TDLS Broadcast TWT Scheduling for Peer STA Wake Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems lack a mechanism to indicate the end of a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) broadcast target wake time (TWT) schedule, leading to issues with power-saving operations between peer STAs.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism is introduced to facilitate the termination of TDLS broadcast TWT schedules by using TDLS Broadcast TWT Request and Response frames, which include information on the duration and end time of the TWT schedule, allowing peer STAs to stay awake during specified service periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peer STAs remain in awake state during broadcast TWT schedule, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic wake schedules where peer STAs alternately wake up at specific intervals to exchange frames during designated TWT service periods, then return to sleep state. This periodic wake-sleep pattern maintains communication reliability by ensuring STAs are awake when needed while minimizing power consumption by keeping them in low-power state otherwise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic state transitions for peer STAs, allowing them to switch between awake and sleep states based on the broadcast TWT schedule. STAs dynamically adjust their operational state according to the schedule received from the first STA, waking up only during designated service periods and remaining in sleep state otherwise, thus optimizing the balance between communication reliability and power consumption.
2Loss of time
If peer STAs wake up frequently to ensure communication, then latency is reduced, but power-saving efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined wake schedules and service periods in advance through the broadcast TWT mechanism. Peer STAs are notified of specific wake times and service periods beforehand, allowing them to wake up only when necessary for frame exchange. This preliminary scheduling prevents unnecessary wake-ups while ensuring STAs are ready when communication is needed, thus reducing latency without sacrificing power-saving efficiency.
3Area of stationary object
If broadcast TWT schedule duration is extended, then communication coverage is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the broadcast TWT schedule into discrete service periods with defined start and end times. Instead of maintaining continuous awake state for extended coverage, the first STA and peer STAs exchange frames during segmented service periods. This segmentation allows communication coverage to be maintained during critical periods while allowing STAs to return to sleep state afterward, thus extending effective coverage without proportionally increasing power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A first station (STA) in a wireless network comprises a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The first STA receives from an associated access point (AP), a beacon frame or a probe response frame that indicates a number of target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). The first STA transmits, to a second STA, a tunneled direct link setup (TDLS) broadcast target wake time (TWT) request frame when the first STA intends to transmit one or more frames to the second STA over a TDLS link during a TWT service period corresponding to a broadcast TWT schedule. The first STA receives, from the second STA, a TDLS broadcast TWT response frame accepting the request. The second STA is expected to be in an awake state during one or more TWT service periods corresponding to the broadcast TWT schedule until the number of TBTTs indicated by the AP.