Triggered TXOP Sharing for Coordinated Wake Time Termination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in managing power consumption and contention among stations (STAs) within a Basic Service Set (BSS) due to the lack of effective mechanisms for coordinated wake times, leading to suboptimal energy usage and increased interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Triggered TXOP Sharing (TXS) mechanism that allows for coordinated wake times and transmission opportunities among STAs, enabling efficient power management and reduced contention through the use of TWT elements and trigger frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If stations wake up at different times without coordination, then each station can independently manage its wake schedule, but power consumption increases and contention occurs due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Target Wake Time (TWT) mechanisms that schedule stations to wake up at periodic, coordinated intervals rather than continuously or randomly. This periodic scheduling allows stations to enter sleep mode during non-wake periods, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining network functionality through structured wake-sleep cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses trigger frames and TWT negotiation protocols to pre-coordinate wake times and transmission opportunities before stations actually wake up. This preliminary coordination establishes scheduled access patterns in advance, allowing stations to efficiently manage their wake schedules without continuous monitoring, thereby reducing power consumption while avoiding contention through pre-planned access patterns
2Productivity
If stations transmit without coordinated wake times, then transmission opportunities are available immediately, but contention and interference increase among stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Trigger Frames that periodically solicit uplink transmissions from multiple stations at predetermined times. This periodic trigger mechanism coordinates when stations should transmit, ensuring that multiple stations wake up and transmit simultaneously only when triggered by the AP, thereby eliminating contention while maintaining high transmission efficiency through structured periodic access patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the Access Point (AP) as an intermediary that mediates between multiple stations using Trigger Frames. The AP sends trigger frames to coordinate uplink transmissions, acting as a central controller that schedules when each station should transmit. This intermediary mechanism eliminates direct contention between stations while maintaining efficient throughput by orchestrating coordinated multi-user transmissions
3Device complexity
If TXOP is allocated for a fixed duration, then time management is simplified, but remaining time cannot be utilized if transmissions complete early
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic TXOP termination mechanisms where the AP can send CF-End frames to prematurely terminate a TXOP if transmissions complete before the allocated time expires. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt the actual TXOP duration based on real-time transmission completion status, enabling other stations to access the channel sooner and improving overall channel utilization while maintaining relatively simple time management through standardized CF-End signaling
Data Source
AI summary
A station (STA) receives, from an access point (AP), a first frame indicating a first time period of a transmission opportunity (TXOP); and a triggered TXOP sharing (TXS) mode. The STA transmits, to the AP or to a peer STA, based on the TXS mode, a second frame during the first time period. The STA transmits, to the AP, during the first time period, a third frame indicating termination of the first time period.