Restricted TWT Schedule Advertisements with Congestion and Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies lack mechanisms for providing crucial information about restricted Target Wake Time (rTWT) schedules during the advertisement phase, such as congestion levels and delay, which are essential for STAs to make informed decisions about joining or establishing rTWT schedules.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating additional information, such as congestion level, delay, and maximum allowed STAs, into the rTWT schedule advertisement by scheduling APs to assist STAs in deciding which rTWT schedules to join or establish.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional information (congestion level, delay, maximum allowed STAs) is included in rTWT schedule advertisements, then STAs can make informed decisions about joining schedules, but the advertisement message size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision accuracy for joining rTWT schedulesVSAvoidadvertisement message complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The advertisement message is segmented into mandatory fields (basic rTWT schedule parameters) and optional information elements (congestion level, delay, maximum allowed STAs). STAs can process mandatory fields to join schedules, while optional fields provide enhanced decision-making capabilities without forcing all STAs to handle the complete extended message structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Additional information elements are extracted as separate optional components from the core rTWT advertisement message. This allows the essential schedule parameters to be advertised in a compact form while providing supplementary information (congestion level, delay, maximum allowed STAs) that STAs can selectively process based on their capabilities and needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If STAs wake up at pre-scheduled times only, then power efficiency is improved, but flexibility to respond to network conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSTA power efficiencyVSAvoidSTA responsiveness to network conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where STAs receive congestion level and delay information in rTWT advertisements, allowing them to assess current network conditions. Based on this feedback, STAs can intelligently decide whether to join existing rTWT schedules or remain in power-saving mode, adapting their behavior to actual network state rather than following rigid pre-scheduled wake times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The rTWT schedule participation becomes dynamic rather than static. STAs can adjust their wake-up behavior based on real-time network conditions indicated by congestion levels and delay metrics in advertisements. The system transitions from fixed pre-negotiated schedules to flexible conditional participation, where STAs dynamically decide schedule joining based on current network state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If rTWT schedules are established without congestion and delay information, then setup process is simpler, but network performance optimization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverTWT schedule setup simplicityVSAvoidnetwork performance optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of network conditions by including congestion level and delay information in rTWT advertisements before STAs make joining decisions. This preliminary action allows STAs to evaluate whether joining a schedule would be beneficial based on current network state, enabling performance optimization without complicating the fundamental setup process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

STAs autonomously evaluate network performance metrics (congestion level, delay, maximum allowed STAs) provided in advertisements and make independent decisions about schedule joining. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex centralized schedule assignment while still achieving performance optimization through STA-based decisions informed by network condition data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12445953B2Restricted TWT enhanced information advertisement procedure for next generation WLAN

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for enhancing advertisement of restricted target wake time (TWT) schedules by access points (APs) and improving selection of restricted TWT schedules by stations (STAs) in a wireless local area network. A wireless STA apparatus comprises a transceiver and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive, from an AP, a restricted TWT advertisement that includes a restricted TWT schedule and additional information about the restricted TWT schedule. The processor is configured to determine, based on the additional information, whether to refrain from requesting to become a member of the restricted TWT schedule.