Wi-Fi TXOP Sharing via Coordinated TDM for Partial Bandwidth Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in utilizing unutilized or underutilized bandwidth during transmission opportunities (TXOP) due to lack of effective coordination between wireless communication devices, leading to reduced spectral efficiency and increased interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing coordinated time division multiple access (C-TDMA) protocols that allow wireless access points (APs) to share TXOPs by selectively communicating with stations (STAs) based on the bandwidth usage of other APs, using information exchange to optimize bandwidth allocation and minimize interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless APs independently access channels without coordination, then each AP can maintain simple channel access procedures, but spectral efficiency decreases and interference increases due to unutilized bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TXOP duration into multiple time slots and divides the bandwidth into different frequency portions, allowing multiple APs to simultaneously utilize different time-frequency resources within the same TXOP, thereby improving spectral efficiency without requiring complex continuous coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordination mechanism where the AP that won the channel access acts as an intermediary to coordinate bandwidth allocation and time slot distribution among other APs, enabling efficient spectrum utilization while maintaining relatively simple access procedures
2Loss of time
If APs share TXOP information, then bandwidth utilization improves and latency reduces, but information exchange overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the winning AP announce its TXOP duration and bandwidth allocation intentions in advance through a TXOP announcement frame, allowing other APs to proactively plan their transmissions and avoid collisions, thereby reducing latency while minimizing information overhead through pre-coordination
3Productivity
If APs use traditional channel access methods, then implementation remains compatible with existing standards, but bandwidth utilization is inefficient due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functionality approach where the coordination mechanism can operate in different modes: full coordination for high bandwidth utilization, or reduced coordination for better compatibility with legacy systems, allowing the system to adapt to different deployment scenarios while maintaining improved bandwidth utilization
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for coordinated time division multiple access (C-TDMA) in Wi-Fi networks for partial bandwidth transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing. Some aspects more specifically relate to coordinating TXOP sharing in time and frequency. In some examples, a first access point (AP) obtains a TXOP associated with a bandwidth, allocates a duration of the TXOP to a second AP, and selectively communicates with one or more stations (STAs) associated with the first AP via a first portion of the bandwidth within the duration of the TXOP. In other words, the first AP may selectively communicate with one or more STAs associated with the first AP within the duration of the TXOP that the first AP shared with the second AP. Various disclosed protocols and mechanisms further relate to using resources that would otherwise be unutilized within a framework of coordinated medium access.