Multi-Link Communication Setup Based on Link Reachability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The actual communication state of a link may not conform to its enabled state due to differences in communication reachability among multiple links during multi-link setups between non-AP and AP MLDs.
Innovation Solution
A non-AP MLD initiates a multi-link setup based on communication reachability between respective STAs and APs, managing links accordingly to ensure conformity between the actual and enabled states, and an AP MLD manages setup links based on reachability to optimize the multi-link setup process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple links are set up between non-AP MLD and AP MLD, then communication capacity and flexibility are improved, but inconsistency between actual communication state and enabled state occurs due to differences in communication reachability
Solution Approach 1:
The non-AP MLD performs preliminary detection of communication reachability for each link before initiating the multi-link setup procedure. Based on the detection results, the non-AP MLD determines which links are reachable and includes this information in the association request frame, ensuring that only links with actual communication capability are established, thus preventing the inconsistency between enabled state and actual communication state
Solution Approach 2:
The non-AP MLD provides feedback information about communication reachability to the AP MLD through the association request frame. This feedback mechanism allows the AP MLD to understand which links are actually reachable and configure the multi-link setup accordingly, ensuring that the enabled state matches the actual communication state
2Productivity
If all M links are requested to be set up, then link availability is improved, but links with poor reachability may be incorrectly enabled causing communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
Before requesting link setup, the non-AP MLD performs preliminary detection of communication reachability for each of the M links. The detection results are used to determine which links should be established, and this information is included in the association request frame, ensuring that only links with actual communication capability are requested for setup
Solution Approach 2:
The non-AP MLD applies different treatment to different links based on their individual reachability characteristics. Each link is evaluated separately, and the association request frame includes specific reachability information for each link, allowing the system to optimize the setup process for each link according to its actual communication capability
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a multi-link communication method and a device. Specifically, a non-AP MLD initiates a multi-link setup between the non-AP MLD and an AP MLD according to communication reachability between a respective non-AP STA affiliated with the non-AP MLD and a respective AP affiliated with the AP MLD corresponding to each of M links to be set up; and/or a non-AP MLD manages N setup links according to communication reachability between a respective non-AP STA affiliated with the non-AP MLD and a respective AP affiliated with an AP MLD corresponding to each of the N setup links, and/or an AP MLD manages N setup links according to communication reachability between a respective AP affiliated with the AP MLD and a respective non-AP STA affiliated with a non-AP MLD corresponding to each of the N setup links.