Multi-Link TWT Negotiation via MAC Header Indication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Target Wake Time (TWT) protocols face challenges in multi-link system implementations, particularly in efficiently negotiating wake times across multiple links, leading to inefficiencies and compatibility issues with existing IEEE 802.11 systems.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves modifying the TWT protocol to include a multi-link indication in the MAC header, using fields such as the Individual TWT Parameter Set or Broadcast TWT Parameter Set to specify which links are involved in the TWT agreement, allowing for efficient negotiation and management of wake times across multiple links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the current per-link TWT protocol is used in multi-link systems, then each link can independently negotiate TWT agreements, but the complexity of managing multiple MAC addresses and TWT agreements across links increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-link TWT negotiation capabilityVSAvoidTWT agreement management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple per-link TWT agreements into a single multi-link TWT agreement. Instead of managing separate TWT negotiations for each link with multiple MAC addresses, the system establishes one unified TWT agreement that covers all links, reducing management complexity while maintaining multi-link functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal TWT agreement structure that functions across multiple links simultaneously. The single TWT agreement serves all links in the multi-link system, providing a multi-functional solution that eliminates the need for link-specific TWT management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple TWT agreements are negotiated across multiple links, then more MAC addresses are involved in the negotiation, but uniquely identifying and tracking each TWT agreement becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTWT negotiation efficiencyVSAvoidTWT agreement identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the link-specific MAC address information from the TWT agreement identification process. By removing the need to track individual link MAC addresses for each TWT agreement, the system simplifies identification to a single multi-link TWT agreement, preventing information loss in tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of identifying TWT agreements by individual link parameters (MAC addresses per link), the patent inverts the approach by using a single unified identification method that represents the entire multi-link TWT agreement, making tracking and identification more reliable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11382035B2Target wake time negotiation in a multi-link wireless LAN system

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 NXP USA INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure involve negotiating a TWT agreement by communicating which links, of a multi-link system as may be used in WiFi communications, are to be used for negotiating the TWT agreement. This communication may be accomplished, for example, by using fields of the MAC header, individual TWT parameter set, or broadcast TWT parameter set.