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EP-4740577-A1 - MANAGING PREEMPTION IN MULTI-LINK OPERATIONS

EP4740577A1EP 4740577 A1EP4740577 A1EP 4740577A1EP-4740577-A1

Abstract

Techniques for coordinating traffic and performing preemption in multi-link operations are provided. At least a first portion of a first element of data is transmitted by the first network device via a first link. A second element of data is identified by the first network device. The transmission of the first element of data is interrupted by the first network device to transmit the second element of data via the first link. A remaining portion of the first element of data is transmitted by the first network device via a second link.

Inventors

  • FICARA, DOMENICO
  • THUBERT, PASCAL
  • CHOUKIR, AMINE

Assignees

  • Cisco Technology, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240627

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method, comprising: transmitting, by a first network device, at least a first portion of a first element of data via a first link; identifying, by the first network device, a second element of data; interrupting, by the first network device, the transmission of the first element of data to transmit the second element of data via the first link; and transmitting, by the first network device, a remaining portion of the first element of data via a second link.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second element of data comprises deterministic data that has a higher transmission priority than the first element of data.
  3. 3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second links connect the first network device to a second network device.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting, by the first network device, at least one of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), or a tag indicating the second link, to the second network device via the first link.
  5. 5. The method of claim 3 or claim 4, further comprising communicating, by the first network device and to the second network device, a defined preemption sequence between the first link and the second link.
  6. 6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein: the first network device comprises a station multi-link device (STA MLD), the first link connects the STA MLD to a first access point multi-link device (AP MLD), and the second link connects the STA MLD to a second AP MLD.
  7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second AP MLD transmits the remaining portion of the first element of data to the first AP MLD.
  8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first AP MLD, upon receiving the remaining portion of the first element of data, combining the remaining portion and the first portion of the first element of data, and transmitting the first element of data to a destination.
  9. 9. The method of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first and second links operate on a same frequency band.
  10. 10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein: the first network device comprises a first access point multi-link device (AP MLD), the first link connects the first AP MLD to a station multi-link device (STA MLD), and the second link connects a second AP MLD to the STA MLD.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting, by the first network device, the remaining portion of the first element of data via the second link comprises transmitting the remaining portion of the first element of data to the second AP MLD, wherein the second AP MLD forwards the remaining portion of the first element of data to the STA MLD via the second link.
  12. 12. The method of claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the first and second links operate on a same frequency band.
  13. 13. A system, comprising: one or more computer processors; and a memory containing a program which when executed by the one or more computer processors performs an operation, the operation comprising: transmitting, by a first network device, at least a first portion of a first element of data via a first link; identifying, by the first network device, a second element of data; interrupting, by the first network device, the transmission of the first element of data to transmit the second element of data via the first link; and transmitting, by the first network device, a remaining portion of the first element of data via a second link.
  14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second element of data comprises deterministic data that has a higher transmission priority than the first element of data.
  15. 15. The system of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the first and second links connect the first network device to a second network device.
  16. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operation further comprises transmitting, by the first network device, at least one of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), or a tag indicating the second link, to the second network device via the first link.
  17. 17. The system of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the operation further comprises communicating, by the first network device and to the second network device, a defined preemption sequence between the first link and the second link.
  18. 18. The system of any of claims 13 to 17, wherein: the first network device comprises a station multi-link device (STA MLD), the first link connects the STA MLD to a first access point multi-link device (AP MLD), the second link connects the STA MLD to a second AP MLD, and the second AP MLD transmits the remaining portion of the first element of data to the first AP MLD.
  19. 19. The system of any of claims 13 to 18, wherein: the first network device comprises a first access point multi-link device (AP MLD), the first link connects the first AP MLD to a station multi-link device (STA MLD), the second link connects a second AP MLD to the STA MLD, and the first AP MLD transmits the remaining portion of the first element of data to the second AP MLD, which forwards the remaining portion of the first element of data to the STA MLD via the second link.
  20. 20. The system of any of claims 13 to 19, wherein the system is arranged to perform the method of any of claims 6 to 12.

Description

MANAGING PREEMPTION IN MULTI-LINK OPERATIONS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit of co-pending United States provisional patent application Serial No. 63/512,558 filed July 7, 2023. The aforementioned related patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] Embodiments presented in this disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to improved preemption in multi-link operations (MLO). BACKGROUND [0003] Preemption for deterministic services, a feature commonly associated with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), represents a significant advancement in network traffic management. This technique ensures that deterministic traffic (e.g., timesensitive traffic) is prioritized and transmitted on time. This key functionality reduces latency for high-priority tasks and ensures reliable data transmission, thereby enhancing the performance and efficiency of time-sensitive applications. Preemption generally involves allowing data from specific services to interrupt other (non- deterministic or non-priority) data when being transmitted via a network, ensuring that the deterministic data is delivered in a timely fashion. [0004] The WiFi 802.11 standard has evolved significantly, transitioning from single-radio to multi-radio technology and introducing the concept of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to enhance the overall network’s performance and reliability. MLO functions by allowing a client device to connect to multiple other devices (e.g., access points) and transmit or receive data across multiple links simultaneously. Through the MLO, the client device may maintain several connections concurrently, thereby increasing its total throughput and improving the reliability of the network. [0005] The present disclosure provides a mechanism for the integration of preemption techniques within the MLO, ensuring the timely transmission of high- priority traffic (e.g., time-sensitive traffic) and lower-priority traffic, even in complicated MLO environments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate typical embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting; other equally effective embodiments are contemplated. [0007] Figure 1 depicts an example environment that supports preemption for a multi-link device (MLD), according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0008] Figure 2 depicts an example environment for multi-link operation (MLO), according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0009] Figure 3 depicts a time diagram for handling preemptions between different links, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0010] Figure 4 depicts an example method for coordinating uplink data transmissions across multiple links by a station multi-link device (STA MLD), according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0011] Figure 5 depicts an example method for coordinating downlink data transmissions across multiple links, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0012] Figure 6 depicts an example method for receiving data transmissions across multiple links, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0013] Figure 7 is a flow diagram depicting an example method for traffic coordination and preemption in MLO, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [0014] Figure 8 depicts an example computing device configured to perform various aspects of the present disclosure, according to one embodiment. [0015] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially used in other embodiments without specific recitation. DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OVERVIEW [0016] One embodiment presented in this disclosure provides a method, including transmitting, by a first network device, at least a first portion of a first element of data via a first link, identifying, by the first network device, a second element of data, interrupting, by the first network device, the transmission of the first element of data to transmit the second element of data via the first link, and transmitting, by the first network device, a remaining portion of the first element of data via a second link. [0017] Other embodiments in this disclosure provide non-transitory computer- readable mediums containing computer program code that, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, performs operations in acc