Group Address Allocation for WLAN Control Frame Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless local area networks (WLANs), the increased overhead from transmitting control frames to multiple stations using Multi-user Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology and multi-frequency channels leads to degraded throughput due to frame collisions and increased resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A method for allocating a group address to designate multiple wireless stations as a single group, allowing for efficient transmission of response request and response frames without collisions, using a group agreement request frame and multi-receiving station indicators to manage frame transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control frames are transmitted to multiple stations using MU-MIMO technology and multi-frequency channels, then communication coverage and data transmission capability are improved, but overhead increases and throughput degrades due to frame collisions and increased resource usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control frames into a single group address frame. Instead of transmitting separate control frames to multiple stations using MU-MIMO and multi-frequency channels (which causes frame collisions and high overhead), the invention combines all control information for multiple stations into one frame addressed to a group address, thereby reducing overhead and eliminating collisions while maintaining communication coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The group address frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a control frame for multiple stations, carries group address information for identification, and enables power saving mode management for multiple stations at once. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control frames for each station, reducing overall overhead and improving throughput
2Reliability
If separate control frames are transmitted to each station, then individual station communication is ensured, but overhead increases and resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual control frames into a single group address frame that can be received by multiple stations simultaneously. The frame includes a group address field and control information that serves all member stations, thereby ensuring individual station communication reliability while dramatically reducing the quantity of control frames (overhead) transmitted across the network
3Speed
If multiple stations transmit response frames simultaneously, then response speed is improved, but frame collisions occur and transmission reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the access point allocate unique response transmission opportunities to each station in advance. The group address frame includes information about which station should transmit its response frame at what time, eliminating simultaneous transmissions and collisions while maintaining fast response times through pre-coordinated sequential access
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for allocating a group address in a wireless LAN, a method for transmitting a response request frame and a response frame to a plurality of terminals, and a data transmission method using the same group address. The method for allocating the group address of the present invention comprises the steps of: transmitting a group agreement request frame including the group address (identifier) to terminals as grouping targets; and receiving a response frame corresponding to the group agreement request frame. The group agreement request frame includes group address (identifier) information and a terminal address as a destination address and is transmitted to a receiving terminal as a destination.