Terminal Apparatus TXOP Management for Low-Delay Wireless LAN

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Solution Overview

Problem

In IEEE 802.11be standardization, achieving low delay and high reliability wireless LAN communication is challenging due to unpredictable start times of Target Wake Time (TWT) Service Periods caused by delays and jitter from other communications, which cannot be accurately predicted using existing NAV Protection mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus and method where a terminal apparatus takes initiative to ensure Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) with priority, transmitting priority right utilization condition information to a base station, allowing or requesting priority rights for low-delay transmission, and stopping these rights if radio medium occupancy thresholds are exceeded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If NAV Protection mechanisms are used to protect TWT Service Periods, then other communications are prevented from interfering, but the start time becomes unpredictable due to delays and jitter from other communications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTWT Service Period protectionVSAvoidStart time predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal apparatus performs carrier sense and acquires TXOP immediately before the TWT Service Period starts, rather than relying on NAV Protection that allows other communications to intervene. This preliminary action ensures the terminal has exclusive transmission rights when needed, eliminating delays and jitter from other communications while maintaining reliable protection of the TWT Service Period

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using the base station-initiated NAV Protection mechanism where the base station reserves the channel and other stations wait, the invention inverts the approach by having the terminal apparatus proactively acquire TXOP through carrier sense before its TWT Service Period. This reversal gives the terminal control over its transmission timing, improving start time predictability while maintaining reliable channel protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the terminal apparatus continuously monitors and manages TXOP to ensure low-delay transmission, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveLow-delay transmission reliabilityVSAvoidTXOP management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal apparatus autonomously performs carrier sense, determines TXOP acquisition timing, and manages its own transmissions without requiring complex base station coordination for each TWT Service Period. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system by distributing intelligence to the terminal, improving reliability through local decision-making while avoiding the complexity of centralized control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240430928A1Base station apparatus, terminal apparatus, and communication method

Publication Date: 2024.12.26 SHARP KK

AI summary

A base station apparatus that communicates with a terminal apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits a radio frame, a receiver that receives a radio frame, a controller that controls transmission and reception of a radio frame, and an evaluator that checks the received radio frame, and the controller transmits, to the terminal apparatus, information to stop a priority right configured for the terminal apparatus.