Multi-Link WLAN PPDU Timing for ACK-Aligned Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless LAN standards face challenges in efficiently supporting high-throughput communication in high-density environments with multiple access points and terminals, particularly in managing simultaneous transmission and reception of frames with varying acknowledgement requirements across multiple links.
Innovation Solution
A multi-link device is employed with a transceiver and processor to manage simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple PPDUs across multiple links, aligning the end times of frames requesting acknowledgement and ensuring proper alignment based on acknowledgement policies, and using a backoff counter for channel access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple PPDUs are transmitted simultaneously across multiple links, then throughput is improved, but managing alignment of frame end times and acknowledgements increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission end time flexible rather than fixed. The device dynamically adjusts the transmission end time of PPDUs based on acknowledgment requirements - extending the transmission end time when acknowledgments are needed and allowing earlier termination when acknowledgments are not required. This dynamic adjustment enables efficient multi-link operation while managing complexity through adaptive timing control.
2Ease of operation
If frame transmission is aligned across multiple links, then acknowledgement management is simplified, but transmission efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary waiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different links based on their acknowledgment requirements. Instead of uniformly aligning all frame transmissions, the device applies alignment only to links that require acknowledgments, while allowing links without acknowledgment requirements to operate independently with optimized timing. This localized approach maintains acknowledgment management simplicity where needed while maximizing transmission efficiency elsewhere.
3Reliability
If transmission end time is extended to accommodate acknowledgments, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to extended transmission duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by extending the transmission end time only partially - specifically, only for the duration necessary to receive acknowledgments on links that require them. Links that do not require acknowledgments are not subjected to this extension. This partial application of time extension maintains reliability for acknowledgment-dependent transmissions while minimizing time loss across the overall multi-link system.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-link device using a plurality of links is disclosed. The multi-link device comprises: a transceiving unit; and a processor. When the multi-link device transmits a plurality of PPDUs simultaneously on the plurality of links using the transceiving unit, the processor determines a transmission end time of the plurality of PPDUs on the basis of whether the multi-link device transmits a frame requesting an ACK.