WLAN Access Point Contention Window Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) systems face inefficiencies in multi-user parallel transmission, particularly in setting competition parameters for uplink access categories (AC) after a trigger frame is sent in a competitive manner, leading to unsynchronized competition parameters between the access point (AP) and non-AP stations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sending a trigger frame by the AP to non-AP stations to initiate uplink multi-user (UL MU) transmission, resetting the contention window (CW) of the AC to an initial value upon data receipt, and adjusting buffer queue length parameters to synchronize competition parameters across the AP and non-AP stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the AP sends a trigger frame to initiate UL MU transmission in a competitive manner, then the network can support multi-user parallel transmission and improve throughput, but the competition parameters (CW values) between the AP and non-AP stations become unsynchronized, leading to inefficiencies in channel access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidsynchronization of competition parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the AP monitors the completion of UL MU transmissions and sends feedback information to non-AP stations. When the AP successfully receives data from all scheduled stations, it triggers a feedback signal that causes both the AP and stations to reset their CW values to initial values, ensuring synchronized competition parameters for the next transmission opportunity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the system to automatically adjust competition parameters without external intervention. The AP and non-AP stations autonomously reset their CW values based on transmission completion status, with the AP serving itself by monitoring its own reception status and triggering the reset mechanism, while stations self-adjust based on receiving the feedback signal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the CW window increases exponentially after transmission collision, then the system can handle collision scenarios, but the competition parameters become desynchronized between AP and stations, reducing network efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision handling capabilityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback from the AP to stations to coordinate CW resets. When collisions occur and CW values are increased, the AP monitors the situation and sends feedback signals that trigger synchronized resets for both the AP and stations, ensuring that collision handling does not lead to long-term parameter desynchronization and maintains network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the AP triggers UL MU transmission using scheduled information, then the transmission process is organized and efficient, but the competition parameters for subsequent transmissions are not properly reset, leading to parameter drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission organizationVSAvoidparameter synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent complements the scheduled transmission mechanism with a feedback-based reset mechanism. After scheduled UL MU transmission completes successfully, the AP sends feedback that triggers both the AP and stations to reset their CW values, ensuring that the organizational benefits of scheduled transmission do not accumulate parameter drift over multiple transmission cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3316631B1Method and device for competitive transmission
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 ZTE CORP
  • EP3316631B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3316631B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3316631B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

Provided in the present invention are a method and device for competitive transmission. The method comprises: an access point transmits a trigger frame or a radio frame carrying a trigger information domain to a non-access point to trigger the non-access point to perform uplink multiuser transmission; and, when data transmitted by the non-access point is received by the access point, same resets a competitive window of an access type to an initial value. The present invention solves the problem in the prior art of how to process competitive parameters of an access point side and a non-access point side when a trigger frame is transmitted in a competitive manner, thus ensuring that the competitive parameters of a same queue of stations of the access point side and of the non-access point side can be kept synchronous, and at the same time displaying busy/idle states of a channel.