Multi-Link AP Power-Save Signaling to Prevent Link Transmission Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transmission failures occur when an Extremely High Throughput (EHT) non-Access Point Multi-Link Device (non-AP MLD) attempts to communicate with an Access Point (AP) that is in a power saving mode, as the EHT non-AP MLD does not support the newly defined power saving mechanism.

Innovation Solution

The AP MLD generates a frame containing information indicating that the link to the power-saving AP is unavailable, allowing the non-AP MLD to avoid transmission failures by recognizing the AP's power saving state and adjusting its communication strategy accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the AP MLD uses power saving mode to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to link unavailability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of AP MLDVSAvoidtransmission reliability on power-saving link

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The AP MLD proactively sends a frame indicating link unavailability before actually entering power-saving mode on that link. This preliminary notification allows the non-AP MLD to avoid initiating transmissions that would fail, thereby maintaining transmission reliability while enabling energy-saving operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A notification frame acts as an intermediary message between the AP MLD and non-AP MLD. This frame conveys the power-saving status and link unavailability information, bridging the information gap that would otherwise cause transmission failures when the AP MLD enters power-saving mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the AP MLD enters sleep state to save energy, then power efficiency is improved, but communication availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption of affiliated APVSAvoidcommunication availability on link

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The AP MLD sends a notification frame before entering the sleep state, informing the non-AP MLD about the upcoming link unavailability. This allows the non-AP MLD to adjust its communication strategy in advance, ensuring that no transmission attempts are made during the sleep period, thus maintaining communication reliability while enabling power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification frame provides feedback to the non-AP MLD about the AP MLD's power-saving status. This feedback mechanism enables the non-AP MLD to adapt its behavior accordingly, avoiding transmissions during periods when the link will be unavailable, thereby maintaining communication availability despite the AP entering sleep state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the EHT non-AP MLD transmits on power-saving link, then data transmission continues, but transmission failures occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission continuityVSAvoidtransmission success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The AP MLD sends a notification frame in advance indicating that the link will be unavailable during power-saving periods. This allows the non-AP MLD to proactively avoid transmitting data on that link during those periods, preventing transmission failures while maintaining overall data transmission continuity through alternative links or timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification frame serves as an intermediary message that conveys the power-saving status from the AP MLD to the non-AP MLD. This intermediate information allows the non-AP MLD to make informed decisions about data transmission, avoiding failed transmissions by not attempting to send data when the link will be unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260012885A1Communication method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The method includes: An AP MLD generates a first frame. The first frame includes first information and second information, the first information indicates that a link corresponding to an affiliated first AP of the AP MLD is unavailable, and the second information indicates that the first AP is in a power saving mode. The AP MLD sends the first frame. According to this application, when the first AP is in the power saving mode, the first information indicates that the link corresponding to the first AP is unavailable, to avoid a transmission failure caused by performing transmission on the link corresponding to the first AP by a first non-AP MLD when the first AP is in the power saving mode.