Shared WiFi Device Coordination for Multi-AP TXOP Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for innovative signaling designs to coordinate the operations of WiFi communication devices during shared periods in multi-AP coordination systems, where access points share their transmission opportunities to ensure efficient resource allocation and medium access among non-AP stations.

Innovation Solution

A shared WiFi communication device receives frames from a sharing access point containing information about a shared time period of transmission opportunity (TXOP) and transmits confirmation and operational frames to non-AP stations, allowing them to adjust their network allocation vectors and access the wireless medium accordingly, using coordinated TDMA schemes to manage channel contention and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a sharing AP shares its TXOP time period with a shared AP in a multi-AP coordination system, then resource utilization and medium access efficiency are improved, but coordination complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidcoordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The TXOP time period is segmented into a shared period and a non-shared period, allowing the sharing AP to divide its transmission opportunity into distinct segments that can be independently allocated to different APs or stations, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining manageable coordination complexity through clear temporal boundaries

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shared period duration and timing are dynamically adjusted based on network conditions and requirements, allowing the system to adapt resource allocation in real-time while the signaling mechanism maintains coordination through flexible yet structured frame exchanges that balance efficiency and complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If non-AP stations are allowed to access the wireless medium during shared periods, then medium access efficiency is improved, but channel contention and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedium access efficiencyVSAvoidchannel contention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shared period information is preliminarily announced to non-AP stations through signaling frames before the actual shared period begins, allowing stations to prepare and adjust their channel access behavior in advance, thereby improving medium access efficiency while reducing unexpected contention and interference during the shared transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The signaling mechanism incorporates feedback elements where the shared AP confirms receipt of shared period information and non-AP stations adjust their behavior based on the announced shared period parameters, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes medium access while managing channel contention through coordinated feedback exchanges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11968712B2Shared wireless fidelity communication device for controlling operations of station during shared period that is part of time period of transmission opportunity obtained by sharing access point

Publication Date: 2024.04.23 MEDIATEK INC

AI summary

A shared wireless fidelity (WiFi) communication device receives a first frame transmitted from a sharing access point (AP), and transmits a second frame to a non-AP station (STA). The first frame at least contains information of a shared period that is allowed to be used by the shared WiFi communication device, and the shared period is a subset of a time period of transmission opportunity (TXOP) obtained by the sharing AP. The second frame at least contains the information of the shared period.