TXOP Sharing Group for Low-Latency Wi-Fi Traffic Coordination

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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

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing TXOP sharing procedures are used, then basic TXOP sharing is supported, but sharing between access points with low latency stations or among low latency stations is not effectively facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTXOP sharing capabilityVSAvoidlow latency traffic handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication network into TXOP sharing groups, where each group contains access points and low latency stations that can share TXOPs. This segmentation allows targeted TXOP sharing among specific devices that require low latency performance, while maintaining existing procedures for other devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a TXOP sharing group as an intermediary structure that mediates TXOP sharing between access points and low latency stations. The group membership information acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables devices to identify and share TXOPs with appropriate partners, resolving the issue of ineffective sharing in existing procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If TXOP sharing is extended to include low latency stations, then transmission efficiency for low latency traffic improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidTXOP sharing management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by establishing TXOP sharing groups in advance, where access points exchange group membership information before actual TXOP sharing occurs. This preliminary setup simplifies the subsequent TXOP sharing process, as devices already know which partners they can share with, reducing real-time decision complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic TXOP sharing within groups, where the sharing relationships can be established and modified based on traffic requirements. The system dynamically adapts to low latency traffic needs while maintaining structured group management, balancing flexibility with organizational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4651612A1Transmission opportunity sharing group
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4651612A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4651612A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4651612A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

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.