TDMA Time Slot Allocation for Multi-AP Interference Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless local area network (WLAN) systems face challenges in efficiently managing time division multiplexing access (TDMA) intervals among multiple access points (APs) and stations (STAs), leading to interference and reduced throughput, especially in high-bandwidth environments like the proposed IEEE 802.11be standard.

Innovation Solution

A method where a sharing AP allocates specific TDMA time intervals to itself and shared APs, transmitting trigger frames and power saving duration frames to coordinate data transmission and minimize interference by ensuring non-overlapping usage of channels among APs and STAs, thereby optimizing channel utilization and power saving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple APs operate simultaneously in high-bandwidth environments, then network capacity and throughput are improved, but interference between APs increases and channel efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidinterference between APs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operating time of multiple APs into distinct TDMA intervals, where each AP is assigned specific time slots for transmission. This temporal segmentation eliminates simultaneous transmissions that cause interference, allowing multiple APs to operate in high-bandwidth environments without mutual interference, thus maintaining high network throughput while reducing harmful interference effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If TDMA time intervals are allocated to multiple APs, then interference is reduced and channel efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference reductionVSAvoidcoordination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the coordination functions into a centralized controller that manages TDMA time interval allocation for multiple APs. This consolidation of coordination responsibilities into a single entity simplifies the overall system architecture compared to distributed coordination mechanisms, reducing the complexity burden while maintaining effective interference reduction through centralized time slot management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If STAs operate continuously to maintain network responsiveness, then network responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork responsivenessVSAvoidSTA power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by assigning STAs to wake and transmit/receive data only during their allocated TDMA time intervals, then enter power-saving sleep mode during intervals when their serving AP is not transmitting. This periodic activation pattern maintains network responsiveness during active slots while dramatically reducing power consumption during sleep slots, as STAs only need to be powered on briefly for data transmission or reception events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20230164695A1TDMA transmission in multi-AP environment

Publication Date: 2023.05.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

In a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) system, a sharing AP may allocate a time interval in which each AP performs transmission/reception. STAs belonging to a BSS of each AP may operate in a power saving mode in time intervals not allocated to the BSS of the STAs.