IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,652,616
Granted Patent B2
US 12,652,616 · App. 18/363,351 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Preemption for latency-sensitive traffic

Inventors: Kiseon Ryu (McLean, VA); Liwen Chu (San Ramon, CA); Hongyuan Zhang (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
H04W52/0216H04W72/1263H04W72/20H04W72/512H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,652,616
App. No.
18/363,351
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

One example discloses a method of preemption for latency-sensitive traffic for communications between WLAN (wireless local area network) devices, including: receiving, by an access point (AP), a first frame from a first non-access point station (non-AP STA); transmitting, by the AP, a second frame indicating Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) pre-emption information to the first non-AP STA; and transmitting, to a second non-AP STA, a third frame; wherein the third frame includes latency-sensitive frame.

Claims (71)

1 . A method of preemption for latency-sensitive traffic for communications between WLAN (wireless local area network) devices, comprising:

receiving, by an access point (AP), a first frame from a first non-access point station (non-AP STA);

transmitting, by the AP, a second frame indicating Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) pre-emption information to the first non-AP STA; and

transmitting, to a second non-AP STA, a third frame;

wherein the third frame includes latency-sensitive frame;

wherein the AP transmits a fourth frame indicating TXOP preemption release to the first non-AP STA after successful transmission of the third frame.

2 . The method of claim 1 :

wherein the TXOP pre-emption information is included in a BlockAck (BA) frame in response to the first frame.

3 . The method of claim 1 :

wherein the TXOP pre-emption information is included in a QoS Null frame; and

wherein the QoS Null frame includes an HE-Control subfield.

4 . The method of claim 1 :

further comprising that the first non-AP STA suspends its frame transmission after receiving the second frame indicating TXOP preemption information.

5 . The method of claim 1 :

further comprising that the first non-AP STA resumes its transmission after receiving the fourth frame from the AP.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining, by the first non-AP STA, a TXOP;

transmitting, by the first non-AP STA to the AP, a first frame indicating a time period;

wherein the time period is allocated for the AP to schedule a downlink or uplink low latency traffic transmission; and

transmitting, by the first non-AP STA to the AP, a second frame that has been buffered at the first non-AP STA during the TXOP, when the time period has expired or a third frame indicating a release of the time period is received.

7 . The method of claim 6 :

wherein the time period is allocated at a beginning of the TXOP or at a beginning of a restricted target wake time service period.

8 . The method of claim 6 :

wherein the time period is less than a predetermined time period within the TXOP.

9 . The method of claim 6 :

wherein the first frame is a QoS Null frame that includes a HE-Control subfield.

10 . The method of claim 6 :

wherein the first frame is transmitted when the TXOP length is longer than a predetermined time period.

11 . The method of claim 6 :

wherein the third frame is a QoS Null frame that includes a HE-Control subfield.

12 . The method of claim 6 :

further comprising, transmitting the first frame, by the non-AP STA, based on group or membership subscription.

13 . The method of claim 12 :

wherein the first or second non-AP STAs belong to a same group or membership.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the AP from the first non-AP STA, a first frame indicating a time period;

wherein the time period is allocated within a TXOP for the AP to schedule a downlink or uplink low latency traffic transmission;

transmitting, by the AP, downlink low latency traffic or a trigger frame to solicit uplink low latency traffic from the first non-AP STA or the second non-AP STA during the time period; and

receiving by the AP from the first non-AP STA, a second frame that has been buffered at the first non-AP STA during the TXOP when the time period has expired or a third frame indicating a release of the time period is transmitted.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the AP, a first frame from the first non-AP STA, wherein the first frame solicits an immediate control response frame;

transmitting, by the AP, a second frame including a TXOP pre-emption indication to the first non-AP STA, wherein the second frame is the immediate control response frame;

transmitting, by the AP, to the second non-AP STA a third frame, wherein the third frame includes low latency frame; and

transmitting, by the AP, to the first non-AP STA a fourth frame, wherein the fourth frame indicates TXOP return to the first non-AP STA.

16 . The method of claim 15 :

wherein the TXOP pre-emption information is included in at least one of the following immediate response frames in response to the first frame: an Ack frame; a BA (BlockAck) frame; or a CTS frame.

17 . The method of claim 15 :

wherein the TXOP pre-emption indication is indicated in at least one of the following MAC control header field and/or subfield: a duration field; and/or a duration/id field and a more data subfield.

18 . The method of claim 17 :

wherein the duration/id field is set to 0 and/or the more data subfield is set to 1.

19 . A method comprising:

transmitting, to a first non-access point station (non-AP STA), a first frame, wherein the first frame includes non-latency-sensitive frame;

transmitting, to the first non-AP STA, a second frame indicating a PHY Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) pre-emption information; and

transmitting, to a second non-AP STA, a third frame, wherein the third frame includes latency-sensitive frame;

wherein the second frame is a QoS Null frame including an HE-Control subfield.

20 . The method of claim 19 :

wherein the first frame and the second frame are carried in a same PPDU.

21 . The method of claim 19 :

wherein the PPDU pre-emption information includes Ack Policy update information indicating the Ack Policy of the first frame being changed to Block Ack (BA).

22 . The method of claim 19 :

wherein the PPDU pre-emption information includes target recipient information of the third frame indicating whether the second non-AP STA is the same in a same group as the first non-AP STA.

23 . A first WLAN (wireless local area network) device configured as an access point (AP), comprising:

a controller configured define a preemption protocol for latency-sensitive traffic;

wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a first frame from a first non-access point station (non-AP STA), wherein the first frame is a non-latency-sensitive frame;

transmit a second frame indicating Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) pre-emption information to the first non-AP STA; and

transmit to a second non-AP STA, a third frame, wherein the third frame includes latency-sensitive frame;

wherein the first non-AP STA obtained a TXOP;

wherein the AP is configured to receive from the first non-AP STA a first frame indicating a time period;

wherein the time period is allocated for the AP to schedule a downlink or uplink low latency traffic transmission; and

wherein the AP is configured to receive from the first non-AP STA a second frame that has been buffered at the first non-AP STA during the TXOP, when the time period has expired or after the AP transmits a third frame indicating a release of the time period.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2026
From: RYU, KISEON; CHU, LIWEN; ZHANG, HONGYUAN
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 074091/0966 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 63512214 · Jul 6, 2023
Provisional Application 63376083 · Sep 17, 2022
Provisional Application 63371045 · Aug 10, 2022
Related Publication 20240056968A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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