Multi-Link TWT Scheduling Across WLAN Links for Reliable Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless LAN standards face challenges in supporting high-throughput and reliable communication in high-density environments, particularly with the limitations of IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11ad, and the need for improved transmission rates in new multimedia applications.
Innovation Solution
A multi-link device and method utilizing a transceiver and processor to manage Target Wake Time (TWT) agreements across multiple links, enabling efficient communication by requesting, maintaining, and tearing down TWT agreements between stations and access points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple TWT agreements are established on multiple links to support high-density wireless LAN environments, then communication efficiency and reliability are improved, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments TWT agreement management by link, allowing each link to independently establish and manage its own TWT agreements. This segmentation enables parallel management of multiple links without mutual interference, improving communication reliability in high-density environments while maintaining manageable complexity through modular link-level control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a multi-dimensional approach by establishing TWT agreements across multiple frequency links (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz bands). This dimensional expansion from single-link to multi-link operation enables diversified communication paths, enhancing reliability through spatial and spectral diversity while distributing management load across independent links
2Productivity
If TWT agreements are established across multiple links for high-throughput communication, then data transmission speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic TWT (Target Wake Time) agreements on multiple links, where stations wake up at scheduled intervals to transmit data and then return to sleep mode. This periodic operation enables high-throughput communication during active periods while significantly reducing energy consumption during idle periods, as devices can sleep between TWT intervals rather than continuously monitoring all links
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple TWT agreements across different frequency links into a coordinated multi-link operation. By merging TWT schedules across links, the system achieves high throughput through parallel data transmission on multiple active links while managing energy consumption by synchronizing sleep-wake cycles, allowing devices to efficiently utilize available links without continuous operation on all links
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a multi-link device comprising multiple stations operating in multiple links, respectively. The multi-link operation device comprises: a transceiver; and a processor. The processor transmits a target wake time (TWT) element from a first station which is one of the multiple stations and is coupled to a first AP in a first link, so as to request a TWT agreement with a second station operating in a second link, for a second AP coupled to the second station.