Apparatus and method for wireless communication based on enhanced null data packet announcement

Abstract

An apparatus and method for wireless communication based on enhanced null data packet announcement are provided. A method for a first apparatus to communicate with at least one second apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system includes the first apparatus generating a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame and transmitting the NDPA frame to the at least one second apparatus. The step of generating the NDPA frame includes identifying a protocol version of the at least one second apparatus, and the NDPA frame includes an NDPA version subfield generated based on the protocol version.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to the following applications: Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 045,403, filed June 29, 2020; Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 068,100, filed August 20, 2020; Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 072,389, filed August 31, 2020; Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0139752, filed October 26, 2020, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0029642, filed March 5, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to wireless communication, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for wireless communication based on Enhanced Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA). Background Technology

[0003] Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a wireless technology that enables two or more devices to communicate with each other using wireless signals. Most current WLAN technologies are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. The 802.11 standard has evolved into 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax, and can support transmission speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second (Gbyte / s) by using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology.

[0004] In the 802.11ac standard, data can be sent simultaneously to multiple users using Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) technology. However, when applying the 802.11ac standard, reception performance degrades in densely populated user areas.

[0005] The 802.11ax (also known as High Efficiency (HE)) standard can handle dense user areas not only through MU-MIMO technology but also through Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology. Therefore, WLAN systems using 802.11ax can effectively support communication in dense areas and outdoors.

[0006] Furthermore, the 802.11be standard (known as the Ultra High Throughput (EHT) standard) supports 6 GHz of unlicensed spectrum, utilizes up to 320 MHz of bandwidth per channel, provides Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), and supports up to 16×16 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO).

[0007] Therefore, next-generation WLAN systems are expected to support low latency and ultra-high-speed transmission as effectively as fifth-generation (5G) technology, New Radio (NR). Summary of the Invention

[0008] At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supporting effective channel state information feedback for users in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for a first device to communicate with at least one second device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The method includes: the first device generating a null data packet declaration (NDPA) frame and sending the NDPA frame to the at least one second device. The step of generating the NDPA frame includes: identifying the protocol version of the at least one second device, and the NDPA frame including an NDPA version subfield generated based on the protocol version.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first device is provided, wherein the first device is configured to communicate with at least one second device in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The first device includes a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) and baseband circuitry. The baseband circuitry is used to generate null data packet declaration (NDPA) frames. The baseband circuitry also provides the NDPA frames to the at least one second device via the RFIC. The baseband circuitry additionally identifies the protocol version of the at least one second device, and the NDPA frames include an NDPA version subfield generated based on the protocol version.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for a second device to communicate with a first device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The method includes: the second device receiving a null data packet declaration (NDPA) frame from the first device; the second device extracting an NDPA version subfield from the NDPA frame; the second device identifying a protocol version based on the NDPA version subfield; and the second device decoding the NDPA frame based on the protocol version.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a baseband circuit is provided in a transmitting device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The baseband circuit includes a storage device, a controller, and a signal processor. The controller is used to write data to or read data from the storage device. The signal processor is controlled by the controller and generates Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) including a preamble and a payload. The data field of the payload includes a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a first user information field applied to a receiving device to receive the PPDU from the transmitting device. The first user information field includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and an additional partial bandwidth presence subfield, wherein the partial bandwidth information subfield includes subcarrier index information corresponding to a partial bandwidth of a channel feedback segment designated as a receiving device, and the additional partial bandwidth presence subfield indicates whether, in addition to the partial bandwidth, an additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as a receiving device is provided in the bandwidth.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a baseband circuit is provided in a transmitting device of a WLAN system. The baseband circuit includes a storage device, a controller, and a signal processor. The controller is used to write data to or read data from the storage device. The signal processor is controlled by the controller and generates Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) including a preamble and a payload. The data field of the payload includes a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a first user information field applied to a receiving device to receive the PPDU from the transmitting device. The first user information field includes a Resource Unit (RU) allocation subfield, wherein the RU allocation subfield includes index information of RUs designated as channel feedback segments of the receiving device.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a baseband circuit is provided in a receiving device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The baseband circuit includes a storage device, a controller, and a signal processor. The controller is used to write data to or read data from the storage device. The signal processor is controlled by the controller and is used to decode Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) received from a transmitting device. The PPDU includes a preamble and a payload. The data field of the payload includes a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a user information field identifying the receiving device. The user information field includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and an additional partial bandwidth presence subfield, wherein the partial bandwidth information subfield includes subcarrier index information corresponding to a partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the receiving device, and the additional partial bandwidth presence subfield indicates whether, in addition to the partial bandwidth, an additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the receiving device is provided in the frame body.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a baseband circuit is provided in a receiving device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The baseband circuit includes a storage device, a controller, and a signal processor. The controller is used to write data to or read data from the storage device. The signal processor is controlled by the controller and decodes Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) received from a transmitting device. The PPDU includes a preamble and a payload. The data field of the payload includes a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a user information field applied to the receiving device. The user information field includes a Resource Unit (RU) allocation subfield, wherein the RU allocation subfield includes index information of RUs designated as channel feedback segments of the receiving device. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Embodiments of the inventive concept will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a wireless local area network (WLAN) system;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device for transmitting or receiving Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs);

[0019] Figure 3 It is shown schematically. Figure 2 A block diagram of a wireless communication device;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating a channel detection process according to an embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame as defined in the 802.11ax standard;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index range indexed according to a resource unit (RU);

[0023] Figure 7 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index by bandwidth based on the RU index;

[0024] Figure 8A and Figure 8B This is a diagram illustrating an example of feedback segment setup when applying the partial bandwidth feedback method of the 802.11ax standard in a multi-RU allocation environment;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 11A and Figure 11B This illustrates the application in a multi-RU allocation environment. Figure 9 and Figure 10 A diagram illustrating an example of feedback segment settings for a partial bandwidth feedback method shown in the figure;

[0028] Figure 12 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 13 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the RU location based on the value of the RU-assigned subfield;

[0030] Figure 14 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index that assigns values ​​to subfields based on RUs within a 20MHz bandwidth;

[0031] Figure 15 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index that assigns values ​​to subfields based on RUs within a 40MHz bandwidth;

[0032] Figure 16A and Figure 16B This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index that assigns values ​​to subfields based on RUs within an 80MHz bandwidth;

[0033] Figure 17A and Figure 17B This illustrates the application in a multi-RU allocation environment. Figure 12 A diagram illustrating an example of feedback segment settings for a partial bandwidth feedback method shown in the figure;

[0034] Figure 18 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 19 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 20 This is a table showing the values ​​of the probe dialogue token field according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 21 This is a message diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on an enhanced NDPA frame according to the present invention.

[0038] Figure 22 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 23A and Figure 23B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to the present invention.

[0040] Figure 24 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to the present invention.

[0041] Figure 25 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 26A and Figure 26B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to the present invention.

[0043] Figure 27 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 28A and Figure 28B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 29 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to the present invention.

[0046] Figure 30A and Figure 30B This is a diagram illustrating an example of an NDPA version subfield according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention; and

[0047] Figure 31 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0048] In the following, embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] The features of the inventive concept and the methods for implementing the features of the inventive concept will be illustrated with reference to embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept is not limited to the embodiments described below and can be implemented in various forms. The same reference numerals always refer to the same elements.

[0050] In this document, unless otherwise specified, the singular form includes the plural form. The description of components, processes, operations, and / or elements does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, processes, operations, and / or elements.

[0051] In describing specific embodiments of the inventive concept, the focus is primarily on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) or OFDM-based wireless communication systems, particularly the IEEE 802.11 standard. However, the key elements of the inventive concept can be slightly modified and applied to other communication systems with similar technical backgrounds and channel types. For example, the inventive concept can be applied to cellular communication systems (such as LTE, LTE-A Advanced, New Radio (NR), WiBro, or GSM) or remote communication systems (such as Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC)).

[0052] The following terms are used throughout this application.

[0053] The term "connection" and its derivatives refer to direct or indirect communication between two or more components, whether physically in contact or not.

[0054] The terms “send,” “receive,” and “communication,” and their derivatives, encompass all direct and indirect communication.

[0055] The term "controller" refers to a specific device, system, or part thereof that controls at least one operation. A controller can be implemented through hardware or a combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware. Functions associated with a specific controller can be centralized or distributed, either locally or remotely.

[0056] The term "at least one" means that when using a column of items, one or more different combinations of items may be used, and only one item in the column may be required. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes A, B, C, and one of the combinations of A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

[0057] Furthermore, the various functions described below may be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, and each program is formed from computer-readable program code and executed in a computer-readable recording medium.

[0058] The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, instruction sets, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or portions thereof that are suitable for implementing multiple lines of computer-readable program code.

[0059] The term "computer-readable program code" includes all types of computer code (including source code, object code, and executable code).

[0060] The term "computer-readable media" includes all types of media that can be accessed by a computer, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), hard disk drives, optical discs (CD), digital video discs (DVD), and other types of storage.

[0061] The term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" does not include wired communication links, wireless communication links, optical communication links, or other communication links that transmit temporary electrical or other signals.

[0062] The term "non-transitory computer-readable medium" includes media that can permanently store data as well as media that can store and subsequently rewrite data, such as rewritable optical discs or erasable memory devices.

[0063] In the various embodiments of the inventive concept described below, hardware access methods will be described as examples. However, since the various embodiments of the inventive concept may include techniques using both hardware and software, software-based access methods are not excluded.

[0064] Furthermore, for ease of discussion, terms relating to control information, entries, network entities, messages, and components of the apparatus are shown in the following description. Therefore, the inventive concept is not limited to the above-described terms, and other terms with the same technical meaning may be used.

[0065] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing a wireless local area network (WLAN) system 100. Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device 200 that transmits or receives Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs).

[0066] like Figure 1 As shown, the WLAN system 100 includes access points (APs) 101 and 103.

[0067] Specifically, AP 101 and AP 103 can communicate with at least one network 130 (such as the Internet, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, or another data network).

[0068] AP 101 and AP 103 provide wireless connectivity to network 130 for multiple stations (STAs) 111, 112, 113, and 114 in their coverage areas 120 and 125. AP 101 and AP 103 can communicate with each other using Wi-Fi or other WLAN communication technologies. AP 101 and AP 103 can communicate with STAs 111 to STAs 114 using Wi-Fi or other WLAN communication technologies. In this document, the AP may be referred to as a first device, and the STA may be referred to as a second device. Therefore, the first device can communicate with at least one second device.

[0069] For reference, depending on the network type, other well-known terms such as "router" and "gateway" may be used instead of "AP". Furthermore, in WLANs, an AP is provided for wireless channels. AP can also refer to a STA.

[0070] Furthermore, depending on the network type, "STA" may be used in place of other well-known terms such as "mobile station," "user station," "remote terminal," "user equipment," "wireless terminal," "user device," or "user." For ease of discussion, "STA" is used to refer to a remote wireless device wirelessly connected to an AP or connected to a wireless channel in a WLAN. In this document, STA is considered to be a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone or smartphone). However, STA can also be a fixed device (e.g., a desktop computer, AP, media player, fixed sensor, or television set).

[0071] The approximate extents of coverage areas 120 and 125 are marked with dashed lines. Here, for ease of discussion, coverage areas 120 and 125 are shown as circular. However, each of the coverage areas 120 and 125 associated with AP 101 and AP 103 may have another shape reflecting variations in the wireless environment associated with natural or man-made obstacles, or another irregular shape depending on the setup of AP 101 and AP 103.

[0072] AP 101 and AP 103 may include circuitry and / or procedures for managing uplink multi-user (ULMU) or downlink multi-user (DLMU) transmissions in WLAN system 100.

[0073] although Figure 1 An example of a WLAN system 100 is shown, but embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto. That is, it is possible to... Figure 1 Make various changes.

[0074] For example, WLAN system 100 may include any number of appropriately arranged APs and any number of STAs. Furthermore, AP 101 can communicate directly with any number of STAs. AP 101 can provide wireless broadband access to multiple STAs 111 to STA 114 via network 130.

[0075] Similarly, each of AP 101 and AP 103 can communicate directly with network 130 and provide wireless broadband access to multiple STAs 111 to STA 114 via network 130. Furthermore, AP 101 and AP 103 can be configured to connect to varying external networks, such as external telephone networks or data networks.

[0076] exist Figure 2 The image shows a wireless communication device for transmitting or receiving PPDUs.

[0077] For reference only. Figure 2 The wireless communication device 200 may be included in a transmitting device (e.g., AP) or a receiving device (e.g., STA). That is, Figure 2 The wireless communication device 200 may be included Figure 1 AP 101 and AP 103 and one of STA 111 to STA 114 shown, and can be applied to, for example, computers, smartphones, portable electronic devices, tablets, wearable devices or sensors for the Internet of Things (IoT).

[0078] In an embodiment, the wireless communication device 200 includes an antenna 190, a front-end module (FEM) 205, a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) 210, and a baseband circuit 220. Furthermore, although... Figure 2Not shown, but the wireless communication device 200 may also include a power modulator that supplies voltage (e.g., a dynamically variable output voltage) to the power amplifier in the RFIC 210. The power modulator may be driven in average power tracking mode or envelope tracking mode to generate and output voltage.

[0079] For reference, FEM 205 and RFIC 210 can be implemented as a single component on a single chip. In this case, the functions of FEM 205 and RFIC 210 can be implemented together on a single chip. For convenience, FEM 205 and RFIC 210 are shown as separate components in an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0080] Antenna 190 is connected to FEM 205 and transmits signals received from FEM 205 to another wireless communication device (station or access point), or it can provide signals received from a wireless communication device to FEM 205. FEM 205 can separate the transmit frequency from the receive frequency. That is, FEM 205 can separate signals received from RFIC 210 by frequency band and can provide the separated signals to antenna 190. In addition, FEM 205 can provide signals received from antenna 190 to RFIC 210.

[0081] Antenna 190 can transmit the signal frequency divided by FEM 205 to the outside, or can provide the FEM 205 with the signal received from the outside.

[0082] For reference, antenna 190 may include, for example, an array antenna. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Antenna 190 may be single or multiple. Thus, in some embodiments, wireless communication device 200 may support phased arrays and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) by using multiple antennas. Figure 2 In the image, for convenience, antenna 190 is shown as a single unit.

[0083] FEM 205 may include an antenna tuner (not shown). The antenna tuner (not shown) may be connected to antenna 190 and may control the impedance of antenna 190.

[0084] RFIC 210 can generate a radio frequency (RF) signal by performing up-conversion on a baseband signal received from baseband circuitry 220. In an embodiment, up-conversion converts the baseband signal into a signal with a higher frequency. RFIC 210 can also generate a baseband signal by performing down-conversion on an RF signal received from FEM 205. In an embodiment, down-conversion converts the RF signal into a baseband signal that includes frequency components lower than the RF signal frequency.

[0085] In an embodiment, RFIC 210 includes a transmitting circuit 212 for up-conversion, a receiving circuit 214 for down-conversion, and a local oscillator 216.

[0086] For reference, although Figure 2 The transmitting circuit 212 may include a first analog baseband filter, a first mixer, and a power amplifier, though not shown in the diagram. The receiving circuit 214 may include a second analog baseband filter, a second mixer, and a low-noise amplifier.

[0087] Here, the first analog baseband filter filters the baseband signal received from the baseband circuit 220 and provides the filtered baseband signal to the first mixer. The first mixer performs up-conversion to convert the frequency of the baseband signal from the baseband to a higher frequency band using the frequency signal provided by the local oscillator 216. Through up-conversion, the baseband signal can be provided as an RF signal to the power amplifier, and the power amplifier can amplify the RF signal and provide the amplified RF signal to the FEM 205.

[0088] The low-noise amplifier amplifies the RF signal received from FEM 205 and provides the amplified RF signal to the second mixer. The second mixer performs down-conversion to convert the frequency of the RF signal from the high-frequency band to the baseband using a frequency signal provided by the local oscillator 216. Through down-conversion, the RF signal can be provided as a baseband signal to the second analog baseband filter, which filters the baseband signal and provides the filtered baseband signal to the baseband circuit 220.

[0089] On the other hand, the baseband circuit 220 can receive baseband signals from the RFIC 210 and process the received baseband signals, or it can generate baseband signals and provide the generated baseband signals to the RFIC 210.

[0090] In an embodiment, the baseband circuit 220 includes a controller 222, a memory 224 (e.g., a memory or storage device), and a signal processor 225.

[0091] Specifically, controller 222 can control all operations of baseband circuit 220 and RFIC 210. Furthermore, controller 222 can write data to memory 224 or read data from memory 224. For this purpose, controller 222 may include at least one processor, microprocessor, or microcontroller, or may be part of a processor. Specifically, controller 222 may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and a digital signal processor (DSP).

[0092] Memory 224 may store data such as basic programs, application programs, and setting information for the operation of wireless communication device 200. For example, memory 224 may store instructions and / or data related to controller 222, signal processor 225, or RFIC 210. Furthermore, memory 224 may store data in frame format, data in PPDU format, and RU allocation information.

[0093] Memory 224 may include various storage media. That is, memory 224 may include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. For example, memory 224 may be random access memory (RAM) (such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), phase-change RAM (PRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), or static RAM (SRAM)) or flash memory (such as NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, or one NAND flash memory).

[0094] In addition, memory 224 can store various processor-executable instructions. These processor-executable instructions can be executed by controller 222.

[0095] Signal processor 225 can process baseband signals received from RFIC 210 or baseband signals to be provided to RFIC 210.

[0096] For ease of discussion, the signal processor 225 will be described based on the components in the receiving path.

[0097] Specifically, the signal processor 225 may include a demodulator, a receiver filter, a cell searcher, and other components.

[0098] The demodulator may include a channel estimator, a data descaling unit, an interference whitening unit, a symbol detector, a channel state information (CSI) generator, a mobility measurement unit, an automatic gain control unit, an automatic frequency control unit, a symbol timing recovery unit, a delay spread estimation unit, and a time correlator, and may perform the functions of the above components.

[0099] Here, the mobility measurement unit, which measures the signal quality of the serving cell and / or neighboring cells to support mobility, can measure the cell's Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), and Reference Signal (RS) Signal-to-Interference-Noise Ratio (SINR).

[0100] The receiver filter and cell searcher may include a receiver filter, a cell searcher, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit, a time-division duplex automatic gain control (TD-AGC) unit, and a time-division duplex automatic frequency control (TD-AFC) unit.

[0101] Here, the receive filter (referred to as the receive front end) performs sampling, interference cancellation, and amplification on the baseband signal received from RFIC 210. In this embodiment, the cell searcher includes a primary synchronization signal (PSS) detector and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) detector, and can measure the amplitude and quality of neighboring cell signals.

[0102] Other components may include symbol processors, channel decoders, and components in the transmission path.

[0103] Here, the symbol processor can perform channel deinterleaving, demultiplexing, and rate matching, enabling decoding of the demodulated signal on a channel-by-channel basis. The channel decoder can decode the demodulated signal on a block-by-block basis. Furthermore, the symbol processor and channel decoder may include a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processing unit, a turbo decoder, a CRC checker, a Viterbi decoder, and a turbo encoder.

[0104] Components in the transmission path may include a transmit first-in-first-out (TX FIFO) encoder, scrambler, interleaver, constellation mapper, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), guard interval, and windowing insertion module.

[0105] As mentioned above, in Figure 2 In the diagram, the baseband circuit 220 is shown as including a controller 222, a memory 224, and a signal processor 225.

[0106] However, in an embodiment, two or more of the controller 222, memory 224, and signal processor 225 may be integrated into one in the baseband circuit 220. The baseband circuit 220 may also include components other than those described above, or some of these components may be omitted. Furthermore, the signal processor 225 may also include components other than those described above, or some of these components may be omitted.

[0107] For ease of discussion, the baseband circuit 220 is shown as including the components described above.

[0108] In some embodiments, the controller 222, memory 224, and signal processor 225 may be included in a single device. In other embodiments, the controller 222, memory 224, and signal processor 225 may be included in different devices (e.g., a distributed architecture).

[0109] In addition, RFIC 210 and baseband circuit 220 may include, for example, Figure 2 The components shown are known to those skilled in the art. The corresponding components can be implemented by methods known to those skilled in the art, or by using hardware, firmware, software logic, or a combination of hardware, firmware, and software logic.

[0110] Figure 2 An example of a wireless communication device is shown, but embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto. That is, it is possible to... Figure 2 Make various changes (add parts or omit parts) in the middle.

[0111] Here, refer to Figure 3 , showed Figure 2 An example of some components of the wireless communication device 200 being changed (i.e. simplified).

[0112] In an embodiment, Figure 2 The wireless communication device 200 includes, for example, Figure 3 The processor 250, transceiver 260, memory 270, and antenna 280 are shown.

[0113] Processor 250 can control all operations of transceiver 260, and can write data to memory 270 or read data from memory 270. That is, processor 250 can perform, for example... Figure 2 The function of controller 222.

[0114] Transceiver 260 can transmit and receive wireless signals and can be controlled by processor 250. That is, transceiver 260 can perform, for example... Figure 2 The functions of FEM 205, RFIC 210 and signal processor 225.

[0115] Therefore, when the wireless communication device 200 is included in the transmitting device, the transceiver 260 can generate a PPDU (physical layer protocol data unit) including a preamble and a payload, and can send the generated PPDU to the receiving device.

[0116] On the other hand, when the wireless communication device 200 is included in the receiving device, the transceiver 260 can receive a PPDU including a preamble and a payload from the transmitting device. The transceiver 260 can decode the payload based on the preamble of the received PPDU. That is, the transceiver 260 can decode the payload using an internal decoder (e.g., Figure 2 The signal processor 225 decoder decodes the preamble of the PPDU to generate a decoding result, and can decode the payload of the PPDU based on the decoding result.

[0117] The memory 270 can store data, such as basic programs, application programs, and setting information for the operation of the wireless communication device 200. Therefore, the memory 270 can store instructions and / or data related to the processor 250 and transceiver 260. That is, the memory 270 can execute, for example... Figure 2 The function of memory 224.

[0118] Antenna 280 can be connected to transceiver 260 and can transmit signals received from transceiver 260 to another wireless communication device (terminal or base station), or can provide signals received from a wireless communication device to transceiver 260. That is, antenna 280 can perform, for example... Figure 2 The function of antenna 190.

[0119] As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, since the wireless communication device 200 has the aforementioned characteristics and configuration, reference will be made below. Figures 4 to 7 This will describe the High Efficient Null Data Packet Declaration (HENDPA) frames and the IEEE 802.11ax format used in channel probing. Channel probing may include assessing the radio environment of wireless communications. Additionally, refer to... Figure 8A and Figure 8B This section will describe an example of feedback segment setup when applying the partial bandwidth feedback method of the 802.11ax standard in a multi-RU allocation environment.

[0120] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating a channel detection process according to an embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame as defined in the 802.11ax standard. Figure 6 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index range indexed according to a resource unit (RU). Figure 7 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index by bandwidth based on the RU index. Figure 8A and Figure 8B This is a diagram illustrating an example of feedback segment setup when applying the partial bandwidth feedback method of the 802.11ax standard in a multi-RU allocation environment.

[0121] First, refer to Figure 4 This illustrates a process for feedback of channel state information between a beamformer and a beamforming receiver based on a probe protocol. The beamformer can be a transmitting device such as an access point (AP). The beamforming receiver can be a receiving device such as a non-AP STA. A non-AP STA can be a beamformer. However, for ease of discussion, according to embodiments of the present invention, an AP is shown as a beamformer. The device that shapes the transmitted frame can be called a beamformer, and the receiver of such a frame can be called a beamforming receiver.

[0122] For reference, a detection protocol can refer to the process by which a beamformer receives channel state information fed back from a beamforming receiver. In an embodiment, channel state information may refer to the channel attributes of a communication link. Furthermore, Figure 4The frames or PPDUs shown (e.g., HE NDPA, HE Probe NDP, Beamforming Report Polling (BFRP) Triggered, or HE Compressed Beamforming / Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) 1 to n (n is a natural number not less than 1)) may have a structure according to the IEEE 802.11ax standard.

[0123] Specifically, the method for probing channel state information between the HE beamformer and the HE beamforming receiver based on a probe protocol can be performed in the following order.

[0124] (1) To obtain channel state information for the downlink channel (e.g., the beamforming receiver-direction link in the beamformer), the HE beamformer first sends HE NDPA (e.g., ...) to HE beamforming receivers 1 to n. Figure 4 The HE NDP declaration frame shown in the figure notifies the HE probe NDP to be sent (or initiate a probe protocol), where n is a natural number not less than 1.

[0125] The HE NDPA frame can be a control frame used to notify that a channel probe process has been initiated so that HE probe NDP can be sent. In other words, because the HE beamformer sends the HE NDPA frame before sending the HE probe NDP, the HE beamformer receiver can prepare feedback channel state information before receiving the HE probe NDP.

[0126] In an embodiment, the HE NDPA frame may include an association identifier (AID) and feedback type information of the HE probe NDP to be sent to the HE beamforming receiver. That is, the HE NDPA frame may include probe instruction information about which station (i.e., the HE beamforming receiver) is measuring which downlink channel using which method.

[0127] HE beamforming receivers 1 to n that receive HE NDPA frames can determine the AID 12 (or AID 11) subfield values ​​included in the STA information field (hereafter, the terms are mixed with STA information field or user information field) of the HE NDPA frame, and can determine whether they are stations to be probed.

[0128] Furthermore, the feedback order of HE beamforming receivers 1 to n can be determined by the order of the STA information fields included in the HE NDPA frame.

[0129] (2) The HE beamformer may transmit the HE probe NDP after a short inter-frame interval (SIFS) following the transmission of the HE NDPA frame. For example, the HE probe NDP may have an HE PPDU structure with data fields omitted.

[0130] In other words, the HE beamformer can send HE probe NDPs to HE beamforming receivers 1 to n, where the HE probe NDPs indicate information about the downlink channel that will be measured by each station (i.e., the HE beamforming receiver).

[0131] At least one of the HE Short Training Field (STF) and HE Long Training Field (LTF) may be included in the HE Probe NDP. The HE-STF or HE-LTF may include information about the downlink channel that will be measured by each station (i.e., the HE beamforming receiver).

[0132] (3) The HE beamformer can send a BFRP trigger frame to HE beamforming receivers 1 to n after the SIFS time following the transmission of the HE probe NDP by the HE beamformer. The BFRP trigger frame triggers the transmission of the uplink (for reference, uplink means beamformer direction link in the beamforming receiver) of HE beamforming receivers 1 to n.

[0133] The channel state information from the downlink channel to the uplink and the allocation information of uplink resources allocated to stations (i.e., HE beamforming receivers 1 to n) can be included in the BFRP trigger frame to feed back the channel state information of the downlink channel to the uplink.

[0134] (4) HE beamforming receivers 1 to n that receive the BFRP trigger frame can generate feedback information to be sent to the HE beamformer by obtaining the channel state information of the downlink channel based on the HE NDPA frame, HE probe NDP and BFRP trigger frame.

[0135] In other words, HE beamforming receivers 1 to n can generate HE compressed beamforming / CQI frames 1 to n (n is a natural number not less than 1) that include feedback information, and can send the generated HE compressed beamforming / CQI frames 1 to n to the HE beamformer.

[0136] In the embodiments, HE compressed beamforming / CQI frames 1 to n include information about the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values ​​of the spatial-temporal flow of the subcarriers and the compressed beamforming feedback matrix.

[0137] As described above, since the method for probing channel state information between the HE beamformer and the HE beamformer receiver is based on a probe protocol, the NDPA frame used for the previously described channel probing process will be described below.

[0138] Reference Figure 5A HE NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header, a frame body, and a Frame Check Sequence (FCS) field comprising four or more octets. Here, the MAC header may include a Frame Control field comprising two octets, a Duration field comprising two octets, a Receiver Address (RA) field comprising six octets, and a Transmitter Address (TA) field comprising six octets. Furthermore, the frame body may include a Probe Session Token field comprising one octet and one or more STA Information fields: STA Information 1 to n (each STA Information field comprises four octets, and n is a natural number not less than 1). In this embodiment, [the following is omitted] Figure 5 The HE NDPA frame shown may contain one or more fields, or an additional field may be added. Furthermore, the length of each field may be... Figure 5 The lengths shown are different.

[0139] Each field of the HE NDPA frame will be described as follows. The Frame Control field includes information about the version of the MAC protocol and additional control information. The Duration field may include time information for setting the Network Assignment Vector (NAV) or information about the terminal's identifier (e.g., AID). The RA field may include address information of the receiving device (e.g., STA or HE beamforming receiver) of the corresponding HE NDPA frame. The TA field may include address information of the transmitting device (e.g., AP or HE beamformer) of the corresponding HE NDPA frame. The Probe Token field may be referred to as the Probe Sequence field. The Probe Token Number subfield within the Probe Token field may include a value selected by the HE beamformer to identify the HE NDPA frame.

[0140] HE NDPA frames may include STA information fields STA information 1 to n corresponding to the number of receiving devices (e.g., stations or HE beamforming receivers) receiving the HE NDPA frames. That is, HE NDPA frames may include STA information fields STA information 1 to n containing information about the stations to be detected.

[0141] In an embodiment, the STA information field (e.g., STA information 1) includes a "AID 11" subfield (or an AID subfield), a "Partial BW Information" subfield (or a partial bandwidth information subfield), a "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield, a "Disambiguation" subfield, a "Codebook Size" subfield, and a "Nc" subfield. Each subfield can be defined by the 802.11ax standard. Each subfield of the STA information field can be partially omitted, and another subfield can be added. Furthermore, the length of each subfield can be... Figure 5 The lengths shown are different.

[0142] For example, the "Partial BW Information" subfield may include information about the channel (i.e., partial bandwidth information), where the AP (or HE beamformer) requests the state of the channel to be measured by the station (or HE beamforming receiver). Specifically, the "Partial BW Information" subfield may include a "RU Start Index" indicating the first subcarrier index information of the channel to be measured and a "RU End Index" indicating the last subcarrier index information of the channel to be measured. In an embodiment, the first subcarrier index information indicates a first frequency, and the second subcarrier index indicates a second frequency greater than the first frequency. In an embodiment, each of the "RU Start Index" and "RU End Index" comprises 7 bits. For example, AID 11 may be 11 bits B0 to B10, partial BW information may be 14 bits B11 to B24, feedback type and Ng may be 2 bits B25 to B26, disambiguation may be 1 bit B27, codebook size may be 1 bit B28, and Nc may be 3 bits B29 to B31.

[0143] Here, refer to Figure 6 An example of RU index and subcarrier range based on RU type is shown when the total bandwidth is 20MHz.

[0144] In addition, refer to Figure 7 The example shown is the bandwidth-based “RU start index (“S”)” and “RU end index (“E”)” based on the RU index when “Ng=16”.

[0145] In other words, the station (or HE beamforming receiver) can be based on Figure 6 and Figure 7 The table is used to measure the channel state information corresponding to the subcarriers in the subcarrier index range mapped to the "RU start index" and "RU end index", and the measured channel state information can be fed back to the AP (or HE beamformer).

[0146] In this embodiment, the channel state information includes information about the phase and amplitude of the estimated channel frequency response and information about the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the corresponding channel band.

[0147] Therefore, the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) can specify different indices (i.e., different "RU start indexes" and / or "RU end indexes") of the "partial BW information" subfield to the corresponding receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver). Thus, the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) can request channel state information about different partial bandwidths from the corresponding receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver). The transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) can allocate RUs, select modulation and coding schemes (MCS), and determine the number of spatial-temporal stream allocations by using the channel state information received from the corresponding receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver).

[0148] HENDPA frames of the 802.11ax standard can be configured as described above. For example... Figure 8A and Figure 8B As shown, when multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the corresponding receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) (i.e., RUs corresponding to the channel feedback segments of the receiving device set by the transmitting device), the overhead may increase during the feedback of channel state information when the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) sets the channel feedback segments (i.e., channel state information feedback segments) of the corresponding receiving device using the partial bandwidth feedback method of the 802.11ax standard. Here, RU can represent downlink resources.

[0149] For example, in Figure 8A and Figure 8B The diagram shows that 484+2X996 multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the first receiving device STA#1, and 484 individual RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the second receiving device STA#2.

[0150] For example, when the transmitting device sets the channel feedback segments of the first receiving device and the second receiving device based on the partial bandwidth feedback method of the 802.11ax standard, the “RU start index and RU end index” of the first receiving device STA#1 become “0 and 111”, and the “RU start index and RU end index” of the second receiving device STA#2 become “18 and 35”.

[0151] Therefore, even if the second 484RU is designated as the channel feedback segment of the second receiving device STA#2, the first receiving device STA#1 also feeds back the channel state information corresponding to the second 484RU to the transmitting device. In other words, because the first receiving device STA#1 feeds back the channel state information of the channel feedback segment that has not been designated as its channel feedback segment to the transmitting device, unnecessary overhead may be added in the process of feeding back the channel state information.

[0152] For example, the aforementioned increase in overhead may occur both when downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices have been previously allocated and when downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices have not been previously allocated.

[0153] Specifically, when downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices have been previously allocated, the transmitting device can set the previously allocated downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices as channel feedback segments for the first and second receiving devices. Conversely, when downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices have not been previously allocated, the transmitting device can arbitrarily set the channel feedback segments for the first and second receiving devices and can request feedback from the first and second receiving devices for the entire bandwidth channel. For example, the process of feedback channel state information can be performed when downlink channels RU for the first and second receiving devices have not been previously allocated, in order to obtain channel state information for allocating the initial downlink channels RU.

[0154] Therefore, unnecessary overhead may increase during the feedback of channel state information in each of the two states described above. Since these two states can be applied to embodiments of the present invention, the following description of embodiments of the present invention will assume such states.

[0155] On the other hand, because the 802.11be standard supports a bandwidth of 320MHz and 16 spatial-temporal streams, the feedback target (i.e., the number of bandwidths or spatial-temporal streams) increases compared to the 802.11ax standard, which may also increase the overhead in the process of feeding back channel state information.

[0156] To reduce overhead, according to embodiments of the present invention, NDPA frames are applied to next-generation standards (e.g., the EHT standard). NDPA frames can reduce the overhead in the process of feeding back channel state information.

[0157] For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a conventional NDPA frame (i.e., an EHT NDPA frame of the 802.11be standard) is modified.

[0158] The probe session token field of an EHT NDPA frame consists of 1 byte (i.e., 8 bits), and the standard of the corresponding NDPA frame can be indicated by using 2 of the 8 bits. For example, "00" can indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an Very High Throughput (VHT) NDPA frame or an EHT NDPA frame, "01" can indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an HE NDPA frame or an EHT NDPA frame, and "11" can indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame.

[0159] In an exemplary embodiment, each of the "RU start index" and "RU end index" in the "Partial BW Information" subfield of the EHT NDPA frame may include, for example, 8 bits (in this case, the "Partial BW Information" subfield may include 16 bits) to represent a bandwidth of up to 320 MHz. Therefore, the "RU start index" and "RU end index" may include, for example, one of indices 0 to 255. Each of the "RU start index" and "RU end index" may include bits less than 8 bits (e.g., 4 bits, 6 bits, or 7 bits). In some embodiments, as referred to later... Figure 22 The “Partial BW Information” subfield of the EHT NDPA frame may include 9 bits.

[0160] The “Nc” subfield of an EHT NDPA frame can include 4 bits to support 16 spatial-temporal streams.

[0161] Furthermore, to prevent VHT stations from incorrectly identifying the AID in HE NDPA or EHT NDPA frames, the "disambiguation" subfield of the EHT NDPA frame can be inserted at each specific position (i.e., B(16×n+11) (n is a natural number not less than 1; for example, B(27), B(43), or B(59))). In this case, the "disambiguation" subfield may include 1 bit, and the value of the "disambiguation" subfield can be "1".

[0162] As described above, since the aforementioned common improvements can be applied to NDPA frames (i.e., EHT NDPA frames of the 802.11be standard) in embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made below. Figures 9 to 17B Various examples of user information fields (i.e., STA information fields) in NDPA frames according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0163] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11A and Figure 11B This illustrates the application in a multi-RU allocation environment. Figure 9 and Figure 10 The diagram shows an example of the feedback segment setup for a partial bandwidth feedback method. Figure 12 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the RU location based on the value of the RU allocation subfield.

[0164] Figure 14 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index that assigns values ​​to subfields based on RUs within a 20MHz bandwidth. Figure 15 This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index that assigns values ​​to subfields based on RUs within a 40MHz bandwidth. Figure 16A and Figure 16B This is a table showing an example of a subcarrier index with the value of the root RU allocation subfield in an 80MHz bandwidth. Figure 17A and Figure 17B This illustrates the application in a multi-RU allocation environment. Figure 12 The diagram shows an example of the feedback segment setup for a partial bandwidth feedback method.

[0165] For example, when the wireless communication device 200 is an access point (AP), it can be... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The wireless communication device 200 shown generates Figures 9 to 17B The NDPA frame described in the document, or when the wireless communication device 200 is a station, can be generated by... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The wireless communication devices 200 pairs shown Figures 9 to 17B The NDPA frames described in the document are decoded.

[0166] First, refer to Figure 9 An example of a user information field (i.e., STA information field) in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0167] Figure 9 An NDPA frame is shown that enables the configuration of two or more STA information fields for a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver), wherein multiple RUs are designated as channel feedback segments within that single receiving device. That is, when multiple partial bandwidths (two or more partial bandwidths, where each partial bandwidth may include one RU or a set of multiple adjacent RUs; for example, ...) are configured... Figure 8A When two 996RUs configured with a partial bandwidth are designated as the channel feedback segment of a receiving device. Figure 9 An NDPA frame may include multiple STA information fields (e.g., two or more STA information fields) that respectively indicate subcarrier indices corresponding to portions of the bandwidth. For ease of discussion, an NDPA frame with “two STA information fields” configured for a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) is taken as an example, wherein multiple RUs are designated as channel feedback segments in this receiving device.

[0168] For example, although multiple STA information fields include different “partial BW information” subfields, each identifier subfield (“AID 11” subfield) may have the same index. Furthermore, each “partial BW information” subfield of the STA information field indicates “first subcarrier index information” and “last subcarrier index information” corresponding to each partial bandwidth (for reference, partial bandwidths are not adjacent to each other), which will be described in detail below.

[0169] Specifically, Figure 9 An NDPA frame may be included in the payload of a PPDU (more specifically, the data field of the payload). An NDPA frame may include a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS field.

[0170] Specifically, the frame body may include a probe dialogue token field and one or more STA information fields, STA information 1 to n (n is a natural number not less than 1, and the STA information field may be referred to as the user information field).

[0171] For example, the first STA information field STA information 1 of one or more STA information fields STA information 1 to n can be applied to a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) that is expected to receive a PPDU including an NDPA frame from a transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamforming device). Therefore, the first STA information field STA information 1 may include STA-specific control information applied to the corresponding receiving device.

[0172] Here, in addition to the subfields “AID 11”, “Feedback Type and Ng”, “Disambiguation”, “Codebook Size”, and “Nc”, the first STA information field STA Information 1 may also include the subfields “Partial BW Information #1”, “Partial BW Information #2 Exists”, and “Reserved”.

[0173] Some of the subfields, including the "AID 11" subfield, the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield, the "Disambiguation" subfield, the "Codebook Size" subfield, the "Nc" subfield, and the "Reserved" subfield, can be configured according to the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame, and other subfields can be configured according to the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame. For reference, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of bits written to a subfield that is not written to the bit depth but to "TBD" (e.g., the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield) can be changed. That is, in each subfield to which "TBD" is written, the number of bits is not determined and can be changed. The number of bits can also be changed in each subfield to which "bit depth" is written. For ease of discussion, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is described that the number of bits can be changed in each subfield to which "TBD" is written, and that in each subfield to which "bit depth" is written, the subfield includes the corresponding bits.

[0174] The “Partial BW Information #1” subfield may include, for example, 16 bits (or fewer than 16 bits) and may be a partial bandwidth information subfield that includes subcarrier index information corresponding to the partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device. Furthermore, the “Partial BW Information #2 Exists” subfield may include 1 bit and may indicate whether additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided in addition to the partial bandwidth.

[0175] In other words, Figure 9 In the NDPA frame, with Figure 5 Unlike HE NDPA frames, the "Partial BW Information #2 Present" subfield is newly added. The transmitting device can use the "Partial BW Information #2 Present" subfield to determine whether to provide additional bandwidth to the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device.

[0176] Specifically, when additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield can be "1", and when no additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield can be "0".

[0177] In addition, when providing additional bandwidth for the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device (i.e., when the value of the subfield “Partial BW Information #2 Exists” is “1”), the frame body may also include a second STA information field, STA Information 2, which is applied to the STA information field of the corresponding receiving device.

[0178] Here, the second STA information field STA information 2 may include a partial bandwidth information subfield (“Partial BW Information #2” subfield) containing subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth, and a subfield (“Partial BW Information #2 Exists” subfield) indicating that the additional partial bandwidth is designated as the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device. Furthermore, the identifier subfield (“AID 11” subfield) of the second STA information field STA information 2 may have the same index as the identifier subfield (“AID 11” subfield) of the first STA information field STA information 1.

[0179] For reference, such as Figure 9 As shown, when the number of partial bandwidths of multiple RUs designated as receiving devices in the channel feedback segment is 2 (i.e., when the number of STA information fields is 2), the additional partial bandwidth presence subfield (“Partial BW Information #2 Presence” subfield) does not need to be included in the second STA information field STA Information 2. In this case, the second STA information field STA Information 2 may include a “Reserved” subfield instead of the additional partial bandwidth presence subfield (“Partial BW Information #2 Presence” subfield).

[0180] In addition, with Figure 9 Unlike other fields, when the number of partial bandwidths of multiple RUs designated as receiving devices for the channel feedback segment is 3 (i.e., when the number of STA information fields is 3), in the second STA information field STA information 2, in addition to the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield, a subfield indicating whether additional partial bandwidth (partial BW #3) is provided ("Partial BW Information #3 Exists" subfield) may be included.

[0181] According to an embodiment of the present invention, for ease of discussion, the second STA information field STA information 2 is described as having... Figure 9 The structure shown.

[0182] The second STA information field, STA information 2, can be included in the NDPA frame, immediately following the first STA information field, STA information 1. For example, the second STA information field, STA information 2, may appear after the first STA information field, STA information 1.

[0183] The “Partial BW Information #1” subfield of the first STA information field STA information 1 may include a first subcarrier index information item and a last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the partial bandwidth, and the “Partial BW Information #2” subfield of the second STA information field STA information 2 may include a first subcarrier index information item and a last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth.

[0184] Furthermore, each of the partial bandwidth information subfields (“Partial BW Information #1” and “Partial BW Information #2”) in the first STA information field STA Information 1 and the second STA information field STA Information 2 may include, for example, 16 bits (or less or greater than 16 bits). Each of the additional partial bandwidth presence subfields (“Partial BW Information #1 Presence” and “Partial BW Information #2 Presence”) in the first STA information field STA Information 1 and the second STA information field STA Information 2 may include, for example, 1 bit.

[0185] However, when no additional bandwidth is provided for the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device, the frame body only includes the first STA information field, STA Information 1, as the STA information field applied to the corresponding receiving device. In this case, it can be... Figure 9 The second STA information field STA information 2 shown is applied to another receiving device.

[0186] For reference, Figure 9 In an NDPA frame, each STA information field may include, for example, 48 bits (e.g., B0 to B47). In this case, the "disambiguation" subfield can be inserted into each of the 27th and 43rd bits using the "disambiguation" subfield insertion method described above. Furthermore, to indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame, the two bits of the probe dialogue token field can be assigned to "00, 01, or 11". Figure 9 Each STA information field in the STA information field may include bits other than the 48 bits. However, for ease of discussion, embodiments of the present invention are shown... Figure 9 Each STA information field in the STA information field consists of 48 bits.

[0187] Because the user information field in the NDPA frame according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, when the transmitting device... Figure 9 When the NDPA frame shown is sent to a receiving device that has multiple RUs (Receiving Units) designated as channel feedback segments, each including multiple partial bandwidths, the corresponding receiving device can only feed back the channel status information assigned to it by the transmitting device based on the received NDPA frame. Therefore, unnecessary overhead can be prevented during the feedback of channel status information.

[0188] Figure 10 Another example is shown of a user information field (i.e., STA information field) in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0189] Figure 10An NDPA frame is shown that allows setting two or more partial bandwidth information subfields in a single STA information field of a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver), wherein multiple RUs are designated as channel feedback segments in that single receiving device. That is, when multiple partial bandwidths (two or more partial bandwidths, where each of the two or more partial bandwidths may include one RU or a set of multiple adjacent RUs; for example, Figure 8A When two 996RUs configured with a partial bandwidth are designated as the channel feedback segment of a receiving device. Figure 10 An NDPA frame may include multiple partial bandwidth information subfields, each indicating a subcarrier index corresponding to a portion of the bandwidth in a single STA information field (for reference, these portions of bandwidth are not adjacent to each other). Therefore, in addition to a single "partial BW information" subfield for each portion of bandwidth, Figure 10 The NDPA frame also includes one or more additional "partial BW information" subfields that are not adjacent to one partial bandwidth, which will be described in detail below. For ease of discussion, an NDPA frame with "two partial bandwidth information subfields" set in one STA information field of a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) is taken as an example, wherein multiple RUs are designated as channel feedback segments in this receiving device.

[0190] In an embodiment, Figure 10 The NDPA frame is included in the payload of the PPDU (more specifically, the data field of the payload). The NDPA frame may include a MAC header, frame body, and FCS field.

[0191] In an embodiment, the frame body includes a probe dialogue token field and one or more STA information fields, STA information 1 to n (n is a natural number not less than 1).

[0192] For example, the first STA information field STA information 1 of one or more STA information fields STA information 1 to n can be applied to a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) that is expected to receive a PPDU including an NDPA frame from a transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamforming device). Therefore, the first STA information field STA information 1 may include STA-specific control information applied to the corresponding receiving device.

[0193] In this embodiment, the first STA information field STA information 1 further includes, in addition to the "AID 11" subfield, the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield, the "Disambiguation" subfield, the "Codebook Size" subfield, and the "Nc" subfield, the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield, the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield, and the "Reserved" subfield. The first STA information field STA information 1 may also include the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield, which will be described in detail later.

[0194] Some of the following subfields can be configured based on the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame: "AID 11", "Feedback Type and Ng", "Disambiguation", "Codebook Size", "Nc", and "Reserved". Other subfields can also be configured based on the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame. Although in Figure 10 The diagram shows three "Reserved" subfields, but the inventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the number of "Reserved" subfields could be from... Figure 10 The quantities shown can be changed (e.g., the "Reserved" subfield may only be arranged in B63). For reference, according to an embodiment of the invention, the number of bits written to subfields that are not written to but to "TBD" (e.g., the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfields) can be changed. That is, in each subfield in which "TBD" is written, the number of bits is not determined and can be changed.

[0195] The “Partial BW Information #1” subfield can be a partial bandwidth information subfield that includes subcarrier index information corresponding to a portion of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device. The number of bits in the “Partial BW Information #1” subfield can be “TBD”. For example, the number of bits in the “Partial BW Information #1” subfield can range from 1 to 16 bits. For example, the corresponding subfield can be 14 bits. In another example, the corresponding subfield can be greater than 16 bits.

[0196] For reference, the number of bits in the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield can be changed depending on the subcarrier unit "RU start index" and "RU end index" of the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield. For example, when setting the "RU start index" and "RU end index" of the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield in units of 52-frequency modulation RUs, 106-frequency modulation RUs, or 242-frequency modulation RUs, the number of bits in the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield can be less than when setting it in units of 26-frequency modulation RUs (i.e., 26 subcarrier RUs). Therefore, in order to reduce the number of bits in the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield to no more than 16 bits, the "RU start index" and "RU end index" of the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield can be set in units of 52-frequency modulation RUs, 106-frequency modulation RUs, or 242-frequency modulation RUs.

[0197] In addition, the “Partial BW Information #2 Exists” subfield includes 1 bit and indicates whether additional partial bandwidth, in addition to the partial bandwidth, is provided for the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device.

[0198] In other words, Figure 9 In the NDPA frame, unlike the HE NDPA frame, a new "Partial BW Information #2 Present" subfield is added, and the transmitting device uses the "Partial BW Information #2 Present" subfield to determine whether to provide additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device.

[0199] In an embodiment, when additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield is "1", and when no additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield is "0".

[0200] Furthermore, when additional partial bandwidth designated as the channel feedback segment for the corresponding receiving device is provided (i.e., when the value of the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield is "1"), the first STA information field STA Information 1 also includes the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield. On the other hand, when no additional partial bandwidth designated as the channel feedback segment for the corresponding receiving device is provided, only the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield is included in the first STA information field STA Information 1 as a partial bandwidth information subfield.

[0201] Here, the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield can be an additional partial bandwidth information subfield that includes subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device. That is, the number of bits in the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield is "TBD" and can be varied to a range between 1 and 16 bits. For example, following the same principle as setting the number of bits in the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield described above, the corresponding subfield can be 14 bits. In another example, the subfield can be greater than 16 bits.

[0202] For example, the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield can be placed in the first STA Information field STA Information 1, immediately following the "Partial BW Information #2 Exists" subfield. The first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the partial bandwidth can be included in the "Partial BW Information #1" subfield, and the first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth can be included in the "Partial BW Information #2" subfield.

[0203] In the embodiments, in Figure 10 In an NDPA frame, each STA information field includes, for example, 64 bits. In this case, the "disambiguation" subfield can be inserted into each of the 27th, 43rd, and 59th bits using the "disambiguation" subfield insertion method described above. Furthermore, to indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame, the two bits of the probe dialogue token field can be assigned to "00, 01, or 11". Figure 10 Each STA information field may include bits other than the 64 bits. However, for convenience, embodiments of the present invention are shown... Figure 10 Each STA information field consists of 64 bits.

[0204] Because another example of the user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, when the transmitting device will Figure 10 When the NDPA frame shown is sent to a receiving device that has multiple RUs (Receiving Units) designated as channel feedback segments, each including multiple partial bandwidths, the corresponding receiving device can only feed back the channel status information assigned to it by the transmitting device based on the received NDPA frame. Therefore, unnecessary overhead increases during the feedback of channel status information can be prevented.

[0205] As described above, an example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured to support multiple RU designations and the 802.11be standard (or a standard derived from the 802.11be standard).

[0206] Therefore, as Figure 11A and Figure 11BAs shown, although multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver), when the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) uses a partial bandwidth feedback method based on an embodiment of the present invention (see above) Figure 9 and Figure 10 The partial bandwidth feedback method described in the embodiment of the present invention can prevent increased overhead during the feedback of channel state information when setting the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device.

[0207] For reference, Figure 11A and Figure 11B The diagram shows that 484+2X996 multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the first receiving device STA#1, and 484 individual RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the second receiving device STA#2.

[0208] For example, when the transmitting device is based on the above reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 When setting the channel feedback segments of the first and second receiving devices using the described partial bandwidth feedback method, the "RU start index and RU end index" of the second receiving device STA#2 can be changed to "18 and 35", and the partial bandwidth information of the first receiving device STA#1 can be divided into two (partial BW information #1 and partial BW information #2). That is, the "RU start index and RU end index" of the first partial bandwidth of the first receiving device STA#1 can be changed to "0 and 17", and the "RU start index and RU end index" of the second partial bandwidth of the first receiving device STA#1 can be changed to "36 and 111".

[0209] Therefore, the first receiving device STA#1 can only feed back the channel state information of the channel feedback segment designated as its channel feedback segment to the transmitting device, without repeatedly feeding back the channel state information of the second 484RU (i.e., RU indices 18 to 35) designated as the channel feedback segment of the second receiving device STA#2. In other words, because the first receiving device STA#1 does not feed back the channel state information of the channel feedback segment not designated as its channel feedback segment to the transmitting device, unnecessary overhead increases during the feedback of channel state information can be prevented.

[0210] Figure 12 Another example of a user information field (i.e., STA information field) in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0211] and Figure 9 and 10 different, Figure 12An NDPA frame is shown where, instead of the partial bandwidth information subfield, the RU allocation subfield is added to the STA information field of a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver), wherein multiple RUs are designated as channel feedback segments in said receiving device. That is, when multiple partial bandwidths (two or more partial bandwidths, where each partial bandwidth may include one RU or a set of multiple adjacent RUs, for example...) Figure 8A When two 996RUs configured with a partial bandwidth are designated as the channel feedback segment of a receiving device. Figure 12 The NDPA frame may include an RU allocation subfield indicating the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device in the STA information field. For example, the size and location of the RU for which the transmitting device (e.g., a beamformer) requests feedback can be identified by the RU allocation subfield along with bandwidth information, which will be described in detail.

[0212] For example, Figure 12 An NDPA frame can be included in the payload of a PPDU (more specifically, the data field of the payload). An NDPA frame may include a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS field.

[0213] Specifically, the frame body may include a probe dialogue token field and one or more STA information fields, STA information 1 to n, where n is a natural number not less than 1.

[0214] For example, the first STA information field STA information 1 among one or more STA information fields STA information 1 to n can be applied to a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) that is expected to receive a PPDU including an NDPA frame from a transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer). Therefore, the first STA information field STA information 1 may include STA-specific control information applied to the corresponding receiving device.

[0215] Here, in addition to the “AID 11” subfield, the “Feedback Type and Ng” subfield, the “Disambiguation” subfield, the “Codebook Size” subfield, and the “Nc” subfield, the first STA information field STA Information 1 may also include the “RU Allocation” subfield and the “Reservation” subfield.

[0216] Some of the subfields, including the "AID 11" subfield, the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield, the "Disambiguation" subfield, the "Codebook Size" subfield, the "Nc" subfield, and the "Reserved" subfield, can be configured according to the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame, and other subfields can be configured according to the characteristics of the EHT NDPA frame. For reference, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of bits written to subfields other than "TBD" (e.g., the "Feedback Type and Ng" subfield) can be changed. That is, in each subfield in which "TBD" is written, the number of bits is not determined and can be changed.

[0217] The “RU Allocation” subfield may include, for example, a specific location (e.g., 9 bits, where 2 bits indicate which frequency band the station’s channel feedback segment belongs to, and the remaining 7 bits indicate a single RU or multiple RUs designated as the station’s channel feedback segment) to represent a bandwidth up to 320 MHz according to the 802.11be standard, and may include index information of the RUs designated as the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device. The RU index information may indicate the size and location of the corresponding RU.

[0218] For reference, in the "RU allocation" subfield's "9 bits (e.g., B8 (least significant bit (LSB)), B7, B6, B5, B4, B3, B2, B1, and B0 (most significant bit (MSB))", the "7 bits" used to indicate information about the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the receiving device can be "B7 to B1", and the remaining "2 bits" used to indicate which frequency band the receiving device's channel feedback segment belongs to can be "B8 and B0". In this case, for example, the value (8 bits, "B7 to B0" values) of the trigger frame defined in the 802.11ax (HE) standard can be used as the value of "B7 to B0" of the "RU allocation" subfield.

[0219] Furthermore, in the "RU allocation" subfield, the "7 bits" used to indicate information about the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the receiving device can be "B8 to B2", and the remaining "2 bits" used to indicate which frequency band the channel feedback segment of the receiving device belongs to can be "B1 and B0". In this case, for example, the value of the "RU allocation" subfield of the trigger frame defined in the 802.11ax (HE) standard (8 bits; values ​​of "B7 to B0") can be used as the value of "B8 to B2 and B0" or "B8 to B1" of the "RU allocation" subfield.

[0220] If representing a bandwidth of 320MHz, the “RU allocation” subfield may include bits other than 9 bits (e.g., not less than 10 bits or not more than 8 bits). For example, when the minimum size of the RU is not set to a 26-frequency modulation RU but to a 242-frequency modulation RU, the “RU allocation” subfield may represent a bandwidth of 320MHz using only 7 bits. In embodiments of the present invention, for ease of discussion, it is shown that the “RU allocation” subfield includes 9 bits.

[0221] For example, the receiving device can determine the subcarrier index information corresponding to the corresponding index information based on the index information of the “RU allocation” subfield by using a mapping table stored therein. Here, the mapping table may include, for example, [reference to later] Figures 14 to 16B The table described. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the index information related to the "RU allocation" subfield (e.g., Figure 14 The index of columns B7 to B1 of the "RU allocation subfield") corresponds to the subcarrier index information (i.e., the "RU start index" and "RU end index" corresponding to the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the receiving device, for example, Figure 14 The indexes in the "RU", "S", and "E" columns can collectively indicate the subcarrier index within the specified RU range, or, depending on the circumstances, indicate the subcarrier index outside the specified RU range to avoid additional interpolation.

[0222] As mentioned above, in Figure 12 Unlike HE NDPA frames, NDPA frames include a “RU allocation” subfield instead of a “partial BW information” subfield, and the transmitting device can set the segment that will be fed back by the corresponding device through the “RU allocation” subfield.

[0223] Here, refer to Figure 13 This example shows the RU size based on the value of the "RU allocation" subfield. Specifically, it shows examples of the RU size and RU location based on the value of the "RU allocation" subfield of the RU index.

[0224] In addition, refer to Figures 13 to 16B Examples of subcarrier indexing based on the value of the “RU allocation” subfield are shown in bandwidths of 20MHz, 40MHz, and 80MHz. Specifically, examples of the “RU start index (“S”)” and “RU end index (“E”)” are shown in each bandwidth based on the value of the “RU allocation” subfield, the RU size, and the RU index. Figure 14 A 20MHz example is shown. Figure 15 A 40MHz example is shown, and Figure 16A and Figure 16B An 80MHz example is shown.

[0225] For reference, Figures 14 to 16B In the table shown, in the "RU allocation" subfield, only the "7 bits (i.e., B7 to B1)" used to indicate information about the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the receiving device are shown in the "9 bits", and the remaining "2 bits (B8 (LSB) and B0 (MSB)" used to indicate which frequency band the channel feedback segment of the receiving device belongs to are not shown.

[0226] Although not shown in the diagram, the "2 bits (B8 and B0)" used to indicate which frequency band the channel feedback segment of the receiving device belongs to can be set, for example, as follows:

[0227] -When DL BW = 320MHz and the corresponding receiver's channel feedback segment is the dominant 160MHz, => [B8 B0] = [0 0];

[0228] -When DL BW = 320MHz and the corresponding receiver's channel feedback segment belongs to the secondary 160MHz of the higher 80MHz, => [B8 B0] = [1 1];

[0229] - When DL BW = 240MHz and the corresponding receiver's channel feedback segment belongs to the main 80MHz, => [B8B0] = [x 0] (x can be 0 or 1);

[0230] -When DL BW = 240MHz and the corresponding receiver's channel feedback segment is not in the main 80MHz but in the 160MHz range => [B8 B0] = [0 1];

[0231] -When DL BW = 160 + 80MHz and the corresponding channel feedback segment of the receiver is at the higher end of 80MHz within 160MHz, => [B8 B0] = [1 1];

[0232] - When DL BW = 160MHz and the corresponding receiver’s channel feedback segment is the main 80MHz, => [B8B0] = [x 0] (x is 0 or 1).

[0233] because Figure 14 and Figure 16B The descriptions of the "7 bits (B7 to B1)" and "2 bits (B8 and B0)" in the "RU allocation" subfield shown are merely examples, so... Figure 12 The “RU allocation” subfield is not limited to Figure 14 and Figure 16B The table shown and the description above.

[0234] As described above, the receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) can determine the channel feedback segment assigned to it based on the "RU allocation" subfield in the NDPA frame received from the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer). That is, the receiving device can determine the channel feedback segment assigned to it based on the "RU allocation" subfield. Figures 13 to 16B The information is represented in the table. Furthermore, the receiving device can measure the channel state information corresponding to the subcarriers in the subcarrier index range mapped to the “RU start index” and “RU end index” based on the determined channel feedback segment, and can feed back the measured channel state information to the AP (or HE beamformer).

[0235] On the other hand, Figure 12 In an NDPA frame, each STA information field in the STA information field may include, for example, 32 bits. In this case, the "disambiguation" subfield can be inserted at bit 27 using the "disambiguation" subfield insertion method described above. Furthermore, to indicate that the corresponding NDPA frame is an EHT NDPA frame, the two bits of the probe dialogue token field can be assigned to "00, 01, or 11". Figure 12 Each STA information field in the STA information field may include bits other than the 32 bits. However, according to embodiments of the present invention, for ease of discussion, it is shown that... Figure 12 Each STA information field in the STA information field consists of 32 bits.

[0236] When the user information field in the NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, when the transmitting device will Figure 12 When the NDPA frame shown is sent to a receiving device that has multiple RUs (Receiving Units) designated as channel feedback segments, each receiving device feeds back only the channel status information assigned to it by the transmitting device based on the received NDPA frame. Therefore, unnecessary overhead during the feedback of channel status information can be prevented.

[0237] As described above, an example of a user information field in an NDPA frame according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured to support multiple RU designations and the 802.11be standard (or a standard derived from the 802.11be standard).

[0238] Therefore, as Figure 17A and Figure 17B As shown, although multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver), when the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) is based on the above references Figure 12 The partial bandwidth feedback method described in the embodiment of the present invention, when setting the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device, can prevent increased overhead during the feedback of channel state information.

[0239] For reference, Figure 17A and Figure 17B The diagram shows that 484+2X996 multiple RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the first receiving device STA#1, and 484 individual RUs are designated as RUs to be measured by the second receiving device STA#2.

[0240] For example, when the transmitting device is based on the above reference Figure 12 When setting the channel feedback segment of the first and second receiving devices using the partial bandwidth feedback method described, the value (i.e., 9 bits) of the "RU allocation" subfield in the STA information field (i.e., STA information 2) of the second receiving device STA#2 can be changed to "001000001", and the "RU start index and RU end index" corresponding to "001000001" can be changed to "18 and 35". Furthermore, in this case, the value (i.e., 9 bits) of the "RU allocation" subfield in the STA information field (i.e., STA information 1) of the first receiving device STA#1 can be changed to "001010111", and the "RU start index and RU end index" corresponding to "001010111" can be changed to "0, 17" or "36, 111".

[0241] Therefore, the first receiving device STA#1 can only feed back the channel state information of the channel feedback segment designated as its channel feedback segment to the transmitting device, without repeatedly feeding back the channel state information of the second 484RU (i.e., RU indices 18 to 35) designated as the channel feedback segment of the second receiving device STA#2. In other words, because the first receiving device STA#1 does not feed back the channel state information of the channel feedback segment not designated as its channel feedback segment to the transmitting device, unnecessary overhead increases during the feedback of channel state information can be prevented.

[0242] Because various examples of the user information field (i.e., the STA information field) in the NDPA frame according to embodiments of the present invention have been implemented as described above, reference will be made below. Figure 18 and Figure 19 Various examples of MIMO control fields (i.e., MIMO control fields) in compressed beamforming frames / CQI according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0243] Figure 18 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 19 This is a diagram illustrating another example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0244] For reference, when the wireless communication device 200 is a station, Figure 18 and Figure 19 The compressed beamforming frame described in the text can be derived from... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The wireless communication device 200 shown is generated, or when the wireless communication device 200 is an access point (AP), Figure 18 and Figure 19 The compressed beamforming frame described in the text can be derived from... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The wireless communication device 200 shown performs decoding. Compressed beamforming frames can be transmitted from the receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) to the transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer).

[0245] Reference Figure 18 An example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0246] Figure 18 This illustrates a MIMO control field comprising multiple partial bandwidths (two or more partial bandwidths, where each of the two or more partial bandwidths may include a set of one or more adjacent RUs; for example, Figure 8A The two 996RUs are configured with a partial bandwidth of compressed beamforming frames corresponding to the subcarrier index information entries. That is, when a transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) requests a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) to transmit channel state information on multiple RUs via NDPA frames, Figure 18 A compressed beamforming frame may include multiple partial bandwidth information subfields in a single MIMO control field, wherein each partial bandwidth information subfield indicates a subcarrier index corresponding to a partial bandwidth (for reference, partial bandwidths are not adjacent to each other). That is, the receiving device may use the same index as the transmitting device (e.g., the value of [S, E] matching the RU index) to represent the "first subcarrier index information" and "last subcarrier index information" corresponding to each RU in the MIMO control field, as will be described in detail below. For example, for ease of discussion, an embodiment of the present invention, comprising two partial bandwidth information subfields in a single MIMO control field, is used as an example.

[0247] Specifically, although not shown in the figures, the compressed beamforming frame may be included in the payload of the PPDU (more specifically, the data field of the payload). The compressed beamforming frame may include the MIMO control field (i.e., the MIMO control field).

[0248] The MIMO control fields may also include a "Second RU Start-End Index Existence" subfield, in addition to the "Nc Index" subfield, "Nr Index" subfield, "BW" subfield, "Package" subfield, "Codebook Information" subfield, "Feedback Type" subfield, "Remaining Feedback Segment" subfield, "First Feedback Segment" subfield, "RU Start Index" subfield, "RU End Index" subfield, "Probe Token" subfield, "Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping Existence" subfield, "Reserved" subfield (arranged before the "Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping" subfield), "Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping" subfield, and "Reserved" subfield (arranged after the "Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping" subfield).

[0249] Here, as Figure 18 As shown, some of the following subfields can be configured according to the 802.11ax standard: “Nc Index”, “Nr Index”, “BW”, “Group”, “Codebook Information”, “Feedback Type”, “Remaining Feedback Segment”, “First Feedback Segment”, “RU Start Index”, “RU End Index”, “Probe Token”, “Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap Existence”, “Reserved” (arranged before “Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap”), “Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap”, and “Reserved” (arranged after “Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap”), and other subfields can be newly configured according to the 802.11be standard or standards derived from the 802.11be standard.

[0250] Specifically, each of the "RU Start Index" and "RU End Index" subfields may include, for example, 8 bits to represent a bandwidth of up to 320 MHz according to the 802.11be standard. Therefore, each of the "RU Start Index" and "RU End Index" subfields may include, for example, an index of one of 0 to 255. Each of the "RU Start Index" and "RU End Index" subfields may include bits less than 8 bits (e.g., 4, 6, or 7 bits).

[0251] Furthermore, the "RU Start Index" and "RU End Index" subfields can be configured with partial bandwidth information subfields. These partial bandwidth information subfields include subcarrier index information corresponding to a portion of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device. Specifically, the partial bandwidth information subfields can include a first partial bandwidth start index subfield and a first partial bandwidth end index subfield. The first partial bandwidth start index subfield includes first subcarrier index information corresponding to the partial bandwidth, and the first partial bandwidth end index subfield includes last subcarrier index information corresponding to the partial bandwidth. Moreover, the first partial bandwidth start index subfield can correspond to the "RU Start Index" subfield, and the first partial bandwidth end index subfield can correspond to the "RU End Index" subfield.

[0252] In an embodiment, the “Second RU start-end index exists” subfield includes 1 bit and indicates whether additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided in addition to the partial bandwidth.

[0253] In other words, Figure 18 Unlike HE compressed beamforming frames, compressed beamforming frames also include a "Second RU start-end index present" subfield, and the receiving device can determine whether the additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device is using the "Second RU start-end index present" subfield.

[0254] Specifically, when additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Second RU start-end index exists" subfield can be "1", and when no additional bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device is provided, the value of the "Second RU start-end index exists" subfield can be "0".

[0255] Furthermore, when additional bandwidth for the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided (i.e., when the value of the "Second RU Start-End Index Exists" subfield is "1"), the MIMO control field may also include the "Second RU Start Index" subfield and the "Second RU End Index" subfield. On the other hand, when no additional bandwidth for the channel feedback segment designated for the corresponding receiving device is provided (i.e., when the value of the "Second RU Start-End Index Exists" subfield is "0"), the MIMO control field only includes the "RU Start Index" subfield and the "RU End Index" subfield as partial bandwidth-related index subfields.

[0256] Here, each of the "Second RU Start Index" and "Second RU End Index" subfields may include 8 bits to represent a bandwidth of up to 320 MHz according to the 802.11be standard. Therefore, each of the "Second RU Start Index" and "Second RU End Index" subfields may include, for example, one of indices from 0 to 255. However, each of the "Second RU Start Index" and "Second RU End Index" subfields may include bits less than 8 bits (e.g., 4, 6, or 7 bits).

[0257] Furthermore, the "Second RU Start Index" and "Second RU End Index" subfields can be configured with additional partial bandwidth information subfields. These additional partial bandwidth information subfields include subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the corresponding receiving device. That is, the additional partial bandwidth information subfields can include a second partial bandwidth start index subfield and a second partial bandwidth end index subfield. The second partial bandwidth start index subfield includes first subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth, and the second partial bandwidth end index subfield includes last subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth. Moreover, the second partial bandwidth start index subfield can correspond to the "Second RU Start Index" subfield, and the second partial bandwidth end index subfield can correspond to the "Second RU End Index" subfield.

[0258] For reference, the “Second RU Start Index” and “Second RU End Index” subfields can be placed after the “Second RU Start-End Index Exists” subfield and can be set in the MIMO control field.

[0259] Because the MIMO control field in the compressed beamforming frame is configured as described above according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the transmitting device will Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 12 When the NDPA frame shown in one example is sent to a receiving device that has multiple RUs (Receiving Units) designated as channel feedback segments, including multiple partial bandwidths, the corresponding receiving device can use... Figure 18 The MIMO control field in the compressed beamforming frame shown only feeds back the channel status information assigned to it by the transmitting device. Therefore, unnecessary overhead increases during the feedback of channel status information can be prevented.

[0260] As described above, an example of the MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured to support multiple RU designations and the 802.11be standard (or a standard derived from the 802.11be standard).

[0261] Reference Figure 19This illustrates another example of a MIMO control field in a compressed beamforming frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0262] and Figure 18 different, Figure 19 The diagram illustrates a compressed beamforming frame with an added RU allocation subfield instead of a partial bandwidth information subfield (i.e., a partial bandwidth start / end index subfield) to include multiple partial bandwidths (two or more partial bandwidths, where each partial bandwidth may include one RU or a set of multiple adjacent RUs; for example) in the MIMO control field. Figure 8A The two 996RUs are configured with a corresponding subcarrier index information item (one portion of the bandwidth). That is, when a transmitting device (e.g., an AP or HE beamformer) requests a receiving device (e.g., a station or HE beamforming receiver) to send channel state information about multiple RUs via an NDPA frame, Figure 19 The compressed beamforming frame includes an RU allocation subfield that indicates the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device in the MIMO control field, which will be described in detail below.

[0263] Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, a compressed beamforming frame may be included in the payload of the PPDU (more specifically, the data field of the payload). The compressed beamforming frame may include a MIMO control field (i.e., the MIMO control field).

[0264] In addition to the “Nc Index” subfield, “Nr Index” subfield, “BW” subfield, “Group” subfield, “Codebook Information” subfield, “Feedback Type” subfield, “Remaining Feedback Segment” subfield, “First Feedback Segment” subfield, “Probe Dialogue Token” subfield, “Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping Existence” subfield, “Reserved” subfield (arranged before the “Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping” subfield), “Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping” subfield, and “Reserved” subfield (arranged after the “Disallowed Subchannel Bit Mapping” subfield), the MIMO control field may also include the “RU Allocation” subfield.

[0265] Here, as Figure 19As shown, some of the subfields, including "Nc Index", "Nr Index", "BW", "Group", "Codebook Information", "Feedback Type", "Remaining Feedback Segment", "First Feedback Segment", "Probe Token Number", "Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap Existence", "Reserved" (arranged before "Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap"), "Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap", and "Reserved" (arranged after "Disallowed Subchannel Bitmap"), can be configured according to the 802.11ax standard, and other subfields can be newly configured according to the 802.11be standard.

[0266] Specifically, the "RU allocation" subfield may include, for example, a specific location (e.g., 9 bits). For example, the subfield may include... Figure 12 The "RU allocation" subfield uses the same bits to indicate a bandwidth of up to 320 MHz according to the 802.11be standard, and may include index information of the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the corresponding receiving device. The RU index information can indicate the size and location of the corresponding RU.

[0267] If representing a bandwidth of 320MHz, the “RU allocation” subfield may include bits other than 9 bits (e.g., not less than 10 bits or not more than 8 bits). For example, when the size of the RU is not set to a 26-frequency modulation RU but to a 242-frequency modulation RU, the “RU allocation” subfield may represent a bandwidth of 320MHz using only 7 bits. In embodiments of the present invention, for ease of discussion, it is shown that the “RU allocation” subfield includes 9 bits.

[0268] For example, the transmitting device can determine the subcarrier index information corresponding to the corresponding index information based on the index information of the “RU allocation” subfield by using a mapping table stored therein. Here, the mapping table may include, for example, [reference to later] Figures 14 to 16B The table described. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the subcarrier index information corresponding to the index information of the “RU allocation” subfield (e.g., the “RU start index” and “RU end index” corresponding to the specified RU) together indicate the subcarrier index within the specified RU range, or may indicate the subcarrier index outside the specified RU range, depending on the circumstances, to avoid additional interpolation.

[0269] As mentioned above, in Figure 19 In the compressed beamforming frame, unlike the HE compressed beamforming frame, a new "RU allocation" subfield can be added instead of the "RU start index" and "RU end index" subfields, and the receiving device can display the segment fed back by the corresponding receiving device using the "RU allocation" subfield.

[0270] Therefore, the transmitting device (e.g., AP or HE beamformer) can determine the channel segment fed back to it based on the “RU allocation” subfield in the compressed beamforming frame received from the receiving device (e.g., station or HE beamforming receiver).

[0271] Because the MIMO control field in the compressed beamforming frame is configured as described above according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the transmitting device will Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 12 When the NDPA frame shown in one example is sent to a receiving device that has multiple RUs (Receiving Units) designated as channel feedback segments, including multiple partial bandwidths, the corresponding receiving device can use... Figure 19 The MIMO control field in the compressed beamforming frame shown only feeds back the channel status information assigned to it by the transmitting device. Therefore, unnecessary overhead increases during the feedback of channel status information can be prevented.

[0272] As described above, the MIMO control field in the compressed beamforming frame of an embodiment of the present invention can be configured to support multiple RU designations and the 802.11be standard (or a standard derived from the 802.11be standard).

[0273] As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, the data transmission rate can be increased by preventing unnecessary overhead during the feedback of channel state information through devices and methods in a WLAN system that enable users to effectively provide feedback of channel state information.

[0274] Figure 20 This is a table illustrating the values ​​of the probe dialogue token field according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 20 The table representation is as shown above. Figure 5 The NDPA frame includes the values ​​of certain bits in the probe dialogue token field and the corresponding version of the NDPA frame. In some embodiments, Figure 20 The “range” and “HE / VHT” correspond to “B0(LSB)” and “B1” in the probe dialogue token field.

[0275] As mentioned above, the 2 bits of the probe dialogue token field can represent the standard of the NDPA frame. For example, such as... Figure 20As shown, two "00" bits can represent a VHT NDPA frame, two "01" bits can represent an HE NDPA frame, two "10" bits can represent a range NDPA frame (or an 802.11az NDPA frame), and two "11" bits can represent an EHT NDPA frame. Therefore, there are limitations to using two bits of the probe session token field to represent the version of an NDPA frame for any next-generation standard after EHT (hereinafter referred to as EHT+) (i.e., the 802.11be standard), and a new method for representing the version of an NDPA frame may be needed. For this purpose, see reference later. Figure 22 , 25 As described in 27, an NDPA frame may include an NDPA version subfield that represents the version of the NDPA frame (which may be referred to herein as the NDPA version).

[0276] Figure 21 This is a message diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA frames according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 21 The message diagram illustrates the operation of AP 21, which provides NDPA frames, and station 22, which receives NDPA frames. In this document, the device used to provide NDPA frames (such as AP 21) may be referred to as the first device, and the device used to receive NDPA frames (such as station 22) may be referred to as the second device.

[0277] Reference Figure 21 During operation S10, AP 21 generates an NDPA frame. (Refer to the above.) Figure 20 The NDPA frame includes an NDPA version subfield. AP 21 can generate NDPA frames containing the NDPA version subfield. (See below for further details.) Figure 23A , Figure 26A and Figure 28A Describe an example of operation S10.

[0278] In operation S20, AP 21 generates a PPDU. For example, AP 21 may generate a PPDU with a payload that includes the NDPA frame generated in operation S10. In operation S30, AP 21 transmits the PPDU, and station 22 receives the PPDU.

[0279] In operation S40, station 22 extracts the NDPA frame. For example, station 22 can extract the NDPA frame from the payload of the PPDU received in operation S30. (See below for further details.) Figure 30A An example describing the structure of a PPDU.

[0280] In operation S50, station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield. For example, station 22 extracts the NDPA version subfield from the NDPA frame extracted in operation S40. As will be described later with reference to the accompanying drawings, the NDPA version subfield can be included in the NDPA frame in various ways, and will be described later with reference to... Figure 23B , Figure 26B and Figure 28B Describe an example of operation S50.

[0281] In operation S60, station 22 identifies the protocol version (e.g., 802.11 standard). For example, station 22 may identify the protocol version (e.g., EHT or EHT+) corresponding to the value of the NDPA version subfield extracted in operation S50.

[0282] In operation S70, station 22 decodes the NDPA frame. For example, station 22 may decode the NDPA frame based on the protocol version identified in operation S60. In some embodiments, the NDPA frame may have a structure (e.g., field configuration) that varies according to the protocol version, and station 22 can correctly identify the information included in the NDPA frame by decoding the NDPA frame based on the identified protocol version.

[0283] Figure 22 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 22 The NDPA frame and the STA information field included in the NDPA frame are shown. In some embodiments, Figure 22 NDPA frames can be used with EHT or EHT+. Previous references will be omitted below. Figure 22 The given description.

[0284] like Figure 22 As shown, an NDPA frame may include a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS field. An NDPA frame may include the frame control field, duration field, RA field, and TA field in the MAC header, and the probe dialogue field and n STA information fields in the frame body, where n is an integer greater than 0. Figure 22 In the example, the NDPA version subfield may be included in the STA information field within the frame body of the NDPA frame. In some embodiments, the NDPA frame may have a similar subfield to the STA information field within the frame body of the NDPA frame. Figure 22 The field configurations and / or lengths shown are different.

[0285] In this embodiment, the STA information field has a length of 4 bytes and includes a "AID 11" subfield, a "NDPA version" subfield (or an NDPA version subfield), a "partial BW information" subfield, a "codebook size" subfield, a "feedback type and Ng" subfield, a "disambiguation" subfield, and an "Nc" subfield. In some embodiments, the STA information field may have the same... Figure 22 The subfield configurations and / or lengths shown are different. For example, the STA information field may have a length of 2K bytes, where k is an integer greater than 0. Furthermore, the "NDPA Version" subfield may be arranged in conjunction with... Figure 22 The positions shown are different.

[0286] References above Figure 5 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 Compared to the described STA information fields, the STA information fields may include a 9-bit "Partial BW Information" subfield and a 3-bit "NDPA Version" subfield. The "NDPA Version" subfield may have a value indicating the protocol version. See below for further details. Figure 23A and Figure 23B Description based on Figure 22 An example of a wireless communication method for NDPA frames.

[0287] Figure 23A and Figure 23B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 23A The flowchart shows Figure 21 An example of operation S10, and Figure 23B The flowchart shows Figure 21 An example of operation S50. In some embodiments, Figure 23A Operation S10a and Figure 23B The operation of S50a can be based on the above reference. Figure 22 The STA information field includes an NDPA version subfield. In some embodiments, Figure 23A Operation S10a can be performed by Figure 21 AP 21 is executed, and Figure 23B The operation of S50a can be performed by Figure 21 The execution will be carried out at station 22. This will be referred to in the following text. Figure 21 and Figure 22 describe Figure 23A and Figure 23B .

[0288] Reference Figure 23A In operation S10a, AP 21 generates the STA information field included in the NDPA frame. For example... Figure 23AAs shown, operation S10a includes operations S11, S12, and S13. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 23A Operations S11, S12, and S13 are executed in different orders as shown, and at least two of operations S11, S12, and S13 can be executed in parallel.

[0289] In operation S11, a partial bandwidth information subfield is generated. For example, AP 21 can generate the following reference: Figure 22 The 9-bit partial bandwidth information subfield. In some embodiments, the 9-bit partial bandwidth information subfield may have a format defined by EHT (i.e., the 802.11be standard).

[0290] In operation S12, the NDPA version subfield is generated. For example, AP 21 can generate the version as shown above. Figure 22 The aforementioned 3-bit partial bandwidth information subfield. In some embodiments, as referred to later... Figure 30A The NDPA version subfield may have the same format as the "PHY version ID" subfield included in the PPDU preamble. In some embodiments, as will be discussed later... Figure 30B The NDPA version subfield may include at least one bit representing the major version of the protocol and at least one bit representing the minor version of the protocol.

[0291] In operation S13, the disambiguation subfield is set to "1". As described above, to prevent VHT stations that recognize 2-byte STA information fields from incorrectly recognizing STA information fields of at least 4 bytes in length in HE, EHT, or EHT+, a "disambiguation" subfield can be set at the position corresponding to "B10" of the "AID11" subfield, and the "disambiguation" subfield can be set to have the value "1". For example, as Figure 22 As shown, the "disambiguation" subfield can be located in "B27" of the STA information subfield, and AP 21 can set the "disambiguation" subfield to "1".

[0292] Reference Figure 23B In operation S50a, station 22 extracts the NDPA version subfield. For example... Figure 23B As shown, operation S50a includes operations S51 and S52. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 23B The operations S51 and S52 can be executed in different orders as shown, or they can be executed in parallel.

[0293] In operation S51, the user information field is identified. For example, station 22 can identify the STA information field generated by AP 21 for station 22 from one or more STA information fields included in the NDPA frame. See later... Figure 24 Describe an example of operation S51.

[0294] In operation S52, the NDPA version subfield is extracted from the user information field. For example, station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the user information field identified in operation S51. (See above for reference.) Figure 22 The NDPA version subfield can be set at a predetermined position in the STA information field, and station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the STA information field.

[0295] Figure 24 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 24 The flowchart shows Figure 23B Example of operation S51. See above for reference. Figure 23B As mentioned above, in Figure 24 Operation S51' identifies user information fields. For example... Figure 24 As shown, operation S51' includes operations S51_1, S51_2, and S51_3. In some embodiments, it can be performed by... Figure 21 Station 22 performs operation S51', and will be referred to below. Figure 21 and Figure 22 describe Figure 24 .

[0296] Reference Figure 24 In operation S51_1, it is determined whether the value of the AID subfield is the same as the value of the AID (i.e., the STA of station 22). For example, in order to identify a STA information field that includes an AID subfield with a value that is the same as the value of the AID of station 22 provided by AP 21, station 22 compares the value of the "AID 11" subfield included in the STA information field with the value of the AID of station 22. Figure 24 As shown, when it is determined that the value of the AID subfield is the same as the AID value of station 22, operation S51_2 is then executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the AID subfield is not the same as the AID value of station 22, operation S51' is terminated. In some embodiments, operation S51_2 may be omitted, and when it is determined in operation S51_1 that the value of the AID subfield is the same as the AID value of station 22, operation S51_3 may then be executed.

[0297] In operation S51_2, determine whether the value of the disambiguation field is "1". For example, refer to the above. Figure 22As stated above, because the value of the "disambiguation" subfield is "1" in standards after VHT (e.g., HE, EHT, and EHT+), the value of the "disambiguation" subfield in the STA information field, which includes the NDPA version subfield, can also be "1". Therefore, station 22 can verify the value of the "disambiguation" subfield in the STA information field. Figure 24 As shown, when the value of the disambiguation field is determined to be "1", operation S51_3 can be subsequently executed. On the other hand, when the value of the disambiguation field is determined not to be "1", operation S51' can be terminated. Finally, when the user information field is not identified in operation S51', that is, when operation S51_3 is not executed in operation S51', station 22 can execute operation S51' again for another STA information field included in the NDPA frame.

[0298] Figure 25 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 25 The NDPA frame and the common information fields included in the NDPA frame are shown. In some embodiments, Figure 25 NDPA frames can be used with EHT or EHT+. Previous references will be omitted below. Figure 25 The given description.

[0299] like Figure 25 As shown, an NDPA frame may include a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS field. An NDPA frame may include the Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field in the MAC header, and the Probe Dialogue field, Common Information field, and n STA Information fields in the frame body, where n is an integer greater than 0. Figure 25 In the example shown, the NDPA version subfield may be included in the public information field of the NDPA frame body. In some embodiments, the NDPA frame may have a... Figure 25 The field configurations and / or lengths shown are different.

[0300] In this embodiment, the public information field is 2 bytes long and includes an "AID 11" subfield and an "NDPA version" subfield. In some embodiments, the public information field may have the same characteristics as... Figure 25 The subfield configurations shown are different from the subfield configurations and / or lengths shown. For example, the public information field may have a length of 2K bytes (k is an integer greater than 0). Furthermore, the "NDPA Version" subfield may be arranged in conjunction with... Figure 25 The positions shown are different.

[0301] The public information field may include public information for one or more subsequent STA information fields. For example, the protocol version represented by the "NDPA Version" subfield included in the public information field may be public to one or more STA information fields following the public information field. Therefore, at least one STA information field may have a structure based on the protocol version corresponding to the value of the "NDPA Version" subfield of the public information field. Thus, with Figure 22 Compared to NDPA frames, when an NDPA frame includes multiple STA information fields, the redundancy of the "NDPA version" subfield can be reduced.

[0302] The value of the "AID 11" subfield in the public information field can be set so that stations supporting legacy protocol versions (such as VHT or HE) that do not define a public information field will not mistakenly identify the public information field as a STA information field. For example, the "AID 11" subfield included in the public information field may have a reserved value in legacy protocol versions.

[0303] Figure 26A and Figure 26B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 26A The flowchart shows Figure 21 Example of operation S10, Figure 26B The flowchart shows Figure 21 An example of operation S50. In some embodiments, Figure 26A Operation S10b and Figure 26B The operation of S50b can be based on the above reference. Figure 25 The aforementioned public information field includes an NDPA version subfield. In some embodiments, it may be provided by... Figure 21 AP 21 execution Figure 26A Operation S10b, and can be performed by Figure 21 Station 22 execution Figure 26B The operation of S50b will be described below. Figure 21 and Figure 25 describe Figure 26A and Figure 26B .

[0304] Reference Figure 26A In operation S10b, AP 21 generates the common information fields included in the NDPA frame. For example... Figure 26A As shown, operation S10b includes operations S14 and S15. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 26A The operations S14 and S15 can be executed in different orders as shown, or they can be executed in parallel.

[0305] In operation S14, the operation of setting the AID subfield is performed. For example, AP 21 can set the "AID 11" subfield included in the public information field to have an invalid value in the "AID 11" subfield of the STA information field. In some embodiments, as referred to above... Figure 25 As described above, AP 21 may set the “AID 11” subfield included in the public information field to have a reserved value, such as one of the values ​​2008 to 2044 in VHT and HE, in order to prevent stations that support VHT and / or HE from mistakenly identifying the public information field as the STA information field.

[0306] In operation S15, generate the NDPA version subfield. For example, refer to the above. Figure 25 The AP21 can generate a 3-bit partial bandwidth information subfield. In some embodiments, as will be described later... Figure 30A The NDPA version subfield may have the same format as the "PHY version ID" subfield included in the PPDU preamble. In some embodiments, as will be discussed later... Figure 30B The NDPA version subfield may include at least one bit representing the major version of the protocol and at least one bit representing the minor version of the protocol.

[0307] Reference Figure 26B In the S50b operation, station 22 extracts the NDPA version subfield. For example... Figure 26B As shown, operation S50b includes operations S53 and S54. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 26B The operations S53 and S54 can be executed in different orders as shown, or they can be executed in parallel.

[0308] In operation S53, a public information field is identified. For example, station 22 may identify a public information field based on the value of an AID subfield. As described above, a public information field may include a "AID 11" subfield with a unique value, and station 22 may identify a field that includes a "AID 11" subfield with a value corresponding to the public information field as a public information field.

[0309] In operation S54, the NDPA version subfield is extracted from the public information field. For example, station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the public information field identified in operation S53. (See above for reference.) Figure 25 The NDPA version subfield can be set at a predetermined location in the public information field, and station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the public information field. In some embodiments, station 22 can decode the STA information field based on the value of the extracted NDPA version subfield.

[0310] Figure 27This is a diagram illustrating the structure of an NDPA frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 27 The NDPA frame and the common information fields included in the NDPA frame are shown. In some embodiments, Figure 27 NDPA frames can be used with EHT or EHT+. Previous references will be omitted below. Figure 25 The given description.

[0311] like Figure 27 As shown, an NDPA frame may include a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS field. An NDPA frame may include the frame control field, duration field, RA field, and TA field in the MAC header, and the probe dialogue field, first common information field F10, n STA information fields G1, second common information field F20, and m STA information fields G2 in the frame body, where m and n are integers greater than 0. Figure 27 In the example, the NDPA version subfield is included in the public information field, namely, the first public information field F10 and the second public information field F20 in the frame body of the NDPA frame. In some embodiments, with Figure 27 As shown, NDPA frames may include three or more common information fields, unlike those shown.

[0312] and Figure 25 Compared to standard NDPA frames, NDPA frames can include multiple common information fields. For example, such as... Figure 27 As shown, an NDPA frame may include a first public information field F10 and a second public information field F20. The public information field may include public information from one or more subsequent user information fields. For example, as... Figure 27 As shown, the first public information field F10 may include public information from n STA information fields G1, and the second public information field F20 may include public information from m STA information fields. Figure 27 As shown, the first public information field F10 may include an "AID 11" subfield F11 and an "NDPA version" subfield F12, and the second public information field F20 may include an "AID 11" subfield F21 and an "NDPA version" subfield F22. In some embodiments, the first public information field F10 and the second public information field F20 may have the same characteristics as... Figure 27 The subfield configurations shown are different and / or have different lengths.

[0313] In some embodiments, the first public information field F10 and the second public information field F20 may be represented by different protocol versions. For example, the first public information field F10 may include an "NDPA version" subfield F12 with a value corresponding to EHT, and the second public information field F20 may include an "NDPA version" subfield F22 with a value corresponding to EHT+. Therefore, the n STA information fields G1 following the first public information field F10 may have an EHT-based format, and the m STA information fields G2 following the second public information field F20 may have an EHT+-based format. Therefore, in Figure 27 In an NDPA frame, the STA information field can be grouped using the common information field.

[0314] Figure 28A and Figure 28B This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 28A The flowchart shows Figure 21 Example of operation S10, Figure 28B The flowchart shows Figure 21 An example of operation S50. In some embodiments, Figure 28A Operation S10c and Figure 28B The operation S50c can be based on multiple public information fields, each including an NDPA version subfield. In some embodiments, it can be performed by... Figure 21 AP 21 execution Figure 28A Operation S10c, and can be performed by Figure 21 Station 22 execution Figure 28B The operation of S50c. In the following text, reference will be made to... Figure 21 and Figure 27 describe Figure 28A and Figure 28B .

[0315] Reference Figure 28A During operation S10c, AP 21 generates the common information fields included in the NDPA frame. For example... Figure 28A As shown, operation S10c includes multiple operations S16 to S19. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 26A The sequences shown are different, and multiple operations S16 to S19 are executed in sequence, and at least two of the multiple operations S16 to S19 can be executed in parallel.

[0316] In operation S16, at least one first user information field is generated, and the at least one first user information field may correspond to a first protocol version. For example, AP 21 may generate at least one first STA information field for at least one station that supports EHT.

[0317] In operation S17, at least one second user information field is generated, and the at least one second user information field may correspond to a second protocol version. For example, AP 21 may generate at least one second STA information field for at least one station that supports EHT+.

[0318] In operation S18, a first public information field is generated. For example, AP 21 may generate a first public information field that includes public information from at least one first user information field corresponding to the EHT. Therefore, as referred to above... Figure 27 The first public information field may include an "NDPA version" subfield with a value corresponding to the EHT. Furthermore, AP 21 may generate an NDPA frame such that at least one first user information field follows the first public information field.

[0319] In operation S19, a second public information field is generated. For example, AP 21 may generate a second public information field that includes public information from at least one second user information field corresponding to EHT+. Therefore, as referred to above... Figure 27 The second public information field may include an "NDPA version" subfield having a value corresponding to EHT+. Furthermore, AP 21 may generate an NDPA frame such that at least one second user information field follows the second public information field.

[0320] In some embodiments, the value of the "AID 11" subfield included in the first public information field may differ from the value of the "AID 11" subfield included in the second public information field. For example, AP 21 may set the value of the "AID 11" subfield included in the first public information field to a first value among the reserved values ​​in the legacy protocol version, and may set the value of the "AID 11" subfield included in the second public information field to a second value among the reserved values ​​in the legacy protocol version. In some embodiments, AP 21 may set the value of the "AID 11" subfield and the value of the "NDPA version" subfield according to the protocol version.

[0321] Reference Figure 28B In the S50c operation, station 22 extracts the NDPA version subfield. For example... Figure 28B As shown, operation S50c includes operations S55 and S56. In some embodiments, it can be performed in conjunction with... Figure 28B The operations S55 and S56 are executed in different orders as shown, or they can be executed in parallel.

[0322] In operation S55, common information fields are identified. For example, station 22 can identify the common information field that includes information about station 22 among the multiple common information fields included in the NDPA frame. This will be discussed later. Figure 29Describe an example of operation S55.

[0323] In operation S56, the NDPA version subfield is extracted from the public information field. For example, station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the public information field identified in operation S55. (See above for reference.) Figure 27 The NDPA version subfield can be set at a predetermined location in the public information field, and station 22 can extract the NDPA version subfield from the public information field. In some embodiments, station 22 can decode the STA information field based on the value of the extracted NDPA version subfield.

[0324] Figure 29 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a wireless communication method based on enhanced NDPA according to a concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 29 The flowchart shows Figure 28B Example of operation S55. See above for reference. Figure 28B As mentioned above, in Figure 29 Operation S55' identifies public information fields. For example... Figure 29 As shown, operation S55' includes operations S55_1 and S55_2. In some embodiments, it can be performed by... Figure 21 Station 22 performs operation S55', and will be referred to below. Figure 21 and Figure 27 describe Figure 29 .

[0325] Reference Figure 29 In operation S55_1, the user information field is identified. In some embodiments, station 22 can perform... Figure 24 The operation S51' is used to identify the user information field.

[0326] In operation S55_3, common information fields preceding the user information field are identified. For example, in operation S55_1, station 22 can identify common information fields preceding the user information field identified in the NDPA frame. Station 22 can extract information from the identified common information fields and can perform channel sounding based on the extracted information and the information included in the user information field.

[0327] Figure 30A and Figure 30B This is a diagram illustrating an example of an NDPA version subfield according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 30A The PPDU and the Universal Signal (U-SIG) field included in the PPDU are shown, and Figure 30B An exemplary format for the NDPA version subfield is shown.

[0328] Reference Figure 30AIn this embodiment, the NDPA version subfield has the same format as the "PHY version ID" subfield included in the PPDU preamble. For example, as Figure 30A As shown, an EHT MU (Multi-User) PPDU may include a preamble and a payload. The preamble includes training fields and signaling fields, and the payload includes data fields. An EHT MU PPDU may include the following preamble fields: Traditional Short Training Field (L-STF), Traditional Long Training Field (L-LTF), Traditional Signaling Field (L-SIG), Repeated Traditional Signaling Field (RL-SIG), Universal Signaling Field (U-SIG), Extremely High Throughput Signaling Field (EHT-SIG), Extremely High Throughput Short Training Field (EHT-STF), and Extremely High Throughput Long Training Field (EHT-LTF). Furthermore, an EHT MU PPDU may include data fields and Packet Extension (PE) fields in its payload.

[0329] The L-STF may include short trained Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and can be used for frame detection, automatic gain control (AGC), diversity detection, and coarse frequency / time synchronization. The L-LTF may include long trained OFDM symbols and can be used for fine frequency / time synchronization and channel estimation. The L-SIG field can be used for control information transmission and may include information about data rate and data length. In some embodiments, the L-SIG field may be repeated within the RL-SIG field.

[0330] The U-SIG field may include common control information from at least one station receiving the EHT MU PPDU, and may correspond to HE-SIG-A of the HE. For example, the U-SIG field may also include, Figure 30A The diagram shows protocol version-independent and protocol version-dependent subfields, and may also include subfields and reserved bits corresponding to Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) and the tail, respectively. Protocol version-independent subfields may have static positions and bit definitions in different generations and / or physical versions. For example, the U-SIG field may include a “PHY Version ID” subfield as one of the protocol version-independent subfields. Furthermore, the U-SIG field may include subfields corresponding to the punched channel indication, PPDU type and compression mode, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) applied to the EHT-SIG field, and the number of EHT-SIG symbols, respectively.

[0331] In some embodiments, the NDPA version field may have the same format as the “PHY version ID” subfield included in the U-SIG. For example, the NDPA version field may be 3 bits long and may include the binary number “000” to represent EHT, and the “NDPA version” subfield representing EHT+ may have a value greater than the binary number “000”.

[0332] The EHT-SIG field can have a variable MCS and length, and can correspond to the HE-SIG-B of HE. For example, as Figure 30A As shown, when an EHT MU PPDU is sent to multiple users, the EHT-SIG field may include a common field and a user-specified field (or user field), wherein the common field includes common control information, and the user-specified field includes control information dependent on the user. The common field may include U-SIG overflow, the total number of non-OFDMA users, and the RU allocation subfield RUA. The common field may include resource element allocation subfields corresponding to the sub-channels included in the bandwidth (e.g., 20MHz). Furthermore, the RU allocation subfield can be omitted from the EHT MU PPDU set in compressed mode. User-specified fields for non-MU MIMO may include the STA-ID subfield, the MCS subfield, and the N... STS Subfields, beamforming subfields, and coding subfields, and user-specified fields for MU-MIMO may include STA-ID subfields, MCS subfields, coding subfields, and spatial configuration subfields.

[0333] Reference Figure 30B In one embodiment, the NDPA version subfield may include at least one bit corresponding to the major version and at least one bit corresponding to the minor version. For example, as Figure 30B As shown, the NDPA version subfield may include an x-bit corresponding to the major version and a y-bit corresponding to the minor version (x and y are integers greater than 0). A major version may represent a protocol version requiring significant changes, and a minor version may represent a protocol version requiring no significant changes. For example, a major version may represent VHT, HE, EHT, and EHT+, and a minor version may represent the release of the aforementioned major versions. In this embodiment, with... Figure 30B Unlike other subfields, the NDPA version subfield includes bits that represent three or more hierarchical versions.

[0334] Figure 31 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 31 This refers to an IoT network system that includes small household appliances 31, home appliances 32, entertainment devices 33, and access points (APs) 35.

[0335] In an embodiment, communication based on the NDPA frames described above with reference to the accompanying drawings can, for example, be provided by... Figure 31The wireless communication device performs channel detection. AP 35 can generate enhanced NDPA frames and send PPDUs including NDPA frames to home appliances 31, home appliances 32, and entertainment devices 33. Furthermore, home appliances 31, home appliances 32, and / or entertainment devices 33 can provide channel feedback information to AP 35 based on the NDPA frames included in the PPDUs received from AP 35. Therefore, the overhead for channel feedback can be reduced, and channel feedback can be performed correctly. As a result, the efficiency of the IoT network system can be improved.

[0336] Although the inventive concept has been specifically shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for communication between a second device and a first device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, wherein, The method includes: The second device receives an empty data packet declaration NDPA frame from the first device, the NDPA frame including a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body; The second device extracts the NDPA version subfield from the frame body; The second device identifies the protocol version based on the NDPA version subfield; and The second device decodes the NDPA frame based on the protocol version.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein, The steps for extracting the NDPA version subfield also include: Identify the user information field corresponding to the second device from the frame body; and Extract the NDPA version subfield from the user information field.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein, The step of identifying the user information field further includes: identifying the disambiguation field that is set to "1" in the user information field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The steps for extracting the NDPA version subfield also include: Identify common information fields from the frame body; and Extract the NDPA version subfield from the public information field.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The step of identifying the public information field further includes: identifying the associated identifier AID subfield in the public information field that is set to a reserved value in the legacy protocol version.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: Identify the user information field corresponding to the second device from the frame body. The step of identifying the public information field further includes: identifying the public information field in the frame body before the user information field.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The second device receives the empty data packet NDP from the first device; The second device receives beamforming reports and polls BFRP trigger frames from the first device; The second device generates feedback information based on the NDPA frame, the NDP frame, and the BFRP frame; and The second device sends a frame containing the feedback information to the first device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of receiving the NDPA frame further includes: The second device receives the Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) from the first device; and The second device extracts the NDPA frame from the payload of the PPDU.

9. A baseband circuit disposed in a receiving device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, wherein, The baseband circuit includes: Storage device; A controller for writing data to or reading data from a storage device; and The signal processor, controlled by the controller, is used to decode the Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) received from the transmitting device. The PPDU includes a preamble and a payload. The data fields of the payload include the Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a first user information field identifying the receiving device. This first user information field includes an NDPA version subfield, which is used by the receiving device to identify the protocol version. The decoding of the NDPA frame is based on this protocol version. The first user information field further includes a partial bandwidth information subfield and an additional partial bandwidth existence subfield. The partial bandwidth information subfield includes subcarrier index information corresponding to the partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the receiving device. The additional partial bandwidth existence subfield indicates whether, in addition to the partial bandwidth, the additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the receiving device is provided in the frame body.

10. The baseband circuit as described in claim 9, wherein, When it is determined that the additional portion of the bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the receiving device is provided. The frame body includes a second user information field applied to the receiving device, and The second user information field includes: a partial bandwidth information subfield containing subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional partial bandwidth; an additional partial bandwidth existence subfield indicating whether the additional partial bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as a receiving device is provided; and an identifier subfield having the same index as the identifier subfield of the first user information field.

11. The baseband circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein, The first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the said partial bandwidth are included in the partial bandwidth information subfield of the first user information field, and The first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the additional bandwidth are included in the partial bandwidth information subfield of the second user information field.

12. The baseband circuit as described in claim 10, wherein, Each of the additional bandwidth existence subfields in the first user information field and the second user information field includes 1 bit.

13. The baseband circuit as described in claim 9, wherein, When it is determined that the additional portion of the bandwidth of the channel feedback segment designated as the receiving device is provided. The first user information field includes an additional bandwidth information subfield, wherein the additional bandwidth information subfield includes subcarrier index information corresponding to the additional bandwidth.

14. The baseband circuit as described in claim 13, wherein, The first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the said partial bandwidth are included in the partial bandwidth information subfield, and The first subcarrier index information item and the last subcarrier index information item corresponding to the additional bandwidth are included in the additional bandwidth information subfield.

15. The baseband circuit as described in claim 9, wherein, The additional bandwidth subfield includes 1 bit.

16. A baseband circuit disposed in a receiving device of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, wherein, The baseband circuit includes: Storage device; A controller for writing data to or reading data from a storage device; and The signal processor, controlled by the controller, is used to decode the Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) received from the transmitting device. The PPDU includes a preamble and a payload. The data fields of the payload include the Null Data Packet Declaration (NDPA) frame. The NDPA frame includes a Media Access Control (MAC) header and a frame body. The frame body includes a user information field identifying the receiving device. This user information field includes an NDPA version subfield, which is used by the receiving device to identify the protocol version. The decoding of the NDPA frame is based on this protocol version. The user information field further includes a resource unit (RU) allocation sub-field, wherein the RU allocation sub-field includes index information of the RU designated as the channel feedback segment of the receiving device.

17. The baseband circuit as described in claim 16, wherein, The index information of the RU indicates the size and location of the RU.

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