Multi-AP Protected Service Periods for WLAN Interference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies face challenges in managing power saving and reducing transmission delays and interference in large-scale Internet of Things (IoT) environments, particularly with the introduction of multiple access points (APs), where coordinated operations of restricted target wake times (R-TWT) are not effectively managed.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a multi-AP coordination and cooperation mechanism that establishes a protected predetermined service period through frame exchange negotiation among multiple APs, ensuring coordinated operations in time, spatial, and frequency domains to mitigate interference and enhance transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple APs operate independently without coordination, then each AP can manage its own STAs autonomously, but transmission interference increases and transmission delays occur in large-scale IoT environments

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAP autonomous operationVSAvoidtransmission interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple APs merge their channel access decisions and coordinate their operations to serve STAs collectively. The APs combine their individual resources and coordination capabilities to provide unified service, reducing transmission interference while maintaining operational efficiency in large-scale IoT environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A coordination mechanism acts as an intermediary among multiple APs, enabling them to exchange information and synchronize their operations. This mediator facilitates cooperative channel access and resource allocation, allowing APs to reduce transmission interference while maintaining autonomous operation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If traditional TWT mechanisms are used without multi-AP coordination, then power saving is supported in large-scale IoT environments, but predictable delay and jitter performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower savingVSAvoiddelay predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

APs perform preliminary coordination to establish protected predetermined service periods before actual data transmission. By pre-negotiating and reserving channel access rights among multiple APs, the system ensures predictable delay and jitter performance while maintaining power saving benefits through coordinated TWT mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The coordinated multi-AP TWT mechanism ensures continuous and predictable service delivery to STAs. By maintaining synchronized operation patterns and protected service periods across multiple APs, the system provides reliable delay performance while enabling STAs to enter sleep modes for power saving during non-service periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If restricted TWT is implemented without multi-AP coordination, then medium access protection is enhanced, but resource utilization efficiency decreases in multi-AP scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedium access protectionVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coordinated service period mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides medium access protection like restricted TWT, enables resource sharing among multiple APs, and improves overall resource utilization efficiency. This universal mechanism handles both protection and efficiency requirements in multi-AP IoT environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts service period allocations and channel access rights based on real-time network conditions and STA requirements. By making coordinated APs adaptable to changing traffic patterns and channel states, the mechanism maintains strong medium access protection while optimizing resource utilization efficiency across the multi-AP network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4629574A1Operation methods and apparatuses based on multi-access points, devices, storage medium and product
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4629574A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4629574A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4629574A1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

Operation methods and apparatuses based on multi-access points (AP), devices, a storage medium and a product, belonging to the technical field of wireless communications. A method comprises: sending a first frame so as to establish for a first station (STA) device a protected predetermined service period based on a multi-AP operation, the protected predetermined service period based on the multi-AP operation is a protected predetermined service period which is established by a first AP device negotiating with at least one second AP device. The method optimizes the transmission interference between stations so as to reduce the transmission time delay of stations, and further improves the transmission efficiency of stations.