Wireless TXOP Sharing with QoS-Based AP Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies based on IEEE 802.11 standard face challenges in efficiently sharing transmission opportunities (TXOP) among access points (APs), leading to inadequate resource allocation and potential data transmission delays and reduced channel utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for TXOP sharing by a sharing AP, involving the transmission of resource requirement information among candidate shared APs, followed by a resource allocation process based on available channel resources and QoS information to optimize channel utilization and data transmission quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If TXOP is shared among multiple APs, then channel utilization is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TXOP resource allocation process into distinct phases: (1) TXOP announcement phase where the owner AP announces available TXOP resources, (2) Resource requirement reporting phase where candidate shared APs report their needs, and (3) Resource allocation phase where the owner AP allocates resources based on reported requirements. This segmentation reduces allocation complexity by breaking down the decision-making process into manageable steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by requiring candidate shared APs to report their resource requirements before the actual TXOP allocation. The owner AP collects resource requirement information from multiple candidate APs in advance, allowing it to make informed allocation decisions that optimize channel utilization while managing complexity through structured advance planning.
2Reliability
If resource allocation is optimized based on QoS information, then data transmission quality is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent collects QoS requirements and resource requirements from candidate shared APs in advance during the resource requirement reporting phase. This preliminary collection of information allows the owner AP to perform optimized resource allocation without time-critical processing during the actual TXOP execution, thereby maintaining high data transmission quality while minimizing processing time impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where candidate shared APs provide QoS information and resource requirements to the owner AP. The owner AP uses this feedback to make informed allocation decisions that satisfy QoS requirements. The structured feedback process enables efficient processing by providing all necessary information upfront, avoiding iterative adjustments that would increase processing time.
3Productivity
If multiple APs contend for channel resources, then channel utilization is improved, but transmission delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves potential transmission delays by implementing preliminary resource allocation before the TXOP begins. The owner AP allocates specific channel resources to each shared AP in advance based on their reported requirements and QoS information. This preliminary allocation eliminates the need for contention during the actual data transmission phase, allowing multiple APs to utilize the channel simultaneously without delays.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides a method for transmission opportunity (TXOP) sharing by a sharing access point (AP), a method for TXOP sharing by a shared AP, a sharing AP, a shared AP, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a computer program product. The method includes: transmitting, to at least one candidate shared AP, a first message indicating that a TXOP owned by the sharing AP is sharable; receiving one or more second messages respectively from one or more shared APs of the at least one candidate shared AP, wherein each of the one or more second messages indicates resource requirement information of one of the one or more shared APs; and performing resource allocation for the TXOP to the one or more shared APs based on an available channel resource of the sharing AP and the resource requirement information of the one or more shared APs.