Multi-Link Association ID Allocation for Non-Collocated AP MLDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing non-access point multi-link devices (non-AP MLDs) accessing non-collocated access point multi-link devices (AP MLDs) involves identifying and allocating unique association identifiers to avoid repetition.
Innovation Solution
Non-AP MLDs send request messages to collocated AP MLDs to establish links, receiving unique association identifiers allocated by the AP MLDs, using existing multi-link reconfiguration or association request messages to minimize protocol changes and reduce signaling overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If association identifiers are allocated independently by each collocated AP MLD, then local management simplicity is improved, but identifier repetition occurs across different collocated AP MLDs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the identifier allocation responsibility by introducing a master AP MLD that coordinates identifier assignment across multiple collocated AP MLDs. Each collocated AP MLD maintains local management simplicity while the master AP MLD ensures global identifier uniqueness through centralized coordination of association identifier allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The master AP MLD acts as an intermediary between non-AP MLDs and collocated AP MLDs. It receives association requests, allocates unique association identifiers, and distributes them to appropriate collocated AP MLDs, thereby ensuring identifier uniqueness across the entire non-collocated AP MLD system while maintaining local management simplicity at each AP MLD.
2Measurement precision
If new protocol messages are created for association identifier allocation, then identifier management precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing association request and response messages universal by enabling them to carry association identifier allocation information. These existing messages are enhanced to include fields for master AP MLD identification and association identifier allocation, eliminating the need for new dedicated protocol messages while maintaining precise identifier management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies existing protocol message parameters by adding new information elements to carry association identifier allocation data. Instead of creating new message types, the solution changes the parameter structure of existing messages to include master AP MLD identifier and association identifier fields, thereby achieving precise identifier management without increasing signaling overhead through new message protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a communication method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system. In the method, when a non-access point multi-link device establishes a connection to a collocated access point multi-link device in a non-collocated access point multi-link device, the collocated access point multi-link device that is requested to establish the connection allocates an association identifier to the non-access point multi-link device, and the allocated association identifier has not been allocated by the collocated access point multi-link device before. This can avoid repetition of association identifiers of different non-access point multi-link devices accessed by a same collocated access point multi-link device, thereby implementing proper management of the non-access point multi-link devices.