NSTR Multi-Link Beacon Signaling for Low-Interference Channel Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-link devices experiencing nonsimultaneous transmit and receive (NSTR) face interference issues due to self-interference, causing missed information on one link when data is sent on another, leading to channel interference during data reception.

Innovation Solution

A communication method involving a multi-link access point device generating beacon frames with groupcast indication information to notify stations about to-be-received traffic, allowing stations to stop channel contention on non-active links, thereby reducing latency and interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the NSTR MLD sends data on one link, then the communication rate is improved, but channel interference is caused to data receiving traffic on the other link

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rateVSAvoidchannel interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point sends a beacon frame with groupcast indication information before transmitting groupcast data, allowing the station to preliminarily know about the upcoming data transmission and stop channel contention on the other link in advance, preventing self-interference before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon frame provides feedback information (groupcast indication) to the station about the access point's transmission status, enabling the station to adjust its channel access behavior accordingly and avoid causing interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the NSTR MLD performs receiving on one link, then data reception is enabled, but the device cannot perform sending on the other link due to self-interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reception accuracyVSAvoidchannel access efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The station stops channel contention on the other link before the actual data reception occurs, based on the advance notification from the beacon frame, ensuring that no transmission attempts are made that could cause self-interference during the reception period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the station performs channel contention on all links, then channel access opportunities are maximized, but latency increases due to unnecessary contention on links where data is being received

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel access opportunitiesVSAvoidchannel access latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary channel contention operations from links where data reception is occurring, based on the groupcast indication information in the beacon frame, thereby reducing wasted time and improving overall channel access efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12557140B2Communication method based on nonsimultaneous transmit and receive multi-link device, and apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A communication method, includes: a first station in a multi-link station device obtain a channel on a first link through contention, and obtain a transmit opportunity (TXOP) on the first link; and the first station ends the TXOP before target sending time of a beacon frame of a second station, wherein the first station and the second station are stations of the multi-link station device, and when the first station performs sending or receiving, the second station is not capable of performing receiving or sending.