TXOP Sharing Group Coordination for Low-Latency Wi-Fi Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing TXOP sharing procedures in communication networks, such as those defined by IEEE 802.11be, do not effectively facilitate sharing between access points (APs) with low latency stations (LL-STAs) or among LL-STAs, leading to inefficiencies in handling uplink and downlink low latency traffic.
Innovation Solution
The concept of a TXOP sharing group is introduced, where network devices and terminal devices can form groups to efficiently share transmission opportunities (TXOPs) by exchanging announcement, request, and response messages to manage TXOP sharing among network devices and between network devices and terminal devices with low latency traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing TXOP sharing procedures are used, then transmission opportunity sharing is enabled, but sharing between access points with low latency stations or among low latency stations is not effectively facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TXOP sharing mechanism by introducing a TXOP sharing group concept that specifically handles low latency traffic scenarios. This segmentation allows differentiated treatment of regular traffic and low latency traffic, enabling effective sharing between access points with low latency stations or among low latency stations themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a TXOP coordinator as an intermediary entity within the TXOP sharing group. This coordinator manages the TXOP sharing process, receives requests from low latency stations, and coordinates with the access point holding the TXOP, thereby facilitating reliable low latency traffic handling through a dedicated mediation mechanism.
2Productivity
If TXOP sharing is implemented without a TXOP sharing group, then transmission opportunities can be shared, but transmission efficiency for low latency traffic is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes TXOP sharing groups in advance, pre-configuring the members and the coordinator before low latency traffic needs to be transmitted. This preliminary organization enables immediate and efficient TXOP sharing when low latency traffic arises, avoiding the time loss that would occur from ad-hoc coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where low latency stations can send requests to the TXOP coordinator, and the coordinator can request TXOP from the holding access point. This structured feedback loop ensures that transmission efficiency is maintained by providing clear communication channels and rapid response mechanisms for low latency traffic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex message exchange procedures are used for TXOP sharing, then sharing can be managed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex TXOP sharing management functionality into a dedicated TXOP coordinator entity. This separation removes the burden of complex message exchange from individual access points and low latency stations, concentrating the complexity in a specialized component that handles only TXOP coordination tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The TXOP coordinator serves multiple functions: it receives requests from low latency stations, manages TXOP requests to holding access points, coordinates the sharing process, and handles group management. This multi-functionality consolidates various complex operations into a single entity, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and medium for transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing group. In an aspect, a network device transmits, to at least one second network device, a first announcement message notifying that a transmission opportunity, TXOP, of the network device can be shared. The network device and the at least one second network device are within one TXOP sharing group. The network device receives, from the at least one second network device, at least one first request message requesting to share the TXOP. The network device transmits, to the at least one second network device, at least one first response message granting or rejecting to share the TXOP. By implementing the embodiments of the present disclosure, a sharing network device could efficiently know with which other network device(s) it could share the TXOP based on the TXOP sharing group, thus improves transmission efficiency.