Multilink Wi-Fi Traffic Scheduling with TWT-Based TID Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless LAN standards face challenges in efficiently managing traffic transmission in high-density environments with high-frequency efficiency and reduced latency, particularly in supporting multimedia applications like high-definition video and real-time games, requiring improved methods for managing transmission rates and channel access.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication method and terminal that utilize multiple links and employ a Target Wake Time (TWT) mechanism to manage traffic transmission by allowing specific traffic identifiers within defined periods, restricting others, and aggregating remaining traffic, while using enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) to optimize channel access procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wireless communication terminal uses a single link for communication, then the device complexity is low, but the communication reliability deteriorates when the link is blocked or experiences poor channel conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication path into multiple independent links (first link and second link) between the terminal and access points. When one link is blocked or experiences poor conditions, the terminal can switch to or aggregate traffic through the other link, thereby improving communication reliability without requiring complex multi-radio infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a wireless communication terminal aggregates multiple links, then the communication reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic link management where the terminal can flexibly switch between single-link and multi-link aggregation modes based on real-time channel conditions. The system dynamically selects which links to use and how to aggregate them, optimizing reliability while controlling complexity through adaptive rather than static multi-link configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a wireless communication terminal uses higher layer protocols for link aggregation, then the communication reliability improves, but the processing overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a link aggregation manager as an intermediary layer that handles the complexity of multi-link aggregation. This manager consolidates MAC layer functionalities and coordinates link selection, aggregation, and switching, thereby reducing the processing overhead on individual links and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4387369B1Wireless communication method using multilink and wireless communication terminal using same
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 WILUS INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS & TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4387369B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4387369B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4387369B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a traffic transmission method and device, the method being performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system. Specifically, a non-access point (AP) STA of the present invention can receive, from an AP, a trigger frame triggering the transmission of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU). The trigger frame includes information indicating at least one traffic identifier (TID) that is allowed to be transmitted in a target wake time (TWT) period. The TWT period may indicate a period in which the transmission of traffic for the at least one TID having a specific transmission condition is allowed, and the transmission of traffic not having the specific transmission condition is restricted. Thereafter, the non-AP STA transmits a PPDU, including the traffic corresponding to the at least one TID, to the AP within the TWT period.