WiFi Multi-Link Device Latency Announcement Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
In WiFi multi-link operations, existing technologies lack an effective method to select suitable links for low-latency applications, as they do not adequately account for latency statistics across multiple links, which is critical for real-time applications.
Innovation Solution
A link condition announcement method where a WiFi multi-link device obtains and transmits traffic statistics, including latency statistics, to another device to choose suitable links, with latency statistics derived from queuing latency and channel access latency, ensuring effective end-of-channel access only upon successful transmission acknowledgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple links are used to increase throughput and connection stability, then overall system performance is improved, but latency selection capability deteriorates due to lack of effective link condition information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overall latency metric into two distinct components: queuing latency (time from MSDU entry to EDCA readiness) and channel access latency (time from EDCA readiness to successful transmission). This segmentation allows the non-AP MLD to evaluate and select links based on specific latency components relevant to real-time applications, while the system maintains multiple links for high throughput operations.
2Device complexity
If link selection is based on incomplete traffic statistics, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates leading to poor link selection for real-time applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the AP MLD measures and announces latency statistics (queuing latency and channel access latency) to the non-AP MLD. The non-AP MLD uses this feedback information to make informed link selection decisions. The feedback loop ensures that link selection is based on precise, measured latency data rather than estimates, improving measurement precision without significantly increasing device complexity.
3Speed
If channel access latency is measured without acknowledgment confirmation, then measurement speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates as transmission success is not verified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by starting the channel access latency measurement clock early (when the MSDU enters EDCA and is ready to access the wireless medium) before the actual transmission occurs. The measurement continues through the transmission process and is finalized only when the ACK frame is received, confirming successful transmission. This approach ensures reliability by verifying successful delivery while maintaining accurate timing measurements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A link condition announcement method is employed by a wireless fidelity (WiFi) multi-link device (MLD) (102, 104), and includes: obtaining information of a traffic condition of each of a plurality of links (L1-LM, L1-LN) owned by the WiFi MLD (102, 104) according to traffic statistics of each of the plurality of links (L1-LM, L1-LN), and transmitting the information of the traffic condition of each of the plurality of links to another WiFi MLD (102, 104) that communicates with the WiFi MLD (102, 104) .