WLAN Access Point PPDU Multiplexing for Collision Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of stations associated with a WLAN basic service set leads to increased collisions, necessitating an efficient data transmission and reception method to support higher throughput and reduce temporal overhead in channel access.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving multiplexed data units in WLAN systems, where an access point generates a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) that includes multiple data units, multiplexed in the frequency, time, or spatial domains, to efficiently manage channel resources and reduce collisions among stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple stations transmit data units separately in traditional WLAN manner, then each station can transmit its data, but channel access collisions increase and temporal overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data units from different stations into a single aggregated MAC frame. The access point receives data units from multiple stations, aggregates them into one frame with multiple MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), and transmits them together in one channel access opportunity, eliminating the need for separate transmissions and reducing collisions and wait times
Solution Approach 2:
The access point performs preliminary aggregation of data units from multiple stations before transmission. By collecting and combining data units in advance into an aggregated frame, the system prepares the combined transmission packet beforehand, allowing all stations to share one channel access opportunity rather than competing separately
2Reliability
If multiple ACK frames and MAC headers are transmitted for each data unit, then each data unit can be acknowledged individually, but temporal overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual ACK frames and MAC headers into a single block acknowledgment mechanism. Instead of sending separate ACK frames for each MPDU, the system uses one block ACK frame to acknowledge multiple received MPDUs, and similarly combines multiple MAC headers into the aggregated frame structure, significantly reducing the total overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The aggregated MAC frame structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it carries multiple data units from different stations, includes individual MAC headers for each unit, and enables block acknowledgment mechanisms. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate framing and acknowledgment procedures for each data unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a frame transmission method performed in an access point (AP), a frame reception method performed in a terminal, and an AP. The frame transmission method performed in an AP includes acquiring a channel for transmitting a first data unit of a first terminal, when a data unit to be transmitted to at least one terminal other than the first terminal is in the AP, generating a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) including the first data unit and the data unit to be transmitted to the at least one terminal, and transmitting the PPDU to the first terminal and the at least one terminal. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the performance of a wireless local area network (WLAN).