Multi-Link AP Coordination Using Shared TXOP Resources
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely deployed wireless local area networks, the use of small, non-overlapping bandwidths by access points (APs) leads to low peak rates and limited coordination between APs, hindering the improvement of user quality of service due to increased inter-BSS interference.
Innovation Solution
A coordinated communication method that allows devices to share time-frequency resources based on the status of multiple links, using non-simultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) link pairs to enhance coordination efficiency while ensuring quality of service, employing mechanisms like Clear Channel Assessment and Network Allocation Vector to manage transmission times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If APs select small, non-overlapping bandwidths to reduce inter-BSS interference, then interference between basic service sets is reduced, but peak communication rate decreases and coordination efficiency between APs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multi-link dimension to resolve the bandwidth contradiction. Instead of increasing single-link bandwidth (which causes interference), the system establishes multiple links with different bandwidths and applies link aggregation. This dimensional expansion allows APs to maintain small non-overlapping bandwidths on individual links while achieving high aggregate throughput through multiple parallel links, thus reducing inter-BSS interference on each link while improving overall peak rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication channel into multiple independent links. Each link operates with its own bandwidth configuration and can be independently managed. This segmentation allows different links to use different bandwidth sizes without causing interference conflicts, as each link's transmission is controlled separately. The aggregation of these segmented links provides both interference reduction (through small individual bandwidths) and high throughput (through combined capacity).
2Productivity
If APs use overlapping bandwidths to improve peak rate, then communication throughput increases, but inter-BSS interference increases and coordination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by moving from single-link to multi-link dimension. Instead of using overlapping bandwidths on a single link (which causes interference), the system creates multiple non-overlapping links and aggregates them. This dimensional transition allows the system to achieve high throughput through link aggregation while maintaining non-overlapping bandwidths on each individual link, thus avoiding inter-BSS interference.
3Productivity
If devices share time-frequency resources across multiple links, then coordination efficiency improves, but risk of interference with primary links increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality principle by differentiating the treatment of different links. Primary links are allocated guaranteed resources with high priority to ensure quality of service, while secondary links are available for resource sharing to improve coordination efficiency. The system locally optimizes each link's function: primary links for reliability and secondary links for flexibility. This local differentiation allows resource sharing on secondary links without compromising primary link quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial resource sharing where only excess or underutilized resources on secondary links are shared with other devices. The primary links retain full resource allocation to ensure quality of service. This partial action approach allows the system to improve coordination efficiency by sharing available capacity without excessively allocating resources that would interfere with primary link operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a coordinated communication method and an apparatus. The method includes: A first device receives a first frame from a second device on a first link, where the first device uses a non-simultaneous transmit and receive NSTR link pair including the first link and a second link, the first link is a secondary link of the first device, the second link is a primary link of the first device, the first frame indicates that a first time-frequency resource on the first link is shared, and a time domain position of the first time-frequency resource is within a first transmit opportunity TXOP of the second device on the first link. The first device determines, based on statuses of the first link and the second link, whether to send a second frame to the second device on the first link, where the second frame is an acknowledgment frame of the first frame. According to the method, coordination between a plurality of APs can be easier and more efficient.