Wireless Preemption Sessions for Low-Latency TXOP and PPDU Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The IEEE 802.11 protocol fails to meet the low-latency requirements of services in applications like virtual reality, augmented reality, and industrial IoT due to its inadequate low-latency communication mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a preemption transmission mode between communication devices to prioritize low-latency service data packets, including PPDU-level and TXOP-level transmission modes, and disabling device power save functions during specified periods to ensure low-latency data delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the IEEE 802.11 protocol is used for communication, then communication compatibility and standardization are improved, but low-latency service requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication compatibilityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission modes where communication devices can switch between conventional transmission and preemption transmission based on service requirements. The system dynamically adjusts transmission priorities, allowing low-latency services to preempt ongoing transmissions when needed, while maintaining standard IEEE 802.11 operation for other services. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the protocol flexible enough to meet both compatibility and low-latency requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key transmission parameters including priority levels, transmission opportunities (TXOP), and physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) structures to support preemption. By modifying these parameters, the system enables low-latency services to override conventional transmission schedules, reducing latency while maintaining compatibility with standard IEEE 802.11 devices through controlled parameter adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If preemption transmission mode is implemented to prioritize low-latency data packets, then communication efficiency for low-latency services is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments transmission opportunities into different priority levels, with high-priority low-latency services able to preempt lower-priority transmissions. The system divides transmission control into distinct layers including MAC layer preemption logic and physical layer implementation, allowing complex preemption functionality to be managed through modular segmentation rather than monolithic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes preemption rules and priority configurations in advance through setup phases where devices negotiate and agree on preemption parameters before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary configuration reduces runtime complexity by pre-determining preemption behavior, allowing devices to automatically apply established rules without complex real-time decision-making during transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If device power save function is disabled during specified periods to ensure low-latency data delivery, then packet loss is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delivery reliabilityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic power save cycles where devices alternate between sleep mode and active listening states. During low-latency service periods, devices transition to active states to ensure timely packet reception, while during non-critical periods, they return to power save mode. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by confining high energy consumption to only those times when reliable packet delivery is critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-configures power save schedules and low-latency service windows in advance, allowing devices to know beforehand when they need to remain active versus when they can enter power save mode. This preliminary planning optimizes the balance between energy consumption and packet delivery reliability by ensuring devices are awake and ready to receive packets during critical low-latency periods while maximizing power savings during non-critical intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4669002A1Communication method, communication device, communication system, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4669002A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4669002A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4669002A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and discloses a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. This application is applied to a wireless local area network system that supports a next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax, for example, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, or for another example, a next generation of 802.11be, such as an 802.11 series protocol like Wi-Fi 8, UHR, or Wi-Fi AI, and may be further applied to an ultra-wideband UWB-based wireless personal area network system and a sensing (sensing) system. In this application, a first communication device establishes a preemption session with a second communication device. During the preemption session, the first communication device and the second communication device may preferentially transmit a data packet of a low-latency service in a preemption transmission mode, to improve communication effect of the low-latency service.