Uplink Packet Triggering in Wireless LANs

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless local area networks (WLANs), the efficient use of resources is hindered by the need for multiple devices to share bandwidth, with newer and legacy devices operating under different protocols, leading to inefficiencies in communication and response times.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where a master station uses trigger frames to manage uplink transmissions for high-efficiency (HE) stations and legacy devices, employing orthogonal frequency division multiple-access (OFDMA) and multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) techniques to allocate resources and schedule transmissions, ensuring that HE stations can communicate non-contentionally while legacy devices defer, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple devices share the same wireless resources using traditional protocols, then device compatibility is improved, but bandwidth utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidbandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wireless network into two distinct groups: HE stations and legacy stations. Each group operates under different protocol rules within the same network, allowing simultaneous optimization for both compatibility and efficiency. The AP manages these segments separately through targeted trigger frames and resource unit allocations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality of service parameters are applied locally to different station types. HE stations receive optimized parameters including shorter interframe spaces, different modulation and coding schemes, and prioritized resource allocations, while legacy stations operate with traditional parameters. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each group to operate at its optimal performance level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If legacy devices operate with traditional protocols, then protocol compatibility is improved, but response time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The AP sends trigger frames in advance that preemptively schedule resource allocations for HE stations. This preliminary action allows HE stations to prepare and transmit data without waiting for traditional contention procedures, significantly reducing response time while legacy devices continue their slower traditional operations without affecting the scheduled HE transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic trigger frames that create structured transmission opportunities for HE stations at regular intervals. This periodic scheduling ensures that HE stations can efficiently utilize the medium during designated time slots, while legacy devices operate in the intervals between these structured opportunities, maintaining compatibility without permanently blocking fast responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If HE stations use non-contention-based transmission, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidprotocol management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The AP acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of non-contention-based transmissions. Instead of requiring each HE station to independently manage complex scheduling and coordination, the AP centralizes this function by sending trigger frames that contain all necessary resource allocation information. This intermediary approach enables high-productivity non-contention transmissions while keeping individual station complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

HE stations are designed with self-service capabilities to interpret and act on trigger frames autonomously. Each station can independently decode resource unit assignments, determine transmission parameters, and execute transmissions without continuous AP intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces the perceived complexity at the station level while maintaining the productivity benefits of non-contention-based access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10135563B2Triggering of an uplink pair of packets in a wireless local area network

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and computer readable media for triggering of an uplink pair of packets in a wireless local area network. An apparatus is disclosed including processing circuitry configured to: encode a trigger frame, the trigger frame identifying stations, uplink (UL) resource unit (RUs), first modulation and coding schemes (MCSs) for a first multi-user (MU) UL transmission, and second MCSs for a second MU UL transmission. The processing circuitry may be further configured to transmit the trigger frame to the stations. The processing circuitry may be further configured to decode first UL packets from the stations, wherein the first UL packets are encoded with the first MCSs, and decode second UL packets from the stations, where the second UL packets are encoded with the second MCSs, and wherein each of the first UL packets and a corresponding second UL packet is to be received within a same corresponding UL RU.