Uplink Resource Allocation via Buffer Status Reporting in Wireless LAN

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless LAN systems face inefficiencies in managing uplink transmission resources due to lack of buffer status information, leading to suboptimal allocation and reduced network performance, especially in dense and heterogeneous environments.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that allocate uplink transmission resources based on buffer status information, using block ACK frames and other uplink frames to report and manage buffer status, enabling more efficient resource allocation among multiple STAs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If uplink transmission resources are allocated without buffer status information, then resource allocation can be performed, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to suboptimal allocation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidbuffer status information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having stations report their buffer status information to the access point before the actual resource allocation decision is made. This is achieved through buffer status report frames that are transmitted in advance, allowing the access point to have advance knowledge of which stations need uplink transmission resources, thereby enabling optimized resource allocation without the information loss that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If buffer status report frames are transmitted separately, then buffer status information can be conveyed, but frame overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffer status information transmissionVSAvoidframe overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the buffer status report information with existing uplink frames that stations must transmit anyway. Instead of creating separate dedicated buffer status report frames, the buffer status information is embedded within regular uplink data frames or acknowledgment frames, thereby conveying the necessary information while avoiding the overhead of additional separate transmission frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If resource allocation is performed without accurate buffer status, then allocation can proceed, but network performance deteriorates in dense environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performanceVSAvoidbuffer status accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing a mechanism where stations continuously report their buffer status information to the access point, which then uses this feedback to dynamically adjust resource allocation decisions. The access point receives buffer status reports from multiple stations and uses this real-time feedback information to make informed allocation decisions, ensuring that resources are allocated to stations that actually need them, thereby maintaining high network performance in dense environments where resource contention is high.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3209078B1Method and device for allocating uplink transmission resource on basis of buffer status information in wireless LAN
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3209078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3209078B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3209078B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and device for allocating uplink transmission resources on the basis of buffer status information in a wireless LAN. The method for allocating uplink transmission resources on the basis of buffer status information in a wireless LAN comprises: a step for transmitting, by an AP, a downlink frame containing buffer status report request information to multiple STAs; a step for receiving, by the AP, a plurality of uplink frames on superposed time resources from the multiple STAs, wherein the plurality of uplink frames contain a plurality of pieces of buffer status information of the multiple STAs that are generated on the basis of the buffer status report request information; and a step for determining, by the AP, uplink transmission resources to be allocated to the multiple STAs on the basis of the plurality of pieces of buffer status information.