Shared TXOP RTS/CTS Coordination for Hidden Node Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TXOP sharing mechanisms in wireless communication systems provide insufficient protection from interference, particularly from hidden and exposed node problems due to uncoordinated APs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Ready-to-Send/Clear-to-Send (RTS/CTS) procedure coordinated among APs before data transmission in a shared TXOP, ensuring synchronized RTS/CTS message exchange to protect the shared TXOP from interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple APs share a TXOP without coordination, then channel access efficiency improves, but interference protection deteriorates due to hidden and exposed node problems
Solution Approach 1:
The RTS/CTS procedure is performed before actual data transmission in the shared TXOP. The RTS message is sent by the transmitting AP and the CTS message is sent by the receiving AP, establishing a reservation mechanism that prevents unauthorized transmissions from hidden nodes during the shared TXOP period, thus providing interference protection while maintaining channel access efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The RTS/CTS messages act as intermediary signals between the transmitting and receiving APs during TXOP sharing. These intermediary messages coordinate the transmission by informing other APs in the network about the ongoing shared TXOP, preventing interference from exposed and hidden nodes while allowing the coordinated APs to efficiently use the channel
2Reliability
If RTS/CTS procedure is performed by each AP independently in shared TXOP, then interference protection improves, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RTS/CTS procedures of multiple APs sharing the TXOP are merged into a coordinated sequence. Instead of each AP independently performing RTS/CTS exchanges, the transmitting AP initiates the RTS, and the receiving AP responds with CTS, with other participating APs synchronized to this coordinated exchange, reducing overall coordination complexity while maintaining interference protection
Solution Approach 2:
The CTS message serves as feedback from the receiving AP to the transmitting AP, confirming the reservation of the channel for the shared TXOP. This feedback mechanism allows all participating APs to synchronize their transmissions and understand the channel status, providing interference protection through a relatively simple feedback-based coordination protocol
Data Source
AI summary
An access point of a wireless communication system configures a carrier for communication with one or more wireless devices associated with the access point. Further, the access point contends at least with one or more other access points for access to the carrier. Further, the access point cooperates with the one or more further access points by sharing a transmission opportunity, TXOP. The TXOP is reserved on the carrier by one of the access points, in response to this access point gaining access to the carrier. Before transmitting data in the shared TXOP, the access point performs a Ready-to-Send/Clear-to-Send, RTS/CTS, procedure. Further, the access point coordinates the RTS/CTS procedure with an RTS/CTS procedure respectively performed by each of the one or more other access points sharing the TXOP.