Multi-Link Multicast Service Transmission With Unified Traffic Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The multi-link cooperation technology in IEEE 802.11ax next-generation Wi-Fi devices consumes excessive energy due to stations needing to periodically check for downlink group addressed traffic from multiple access points, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for multi-link group addressed traffic transmission that provides group addressed traffic indication information, allowing stations to efficiently determine which access points have traffic without continuous listening, reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stations periodically check for downlink group addressed traffic from multiple access points in multi-link cooperation, then traffic notification reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines group addressed traffic indication from multiple access points into a single unified indication mechanism. Instead of requiring stations to independently monitor each access point, the system merges the traffic notification function across multiple links, allowing stations to receive consolidated traffic indications and reduce monitoring frequency while maintaining reliable traffic notification.
2Measurement precision
If stations continuously listen to multiple access points for group addressed traffic, then traffic detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic traffic indication transmission where access points send group addressed traffic indications at specific intervals rather than requiring continuous station listening. This periodic action allows stations to enter low-power states between indications while still detecting traffic accurately when indications are transmitted, balancing detection accuracy with energy conservation.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application is applicable to a multi-link group addressed traffic transmission method and an apparatus. Group addressed traffic indication information sent by a first AP of an AP MLD indicates whether one AP of the AP MLD has a group addressed traffic. The AP is the first AP or another AP of the AP MLD, and a first STA of a STA MLD may learn whether the first AP or the another AP has a group addressed traffic. This improves flexibility of a group addressed traffic notification of the AP. The group addressed traffic indication information indicates whether each AP in multiple or all APs of the AP MLD has a group addressed traffic, so that the first STA can learn whether the multiple APs have a group addressed traffic. In this way, each STA of the STA MLD does not need to listen to whether each AP has a group addressed traffic. This reduces power consumption of the STA MLD. This application may be applied to a wireless local area network system that supports an IEEE 802.11ax next-generation Wi-Fi EHT protocol, for example, 802.11 series protocols such as 802.11be.