Wi-Fi Preemption Sessions for Low-Latency Packet Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The IEEE 802.11 protocol fails to meet the low-latency requirements of services in applications such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and industrial IoT due to its inadequate low-latency mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a preemption session between communication devices to prioritize the transmission of low-latency services using various preemption transmission modes, including PPDU-level and TXOP-level modes, and disabling power save functions during specified periods to ensure timely delivery of low-latency data packets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the IEEE 802.11 protocol is used for communication, then general communication functionality is provided, but low-latency service requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-latency service requirementVSAvoidcommunication efficiency for low-latency service

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a preemption session in advance between communication devices, creating a dedicated transmission opportunity (TXOP) for low-latency services. This preliminary setup allows the transmitting device to preemptively allocate resources and interrupt ongoing transmissions when low-latency data arrives, ensuring timely delivery without waiting for standard protocol timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic preemption transmission modes that can adaptively switch between different operational states. The system can dynamically activate preemption within an ongoing TXOP based on arriving traffic priorities, and dynamically adjust the degree of preemption (partial or complete) based on real-time network conditions and service requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If preemption transmission mode is used to prioritize low-latency services, then communication effect of low-latency services is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow-latency service deliveryVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preemption selectively only to low-latency services rather than all traffic types. By identifying specific traffic flows that require low-latency treatment and applying preemption mechanisms only to those flows, the system achieves improved reliability for critical services while minimizing the complexity overhead to only the affected communication paths

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameter state by establishing a preemption session that modifies the TXOP allocation rules. Instead of fundamentally redesigning the entire protocol stack, the system adjusts specific parameters such as TXOP duration, interruption rights, and transmission timing within the existing IEEE 802.11 framework, thereby reducing implementation complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If power save function is disabled during specified periods, then timely delivery of low-latency data packets is ensured, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata packet delivery timeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent disables the power save function in advance during periods when low-latency services are active or expected. By proactively maintaining the communication device in an active state before low-latency data arrives, the system ensures immediate transmission capability without the delay of waking from sleep mode, while limiting energy consumption by only maintaining active state during necessary periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies power save mode periodically during non-critical periods and disables it only during specified periods when low-latency services are active. This periodic switching between power save and active states allows the system to balance energy consumption with timely delivery requirements, maintaining power efficiency while ensuring low-latency performance when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20260006646A1Communication method, communication device, communication system, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

This application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and discloses a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. This application is applied to a wireless local area network system that supports a next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax, for example, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT, or for another example, a next generation of 802.11be, such as an 802.11 series protocol like Wi-Fi 8, UHR, or Wi-Fi AI, and may be further applied to an ultra-wideband UWB-based wireless personal area network system and a sensing (sensing) system. In this application, a first communication device establishes a preemption session with a second communication device. During the preemption session, the first communication device and the second communication device may preferentially transmit a data packet of a low-latency service in a preemption transmission mode, to improve communication effect of the low-latency service.