Wi-Fi STA AP Switching Using Pre-Established Inactive Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Wi-Fi technologies face challenges in supporting seamless transitions between multiple Access Point (AP) devices to meet the transmission requirements of Ultra High Reliability (UHR), particularly in maintaining low-latency and uninterrupted data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and mechanism that allows a station (STA) to establish a second link with a second AP through a first AP, where the first link is active and the second link is inactive, enabling smooth transitions between different physical entities when communication conditions change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the STA maintains a single active link with the first AP, then the device complexity is reduced and power consumption is lowered, but the reliability and continuity of data transmission deteriorate when communication conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the second link with the second AP in advance while it remains in an inactive state through the first AP. This pre-configuration allows the STA to quickly switch to the second AP when communication conditions deteriorate, ensuring transmission reliability without the complexity of real-time link establishment during transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the connection architecture by introducing a hierarchical link structure where the first link (active) and second link (inactive) operate at different levels. The first link handles current communication while the second link serves as a pre-prepared backup, dividing the reliability function into active and standby components
2Reliability
If the STA transitions between multiple AP devices to maintain communication quality, then the uninterrupted data transmission is improved, but the latency increases due to the transition process
Solution Approach 1:
The second link is established in advance through the first AP before any transition is needed. By having the link pre-configured and inactive rather than establishing it during a transition event, the patent eliminates the time required for link setup, authentication, and association during actual AP switching, thereby reducing transition latency while maintaining uninterrupted transmission
3Reliability
If the STA establishes multiple active links with different APs, then the transmission reliability is improved, but the power consumption and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes the second link in an inactive state as a pre-prepared backup path. By keeping it inactive rather than actively transmitting, the system maintains the reliability benefit of having a backup link while avoiding the continuous power consumption that would result from maintaining multiple active simultaneous links
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different states (active vs. inactive) to different links based on their functional roles. The first link is active for current transmission while the second link remains inactive for standby purposes, optimizing power consumption by activating only the necessary link rather than maintaining all links in an active state
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of mobile communications. Provided are a communication method, an electronic device, and a storage medium. The communication method is applied to a station (STA). The method comprises: establishing second connections to a second AP by means of a first AP, wherein each second connection is in an inactive state, an STA establishes a first connection to the first AP, the first connection is in an active state, and the first AP and the second AP belong to different physical entities. The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism for supporting an STA to switch between a plurality of AP devices.