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Apple patents Wi-Fi method to manage multiple wireless connections

Apple has patented a method for devices with multiple wireless radios to coordinate which connection handles specific data tasks. The system designates a primary link to receive instructions from the router, but automatically switches to a secondary link if the primary one is busy or to save battery power.

Why it mattersThis improves how multi-antenna devices manage data flow and battery life, though it is a technical update to existing Wi-Fi standards.

In the filing’s own words

Embodiments are disclosed for triggered multi-link (ML) access coordination. A station (STA) ML device (MLD) can establish a preferred triggering link (PTL) with an access point (AP) MLD where the PTL is the preferred link for receiving triggering frames. The STA MLD can transmit uplink (UL) frames via the PTL in response to a trigger frame. Subsequently, the STA MLD can determine that the PTL is busy, and transmit enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) UL frames on a non-PTL link. In a power save mode, the STA MLD can use the PTL to exchange UL and downlink (DL) frames. Multiple PTLs can be established supporting concurrent trigger frames, and different ranges of traffic IDs (TIDs) can be used for each PTL. The STA MLD can utilize AP MLD link pair information to receive a DL retransmission corresponding to one TID via both links of the AP MLD link pair.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A station (STA) multi-link device (MLD), comprising: a first transceiver and a second transceiver; and a processor communicatively coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver, configured to: transmit, via the first transceiver, an indication that a preferred triggering link (PTL) is associated with a first link of the STA MLD, wherein the first link is associated with the first transceiver, wherein a second link of the STA MLD is associated with the second transceiver; receive, via the PTL, a first trigger frame; subsequent to receiving the first trigger frame, transmit, via the PTL, one or more first uplink (UL) frames comprising first UL data stored in a buffer associated with the PTL; obtain a second UL frame for transmission, wherein STAs of the STA MLD are in a power save mode; and activate a first STA of the STAs to transmit the second UL frame via the PTL, wherein the first STA comprises the first transceiver corresponding to the PTL.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Triggered multi-link access coordination
Patent number
US12764814B2
Application number
18079518
Filed
Dec 12, 2022
Granted
Oct 13, 2026
Inventors
7
Claims
20

Classified under

H04W 76/15 Electricity & electronicsH04W 28/0278 Electricity & electronicsH04W 28/26 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.