Uplink Multi-User Parameter Control in Dense WLANs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless networks face challenges in efficiently managing uplink resource allocation for simultaneous transmissions in high-density environments, particularly due to limitations in directing bandwidth allocation based on network characteristics, leading to potential collisions and reduced bandwidth utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for an access point to dynamically set and manage uplink multi-user parameters, such as per-station traffic identifier limits and transmission formats, using trigger frames and resource allocation information to optimize simultaneous uplink transmissions and reduce collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional CSMA-CA protocol is used for medium access, then devices can operate autonomously with simple contention-based mechanisms, but bandwidth utilization is inefficient and collisions occur in high-density environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidtransmission collision rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The access point acts as an intermediary that coordinates uplink transmissions from multiple stations. Instead of stations contending directly with each other (CSMA-CA), the access point receives feedback information from stations and sends trigger frames to schedule their transmissions, thereby mediating the access process and eliminating collisions while improving bandwidth utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on network conditions. The access point receives feedback information containing channel quality indicators from stations and dynamically schedules uplink transmissions accordingly, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and optimize performance in high-density environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If OFDMA sub-channel allocation is implemented, then bandwidth can be divided into finer granularities for better resource management, but organizing and directing allocation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidallocation organization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Stations autonomously determine their preferred sub-channels based on their characteristics and channel conditions, then report this information as feedback to the access point. The access point uses this pre-organized information from stations to simplify the allocation process, reducing the complexity of organizing sub-channel assignments while maintaining efficient resource utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Stations perform preliminary actions by autonomously evaluating channel conditions and determining preferred sub-channels before transmission. This preliminary organization of allocation preferences is reported to the access point, which then uses this pre-computed information to simplify the final allocation decision, reducing the complexity of real-time allocation organization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple stations transmit simultaneously in uplink, then bandwidth utilization improves through parallel transmissions, but transmission duration variability increases causing QoS issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidtransmission duration variability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Stations send feedback information to the access point containing their channel quality indicators and transmission requirements. The access point uses this feedback to schedule uplink transmissions in a manner that equalizes transmission durations across different stations, thereby maintaining QoS guarantees while still enabling parallel transmissions to improve bandwidth utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The access point adjusts transmission parameters such as modulation and coding schemes for different stations based on their channel conditions and QoS requirements. By changing these parameters, the system can equalize transmission durations across stations with different data rates, reducing variability while maintaining high bandwidth utilization through parallel transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10056952B2Method of controlling uplink multiple user transmissions in densely deployed wireless local area networks

Publication Date: 2018.08.21 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Densely populated wireless local area networks (WLANs) can encounter issues with processing multiple user (MU) uplink (UL) transmissions sent from many stations (STAs) simultaneously. The access points (AP) or master stations in these densely populated WLANs must manage the UL MU transmissions. To accomplish the management of the UL MU transmissions, a system for dynamically setting UL MU parameters is provided that can modify or set one or more parameters that govern how each STA is to transmit data to the AP. The parameters may be sent to one or more of the STAs in one or more transmissions and may direct how the STAs are to transmit data for at least some portion of time.