Link adaptive control for very high throughput systems

Abstract

The invention relates to link adaptation for very high throughput EHT systems. Various methods are provided to achieve transmission of single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) and multi-user multiple-input multiple-output link adaptive parameters. In some embodiments, two control IDs are used in the A control subfield, one control ID being used for SU-MIMO, and one control ID being used for MU-MIMO. Both control IDs may be reserved control IDs, and may also be a combination of the reserved control ID and a control ID 2 commonly used for HE link adaptation. In some embodiments, a single control ID is used in the A control subfield. The single control ID may be a reserved control ID, or may be a control ID 2 typically used for HE link adaptation.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the original application with the application number 202280069532.3 and the original filing date of October 18, 2022, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17 / 506,050, filed October 20, 2021, entitled “Link Adaptation Control for Extremely High Throughput Systems,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to link adaptation for extremely high throughput (EHT) systems. BACKGROUND

[0004] Link adaptation, including adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) and other techniques (e.g., power control), is a term used in wireless communications to mean matching the modulation, coding, and other signal and protocol parameters to the conditions on the wireless link (e.g., path loss, interference caused by other transmitters, receiver sensitivity, available transmitter power margin, etc.).

[0005] Link adaptation in wireless local area networks (WLANs) includes sending link adaptation parameters from a transmitter to a receiver. Current methods of sending link adaptation parameters are suitable for high throughput (HT) variants, very high throughput (VHT) variants, and high efficiency (HE) variants, but are not suitable for new EHT systems. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application relates to link adaptation for EHT systems. The present application provides various methods for implementing transmission of link adaptation parameters for single-user multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) and multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO). In some embodiments, two control IDs are used in the A control subfield, one for SU-MIMO and one for MU-MIMO. Both control IDs can be reserved control IDs, or a combination of a reserved control ID and control ID 2, which is normally used for HE link adaptation. In some embodiments, a single control ID is used in the A control subfield. The single control ID can be a reserved control ID, or control ID 2, which is normally used for HE link adaptation.

[0007] According to an aspect of the present application, a method is provided, the method comprising: transmitting, by a wireless communication device, a medium access control (MAC) frame, wherein the MAC frame comprises a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header has a high throughput (HT) control subfield containing a control ID value and control information. When the control ID value is set to a first value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for SU-MIMO EHT communication. When the control ID value is set to a second value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for MU-MIMO EHT communication.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and the second value is a different one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first value is 2, and the second value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. When the first value is 2, the method further comprises transmitting an indication at a physical layer, wherein the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame is a frame of a next generation protocol of a High Efficiency (HE) protocol.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a method comprising: a wireless communication device transmitting a MAC frame, wherein the MAC frame comprises a MAC frame header, a frame body and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header has an HT Control subfield containing a Control ID value and control information. When the Control ID value is set to a first value, the control information contains EHT link adaptation parameters for EHT communication, the control information contains a SU / MU-MIMO indication, wherein the indication is used to indicate that the control information is for SU-MIMO or for MU-MIMO.

[0011] In some embodiments, the control information comprises a bandwidth subfield indicating a recommended bandwidth and a resource unit (RU) allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO indication) subfield defined as follows: when the recommended PPDU bandwidth is greater than 20MHz, the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO indication) subfield only contains RU allocation; when the recommended PPDU bandwidth is equal to 20MHz, the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO indication) subfield contains partial RU allocation and the SU / MU-MIMO indication.

[0012] In some embodiments, the control information comprises an unsolicited modulation and coding scheme feedback (MFB) subfield, a bandwidth subfield indicating a recommended PPDU bandwidth and a modulation and coding scheme request sequence identifier (MSI) / (physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) format, coding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO indication) subfield defined as follows: when the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0, the MSI / (PPDU format, coding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO indication) contains MSI; when the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and the recommended PPDU bandwidth is 20MHz, the MSI / (PPDU format, coding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO indication) contains PPDU format and coding type; when the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and the recommended PPDU bandwidth > 20MHz, the MSI / (PPDU format, coding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO indication) contains PPDU format and the SU / MU-MIMO indication.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first value is 2, and the second value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. When the first value is 2, the method further comprises transmitting an indication at a physical layer, wherein the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame A is a frame of a next generation protocol of the HE protocol.

[0015] In some embodiments, the transmitting comprises sending by an access point (AP).

[0016] In some embodiments, the transmitting comprises receiving by an access point.

[0017] In some embodiments, the transmitting comprises sending by a non-AP station (STA).

[0018] In some embodiments, the transmitting comprises receiving by a non-AP station (STA).

[0019] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided an access point having a processor and a memory. The access point is configured to perform a method, wherein the method comprises: the access point transmitting a MAC frame, wherein the media access control frame comprises a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header has an HT Control subfield containing a Control ID value and control information. When the Control ID value is set to a first value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for EHT communication of SU-MIMO. When the Control ID value is set to a second value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for EHT communication of MU-MIMO.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and the second value is a different one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first value is 2, and the second value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. When the first value is 2, the method further comprises transmitting an indication at a physical layer, wherein the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame is a frame of a next generation protocol of the HE protocol.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-AP site is provided, the non-AP site having a processor and a memory. The non-AP site is used to perform a method, wherein the method includes the non-AP site transmitting a MAC frame, wherein the Media Access Control frame includes a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header has an HT control subfield, the HT control subfield containing a control ID value and control information. When the control ID value is set to a first value, the control information is an EHT link adaptive parameter for SU-MIMO ultra-high throughput EHT communication. When the control ID value is set to a second value, the control information is an EHT link adaptive parameter for MU-MIMO EHT communication.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, and the second value is a different one of 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first value is 2, and the second value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14. When the first value is 2, the method further includes transmitting an indication at the physical layer, wherein the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame is a frame of a next-generation protocol of the HE protocol. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The following will illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for conducting extremely high throughput (EHT) communication between a STA and a network.

[0027] Figure 1B This is a block diagram of an exemplary device suitable for EDMG communication;

[0028] Figure 2 The format of the 802.11 medium access control (MAC) frame is shown.

[0029] Figure 3A The format of the HT control field for the high throughput (HT) variant, very high throughput (VHT) variant, and high efficiency (HE) variant is shown.

[0030] Figure 3B The format of control subfield A is shown;

[0031] Figure 4 is a table of the meaning of control ID subfield values;

[0032] Figure 5 shows the format of the HLA control subfield;

[0033] Figure 6 shows an exemplary format of the control information subfield in EHT LA - SU MIMO;

[0034] Figure 7 shows an exemplary format of the control information subfield in EHT LA - MU MIMO;

[0035] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method of transmitting EHT LA parameters;

[0036] Figure 9 shows an exemplary format of the control information subfield in EHT LA for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO;

[0037] Figure 10A and Figure 10B shows an exemplary format of the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO) subfield;

[0038] Figure 11A , Figure 11B and Figure 11C shows an exemplary format of the MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO) subfield;

[0039] Figure 12 is a flowchart of another method of transmitting EHT LA parameters. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] To help understand the present application, an exemplary system that supports wireless communication over the air is first described.

[0041] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system 100 that can implement the methods described herein. Figure 1AThe illustrated system 100 can support a wireless local area network (WLAN) that includes an access point (AP) 102 and multiple stations (STAs) 104 within range of the AP 102. In the illustrated example, there is only one STA 104 and one AP 102, but there can be multiple STAs 104 and / or multiple APs 102. Each STA 104 can be any suitable device capable of wireless communication, including a mobile or stationary device such as a smartphone, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet device, and the STAs 104 need not be identical to one another. For example, a STA 104 can also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment, user device, or client. The AP 102 can also be referred to as a base station. For example, the AP 102 can be implemented as a router. The STAs 104 can access a network 106 through the AP 102.

[0042] The system 100 can support communication between the AP 102 and each of the STAs 104, as well as direct communication between the STAs 104 (also referred to as device-to-device communication). Using multiple antennas, the AP 102 can use spatial multiplexing techniques for multi-user transmission (e.g., transmission from the AP 102 to multiple STAs 104 simultaneously) using multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO). For simplicity, the examples described herein can refer to wireless communication between a STA 104 and the AP 102 over the air interface, but it should be understood that the disclosure can equally apply to wireless communication over the air interface between two STAs 104, multi-user communication (e.g., between the AP 102 and multiple STAs 104), or any other wireless communication over the air interface.

[0043] Figure 1B is a block diagram of an example processing unit 150 that can be used to implement the methods and systems disclosed herein, e.g., the AP 102 and / or one or more STAs 104. Other processing units suitable for implementing the disclosure can be used, and can include different components than those described below. Although Figure 1B A single instance of each component is shown, but multiple instances of each component in the processing unit 150 can be present.

[0044] The processing unit 150 includes one or more processing devices 152, such as a processor, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated logic circuit, or a combination thereof. The processing unit 150 can also include one or more input / output (I / O) interfaces 154, which can support connection with one or more suitable input devices 164 and / or output devices 166. The processing unit 150 includes one or more network interfaces 156 for wired or wireless communication with a network 106 (e.g., an intranet, the Internet, a peer-to-peer network, a WAN, a LAN, and / or a radio access network (RAN)). The one or more network interfaces 156 can include wired links (e.g., Ethernet lines) and / or wireless links for intra-network and / or internetwork communication. For example, the one or more network interfaces 156 can provide wireless communication through one or more transmitters / receivers or transceiver antennas 168. The antennas 168 can together act as an antenna array, in which case each antenna 168 can be referred to as an antenna element or radiating element of the antenna array. There can be multiple such antenna arrays. The processing unit 150 can also include one or more storage units 158, which can include mass storage units such as solid state drives, hard disk drives, disk drives, and / or optical disk drives.

[0045] The processing unit 150 can include one or more memories 160, which can include volatile or non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory, random access memory (RAM), and / or read-only memory (ROM)). The one or more non-transitory memories 160 can store instructions (e.g., in the form of software modules) for execution by the one or more processing devices 152, for example, to perform the methods described in this disclosure. For example, instructions for implementing a logical layer to support MLAs (as described further below) can be stored in the memory 160.

[0046] The one or more memories 160 can include other software instructions, such as software instructions for implementing an operating system and other applications / functions. In some examples, the one or more data sets and / or modules can be provided by external memory (e.g., an external drive in wired or wireless communication with the processing unit 150), as well as by transitory or non-transitory computer-readable media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, a CD-ROM, or other portable memory storage.

[0047] There can be a bus 162 providing communication among the components of the processing unit 150, including the one or more processing devices 152, the one or more I / O interfaces 154, the one or more network interfaces 156, the one or more storage units 158, and / or the one or more memories 160. The bus 162 can be any suitable bus architecture, such as including a memory bus, a peripheral bus, or a video bus.

[0048] In Figure 1B The one or more input devices 164 (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a touchscreen, and / or a digitizer) and the one or more output devices 166 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and / or a printer) are shown as external to the processing unit 150 in some examples. In other examples, one or more of the one or more input devices 164 and / or the one or more output devices 166 can be included as components of the processing unit 150. In other examples, there can be no input devices 164 and output devices 166, in which case the I / O interface 154 can not be needed.

[0049] The AP 102 and the STAs 104 can each include a plurality of antenna elements 168 forming an antenna array, and can perform suitable beamforming and beamsteering control (e.g., using beamsteering circuitry and / or beamsteering control modules implemented by the processing devices 152 and the processing unit 150) in order to wirelessly communicate over the air interface.

[0050] Figure 2 A format of an 802.11 medium access control (MAC) frame format is shown. The frame format includes a MAC frame header 200, a frame body 202, and a frame check sequence 204. Among other fields, the MAC frame header 200 includes a high throughput (HT) control field 206.

[0051] The HT Control field 206 is present in control encapsulation frames, QoS data frames, and QoS null frames, and also in management frames as determined by the +HTC subfield of the Frame Control field in the MAC frame header 200. The format of the HT Control field is defined as Figure 3A As shown, it is applicable to high throughput (HT) variants, very high throughput (VHT) variants, and high efficiency (HE) variants. For HT variants, the field includes HT Control Intermed, access control (AC) constraints, Reverse Direction Grant (RDG) / More PHY Protocol Data Unit (PPDU). For VHT variants, the field includes VHT Control Intermed, AC constraints, RDG / More PPDU. For HE variants, the field includes A Control.

[0052] The HT Control field for VHT variants and HE variants carries link adaptation (LA) parameters. For HE variants, these parameters are carried in the A Control subfield, as described below.

[0053] The A Control subfield is 30 bits in length. The format of the A Control subfield is shown in Figure 3B As shown, it includes a 4-bit Control ID and up to 26 bits of control information.

[0054] Figure 4 Table 400-1 is a table of the meanings of the Control ID subfield values defined in 802.11be D1.0. Column 400 indicates the Control ID value, column 402 indicates the corresponding meaning, column 404 indicates the length of the control information subfield, and column 406 indicates the content of the subfield. Different Control ID values are assigned to indicate 11 different control information subfields.

[0055] The remaining 26 bits beyond the 4-bit Control ID are used to indicate the control information in the A Control subfield. As can be seen from the length of the control information indicated in column 404, some Control IDs do not make full use of the full 26 bits of the control information subfield, in which case the remaining portion of the control information subfield is padded with zeros. The Control ID value "2" with a 4-bit binary representation of "0010" indicates that the control frame includes an HLA Control subfield. In this type of control field, the full 26 bits are allocated to control information, with no padding.

[0056] Figure 5The HLA control subfield format specified in 802.11ax is shown, showing how 26 bits are used to indicate HE Link Adaptation (HLA) parameters. Among other parameters, the HLA parameters include a parameter indicating the number of spatial streams (i.e., parameter Nss 500) and a parameter indicating the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (i.e., parameter HE-MCS 502).

[0057] The 30-bit A control subfield in the HT control field is not large enough to carry the additional LA parameters for EHT, e.g., separate Nss parameters for single user-multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO) and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) and separate MCS parameters for SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO.

[0058] EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) using two control ID values in the A control subfield of the HE variant HT control field, i.e., the first method.

[0059] According to a first embodiment, as shown in Table 1 below, two reserved control ID values in the A control subfield are used to indicate two separate control information subfields for EHT LA related to SU MIMO and MU MIMO, respectively. In the example shown in the table, control IDs 11 and 12 are used for this purpose, but in general any available reserved control IDs can be used, e.g., two control IDs in the set of currently unused control IDs including control IDs 9 and 11-14. The control information subfields for EHT LA include 26 bits for either SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration.

[0060] Table 1: Control IDs in the A control field and EHT LA in Embodiment 1

[0061]

[0062] Control information subfields in EHT Link Adaptation (HLA)

[0063] Figure 6 and Figure 7Examples of the contents of the control information subfields in EHT LA SU MIMO and EHT LA MU MIMO, which can be used in this embodiment, are shown. However, it should be understood that this is just an example, and different LA parameters of one or both of SU MIMO or MU MIMO can be used.

[0064] The following provides an example definition set of EHT LA parameters in the control information subfields included in Figure 6 and Figure 7 Examples of the contents of the control information subfields in EHT LA SU MIMO and EHT LA MU MIMO, which can be used in this embodiment, are shown. However, it should be understood that this is just an example, and different LA parameters of one or both of SU MIMO or MU MIMO can be used.

[0065] Unsolicited modulation and coding scheme (MCS) feedback (MFB) (unsolicited MFB indicator):

[0066] If the EHT LA control is unsolicited MFB, this indicator is set to 1.

[0067] If the EHT LA control is EHT LA feedback request indicator (MRQ) or solicited MFB, this indicator is set to 0.

[0068] MRQ (EHT LA feedback request indicator):

[0069] This indicator is set to 1 and unsolicited MFB is set to 0 to request EHT LA feedback.

[0070] This indicator is set to 0 and unsolicited MFB is set to 0 to respond to EHT LA request.

[0071] If unsolicited MFB is 1, MRQ is reserved.

[0072] NSS (number of recommended spatial streams for SU-MIMO) for SU-MIMO:

[0073] If unsolicited MFB is 1, UL EHT TB PPDU MFB (defined below) is 0, or if unsolicited MFB is 0, MRQ is 0, then the NSS for SU-MIMO subfield indicates the number of spatial streams recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA, Nss,su-mimo, is set to Nss,su-mimo - 1. The range of Nss,su-mimo is 1 to 16.

[0074] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, then the NSS subfield indicates the number of spatial streams Nss,su-mimo recommended for the EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA, set to Nss,su-mimo - 1.

[0075] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0076] NSS (number of spatial streams recommended for MU-MIMO) for MU-MIMO:

[0077] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0, or if the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 0, then the NSS for MU-MIMO subfield indicates the number of spatial streams Nss,mu-mimo recommended for the PPDU transmitted to the STA, set to Nss,mu-mimo - 1. The range of Nss,mu-mimo is 1 to 4.

[0078] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, then the NSS subfield indicates the number of spatial streams Nss,mu-mimo recommended for the EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA, set to Nss,mu-mimo - 1.

[0079] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0080] EHT-MCS for SU-MIMO (recommended EHT-MCS for SU-MIMO):

[0081] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 0, or if the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 0, then the EHT-MCS for SU-MIMO indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the PPDU transmitted to the STA with SU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index.

[0082] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 1, then the EHT-MCS for SU MIMO indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA in SU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index.

[0083] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0084] EHT-MCS for MU-MIMO (recommended EHT-MCS for MU-MIMO):

[0085] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 0, or if the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 0, the EHT-MCS for MU-MIMO indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA with MU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index.

[0086] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 1, the EHT-MCS for MU MIMO indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the EHT TB PPDU sent from the STA in MU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index.

[0087] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0088] RU allocation (resource unit (RU) / multi-unit resource unit (MRU) of the recommended EHT-MCS / RU / MRU):

[0089] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0, the RU allocation subfield indicates the RU / MRU to which the recommended EHT-MCS applies for the PPDU sent to the STA.

[0090] If the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 1, the RU allocation subfield indicates the RU / MRU requested by the MFB requester for feedback.

[0091] The RU allocation is interpreted together with the BW to specify the RU / MRU.

[0092] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, the RU allocation indicates the RU / MRU to which the recommended EHT-MCS applies for the EHT TB PPDU sent from the STA, and the receiver can ignore the actual allocation of the RU / MRU.

[0093] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0094] BW (bandwidth of the recommended EHT-MCS / bandwidth specified by the MFB requester for feedback):

[0095] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0, the BW indicates the bandwidth to which the recommended EHT-MCS applies for the PPDU sent to the STA.

[0096] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, then the BW indicates the recommended EHT-MCS applies to the bandwidth of the EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA.

[0097] If the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 1, then the BW indicates the bandwidth requested by the MFB requester to obtain feedback.

[0098] Set to 0 for 20 MHz. Set to 1 for 40 MHz. Set to 2 for 80 MHz. Set to 3 for 160 MHz. Set to 4 for 320-1 MHz. Set to 5 for 320-2 MHz.

[0099] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0100] MSI / Partial PPDU Parameters (Measured PPDU / MRQ Sequence Identifier Partial Parameters):

[0101] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0 and the MRQ subfield is 1, the MSI / Partial PPDU Parameters subfield contains a sequence number in the range of 0 to 3 to identify a specific EHT-MCS feedback request.

[0102] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0 and the MRQ subfield is 0, the MSI / Partial PPDU Parameters subfield contains a sequence number in the range of 0 to 3 to respond to a specific requested EHT-MCS feedback request.

[0103] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1, the MSI / Partial PPDU Parameters subfield contains a PPDU format (1 bit to indicate EHT MU PPDU or EHT TB PPDU) and coding type (1 bit to indicate BCC or LDPC) subfields.

[0104] Tx Beamforming (Transmission Type of Measured PPDU):

[0105] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 0, the Tx Beamforming subfield indicates whether the PPDU for which the unsolicited MFB is estimated is beamformed.

[0106] Set to 0 for non-beamformed PPDUs.

[0107] Set to 1 for beamformed PPDUs.

[0108] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0109] UL EHT TB PPDU MFB (UL EHT trigger-based (TB) PPDU MFB indication):

[0110] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1, then a value of 1 in this subfield indicates that the NSS, EHT-MCS, BW, and RU allocation fields indicate an MFB recommended for an EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA.

[0111] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0112] Advantages of the first embodiment include keeping the A-Control format and subfield definitions in the A-Control subfield for HE unchanged by using two reserved control ID values.

[0113] EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) using the two control ID values in the A-Control subfield of the HE variant HT Control field, i.e., the second approach

[0114] According to the second embodiment, the control information subfield in the EHT LA field for SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO is indicated by a control ID value equal to 2 (for HLA in 802.11ax) and a reserved control ID value (e.g., 11) in the A-Control subfield, respectively. The control information subfield for EHT LA includes 26 bits for either SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration.

[0115] In this case, both HLA for SU-MIMO and EHT LA use control ID 2. The transmitter and receiver will distinguish between the two cases according to some other criteria, e.g., the length field in the legacy PHY frame header of the physical (PHY) layer. If such a distinction can be made at the PHY layer, the receiver will be aware when performing MAC layer processing. More specifically, at the PHY layer, the transmitter and receiver can determine whether the frame is HLA or EHT. In the following example, when the TXVECTOR parameter FORMAT (a specific example of a PHY layer parameter) indicates an HE PPDU, this indicates that the frame is HLA and control ID 2 is interpreted as indicating the HLA LA parameters. On the other hand, when the TXVECTOR parameter FORMAT indicates an EHT PPDU, this indicates that the frame is EHT and control ID 2 is interpreted as EHT LA for SU MIMO. More generally, a physical layer transmission indication can be made, where the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame is a frame of the next generation of the High Efficiency (HE) protocol, EHT being a specific example.

[0116] Table 2: Control ID and EHT LA in A Control field in the second embodiment

[0117]

[0118] The specific example of the format of the control information subfield in the EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) is the same as the example of the first embodiment detailed above, but other formats can also be used. The example definition of the EHT LA parameters in the control information subfield is as described above for the first embodiment.

[0119] The advantages of the second embodiment include keeping the A control format unchanged, using one existing control’s ID for HLA and one reserved control ID for indicating EHT LA.

[0120] It can be seen that the first and second embodiments have in common that two control IDs are used for EHT LA, one control ID for SU-MIMO (this is 2, or a reserved control ID), and the other control ID for MU-MIMO (this is a reserved control ID). Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a method including the first and second embodiments is shown. The method starts at step 800, where a wireless communication device transmits a medium access control (MAC) frame, the MAC frame including a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header contains a high throughput (HT) control subfield, the HT control subfield containing a control ID value and control information, as shown at 802. When the control ID value is set to a first value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for extremely high throughput (EHT) communications for single user–multiple input multiple output (SU-MIMO), as shown at 804. When the control ID value is set to a second value, the control information is EHT link adaptation parameters for EHT communications for multi-user–multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO), as shown at 806.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first control ID is one of the values 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and the second control ID is a different one of the values 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. In some embodiments, the first control ID is 2, and the second control ID is one of the values 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. When the first value is 2, the method further includes transmitting an indication at the physical layer, where the indication is used to indicate that the MAC frame is a frame of a next generation protocol of a High Efficiency (HE) protocol.

[0122] In Figure 8 the transmission can include being received by the access point. Alternatively, the transmission can include being transmitted by the access point. The transmission can include being received by a non-AP station. Alternatively, the transmission can include being transmitted by a non-AP station.

[0123] EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) using one of the control ID values in the A-Control subfield of the HE variant HT Control field, i.e., the first method.

[0124] In a third embodiment, one of the reserved control ID values in the A-Control subfield is used to indicate one control information subfield that carries EHT LA parameters related to SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration. The control information subfield for EHT LA includes 26 bits. Among the 26 bits, an SU / MU-MIMO indication (e.g., a single SU / MU-MIMO indication bit) is included that is used to signal whether the EHT LA parameters carried in the control information subfield are related to SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO. The location of the SU / MU-MIMO indication can vary depending on other factors. One specific example is provided below to illustrate this case. The control ID meanings for this example are shown in Table 3 below, where control ID 2 is used for HE link adaptation as before, and the reserved control ID (11 in this example) is used for EHT link adaptation.

[0125] Table 3: Control ID and EHT LA in the A-Control field in the third embodiment

[0126]

[0127] Figure 9 A specific example of the content of the control information subfield in EHT LA for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO is shown.

[0128] Figure 10A and Figure 10B A detailed breakdown of the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO) subfield is shown.Figure 10A Content in the case of recommended BW = 20 MHz is shown. In this case, the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO indication) subfield contains both partial RU allocation and SU / MU-MIMO indication, using 8 bits and 1 bit in the example shown.

[0129] 10B shows content in the case of recommended BW > 20 MHz. In this case, the RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MI-MIMO indication) subfield contains only RU allocation, 9 bits in the example shown.

[0130] Figure 11A Figure 11B Figure 11C Detailed breakdown of the MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO) subfield is shown, which varies depending on the unrequested MFB subfield and the recommended BW subfield.

[0131] Figure 11A Content in the case of unrequested MFB subfield of 0 is shown. In this case, the MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO) subfield simply contains the MSI. Note that in this case, there is no need to indicate SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO configuration, since the requested MFB implies that the STA knows the feedback type required by the requester for the identified specific HE-MCS feedback request or the feedback type in response to the specific requested HE-MCS feedback request.

[0132] Figure 11B Content in the case of unrequested MFB subfield of 1 and recommended BW = 20 MHz is shown. In this case, the subfield contains PPDU format and encoding type, each using one bit in the example shown.

[0133] Figure 11C Content in the case of unrequested MFB subfield of 1 and recommended BW > 20 MHz is shown. In this case, the subfield contains PPDU format and SU / MU-MIMO indicator.

[0134] The following gives a specific example definition of the EHT LA parameters in the control information subfield of the present embodiment.

[0135] Unrequested MFB (unrequested MFB indicator):

[0136] If the EHT LA control is unrequested MFB, this indicator is set to 1.

[0137] ​​If the EHT LA control is MRQ or requested MFB, the indicator is set to 0.

[0138] MRQ (EHT LA Feedback Request Indicator):

[0139] The indicator is set to 1 and the unsolicited MFB is set to 0 to request EHT LA feedback.

[0140] The indicator is set to 0 and the unsolicited MFB is set to 0 to respond to EHT LA request.

[0141] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the MRQ is reserved.

[0142] NSS (Number of recommended spatial streams for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO)

[0143] If the unsolicited MFB is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0,

[0144] 1) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates SU-MIMO, the NSS subfield indicates the number of recommended spatial streams N ss,su-mimo , set to N ss,su-mimo -1. The range of N ss,su-mimo is 1 to 16;

[0145] 2) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates MU-MIMO, the NSS subfield indicates the number of recommended spatial streams N ss,mu-mimo , set to N ss,mu-mimo -1. The range of N ss,mu-mimo is 1 to 4.

[0146] If the unsolicited MFB is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1,

[0147] 1) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates SU-MIMO, the NSS subfield indicates the number of recommended spatial streams N ss,su-mimo , set to N ss,su-mimo -1;

[0148] 2) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates MU-MIMO, the NSS subfield indicates the number of recommended spatial streams N ss,mu-mimo , set to N ss,mu-mimo -1;

[0149] If the unsolicited MFB is 0, MRQ is 0, then the NSS subfield indicates the number of spatial streams recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO that the MSI can identify.

[0150] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0151] EHT-MCS (Recommended EHT-MCS for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO)

[0152] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 0,

[0153] 1) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates SU-MIMO, the EHT-MCS subfield indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA with SU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index;

[0154] 2) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates MU-MIMO, the EHT-MCS subfield indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA with MU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index;

[0155] If the unsolicited MFB is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 1,

[0156] 1) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates SU-MIMO, the EHT-MCS subfield indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the EHT TB PPDU sent from the STA in SU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index;

[0157] 2) If the SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates MU-MIMO, the EHT-MCS subfield indicates the EHT-MCS recommended value for the EHT TB PPDU sent by the STA in MU-MIMO, set to the EHT-MCS index;

[0158] If the unsolicited MFB is 0, MRQ is 0, then the EHT-MCS subfield indicates the EHT-MCS recommended for the PPDU sent to the STA for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO that the MSI can identify.

[0159] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0160] RU allocation / (partial RU allocation, SU / MU-MIMO) (RU and SU / MU-MIMO type of recommended EHT-MCS / RU / MRU specified by the MFB requester for feedback)

[0161] If the BW subfield is set to 0 (indicating the PPDU BW of the recommended EHT-MCS / RU / MRU is 20 MHz), this subfield contains partial RU allocation and SU / MU-MIMO subfields including 8 bits and 1 bit, respectively, as specified in the RU allocation subfield in 802.11be D1.1, as previously referenced Figure 10A .

[0162] The partial RU allocation subfield contains B7-B0 in B8-B0 of the RU allocation subfield specified in 802.11be D1.1 and can indicate all RUs / MRUs specified within a PPDU BW of 20 MHz.

[0163] The SU / MU-MIMO subfield indicates that the recommended EHT-MCS with SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO applies to the PPDU. Set to 0 to indicate SU-MIMO and set to 1 to indicate MU-MIMO.

[0164] If the BW subfield is set to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (indicating the PPDU BW of the recommended EHT-MCS / RU / MRU is 40, 80, 160, 320-1, or 320-2 MHz), this subfield contains only the RU allocation as specified in the RU allocation subfield in 802.11be D1.1, as previously referenced Figure 10B .

[0165] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0, this (partial) RU allocation subfield indicates the RUs / MRUs of the PPDU sent to the STA for which the recommended EHT-MCS applies.

[0166] If the unsolicited MFB is 1, the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, this (partial) RU allocation indicates the RUs / MRUs of the EHT TB PPDU sent from the STA for which the recommended EHT-MCS applies, and the recipient can ignore the actual allocation of RUs / MRUs.

[0167] If the unsolicited MFB is 0, the MRQ is 1, this (partial) RU allocation subfield indicates the RUs / MRUs requested by the MFB requester for feedback.

[0168] The RU allocation is interpreted together with the PPDU BW to specify the RUs / MRUs.

[0169] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0170] BW (PPDU bandwidth of recommended EHT-MCS / PPDU bandwidth specified by the MFB requester for obtaining feedback)

[0171] If the unsolicited MFB is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 0, then the BW indicates the bandwidth of the PPDU for which the recommended EHT-MCS applies for transmission to the STA.

[0172] If the unsolicited MFB is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB is 1, then the BW indicates the bandwidth of the EHT TB PPDU for which the recommended EHT-MCS applies for transmission from the STA.

[0173] If the unsolicited MFB is 0 and the MRQ is 1, then the BW indicates the PPDU bandwidth requested by the MFB requester for obtaining feedback.

[0174] Set to 0 for 20MHz. Set to 1 for 40MHz. Set to 2 for 80MHz. Set to 3 for 160MHz. Set to 4 for 320-1 MHz. Set to 5 for 320-2 MHz.

[0175] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0176] Tx beamforming (transmission type of the measured PPDU):

[0177] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and the UL EHT TB PPDU MFB subfield is 0, then the Tx beamforming subfield indicates whether the PPDU for which the unsolicited MFB is estimated is beamformed.

[0178] Set to 0 for non-beamformed PPDUs.

[0179] Set to 1 for beamformed PPDUs.

[0180] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0181] UL EHT TB PPDU MFB (UL EHT TB PPDU MFB indication):

[0182] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1, then a value of 1 in this subfield indicates that the NSS, EHT-MCS, BW, and RU allocation fields represent the recommended MFB for the EHT TB PPDU transmitted from the STA.

[0183] Otherwise, this subfield is reserved.

[0184] MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) / (PPDU format, SU / MU-MIMO) (MRQ sequence identifier / PPDU format, encoding type and SU / MU-MIMO type of the measured PPDU)

[0185] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0 and the MRQ subfield is 1, as shown in Figure 11A , then this subfield contains a sequence number in the range of 0 to 3 to identify a specific EHT-MCS feedback request.

[0186] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0 and the MRQ subfield is 0, as shown in Figure 11A , then this subfield contains a sequence number in the range of 0 to 3 to identify a specific requested EHT-MCS feedback request.

[0187] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and if the BW subfield is set to 0 (indicating a recommended PPDU bandwidth of 20 MHz for EHT-MCS / RU / MRU), as shown in Figure 11B , then this subfield contains a PPDU format (1 bit) (set to 0 to indicate EHT MU PPDU; set to 1 for EHT TB PPDU) and encoding type (1 bit) (set to 0 to indicate BCC; set to 1 for LDPC) subfields.

[0188] If the unsolicited MFB subfield is 1 and if the BW subfield is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (indicating a recommended PPDU bandwidth of 40, 80, 160, 320-1, or 320-2 MHz for EHT-MCS / RU / MRU), as shown in Figure 11C , then this subfield contains a PPDU format (1 bit) (set to 0 to indicate EHT MU PPDU; set to 1 for EHT TB PPDU) and SU / MU-MIMO type (1 bit) (set to 0 to indicate SU-MIMO; set to 1 for MU-MIMO) subfields.

[0189] Advantages of the third embodiment include keeping the A-Control format unchanged and using only one reserved control ID to indicate EHT LA control.

[0190] It can be seen that in the above embodiments, the location of the SU / MU-MIMO indicator varies depending on the recommended BW, the unsolicited MFB. This can be understood as one specific example. More generally, there is some indicator in the 26-bit control information indicating whether the EHT LA parameters apply to SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO. In some embodiments, in certain cases, e.g. in case the unsolicited MFB subfield is 0 as described above, it can not be necessary to include the SU / MU-MIMO indicator.

[0191] EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) using one of the control ID values in the A control subfield of the HE variant HT Control field, i.e. the second approach.

[0192] According to a fourth embodiment, the control ID value equal to 2 (for HLA in 802.11ax) is used to indicate the LA parameters for HE and HLA. The receiver determines on another basis, e.g. based on PHY layer parameters, which case is relevant as described above for the second embodiment. The following Table 4 shows the control ID allocation for this embodiment.

[0193] Table 4: Control ID and EHT LA in the A control field in the fourth embodiment

[0194]

[0195] In one specific example, the format of the control information subfield in EHT Link Adaptation (EHT LA) is the same as described previously with reference to Figure 9 Figures 10 and 11 for the third embodiment. Furthermore, the example definition of the EHT LA parameters in the control information subfield is as described above for the third embodiment.

[0196] The advantages of the fourth embodiment include keeping the A control format unchanged, re-using the control ID value 2 for indicating EHT LA control.

[0197] It can be seen that the third and fourth embodiments have in common that a single ID is used for EHT LA. This is either the reserved control ID (third embodiment) or the control ID 2 (fourth embodiment).

[0198] Figure 12A flowchart showing a method including the third and fourth embodiments is shown. The method starts at step 1200, where a wireless communication device transmits a medium access control (MAC) frame, the medium access control frame including a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence. The MAC frame header has a high throughput (HT) control subfield containing a control ID value and control information, as shown at 1202. When the control ID value is set to a first value, the control information contains EHT link adaptation parameters for EHT communications, the control information contains a SU / MU-MIMO indication, where the indication is used to indicate that the control information is for SU-MIMO or for MU-MIMO, as shown at 1204. In some embodiments, the first value is 2, and in other embodiments, the first value is one of 9, 11, 12, 13, 14. Many examples are described above to indicate that the control information is for SU-MIMO or for MU-MIMO, any of which can be applied here.

[0199] In Figure 12 the transmission can include receiving by an access point. Alternatively, the transmission can include transmitting by an access point. The transmission can include receiving by a non-AP station. Alternatively, the transmission can include transmitting by a non-AP station.

[0200] In some embodiments, for example, a transmitter, which can be an AP or a non-AP STA, determines EHT LA link adaptation information for EHT transmission for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO. Detailed examples of EHT LA parameters are described above. Determining the EHT LA parameters can include making channel measurements. Then, the transmitter transmits the EHT LA information using one of the methods described above. After that, data transmission is made using the updated EHT LA parameters. Until the EHT LA parameters are updated again.

[0201] Many modifications and variations of the present application are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the application can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A wireless communication device transmits a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, wherein the MAC frame includes a MAC frame header, a frame body, and a frame check sequence; The MAC frame header includes a high-throughput HT control subfield, wherein the HT control subfield includes a control ID value and control information; When the control ID value is set to a first value, and the MAC frame is a frame of the High Throughput EHT protocol, the control information includes EHT link adaptive parameters for EHT communication; or, When the control ID value is set to the first value, and the MAC frame is a frame of the high-efficiency HE protocol, the control information includes HE link adaptive parameters for HE communication. The first value is 2.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control information includes an unrequested Modulation and Coding Scheme Feedback (MFB) subfield, a bandwidth subfield indicating the recommended Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) bandwidth, and a Modulation and Coding Scheme Request Sequence Identifier (MSI) / (PPDU format, encoding type) subfield as defined below: When the unrequested MFB subfield is 0, the MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) subfield includes the MSI; When the unrequested MFB subfield is 1, the MSI / (PPDU format, encoding type) subfield includes PPDU format and encoding type.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The HT control subfield includes an HE variant HT control field, which in turn includes an A control subfield, which includes the control ID value and the control information.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the MAC frame is a HE protocol frame, an indication that the MAC frame is a HE protocol frame is transmitted at the physical layer; or, In the case that the MAC frame is an EHT protocol frame, an indication that the MAC frame is an EHT protocol frame is transmitted at the physical layer.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The transmission includes transmissions sent by the access point (AP).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The transmission includes reception by the AP.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The transmissions include those sent from non-AP sites.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The transmission includes reception by non-AP sites.

9. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to at least one memory: The at least one processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the at least one memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes units or modules for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A computer-readable medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable medium includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes computer program code that, when run, implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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