Power Control Signaling in High-Density WLANs
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density environments in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) lead to inefficiencies due to increased contention for wireless channels, resulting in reduced channel utilization and difficulty in accessing the channel, especially with existing media access control schemes like EDCA.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for transmit power control that involves signaling a reference target UL receive power and individual adjustments to all stations, reducing signaling overhead by using a combination of Common Information and Per User Information fields in trigger frames, allowing stations to determine their transmission power levels efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional EDCA based media access control scheme is used in high-density WLAN environments, then the system maintains compatibility with existing standards, but channel utilization efficiency deteriorates due to increased contention and difficulty in accessing the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of media access control from contention-based EDCA to scheduled uplink access. The AP assigns specific time-frequency resources to stations, transforming the access mechanism from random contention to deterministic scheduling, thereby improving channel utilization in high-density environments while maintaining IEEE 802.11 compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where the AP continuously adjusts uplink transmit power levels and resource assignments based on current network conditions, station locations, and traffic demands. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance in real-time while handling high station densities effectively
2Measurement precision
If individual target receive power levels are signaled to each station separately, then power control precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power control information into two parts: a common reference power level broadcast to all stations, and individual power adjustments signaled specifically to each station. This segmentation allows precise power control for each station while minimizing overall signaling overhead by sharing the common reference information
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of signaling complete power levels to all stations, the patent signals only the necessary adjustments from a common reference point. This partial action approach reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the precision needed for individual station power control by transmitting only the differential information
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communications system includes an access point (AP) and multiple stations. The AP transmits a reference indicator indicating a target receive power reference of the AP and an adjustment indicator indicating an adjustment to the target receive power reference for a station. When the station receives the reference indicator and the adjustment indicator, the stations determines a transmission power level in accordance with the target receive power reference and the adjustment to the target receive power reference. The stations transmits a packet at the transmission power level to the AP. Reduction in signaling overhead is achieved.