Multi-Link Communication Device With Receive-Only Stations for Lower Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-link devices (MLDs) face increased complexity, cost, and power consumption due to the need for multiple stations with full transmission and reception capabilities, particularly in consumer non-access point (non-AP) devices, which limits their efficiency and scalability.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a receive-only station (Rx STA) within the MLD that can only receive control information, reducing power consumption and complexity while assisting in managing links and data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple stations with full transmission and reception capabilities are used in an MLD, then the device can achieve higher throughput and lower latency, but the device complexity, cost, and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidchipset complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the station functions into two types: full-duplex stations (with both transmitter and receiver) and receive-only stations (with receiver only). This segmentation allows the system to achieve multi-link operation for high throughput while reducing overall complexity by having some stations perform only reception functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different stations within the MLD are assigned different functional qualities based on their specific roles. Full-duplex stations handle tasks requiring bidirectional communication, while receive-only stations handle tasks requiring only reception, optimizing the system according to local functional requirements rather than uniform full-capability deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If multiple stations with full transmission and reception capabilities are used in an MLD, then the device can achieve higher throughput and lower latency, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments station functions into full-duplex and receive-only types, allowing receive-only stations to operate at significantly lower power levels compared to full-duplex stations, thereby reducing overall device power consumption while maintaining multi-link throughput capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of equipping all stations with full transmission and reception capabilities (excessive action), the patent applies partial action by providing transmission capabilities only where necessary (at full-duplex stations) while using receive-only stations for tasks requiring only reception, thus optimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If multiple stations with full transmission and reception capabilities are used in an MLD, then the device can achieve higher throughput and lower latency, but the device becomes more expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments station implementations into full-duplex and receive-only variants, allowing manufacturers to produce receive-only stations at lower cost with fewer components, thereby reducing overall device manufacturing cost while maintaining high throughput performance through the combined station architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs receive-only stations as cost-effective components that can be manufactured more economically than full-duplex stations, using cheaper hardware implementations for tasks where transmission capability is not required, thus reducing overall device cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the number of stations is increased to support more links, then the device can operate on more links simultaneously, but the chipset becomes more spacious and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of linksVSAvoidchipset spaciousness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the station functional requirements into two categories, allowing receive-only stations to be used for links where full duplex operation is not needed, thereby supporting multiple links with reduced chipset complexity and smaller form factor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Full-duplex stations serve multiple functions: they can operate as transmit-only stations, receive-only stations, or full-duplex stations depending on the operational mode required, providing versatility that reduces the need for dedicated specialized hardware for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250220700A1Multi-link device and method

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A first multi-link device comprises a first station comprising a transmitter and a receiver and being configured to communicate with a first station of a second multi-link device on a first link; a second station comprising a receiver but no transmitter and being configured to receive control information from another first station of the second multi-link device on a second link different from the first link and/or from another communication device; and circuitry configured to control the first and second stations, wherein the second station is configured to provide the received control information to the circuitry and/or the first station.