Multi-link power management for multi-link device
A wireless communication network includes an access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD) and a non-AP MLD. The AP MLD transmits to a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD via a first link an indication of pending traffic on a second link. A second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD transmits via the second link a trigger frame to retrieve pending traffic. The AP MLD transmits the pending traffic to the second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD via the second link in response to receiving the trigger frame. In addition, various embodiments that are understood through the present disclosure may be implemented.
1 . An access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:
one or more processors comprising processing circuitry; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually and/or in any combination, cause the AP MLD to:
transmit, to a non-AP MLD via a first link, an indication indicating presence of pending traffic on a second link and at least one recommended link on which the non-AP MLD retrieves the pending traffic on the second link;
receive, from the non-AP MLD via the at least one recommended link, a trigger frame to retrieve buffered traffic from the AP MLD; and
transmit, to non-AP MLD via the at least one recommended link, buffered traffic in response to receiving the trigger frame, and
wherein the AP MLD determines the at least one recommended link based on amount of traffic or incoming traffic rate in the AP MLD.
2 . The AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein when the indication is transmitted, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link are in a power save mode.
3 . The AP MLD of claim 2 , wherein the indication is included in a beacon frame.
4 . The AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein when the indication is transmitted, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link is in an active mode and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link is in a power save mode.
5 . The AP MLD of claim 4 , wherein the indication is included in an action frame or in A (aggregated)-Control field of a MAC (media access control) header.
6 . The AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the trigger frame is a PS (power save)-Poll frame or a U-APSD (unscheduled automatic power save delivery) trigger frame, and
the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually and/or in any combination, cause the AP MLD to:
generate the indication indicating presence of pending traffic on the second link based on an amount of traffic or incoming traffic rate in the AP MLD.
7 . The AP MLD of claim 1 , wherein the indication further indicates presence of pending traffic on a third link,
wherein the at least one recommended link includes at least one link on which the non-AP MLD retrieves the pending traffic on the third link.
8 . The AP MLD of claim 7 , wherein when the indication indicating presence of pending traffic on the third link is transmitted, a third station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the third link is in a power save mode.
9 . A non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:
one or more processors comprising processing circuitry; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually and/or in any combination, cause the non-AP MLD to:
receive, from an AP MLD via a first link, an indication indicating presence of pending traffic on a second link and at least one recommended link on which the non-AP MLD retrieves pending traffic on the second link;
transmit, to the AP MLD via the at least one recommended link, a trigger frame to retrieve buffered traffic from the AP MLD; and
receive, from the AP MLD via the at least one recommended link, buffered traffic from the AP MLD,
wherein the at least one recommended link is determined based on amount of traffic or incoming traffic rate in the AP MLD.
10 . The non-AP MLD of claim 9 , wherein when the indication is received, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link are in a power save mode.
11 . The non-AP MLD of claim 10 , wherein the indication is included in a beacon frame.
12 . The non-AP MLD of claim 9 , wherein when the indication is received, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link is in an active mode and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link is in a power save mode.
13 . The non-AP MLD of claim 12 , wherein the indication is included in an action frame or in A-Control field of a MAC header.
14 . The non-AP MLD of claim 9 , wherein the indication further indicates presence of pending traffic on a third link, and
wherein the at least one recommended link includes at least one link on which the non-AP MLD retrieves the pending traffic on the third link.
15 . A non-access point (AP) multi-link device (MLD), comprising:
one or more memories; and
one or more processors comprising processing circuitry operatively coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors configured, individually and/or in any combination, to cause:
receiving, from a first AP affiliated with an AP MLD via a first link, an indication of traffic status of the AP MLD indicating at least recommended link on which the non-AP MLD retrieves buffered traffic;
determining a second link among the at least recommended link as a link for retrieving buffered traffic from the AP MLD;
transmitting, to a second AP affiliated with the AP MLD via the second link, a trigger frame to retrieve buffered traffic from the AP MLD; and
receiving, from the second AP affiliated with the AP MLD via the second link, buffered traffic from the AP MLD, and
wherein the at least one recommended link is determined based on amount of traffic or incoming traffic rate in the AP MLD.
16 . The non-AP MLD of claim 15 , wherein when the indication of traffic status of the AP MLD is transmitted, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link are in a power save mode and the indication of traffic status of the AP MLD is included in a beacon frame.
17 . The non-AP MLD of claim 15 , wherein when the indication of traffic status of the AP MLD is transmitted, a first station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the first link is in an active mode and a second station affiliated with the non-AP MLD corresponding to the second link is in a power save mode, and
the indication of traffic status of the AP MLD is included in an action frame or in A-Control field of a MAC header.