP receives feedback about the target AP's transmission status and buffer capacity, then dynamically decides whether to offload traffic. This intermediary system enables reliable transmission by routing traffic through appropriate APs based on real-time conditions
2Reliability
If an AP waits for block acknowledgment from STA before transmitting next data, then transmission reliability is maintained, but spectrum utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous useful action by allowing the busy AP to immediately transmit new low-latency traffic or offload non-latency traffic to another AP while the previous transmission is being acknowledged. This prevents idle waiting time and maintains continuous productive use of the AP's transmission resources, improving spectrum utilization while maintaining reliability through proper acknowledgment handling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic traffic offloading decisions based on real-time AP and STA states. The system dynamically adjusts transmission strategies by monitoring buffer capacities, transmission statuses, and traffic priorities, allowing the network to adaptively optimize spectrum utilization while maintaining transmission reliability through coordinated multi-AP operation
3Device complexity
If an AP handles all traffic for a STA, then transmission control is simplified, but transmission quality deteriorates when the AP is overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traffic handling function across multiple APs instead of concentrating all traffic control in a single AP. By dividing the transmission load and using different APs for different traffic types (e.g., one AP for low-latency traffic, another for non-latency traffic), the system improves transmission quality for each traffic type while the overall control complexity is managed through automated coordination protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A first access point (AP) receives first data for a first station (STA) and, based on the first data being of a first category, transmits the first data to a second AP for transmission by the second in a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the first STA. The first AP receives, during or before transmission of the first PPDU, second data for a second STA, and transmits, to the second STA, a second PPDU, overlapping the first PPDU, comprising the second data.