Relay Station Multi-AP Coordination for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in supporting delay-sensitive applications like augmented reality, robotics, and unmanned vehicles, due to high latency and low throughput.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a relay station (STA) in a wireless network that associates with multiple access points (APs) on the same channel, enabling relay operations between STAs and APs, and coordinating service periods to optimize communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a relay station associates with multiple access points on the same channel, then channel access efficiency and throughput are improved, but coordination complexity between access points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multi-AP coordination mechanism where a designated coordinating AP manages resource allocation and service period scheduling for multiple APs. This intermediary coordination entity resolves the complexity by centralizing control decisions, allowing relay stations to efficiently access multiple APs without each AP independently managing coordination, thus improving throughput while managing complexity through structured mediation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic service period negotiation between relay stations and multiple APs, where service periods are adjusted based on real-time channel conditions and traffic requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize throughput by allocating resources flexibly across multiple APs while the coordination mechanism adapts to changing conditions, balancing performance gains with manageable complexity.
2Loss of time
If service periods are coordinated between multiple access points, then latency is reduced for delay-sensitive applications, but the complexity of service period negotiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes service period schedules in advance through pre-negotiation between relay stations and APs before actual data transmission begins. By pre-coordinating service periods and resource allocations, the system minimizes real-time decision-making complexity while ensuring low latency performance, as the coordination framework is already in place to handle time-sensitive communications efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where relay stations and APs exchange information about channel conditions, traffic loads, and service period effectiveness. This feedback enables continuous optimization of service period coordination, reducing latency by adjusting schedules based on actual performance while managing negotiation complexity through iterative refinement rather than complex one-time coordination.
3Productivity
If multiple links enable independent channel access, then data rate and throughput increase, but system management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless communication system into multiple independent links between relay stations and APs, where each link operates semi-autonomously with its own channel access and frame exchange capabilities. This segmentation enables parallel data transmission across multiple links, increasing overall data rate while simplifying management by allowing each link to handle its own communications with minimal centralized coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay station (STA) in a wireless network, associates with a first access point (AP) on the first channel; associates with a second AP on the first channel; performs a first communication on the first channel with the first AP in a first service period; and performs a second communication on the first channel with the second AP in a second service period, wherein the first communication is a relaying operation between a first STA and the first AP and the second communication is a relaying operation between a second STA and the second AP.