Multi-Link Communication Grouping for Simultaneous Send-Receive

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-link communication systems, the large amount of information exchanged between devices to determine links that support simultaneous data sending and receiving leads to cumbersome processing and high load, resulting in inefficient utilization of link resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where a multi-link device groups links based on their ability to support simultaneous data sending and receiving, reducing the amount of information exchanged and simplifying the process for the peer device to select appropriate links for communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a multi-link device sends detailed information about whether any two links support simultaneous data sending and receiving to a peer device, then the peer device can determine appropriate links for communication, but the amount of information exchanged is large and processing becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink selection accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides links into multiple groups where links within the same group cannot support simultaneous data sending and receiving, while links in different groups can. This segmentation transforms the original problem of evaluating all link pairs into a simpler group identification process, reducing information exchange overhead while maintaining accurate link selection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of exchanging complete pairwise compatibility information for all links, the patent uses a simplified grouping indicator that provides sufficient information for peer devices to determine compatible links. This partial information approach reduces processing complexity while maintaining adequate decision-making capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If a multi-link device exchanges comprehensive link compatibility information with a peer device, then accurate link determination is achieved, but processing load and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink compatibility determination accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting links into groups based on simultaneous transmission compatibility, the patent reduces the information exchange process from evaluating all link pairs to simply identifying group memberships. This allows peer devices to quickly determine compatible links by selecting links from different groups, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accurate compatibility determination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs link grouping and compatibility analysis in advance, storing the results as group identifiers. When communication needs to be established, devices only need to exchange and compare these pre-computed group identifiers rather than performing comprehensive compatibility analysis in real-time, thereby reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4072209B1Multilink communication method and multi-link device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4072209B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3a
  • EP4072209B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~4
  • EP4072209B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a multi-link communication method, an apparatus, and a system that relate to the field of communication technologies, to resolve a technical problem in conventional multi-link communication that an amount of information sent by a multi-link device to a peer multi-link device is large, a process in which the peer multi-link device determines, based on the information, a link that can support simultaneous data sending and receiving as a link that is receiving data is cumbersome, and processing load of the peer multi-link device is heavy. The method includes: generating link grouping information, where the link grouping meets a following characteristic: links belonging to different link groups support simultaneous data sending and receiving; and sending the link grouping information.