Priority-Based TWT Frame Transmission During STA Unavailability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stations (STAs) in wireless local area networks (WLANs) are unavailable during unavailability periods, which can hinder higher-priority data transmission, emergency communications, and compliance with government access policies.
Innovation Solution
An access point (AP) establishes a target wake-up time (TWT) agreement with a station (STA), allowing priority-based frame transmission during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) that continues during unavailability periods if the frame priority meets a threshold, and ends TXOP early if the priority is below the threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a STA enters unavailability period during TWT agreement, then power saving is improved, but high-priority data transmission is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of STA availability by introducing a priority threshold that modifies the binary unavailability state. When high-priority frames arrive during unavailability period, the STA transitions from unavailable to available state, allowing selective reception based on frame priority parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the TWT unavailability period dynamic rather than static. The STA's availability status can change during the unavailability period based on incoming frame priority, allowing the system to adapt between power-saving mode and high-priority communication mode as needed.
2Productivity
If TXOP continues during unavailability period, then network efficiency is improved, but compliance with TWT agreement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality rules to different frame types within the same TXOP. High-priority frames (meeting the threshold) are transmitted during unavailability period while low-priority frames are deferred, allowing selective compliance based on frame characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a priority threshold parameter that determines whether TXOP continuation during unavailability period is permitted. This parameter change allows the system to differentiate between frame types and adjust transmission behavior accordingly.
Data Source
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AI summary
An access point station (AP) configured for operation in a wireless local area network (WLAN) may establish a target wake-up time (TWT) agreement with a non-access point station (STA). The TWT agreement may comprise an unavailability period during which the STA is unavailable. During establishment of the TWT agreement, a priority threshold may be indicated by the STA. The AP may encode frames for transmission to the STA during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) established by the AP. The TXOP may begin prior to activation of the TWT agreement. The AP may continue to send the frames during the unavailability period of the TWT agreement when the unavailability period occurs during the TXOP and when a priority of the frames meets the priority threshold. When the priority of the frames does not meet the priority threshold, the AP may end the TXOP before the unavailability period and may refrain from sending frames to the STA during the unavailability period.