Relay Station Timing Coordination for Extended Wireless Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in extending the communication range of access points to computing devices located outside their direct range, particularly in relay operations where uplink traffic from a station to an access point is hindered due to the station being outside the access point's communication range.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an access point sending a first frame with timing information to a computing device, which operates as a relay. This frame includes a first time period associated with the relay device, a second time period associated with the station outside the access point's range, and an indication for the relay device to send a second frame to the station. The relay device then sends the second frame to the station, allowing it to communicate with the access point during the designated second time period, thereby extending the communication range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay operations are used to extend communication range, then coverage area is improved, but uplink traffic from stations outside direct range to access point is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay station as an intermediary device that receives downlink frames from the access point and forwards them to stations outside direct range. The relay station also receives uplink frames from these stations and forwards them back to the access point, effectively mediating communication between entities that cannot directly communicate.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication path is segmented into multiple hops: access point to relay station, relay station to external station, and vice versa. This segmentation allows the system to extend coverage beyond the access point's direct range while maintaining reliable uplink transmission through the relay station's coordinated forwarding of frames.
2Ease of operation
If timing information is provided to relay device, then communication coordination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access point provides timing information to the relay station in advance within the downlink frame, specifying when the relay station should forward frames to external stations and when it should receive uplink frames. This preliminary timing coordination simplifies the relay station's operation by providing a clear schedule, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the access point receives acknowledgments from relay stations about frame forwarding status and timing compliance. This feedback loop allows the access point to adjust timing information and coordinate more effectively with relay stations, improving overall communication coordination while managing device complexity through iterative optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
An access point may communicate with computing devices, such as stations. Timing information may be provided to a first computing device by the access point to inform when the first computing device may communicate with a second computing device. Using the timing information, the second computing device may communicate, via the first computing device, with the access point.