Shared AP Selection via Link Quality Feedback in Multi-AP WLAN

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) systems face challenges in efficiently selecting an optimal shared access point (AP) for multi-AP transmission, considering both station (STA) and AP positions.

Innovation Solution

A method where a sharing AP receives basic service set (BSS) information from neighboring APs and link quality information from STAs to select the optimal shared AP based on capability information and link quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a sharing AP selects a shared AP based only on BSS information from neighboring APs, then the selection process is simple, but the optimality of the selected shared AP is reduced because STA position is not considered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of shared AP selection processVSAvoidoptimality of shared AP selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sharing AP receives link quality information from the STA as feedback about the actual communication conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the sharing AP to adjust its shared AP selection based on real-world performance data, thereby improving selection optimality while maintaining a relatively simple selection process by combining BSS information with link quality feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If a sharing AP receives and processes link quality information from STAs to select the optimal shared AP, then the optimality of selection is improved, but the complexity of the selection process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimality of shared AP selectionVSAvoidcomplexity of shared AP selection process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shared AP selection process is segmented into two independent information sources: BSS information from neighboring APs and link quality information from STAs. The sharing AP independently receives and processes these two types of information separately, then combines them for the final selection decision. This segmentation reduces the overall complexity by breaking down the complex selection process into manageable, independent components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If multi-AP transmission uses a traditional single-AP selection method, then the system complexity is low, but the transmission efficiency is reduced due to inability to consider both STA and AP positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidmulti-AP transmission efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the selection parameters from considering only BSS information to considering both BSS information and link quality information. By introducing link quality as an additional parameter, the system enables more informed shared AP selection that accounts for both AP positions (from BSS info) and STA positions (from link quality measurements), thereby improving multi-AP transmission efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12302213B2Shared AP selection in multi-AP system

Publication Date: 2025.05.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

In a wireless local area network (LAN) system, a sharing access point (AP): receives, from a first AP, basic service set (BSS) information of the first AP; receives, from a second AP, BSS information of the second AP; receives, from a station (STA), a link report signal including link quality information about the link between the first AP and the STA and link quality information about the link between the second AP and the STA; and selects the first AP as a shared AP on the basis of first and second capability information and the link quality information.