Updating TWT Agreements via New Parameter Fields

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current Target Wake Time (TWT) agreement mechanisms in wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently updating TWT parameters, leading to potential synchronization issues between Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Service Periods (SPs) and timeslots, especially when there are clock differences between devices, causing TWT SPs to become non-overlapping.

Innovation Solution

A method for updating TWT agreements that allows for modifying TWT parameters, such as start times and intervals, using a TWT information frame with a new-TWT-parameters field, enabling devices to adjust TWT SPs without repeating Channel Usage Request and Response frames, and supporting synchronization between P2P TWT SPs and timeslots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TWT parameters are updated using existing mechanisms, then communication protocols can be maintained, but synchronization issues occur between P2P Service Periods and timeslots due to clock differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization between TWT SPs and timeslotsVSAvoidcomplexity of TWT update mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the TWT information frame structure by adding a new-TWT-parameters field that can carry updated TWT parameters. This allows dynamic adjustment of TWT start times, intervals, and other parameters to maintain synchronization between P2P Service Periods and timeslots, directly resolving the synchronization issue while keeping the update mechanism straightforward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the TWT parameter update process into distinct components: the existing TWT information frame structure is preserved, and a separate new-TWT-parameters field is added. This segmentation allows the update mechanism to operate independently without disrupting existing TWT functionality, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If Channel Usage Request and Response frames are repeated for updates, then complete negotiation can occur, but communication efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiency during TWT updatesVSAvoidcompleteness of TWT parameter negotiation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential TWT parameter update functionality from the complete Channel Usage Request and Response frame exchange. By allowing direct modification of TWT parameters through the new-TWT-parameters field in TWT information frames, the patent eliminates the need for repeated full negotiation sequences, thereby improving communication efficiency while maintaining the essential negotiation outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary TWT parameter negotiation during the initial TWT setup phase, establishing a foundation that allows subsequent updates to be made through simpler mechanisms. The new-TWT-parameters field builds upon this preliminary agreement, enabling efficient updates without requiring complete re-negotiation of all TWT parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If TWT agreements are updated frequently to maintain synchronization, then overlap between TWT SPs and timeslots is maintained, but overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintainment of TWT SP overlap with timeslotsVSAvoidtime overhead for TWT update operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where devices monitor the overlap between TWT Service Periods and timeslots, and only initiate updates when synchronization drift is detected. The new-TWT-parameters field carries corrected parameters based on this feedback, allowing updates to occur only when necessary, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing update overhead and time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230276357A1Apparatus, system, and method of updating a target wake time (TWT) agreement

Publication Date: 2023.08.31 INTEL CORP

AI summary

For example, a first station (STA) may be configured to set up a Target Wake Time (TWT) agreement with a second STA, the TWT agreement to define a plurality of TWT Service Periods (SPs) for the first STA according to a first setting of one or more TWT SP parameters; and to select to transmit a frame to the second STA after setting up the TWT agreement, the frame including one or more TWT parameter fields configured to update a definition of one or more TWT SPs of the plurality of TWT SPs according to a second setting of the one or more TWT SP parameters, wherein the second setting of the one or more TWT SP parameters is different from the first setting of the one or more TWT SP parameters.