WLAN Sensing Availability Signalling Through Preferred Time Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Access points in WLAN sensing do not always know when unassociated stations are available to perform sensing measurements, leading to inefficient and power-intensive trial-and-error attempts.

Innovation Solution

Non-AP stations signal preferred time windows of availability for WLAN sensing through Measurement Setup Query frames, and APs respond with acceptable time windows or new proposals, ensuring efficient scheduling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If access points perform trial-and-error attempts to establish WLAN sensing sessions with unassociated stations, then sensing sessions can be established, but power consumption increases and latency increases due to inefficient scheduling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing session establishmentVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having non-AP stations signal their preferred time windows for WLAN sensing measurements in advance through Measurement Setup Query frames. This allows APs to know beforehand when stations are available, eliminating the need for trial-and-error attempts and reducing both power consumption and latency while ensuring reliable sensing session establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If access points perform trial-and-error attempts to establish WLAN sensing sessions with unassociated stations, then sensing sessions can be established, but latency increases due to inefficient scheduling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing session establishmentVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If access points do not know when stations are available for sensing measurements, then scheduling flexibility is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing a two-way communication mechanism where non-AP stations provide feedback about their preferred time windows through Measurement Setup Query frames, and APs respond with Measurement Setup Request frames indicating acceptable time windows. This feedback loop enables efficient resource utilization while maintaining scheduling flexibility, as both parties can negotiate and agree on optimal sensing measurement timings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4346291B1Availability period signalling for WLAN sensing

Publication Date: 2025.10.01 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

For wireless local area network (WLAN) sensing, a non-access point (AP) station (STA) sends a Measurement Setup Query frame to an access point station (AP) to signal one or more preferred time windows of the STA indicating when the STA is available to perform WLAN sensing with the AP. The STA receives a Measurement Setup Request frame received from the AP in response to the Measurement Setup Query frame. The Measurement Setup Request frame may indicate a time-window that is either within one of the preferred time-windows of the STA or a new proposed time-window that is not within one of the preferred time-windows of the STA. The STA may send a Measurement Setup Response frame to the AP to indicate an acceptance when the indicated time-window is within one of the preferred time-windows. The STA may send the Measurement Setup Response frame to indicate a rejection when the indicated time-window is not acceptable to the STA for performing the WLAN sensing procedure.