WLAN Uplink Scheduling via Cellular Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

The CSMA/CA contention mechanism in wireless local area networks (WLANs) leads to low channel utilization due to conflicts between multiple access points, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and decreased communication performance.

Innovation Solution

An uplink service data transmission method where a WLAN access point receives indication information from a cellular network access device to identify user equipment with data to offload, and sends instructions to the equipment to send data, avoiding unnecessary polling and improving scheduling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If CSMA/CA contention mechanism is used for WLAN transmission, then multiple nodes can apply for resources in a distributed manner, but channel utilization decreases due to conflicts between multiple access points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistributed resource accessVSAvoidchannel utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cellular network access device acts as an intermediary between the WLAN access point and user equipment. It receives indication information from the WLAN AP about UE with uplink data, then sends scheduling information back to coordinate resource allocation, preventing conflicts while maintaining distributed access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the WLAN AP sends indication information to the cellular network access device about UE buffer status, and the cellular network access device responds with scheduling information. This feedback mechanism enables coordinated resource allocation that prevents conflicts and improves channel utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If polling mechanism is used to schedule UE in WLAN, then all UE can be checked for data transmission needs, but channel utilization decreases due to polling UE with no data to send

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling coverageVSAvoidchannel utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The WLAN access point performs preliminary action by sending indication information to the cellular network access device about which UE has uplink data before scheduling occurs. This advance notification allows the system to target only relevant UE for scheduling, avoiding wasted polling of idle devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cellular network access device serves as an intermediary that receives preliminary indication information from the WLAN AP about UE with data, then distributes targeted scheduling information only to those specific UE that need to transmit, eliminating unnecessary polling overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3188546B1Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink service data
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3188546B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3188546B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3188546B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides an uplink service data transmission method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a wireless local area network WLAN access point AP, first indication information sent by a cellular network access device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the WLAN AP that user equipment UE served by the cellular network access device has uplink service data on which service offloading needs to be performed to the WLAN AP; and sending, by the WLAN AP, second indication information to the UE according to the first indication information, where the second indication information is used to instruct the UE to send the uplink service data to the WLAN AP.