Station Transmission Parameter Selection in 802.11ax MU Uplink

The patent segments the transmission process into two independent parts: the control signal (trigger frame) that is transmitted once to allocate resource units, and the actual data transmissions that occur simultaneously across multiple resource units. This segmentation allows multiple stations to transmit data in parallel without requiring separate control signals for each transmission, thereby reducing air time while maintaining high productivity.

The access point performs preliminary action by transmitting a trigger frame before the actual data transmissions. This trigger frame allocates resource units to multiple stations in advance, allowing them to prepare their data for simultaneous transmission. By performing this allocation beforehand, the system avoids repeated medium access protocols during the actual data transmission phase, reducing medium access time and latency.

The patent introduces the access point as an intermediary that manages the transmission process. Instead of stations directly competing for medium access using conventional SU scheme, the access point receives trigger frames from the controller and coordinates simultaneous transmissions to multiple stations. This intermediary role eliminates collisions by centralizing control while maintaining direct link transmission capability, thereby improving data throughput in high-density environments.

The patent segments the communication path into control signaling (through AP) and data transmission (direct between stations). The trigger frame carries scheduling information through the AP, but once allocated, stations can transmit data directly without requiring continuous AP intervention. This segmentation maintains scheduling capability while minimizing the time data spends in transit through the AP.