WLAN Sensing Availability Windows for Reliable Measurement Setup

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

Implementing a signaling mechanism where stations signal their preferred time windows for availability to perform WLAN sensing, allowing access points to schedule measurements efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If access points attempt WLAN sensing measurements without knowing station availability, then sensing measurements can be initiated, but the number of failed measurement setups increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement setup success rateVSAvoidsetup latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the non-AP STA signal its availability time windows to the AP before the actual sensing measurements are performed. The STA includes availability information in the Measurement Setup Query frame, allowing the AP to plan and schedule measurements in advance during confirmed available periods, thereby reducing failed setups and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If access points perform WLAN sensing measurements outside station availability windows, then measurements can be attempted, but power consumption increases due to retries and inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement execution efficiencyVSAvoidstation power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the non-AP STA signal its availability time windows to the AP before the actual sensing measurements are performed. The STA includes availability information in the Measurement Setup Query frame, allowing the AP to plan and schedule measurements in advance during confirmed available periods, thereby reducing failed setups and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the non-AP STA to autonomously determine and communicate its own availability time windows to the AP. The STA manages its own scheduling information and makes its availability self-evident through the Measurement Setup Query frame, reducing the need for AP-side complexity and retry mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If access points use traditional measurement setup procedures without availability signaling, then the protocol remains simple, but the number of failed measurement setups increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling protocol complexityVSAvoidmeasurement setup success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the non-AP STA signal its availability time windows to the AP before the actual sensing measurements are performed. The STA includes availability information in the Measurement Setup Query frame, allowing the AP to plan and schedule measurements in advance during confirmed available periods, thereby reducing failed setups and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12621696B2Availability window element for indicating availability windows for WLAN sensing

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 INTEL CORP

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.