Buffer Status Reporting for WLAN Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, existing bandwidth allocation methods are inefficient as they do not account for varying amounts and priority levels of uplink data across different stations, leading to suboptimal resource allocation and communication performance.
Innovation Solution
A method where access points receive buffer status information from stations, including priority levels and amounts of queued data, to dynamically allocate resource units based on these parameters, optimizing resource allocation and communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bandwidth resources are allocated without considering buffer status information, then resource allocation is simpler and overhead is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency and communication performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The access point sends buffer status request frames to stations before resource allocation, prompting stations to report their buffer status information in advance. This preliminary action enables the access point to make informed resource allocation decisions based on actual data needs, resolving the contradiction between allocation efficiency and complexity by preparing information beforehand rather than making blind allocations
Solution Approach 2:
Stations provide feedback to the access point about their buffer status (amount of data to transmit, priority levels, access category identifiers). The access point uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust resource unit allocations, ensuring that stations with more data or higher priority needs receive proportionally more resources. This feedback mechanism transforms the system from static to adaptive resource allocation, improving productivity while managing complexity through structured information exchange
2Measurement precision
If buffer status information is collected and processed, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Buffer status information is segmented into distinct components: buffer status request frames sent by the access point, buffer status report frames containing access category identifiers and data amounts, and resource allocation responses. This segmentation allows for organized, modular information exchange that improves measurement precision while keeping overhead manageable through structured data formats rather than unstructured communication
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by collecting buffer status information only when needed for resource allocation decisions, rather than continuously monitoring all stations. The access point selectively requests buffer status from specific stations based on scheduling needs, obtaining just enough information for accurate allocation without excessive overhead from constant full-system monitoring
3Productivity
If equal resource units are allocated to all stations, then allocation simplicity is maintained, but throughput and latency performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Resource allocation transitions from uniform to differentiated based on local conditions at each station. The access point allocates resource units with different sizes or quantities to different stations according to their specific buffer status, data amounts, and priority levels. This local quality approach ensures that each station receives resources matched to its actual needs, improving throughput and latency by preventing both waste and starvation, while the complexity is managed through systematic evaluation of station-specific parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for allocating bandwidth resources to wireless network devices. In some implementations, an access point (AP) may allocate uplink resource units (RUs) to a given device (STA) based on the amount of UL data the STA has queued for transmission to the AP and a priority level of the UL data. Each STA associated with the AP may transmit a buffer status report (BSR) indicating an amount of queued UL data buffered in the respective STA and one or more access categories or traffic identifiers (TIDs) to which the queued data belongs. The AP may generate an RU allocation scheme based on the BSRs received from each of its associated STAs. The RU allocation scheme may indicate the size and number of RUs to be allocated to each STA for UL transmissions. The AP may receive UL data from a STA via the RUs allocated to that STA.