IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,574,800
Granted Patent B2
US 12,574,800 · App. 17/816,773 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Fifth generation (5G) and Wi-Fi multi-access point coordination function

Inventors: Malcolm Muir Smith (Richardson, TX); Indermeet Singh Gandhi (San Jose, CA)
H04W28/10H04W28/0231H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,574,800
App. No.
17/816,773
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A Fifth Generation (5G) and Wi-Fi Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPc) function may be provided. A MAPc processor may determine a first traffic flow and a second traffic flow for a User Equipment (UE) and a property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow. The MAPc processor may schedule restricted Target Wake Time (rTWT) service intervals on a Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow, and the MAPc processor may schedule rTWT service intervals on a 5G AP for the second traffic flow. The rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP may be at different times than the rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP.

Claims (37)

1 . A method comprising:

determining, by a Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPc) processor, a first traffic flow via a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Access Point (AP) for a User Equipment (UE);

determining, by the MAPc processor, a second traffic flow via a 5th Generation (5G) AP for the UE;

determining, by the MAPc processor, a property of the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE and of the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE;

scheduling, by the MAPc processor, first restricted Target Wake Time (rTWT) service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE;

scheduling, by the MAPc processor, second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE, wherein the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP are at different times than the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP;

initiating, by the MAPc processor, a near synchronized Buffer Status Report (BSR) trigger mechanism between the Wi-Fi AP and the UE and between the 5G AP and the UE.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 5G AP is a 5G New Radio Unlicensed AP.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow includes at least one of (i) an amount of data of the first traffic flow, (ii) an amount of data of the second traffic flow, (iii) a priority of data of the first traffic flow, (iv) a priority of data of the second traffic flow, (v) a time needed to transmit data of the first traffic flow, (vi) a time needed to transmit data of the second traffic flow, (vii) a latency of the first traffic flow, (viii) a latency of the second traffic flow, and (iv) any combination of (i)-(viii).

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow is based on information returned by the BSR.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the MAPc processor, a latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein scheduling the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow and the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow are based on reducing the latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow.

7 . A system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:

determine, by a Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPc) processor, a first traffic flow via a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Access Point (AP) for a User Equipment (UE);

determine, by the MAPc processor, a second traffic flow via a 5th Generation (5G) AP for the UE;

determine, by the MAPc processor, a property of the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE and of the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE;

schedule, by the MAPc processor, first restricted Target Wake Time (rTWT) service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE;

schedule, by the MAPc processor, second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE, wherein the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP are at different times than the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP;

initiate, by the MAPc processor, a near synchronized Buffer Status Report BSR) trigger mechanism between the Wi-Fi AP and the UE and between the 5G AP and the UE.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the 5G AP is a 5G New Radio Unlicensed AP.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow includes at least one of (i) an amount of data of the first traffic flow, (ii) an amount of data of the second traffic flow, (iii) a priority of data of the first traffic flow, (iv) a priority of data of the second traffic flow, (v) a time needed to transmit data of the first traffic flow, (vi) a time needed to transmit data of the second traffic flow, (vii) a latency of the first traffic flow, (viii) a latency of the second traffic flow, and (iv) any combination of (i)-(viii).

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein to determine the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow is based on information returned by the BSR.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine, by the MAPc processor, a latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow, wherein to schedule the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow and the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow are based on reducing the latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow.

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

determining, by a Multi-Access Point Coordination (MAPc) processor, a first traffic flow via a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Access Point (AP) for a User Equipment (UE);

determining, by the MAPc processor, a second traffic flow via a 5th Generation (5G) AP for the UE;

determining, by the MAPc processor, a property of the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE and of the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE;

scheduling, by the MAPc processor, first restricted Target Wake Time (rTWT) service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow via the Wi-Fi AP for the UE;

scheduling, by the MAPc processor, second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow via the 5G AP for the UE, wherein the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP are at different times than the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP;

initiating, by the MAPc processor, a near synchronized Buffer Status Report (BSR) trigger mechanism between the Wi-Fi AP and the UE and between the 5G AP and the UE.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the 5G AP is a 5G New Radio Unlicensed AP.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow includes at least one of (i) an amount of data of the first traffic flow, (ii) an amount of data of the second traffic flow, (iii) a priority of data of the first traffic flow, (iv) a priority of data of the second traffic flow, (v) a time needed to transmit data of the first traffic flow, (vi) a time needed to transmit data of the second traffic flow, (vii) a latency of the first traffic flow, (viii) a latency of the second traffic flow, and (iv) any combination of (i)-(viii).

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein determining the property of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow is based on information returned by the BSR.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the MAPc processor, a latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein scheduling the first rTWT service intervals on the Wi-Fi AP for the first traffic flow and the second rTWT service intervals on the 5G AP for the second traffic flow are based on reducing the latency of the first traffic flow and of the second traffic flow.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2022
From: SMITH, MALCOLM MUIR; GANDHI, INDERMEET SINGH
To: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 060694/0641 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240049057A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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