Wireless LAN TXOP Sharing with Partial NAV Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless LAN systems face challenges in efficiently sharing transmission opportunities (TXOP) among coordination access points (APs) to support ultra-high reliability, high throughput, and low latency, particularly in next-generation Wi-Fi standards like IEEE 802.11be.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for TXOP sharing in which coordination APs adjust the duration field of frames to be transmitted, allowing stations to skip setting the network allocation vector (NAV) for a portion of the TXOP duration, enabling frame exchanges during the skipped period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the duration field is set to the entire TXOP duration, then the NAV provides complete protection for the TXOP period, but non-AP STAs cannot transmit frames during the entire TXOP duration, reducing transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TXOP duration into multiple parts by setting the duration field to cover only a portion of the total TXOP period. This allows the NAV to protect only the critical portion while leaving other portions available for non-AP STA transmissions, thus resolving the contradiction between complete protection and transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by setting the duration field to a value smaller than the entire TXOP duration. Instead of protecting the full TXOP period, only a necessary portion is protected, allowing non-AP STAs to transmit during the remaining time while still ensuring reliability for the protected portion.
2Productivity
If the duration field is set to a smaller value, then non-AP STAs can transmit frames during the skipped NAV period, but the TXOP protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The TXOP is segmented into protected and unprotected portions. The duration field is configured to protect only the necessary portion, while the remaining portion is left unprotected to allow non-AP STA transmissions, balancing reliability and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the TXOP are assigned different protection qualities. The critical portion receives full NAV protection while other portions have reduced or no protection, allowing non-AP STAs to transmit in the less critical portions without compromising overall system reliability.
3Reliability
If coordination APs use traditional NAV setting, then channel access is controlled for all STAs, but non-AP STAs cannot perform frame exchanges during the TXOP duration, increasing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by configuring the duration field to cover only a necessary portion of the TXOP rather than the entire duration. This allows non-AP STAs to transmit frames during the unprotected portion, reducing latency while maintaining channel access control for the critical protected portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel access control is segmented in time, with the NAV protecting only specific time intervals within the TXOP. This segmentation allows non-AP STAs to access the channel during unprotected intervals, reducing transmission latency while maintaining reliability during protected intervals.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing procedure in which cooperative access points (APs) participate in a wireless LAN system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless local area network (LAN) system comprises the steps of: detecting a frame transmitted from a second access point (AP) sharing a transmission opportunity (TXOP) with a first AP connected to the STA; identifying a duration field of the frame; on the basis of the duration field of the frame being configured to have a value smaller than a value corresponding to the entire TXOP period, omitting setting of a network allocation vector (NAV) during at least a portion of the entire TXOP period; and performing frame exchange with the first AP within at least a portion of the entire TXOP period in which the setting of the NAV is omitted.