Communication device and communication method for transmitting feedback response in an indicated frequency region

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a communication device and a communication method that transmit a feedback response in an indicated frequency domain. The communication device includes, during operation, a circuit that generates a signal requesting a feedback response, and a transmitter that transmits, during operation, the generated signal to one or more peer communication devices. The generated signal includes frequency domain information indicating a frequency domain used to transmit a feedback response within an operating channel of the one or more peer communication devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device and a communication method for transmitting a feedback response, and more particularly, to a communication device and a communication method for transmitting a feedback response in an indicated frequency domain.

Background Art

[0002] In the standardization of next-generation wireless local area network (WLAN), a new wireless access technology that necessarily has backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax technologies has been discussed in the IEEE 802.11 working group and named IEEE 802.11be EHT (Extremely High Throughput) WLAN.

[0003] In 802.11ax EHT WLAN, a null data packet (NDP) feedback reporting procedure is used, and a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) can collect feedback (e.g., buffer status, power status) that is not channel sounding from a plurality of non-AP HE stations (STAs) in order to improve the efficiency of 802.11ax, especially in a high-density environment.

[0004] However, in some scenarios, such as the non-Subchannel Selective Transmission (non-SST) scenario where all non-AP STAs park in the primary frequency segment and listen to the primary channel, if the bandwidth of the trigger-based feedback NDP is not appropriate, some non-AP STAs may not be able to participate in the feedback response transmission. Furthermore, although the number of STAs supported at 20 MHz in 802.11ax may be sufficient, in 802.11be or future revisions, support for a higher density environment will be required.

[0005] Furthermore, in the Subchannel Selective Transmission (SST) scenario, non-AP STAs of 20 / 80 / 160 MHz can participate in transmission or reception with a larger bandwidth in the 20 / 80 / 160 MHz secondary channel. According to the operation limitations of SST, non-AP STAs may not be able to participate in the NDP feedback reporting procedure with the bandwidth of the trigger-based feedback NDP.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a communication device and a communication method that provide a feasible technical solution to address the problem. More specifically, a communication device and method are needed to realize the feedback response transmission in the indicated frequency region within the operating channel to ensure that all non-AP STAs can participate in the feedback response.

[0007] Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the background section of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] Non-limiting and exemplary embodiments facilitate providing a communication device and a communication method for transmitting a feedback response in an indicated frequency region in the context of EHT WLAN.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a communication device comprising, in operation, a circuit that generates a signal requesting a feedback response, and a transmitter that, in operation, transmits the generated signal to one or more peer communication devices, wherein the generated signal includes frequency region information indicating a frequency region used for transmitting a feedback response within an operating channel of the one or more peer communication devices.

[0010] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a peer communication device comprising, in operation, a receiver that receives a signal requesting a feedback response, the signal including frequency region information indicating a frequency region used for transmitting a feedback response within an operating channel of the peer communication device, a circuit that, in operation, processes the signal to generate a feedback response, and a transmitter that, in operation, transmits the feedback response in the frequency region.

[0011] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a communication method performed by a communication device, the method including generating a signal used to request a feedback response, and transmitting the signal to one or more peer communication devices, the signal including frequency region information indicating a frequency region used for transmitting a feedback response within an operating channel of the peer communication device.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a communication method implemented by a peer communication device, the method including: receiving a signal requesting a feedback response, the signal including frequency region information indicating a frequency region used for transmitting a feedback response within an operating channel of the peer communication device; processing the signal to generate a feedback response; and transmitting the feedback response in the frequency region.

[0013] Note that general or specific embodiments can be implemented as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a storage medium, or any optional combination thereof.

[0014] Further benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the specification and the drawings. These benefits and / or advantages can be obtained individually by various embodiments and features of the specification and the drawings, and it is not necessary to provide all of these features in order to obtain one or more of such benefits and / or advantages.

[0015] Those of ordinary skill in the art will gain a deep understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure and will readily make them clear by reading further with reference to the drawings in the following description, which are merely examples.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the elements in the figures are illustrated in a concise and clear manner and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, for a deeper understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the dimensions of some elements in the illustrations, block diagrams, or flowcharts may be exaggerated compared to other elements.

[0018] Some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. Similar reference numerals and letters in the drawings refer to similar elements or equivalents.

[0019] In the following paragraphs, specific exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to an access point (AP) and a station (STA) for transmitting a feedback response in a specified frequency domain.

[0020] In the context of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology, a station (also referred to interchangeably as STA) is a communication device having the ability to use the 802.11 protocol. Based on the definition of IEEE 802.11-2016, a STA can be any device that includes an IEEE 802.11-compliant media access control (MAC) and a physical layer (PHY) interface to a wireless medium (WM).

[0021] For example, a STA may be a laptop, a desktop personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an access point, or a Wi-Fi phone in a wireless local area network (WLAN) environment. A STA may be fixed or mobile. In a WLAN environment, the terms "STA", "wireless client", "user", "user device", "node" are often used interchangeably.

[0022] Similarly, in the context of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology, an AP may also be called a wireless access point (WAP) interchangeably, and it is a communication device that enables STAs within a WLAN to connect to a wired network. An AP is typically connected to a router (via a wired network) as a stand-alone device, but it can also be integrated with or adopted within a router.

[0023] As described above, an STA within a WLAN may, in other cases, operate as an AP, and vice versa. This is because communication devices related to IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology may include both the hardware components of an STA and the hardware components of an AP. Thus, the communication device can switch between STA mode and AP mode based on actual WLAN conditions and / or requirements.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram 100 of downlink multi-user (MU) communication between an AP102 and a plurality of STAs 104, 106, 108. The downlink communication is OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access) communication. In OFDMA communication on a channel, the AP102 simultaneously transmits a plurality of streams to the STAs 104, 106, 108 in the network in different resource units (RUs) within the channel bandwidth. When the RUs in which OFDMA communication occurs occupy the entire channel bandwidth, the OFDMA communication is called full-bandwidth OFDMA communication. When the RUs in which OFDMA communication occurs occupy a part of the channel bandwidth (for example, one or more 20 MHz sub-channels in the channel are punctured), the OFDMA communication is called punctured OFDMA communication. For example, two spatial-temporal streams may be directed to STA106, another spatial-temporal stream may be directed to STA104, and yet another spatial-temporal stream may be directed to STA108. For the sake of simplicity, the two spatial-temporal streams directed to STA106 are shown as a combined data transmission arrow 112, the spatial-temporal stream directed to STA104 is shown as a data transmission arrow 110, and the spatial-temporal stream directed to STA108 is shown as a data transmission arrow 114.

[0025] To enable uplink MU transmission, trigger-based communication is provided to the wireless network. In this regard, FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of trigger-based uplink MU communication 200 between an AP202 and a plurality of STAs 204, 206, 208.

[0026] Since there are a plurality of STAs 204, 206, 208 participating in the trigger-based uplink MU communication, the AP202 needs to coordinate the simultaneous transmission of the plurality of STAs 204, 206, 208.

[0027] For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2, AP202 simultaneously transmits trigger frames 210, 214, 218 to STAs 204, 206, 208, indicating user-specific resource allocation information (e.g., the number of space-time streams (STS), the starting STS number, and the allocated resource units (Ru)) that each STA can use. In response to the trigger frames, STAs 204, 206, 208 can then simultaneously transmit their respective space-time streams to AP202 using different resource units (Ru) within the channel bandwidth according to the user-specific resource allocation information shown in trigger frames 210, 214, 218. For example, two space-time streams may be directed from STA206 to AP202, another space-time stream may be directed from STA204 to AP202, and yet another space-time stream may be directed from STA208 to AP202. For the sake of brevity, the two space-time streams directed from STA206 to AP202 are shown as a combined data transmission arrow 216, the space-time stream directed from STA204 to AP202 is shown as a data transmission arrow 212, and the space-time stream directed from STA208 to AP202 is shown as a data transmission arrow 220.

[0028] In 802.11 WLANs, due to packet / PPDU (physical layer protocol data unit)-based transmission and distributed MAC (media access control) schemes, there is no time scheduling (e.g., allocation of periodic time slots for data transmission such as TDMA (time division multiple access)). Frequency and spatial resource scheduling is performed on a packet basis. In other words, resource allocation information is PPDU-based. The terms "packet", "physical layer (PHY) frame", and "physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU)" are often used interchangeably.

[0029] Figure 3A shows the format of the HE PPDU 300 used for downlink MU communication (e.g., OFDMA transmission) between an AP and multiple STAs in HE WLAN. Such an HE PPDU 300 is called an HE MU PPDU 300. The HE MU PPDU 300 includes a non-high throughput (legacy) Short Training (L-STF) field, a legacy Long Training (L-LTF) field, a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, a repeated L-SIG (RL-SIG) field, an HE SIGNAL A (HE-SIG-A) field, an HE Short Training (HE-SIG-B) field, an HE Short Training (HE-STF) field, an HE Long Training (HE-LTF) field, a Data field, and a Packet Extension (PE) field. In the HE MU PPDU, the HE-SIG-B field provides OFDMA resource allocation information for the STA to be able to search for the corresponding resources used in the Data field. The HE-SIG-A field includes information necessary to decode the HE-SIG-B field (e.g., the MCS of HE-SIG-B, the number of symbols of HE-SIG-B).

[0030] Figure 3B shows the format of the HE PPDU 320 used for uplink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs in a HE WLAN. Such a HE PPDU 320 is called a HE TB (Trigger-Based) PPDU 320. The HE TB PPDU 320 includes an L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG field, RL-SIG field, HE-SIG-A field, HE-STF, HE-LTF, Data field, and PE field. The HE-STF of the HE TB PPDU 320 has a duration of 8 μs. The HE TB PPDU is used for uplink MU transmission in response to a trigger frame. Instead of using the HE-SIG-B field, the information required for uplink MU transmission from one or more STAs is conveyed by a soliciting triggering frame for this transmission. In a typical transmission of the HE TB PPDU 320, the HE-SIG-A related information is copied from the soliciting triggering frame to the HE-SIG-A field of the HE TB PPDU 320.

[0031] Figure 4A shows the format of the EHT PPDU 400 used for downlink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs in an EHT WLAN. Such an EHT PPDU 400 is called a HE MU PPDU 400. The EHT MU PPDU 400 includes an L-STF, L-LTF field, L-SIG field, RL-SIG field, universal signal (U-SIG) field, EHT-SIG field, EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, Data field, and PE field. The L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG field, RL-SIG field, U-SIG field, and EHT-SIG field can be grouped as pre-EHT (before EHT) modulation fields, and the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, Data field, and PE field can be grouped as EHT modulation fields.

[0032] The U-SIG field includes part of the version-dependent bits of the EHT MU PPDU. The U-SIG field has a duration of two OFDM symbols. The data bits of the U-SIG field are jointly encoded and modulated in the same way as the HE-SIG-A field of 802.11ax. The modulated data bits in the U-SIG field are mapped to the 52 data tones of each of the two OFDM symbols in the same way as the HE-SIG-A field of 802.11ax.

[0033] Figure 4B shows the format of the EHT PPDU 420 used for uplink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs in an EHT WLAN. Such an EHT PPDU 420 is called an EHT TB PPDU 420. The EHT TB PPDU 420 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG field, a FIF, a U-SIG field, an EHT-STF, an EHT-LTF, a Data field, and a PE field. The L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, and U-SIG fields can be grouped as pre-EHT modulation fields, and the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, Data field, and PE field can be grouped as EHT modulation fields. The EHT TB PPDU can be used for trigger-based communication in response to a request-type trigger frame.

[0034] According to various embodiments, the EHT WLAN supports non-trigger-based communication as shown in FIG. 1 and trigger-based communication as shown in FIG. 2. In non-trigger-based communication, a communication device transmits a PPDU in a non-requesting manner to one or more other communication devices. In trigger-based communication, a communication device transmits a PPDU to one or more other communication devices only after receiving a request-type trigger frame.

[0035] As described above, in the 802.11ax EHT WLAN, the null data packet (NDP) feedback reporting procedure is used, and a high-efficiency (HE) access point (AP) can collect feedback (such as buffer status, power status) that is not channel sounding from multiple non-AP HE stations (STAs) to improve the efficiency of 802.11ax, especially in a high-density environment.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a diagram 500 illustrating the null data packet (NDP) feedback reporting procedure. The AP transmits a signal including a null data packet (NDP) feedback reporting pole (NFRP) Trigger frame to request a HE trigger-based (TB) feedback NDP from the non-AP STA. The HE TB feedback NDP includes a non-HE modulation preamble, a HE short training field (STF), and a HE long training field (LTF). Each of the non-AP STAs selects one of the resource unit (RU) tone sets (e.g., RU tone sets 1, 2, 3) within the HE-LTF and transmits a feedback NDP to feedback its own status.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows the format of the HE NFRP Trigger frame 600 of FIG. 5. The HE NFRP Trigger frame 600 is composed of a Frame Control field, a Duration field, a Recipient Address (RA) field, a Transmitter Address (TA) field, a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS (frame check sequence) field. The Frame Control field, the Duration field, the RA field, and the TA field can be grouped as a MAC header. The common field is composed of a Trigger Type subfield, an Uplink (UL) Length subfield, a More TF subfield, a CS Required subfield, a UL Bandwidth (BW) subfield, a Guard Interval (GI) And HE-LTF Type subfield, a MU-MIMO HE-LTF Mode subfield, a Number of HE-LTF Symbols And Midamble Periodicity subfield, an AP Transmission (Tx) Power subfield, and a UL HE-SIG-A 2 Reserved subfield.The User Info field includes a Starting Association Identifier (AID) subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0038] When a non-AP STA receives an NFRP Trigger frame and determines that it meets the feedback condition, the non-AP STA prepares a TB feedback NDP including an NDP feedback report response. One exemplary feedback condition is that the AID of the non-AP STA is greater than or equal to the starting AID and less than the starting AID + N STA where N STA is calculated using Equation (1).

[0039]

Equation

[0040] The RU tone set for the non-AP STA to transmit the feedback NDP is determined based on Equation (2), where AID is the AID of the non-AP STA, starting AID is the value indicated in the starting AID field of the User Info field of the NFRP Trigger frame, and BW is the value (starting from 0) indicated in the UL BW subfield of the Common Info field of the NFRP Trigger frame.

[0041]

Equation

[0042] When a non-AP STA transmits a feedback NDP and the AP receives it, the AP can derive a list of AIDs from the resources for which the NDP feedback report response was sent and the response.

[0043] The attached Table 9 summarizes the RU tone index and the corresponding RU tone set. From Table 9, it is shown that the RU tone set with the index starting from 1 is mapped to the selected LTF symbol of the TB feedback NDP starting from the lowest 20 MHz. Figure 7 shows a diagram 700 illustrating the mapping of the RU tone set from different RU tone set indices to the LTF symbol of the TB feedback NDP. The RU tone set indices from 1 to 18 (RU_TONE_SET_INDEX) are mapped / correspond to the RU tone set in the lowest 20 MHz frequency region, the RU tone set indices from 19 to 36 are mapped / correspond to the RU tone set in the second lowest 20 MHz frequency region, the RU tone set indices from 37 to 54 are mapped / correspond to the RU tone set in the third lowest 20 MHz frequency region, and the RU tone set indices from 55 to 72 are mapped / correspond to the RU tone set in the highest 20 MHz frequency region.

[0044] In the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure, some non-AP STAs may not be able to participate in the feedback.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows a diagram illustrating an exemplary NDP feedback reporting procedure in a 40 MHz channel of a non-SST scenario. All non-AP STAs park in the primary 20 MHz frequency segment / region (or primary channel or P20) and listen to the primary channel. In this example, the primary 20 MHz channel (P20) is located in the higher 20 MHz frequency segment, and the secondary 20 MHz channel (S20) is located in the lower 20 MHz frequency segment. Non-AP STA1 is operating on the primary 20 MHz channel, and non-AP STA2 is operating on the 40 MHz channel (P20 + secondary 20 MHz channel (S20)). The AP sends an NFRP Trigger frame to request feedback responses from non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2. However, if the bandwidth of the TB feedback NDP is not appropriate (e.g., when the RU tone set assigned to non-AP STA1 is within S20 (index = 1)), non-AP STA1 operating on the primary channel cannot participate in the feedback.

[0046] To solve the problem that one or more assigned RU tone sets are outside the operating channels of one or more non-AP STAs, in this case, since the RU tone set assigned to non-AP STA1 is within S20 and outside the P20 operating channel, it is necessary to execute the NDP feedback procedure multiple times. FIG. 9 shows FIG. 900 illustrating the NDP feedback reporting procedure two or more times in a 40 MHz channel in a non-SST scenario. Similar to the example shown in FIG. 8, all non-AP STAs park in the primary 20 MHz frequency segment / region (or primary channel, P20) and listen to the primary channel. The primary 20 MHz channel (P20) is located in the higher 20 MHz frequency segment, and the secondary 20 MHz channel (S20) is located in the lower 20 MHz frequency segment. Non-AP STA1 operates on the primary 20 MHz channel, and non-AP STA2 operates on a 40 MHz channel (P20 + secondary 20 MHz channel (S20)). The AP first transmits a 20 MHz NFRP Trigger frame in P20 and requests feedback from non-AP STA1 having an operating channel within P20. Then, non-AP STA1 transmits a 20 MHz HE TB feedback NDP including a feedback response in P20. Then, the AP transmits a 40 MHz NFRP Trigger frame in the 40 MHz channel (P20 and S20), and STA2 and other STAs having the same operating channel transmit 40 MHz HE TB feedback NDPs including their respective feedback responses in the 40 MHz channel. Such multiple NDP feedback procedures introduce latency in a high-density environment. Therefore, a method to complete the NDP feedback procedure in one time is needed.

[0047] FIG. 10 shows FIG. 1000 illustrating an exemplary NDP feedback reporting procedure in a 40 MHz channel in the SST scenario. In this example, the primary 80 MHz channel (P80) is located in the lower 80 MHz frequency segment, the secondary 80 MHz channel (S80) is located in the higher 80 MHz frequency segment, non-AP STA1 operates on the primary 80 MHz channel, and non-AP STA2 operates on the secondary 80 MHz channel (S80). According to the 802.11 specification, a non-AP STA operating at 20 MHz can participate in transmission / reception with a larger bandwidth in the secondary 20 MHz channel. Noting that in 802.11be or future revisions, non-AP STAs operating at 80 / 160 MHz, such as non-AP STA2 parked on the secondary 80 / 160 MHz channel, are supported, the assigned RU tone set of such an 80 / 160 MHz operating non-AP STA parked on the secondary 80 / 160 MHz channel is likely to be located in sub-channels outside the operating frequency range / region. As a result, in accordance with the operating limitations of SST, the AP does not initiate the NDP feedback reporting procedure for these non-AP STAs.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 10, the AP transmits an NFRP Trigger frame to request feedback from non-AP STA1 and non-AP STA2. Since the RU tone set of non-AP STA1 is assigned within the operating channel in P80, non-AP STA1 can transmit a feedback response to the AP. However, based on AID2 and UL BW 160 MHz, since the RU tone set of non-AP STA2 is assigned within P80, non-AP STA2 cannot generate a feedback response. Since the AP can predict such cases, it does not initiate the NDP feedback reporting for STA2.

[0049] Conventionally, for this problem in the non-SST scenario, the AP can select appropriate parameters, such as a 20MHz TB feedback NDP, to ensure that the RU tones to be allocated are within the operating channel of the non-AP STA. Figure 11 shows a 40MHz TB feedback NDP 1100 and a 20MHz TB feedback NDP 1110 for transmitting a feedback response in the non-SST scenario. In this case, the non-AP STA parks on the higher 20MHz (primary channel), and the RU tone set allocated to the non-AP STA is in the lower 20MHz frequency segment (RU tone set index value = 3). When the AP instructs to transmit a feedback response in the 40MHz TB feedback NDP 1100, the non-AP STA cannot transmit a feedback response because the allocated RU tone set does not correspond to the operating channel of the non-AP STA in the higher 20MHz channel. On the other hand, when the AP instructs to transmit a feedback response in the 20MHz TB feedback NDP 1110, the frequency region corresponding to the RU tone set allocated to the non-AP STA is within the operating channel of the non-AP STA, so the non-AP STA can transmit a feedback response.

[0050] However, in 802.11ax, although the number of STAs supported at 20MHz (up to 36) may be sufficient, in 11be or future revisions, support for a more dense environment is required. Therefore, it should be noted that the conventional method of selecting appropriate parameters (such as a 20MHz TB feedback NDP) to ensure that the allocated RU tones are within the operating subchannel of the non-AP STA, as described in Figure 11 for example, may not be applicable. In this case, if the number of STAs in the basic service set (BSS) is greater than the appropriate bandwidth selected by the AP, more than one NDP feedback report is still required.

[0051] According to the present disclosure, to address this problem, an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure is performed. More specifically, the AP transmits a downlink (DL) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) that conveys one or more extremely high throughput (EHT) null data packet (NDP) feedback reporting pole (NFRP) Trigger frames to request an EHT TB feedback NDP from a relevant non-AP STA. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame includes frequency domain indication / information indicating that the non-AP STA transmits in an assigned RU tone set within its operating channel. This indication / information can include new parameters used during the RU tone set calculation stage and new frequency information indicating the frequency domain within its operating channel used to transmit the feedback response. After a short interframe spacing (SIFS), non-AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions simultaneously transmit EHT TB feedback NDPs with their respective feedback responses to the relevant AP. It should be noted that when the number of relevant non-AP STAs is not greater than the number of non-AP STAs supported by the TB feedback NDP having the basic service set (BSS) bandwidth, such extended NDP feedback reporting can be completed in one round, thus shortening the latency in a high-density environment.

[0052] FIG. 12 shows a partially framed schematic view of a communication device 1200 according to the present disclosure. The communication device 1200 can also be implemented as an AP or an STA.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 1200 can include a circuit 1214, at least one wireless transmitter 1202, at least one wireless receiver 1204, and at least one antenna 1212 (for simplicity, only one antenna is depicted in FIG. 12 for illustrative purposes). The circuit 1214 can include at least one controller 1206 for use when executing tasks designed to be executed by at least one controller 1206, including control of communication with one or more other communication devices within a wireless network, with the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 1214 can further include at least one transmission signal generator 1208 and at least one reception signal processor 1210. The at least one controller 1206 can control the at least one transmission signal generator 1208 to generate MAC frames (e.g., NFRP Trigger frames) and PPDUs (e.g., PPDUs used for non-trigger-based communication, or PPDUs used for trigger-based sounding procedures, or PPDUs used for trigger-based downlink transmission if the communication device 1200 is an AP, or PPDUs used for trigger-based uplink transmission if the communication device 1200 is a STA, for example) to be transmitted to one or more other communication devices via the at least one wireless transmitter 1202, and can control the at least one reception signal processor 1210 to process MAC frames (e.g., NFRP Trigger frames) and PPDUs (e.g., PPDUs used for non-trigger-based communication, or PPDUs used for trigger-based sounding procedures, or PPDUs used for trigger-based uplink transmission if the communication device 1200 is an AP, or PPDUs used for trigger-based downlink transmission if the communication device 1200 is a STA, for example) received from one or more other communication devices via the at least one wireless receiver 1204 under the control of the at least one controller 1206.At least one transmission signal generator 1208 and at least one reception signal processor 1210 may be stand-alone modules of a communication device 1200 that communicate with at least one controller 1206 for the above-described functions, as shown in FIG. 12. Alternatively, at least one transmission signal generator 1208 and at least one reception signal processor 1210 may be included in at least one controller 1206. Those skilled in the art will understand that the arrangement of these functional modules is flexible and may vary according to actual needs and / or requirements. Data processing, storage, and other related control devices can be provided on a suitable circuit board and / or within a chipset. In various embodiments, during operation, at least one wireless transmitter 1202, at least one wireless receiver 1204, and at least one antenna 1212 can be controlled by at least one controller 1206.

[0054] During operation, the communication device 1200 provides the functions necessary to transmit a feedback response in the indicated frequency band. For example, the communication device 1200 may be an AP, and a circuit 1214 (e.g., at least one transmission signal generator 1208 of the circuit 1214) can generate a signal requesting a feedback response during operation, and the signal includes frequency band information indicating the frequency band used to transmit a feedback response within the operation channels of one or more other communication devices. The wireless transmitter 1202 transmits this signal to one or more other communication devices during operation.

[0055] The communication device 1200 may be a STA, and at least one wireless receiver 1204 can receive a signal requesting a feedback response during operation, and the signal includes frequency band information indicating the frequency band used to transmit a feedback response within the operation channel of the STA. A circuit 1214 (e.g., at least one reception signal processor 1210 of the circuit 1214) can process the signal to generate a feedback response during operation, and the wireless transmitter 1202 can transmit the feedback response in the frequency band during operation.

[0056] In one embodiment, the frequency domain information includes an adjustment of a resource unit (RU) tone set assigned to communication device 1200 so as to correspond to the frequency domain, the feedback response includes a trigger-based (TB) feedback null data packet (NDP), and circuit 1214 (e.g., at least one transmission signal generator 1208 of circuit 1214) generates a TB feedback NDP that conveys the feedback response.

[0057] Furthermore, the frequency domain information is a parameter, and circuit 1214 (e.g., at least one reception signal processor 1210 of circuit 1214) is configured to calculate an adjustment of the assigned RU tone set in a calculation stage.

[0058] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart 1300 illustrating a communication method implemented by a base communication device such as an AP according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In step 1302, a step of generating a signal used to request a feedback response is executed, and the signal includes frequency domain information indicating a frequency domain used to transmit a feedback response within an operating channel of one or more peer communication devices such as a STA. In step 1304, a step of transmitting the signal to one or more peer communication devices is executed.

[0059] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart 1400 illustrating a communication method implemented by a peer communication device such as a STA according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In step 1402, a step of receiving a signal requesting a feedback response is executed, and the signal includes frequency domain information indicating a frequency domain used to transmit a feedback response within an operating channel of the peer communication device. In step 1404, a step of processing the signal and generating a feedback response is executed. In step 1406, a step of transmitting the feedback response in the frequency domain is executed.

[0060] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to support more non-AP STAs in an EHT TB feedback NDP having the same bandwidth as an HE TB feedback NDP, more EHT-LTF symbols (e.g., 4 or 6) can be included. In this way, compared with an HE TB feedback NDP having the same bandwidth, two to three times the number of non-AP STAs can be supported.

[0061] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary format of an EHT TB feedback NDP 1500 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT TB feedback NDP 1500 includes an L-STF, an L-LTF, an L-SIG field, an RL-SIG field, a U-SIG field, an EHT-STF, and an EHT-LTF. The EHT-LTF in this embodiment includes 4 EHT-LTF symbols and can support twice the number of non-AP STAs.

[0062] The number of EHT-LTF symbols included in the EHT-LTF can be indicated in the HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield of the Common Info field. Accordingly, the number of STAs multiplexed on the same tone set within the same RU increases. Accordingly, the Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield (which indicates the number of STAs multiplexed on the same tone set within the same RU and is encoded as the number obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of STAs) should include more bits. In order to use more bits, the position of the Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield can be shifted to a preliminary subfield.

[0063] For each non-AP STA, the number of EHT-LTF symbols that each can transmit can be calculated using Equation (3).

[0064]

Number

[0065] Figure 16 shows an exemplary format of the EHT NFRP Trigger frame 1600 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 1600 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a Starting AID field, a Feedback Type field, a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users field, a UL Target Receive Power field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The AID of the non-AP STA is greater than or equal to the Starting AID and less than Starting AID + N STA where N STA is calculated using Equation (1). The allocation of spatial streams (i.e., EHT-LTF symbols) is the same as the allocation in 802.11ax and follows Equation (4). The non-AP STA transmits using the EHT-LTF symbols from STARTING_STS_NUM th to (STARTING_STS_NUM th + N LTFperSTA - 1). th

[0066]

Number

[0067] ​By using more EHT-LTF symbols, the 20 MHz EHT TB feedback NDP can support more non-AP STAs. For example, in the SST scenario, the 20 MHz EHT TB feedback NDP in the primary channel can support 72 (4 EHT-LTF symbols) or 144 (6 EHT-LTF symbols) non-AP STAs. This is sufficient for some high-density scenarios, such as when the number of related STAs is less than 72 or 144 respectively. This feedback response procedure using an EHT TB feedback NDP with more EHT-LTF symbols provides a simple solution in high-density environments, such as cases with multiple APs.

[0068] However, such a feedback response procedure has limited applicable cases. For example, in high-density environments such as IoT (Internet-of-Things) applications where an AP may support thousands of STAs, or in the SST scenario, such a feedback response procedure cannot solve the problem that some STAs cannot participate in the feedback response.

[0069] In the following paragraphs, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the first embodiment, a parameter including an RU tone set index offset value is used as frequency region information indicating a frequency region within the operating channel of an STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0070] FIG. 17 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 1700 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 1700 includes a Frame Control field, a Duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The Frame Control field, the Duration field, the RA field, and the TA field can be grouped as a MAC header. The common field is composed of a Trigger Type subfield, an Uplink (UL) Length subfield, a More TF subfield, a CS Required subfield, a UL Bandwidth (BW) subfield, a Guard Interval (GI) And HE-LTF Type subfield, a Number OF HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield, an AP Transmission (Tx) Power subfield, a HE / EHT P160 subfield, and an EHT Reserved subfield. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, an Index Offset field, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0071] The EHT format is indicated in the Common Info field. The Index Offset subfield conveys 8 bits and indicates a RU tone set index offset value between 0 and 144. The maximum value is determined based on the maximum number of non-AP STAs that can be supported. For example, the value 144 is determined based on the maximum number of non-AP STAs that can be supported by the 80MHz EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0072] When receiving the EHT NFRP Trigger frame 1700, the relevant non-AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions calculate the RU tone set index using Equation (5) based on the values of the subfields of AID, start AID, UL BW, and index offset, and determine the RU tone set to transmit.

[0073]

Number

[0074] The value of the index offset added to the formula can control and set the index of the RU tone set assigned to the non-AP STA to a higher value, for example, located in a specific 20MHz subchannel within the operating channel of the non-AP STA, which is a higher frequency region. Similarly, by adjusting the value of the start AID, the index of the assigned RU tone set can also be controlled and set to a lower value.

[0075] Note that the AP needs to carefully determine such index offsets so as not to assign the same RU tone set index to multiple non-AP STAs.

[0076] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU using multi-user (MU) transmission (MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an aggregate physical layer protocol data unit (A-PPDU). Each EHT NFRP trigger can include different starting AID values and index offset values.

[0077] FIG. 18 shows FIG. 1800 illustrating an exemplary NDP feedback reporting procedure according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The AP transmits a DL PPDU including two EHT NFRP Trigger frames (TFs) (e.g., EHT NFRP TF 1 and 2) to STA1 and STA2 respectively using OFDMA communication, and transmits a DL PPDU including another two EHT NFRP TFs (e.g., EHT NFRP TF 3 and 4) to STA3 and STA4 respectively using MU-MIMO communication. Each of the EHT NFRP TFs can include different starting AID values and index offset values. STA1, STA2, STA3, and STA4 receive the DL PPDU, calculate their respective adjusted / offset RU tone set indexes, determine the corresponding RU tone sets and frequency regions, and transmit their respective feedback responses. In this case, the adjusted / offset RU tone set indexes of STA1, STA2, STA3, and STA4 are mapped to the EHT-LTF symbols of the TB feedback NDP in the lowest frequency region, the second lowest frequency region, the third lowest frequency region, and the highest frequency region respectively. Thereafter, STA1, STA2, STA3, and STA4 transmit a TB feedback NDP having a feedback response in their respective frequency regions.

[0078] FIG. 19 shows FIG. 1900 illustrating an exemplary extended NDP feedback reporting procedure in a non-SST scenario according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. There is an 80 MHz BSS, within which the primary channel is the highest 20 MHz (P20). Among a total of 40 non-AP STAs associated with the AP in the BSS, there are a STA (STA1 with AID1) operating at 20 MHz parked on P20 and a STA (STA2 with AID2) operating at 80 MHz parked on the 80 MHz channel.

[0079] The AP transmits a DL PPDU carrying two EHT NFRP Trigger frames by OFDMA transmission, requesting a 40 MHz EHT TB feedback NDP. In the EHT NFRP Trigger frame transmitted to STA1, the Starting AID subfield is set to 1 and the Index Offset subfield is set to 40, and in the EHT NFRP Trigger frames transmitted to STA2 and other STAs, the Starting AID subfield is set to 1 and the Index Offset subfield is set to 0.

[0080] Upon receiving the EHT NFRP Trigger frame, STA1 transmits in the RU tone set having index #41 of the EHT TB feedback NDP, and STA2 transmits in the RU tone set having index #2 of the EHT TB feedback NDP. As a result, all non-AP STAs can be supported in one extended NDP feedback reporting procedure.

[0081] FIG. 20 shows FIG. 2000 illustrating an exemplary extended NDP feedback reporting procedure in an SST scenario according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. There is a 160 MHz BSS, within which the primary channel is the lowest 80 MHz (P80). Among a total of 40 non-AP STAs associated with the AP in the BSS, there is a STA (STA1 with AID1) operating at 80 MHz parked at P80 and another STA (STA2 with AID2) operating at another 80 MHz parked at the secondary 80 MHz.

[0082] The AP transmits two EHT NFRP Trigger frames requesting 160 MHz EHT TB feedback NDPs. In the EHT NFRP Trigger frames transmitted to STA1 and several other STAs, the Starting AID subfield is set to 1 and the Index Offset subfield is set to 0. In the EHT NFRP Trigger frames transmitted to STA2 and several other STAs, the Starting AID subfield is set to 1 and the Index Offset subfield is set to 72.

[0083] Upon receiving the EHT NFRP Trigger frame, STA1 transmits in the RU tone set having index #1 of the EHT TB feedback NDP, and STA2 transmits in the RU tone set having index #72 of the EHT feedback NDP. As a result, all non-AP STAs parked on different subchannels can be supported in one extended NDP feedback reporting procedure.

[0084] FIG. 21 shows a flowchart 2100 illustrating a process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2102. In step 2102, a step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation is performed. In one embodiment, in step 2102, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0085] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 2104 is executed; otherwise, step 2112 is executed. In step 2104, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 2106, a step of determining the start AID value and index offset value of each non-AP STA is executed. In step 2108, a step of preparing and generating an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA is executed. In step 2110, a step of preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs is executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 2102, if it is determined in the current situation that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 2112, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0086] FIG. 22 shows a flowchart 2200 illustrating a process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2202. In step 2202, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 2204, a step of calculating an RU tone set index is executed based on the values of the sub-fields of AID, start AID, UL BW, and index offset indicated in the Trigger frame. In step 2206, a step of preparing, generating, and transmitting an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency domain corresponding to the calculated RU tone set index is executed.

[0087] With such simple parameters indicated in the Trigger frame, the AP can control each RU tone set to be assigned to any higher 20 MHz subchannel.

[0088] In the following paragraphs, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the second embodiment, a parameter including a bandwidth offset value is used as frequency domain information indicating a frequency domain within the operating channel of the STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0089] FIG. 23 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2300 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2300 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a BW Offset subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield. The BW Offset subfield further includes a BW for Calculation subfield and a Subchannel Indication subfield.

[0090] The BW for Calculation subfield of the BW Offset field indicates a new value of the BW used in the calculation stage and the resolution of the subchannel indicated by the Subchannel Indication subfield, and the Subchannel Indication subfield of the BW Offset field indicates the position of the subchannel where the allocated RU tone set is located. The encodings of the BW for Calculation subfield and the Subchannel Indication subfield are shown in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.

[0091] Table 1 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the BW for Calculation subfield.

[0092]

Table 1

[0093] Table 2 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the Subchannel Indication subfield.

[0094]

Table 2

[0095] In addition to, or instead of, this, the HE / EHT P160 subfield of the Common Info field (see Figure 17) can be used to indicate in which 160 MHz subchannel the EHT TB feedback NDP is transmitted, and thus the Subchannel Indication subfield only needs to indicate the position within the 160 MHz range.

[0096] When the EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, the associated non-AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions calculate the RU tone set index based on the values of the sub-fields of AID, start AID, UL BW, and BW offset. If the value of the BW for Calculation sub-field is 0, the conventional NDP feedback report is shown, and the process performed by the non-AP STA is the same as the process defined in the 802.11ax specification. On the other hand, if the value of the BW for Calculation sub-field is greater than 0, the non-AP STA calculates the RU tone set index according to Equation (6), determines the corresponding RU tone set and frequency region, and sends a feedback response, where NewBW is the value of the BW for Calculation sub-field, and N subchannel is the value of the Subchannel Indication sub-field.

[0097]

Number

[0098] It should be noted that the AP needs to carefully determine the BW offset so as not to assign the same RU tone set index to multiple non-AP STAs.

[0099] FIG. 24 shows a flowchart 2400 illustrating a process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2402. In step 2402, a step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation is performed. In one embodiment, in step 2402, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes a step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0100] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 2404 is executed; otherwise, step 2412 is executed. In step 2404, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 2406, a step of determining the start AID value and BW offset value of each non-AP STA is executed. In step 2408, a step of preparing and generating an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA is executed. In step 2410, a step of preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs is executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 2402, if it is determined in the current situation that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 2412, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0101] FIG. 25 shows a flowchart 2500 illustrating a process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2502. In step 2502, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 2504, a step of determining whether the value of the BW Offset field is 0 is executed. If it is determined that the value of the BW Offset field is not 0, step 2506 is executed; otherwise, step 2510 is executed. In step 2506, a step of calculating an RU tone set index is executed based on the values of the fields of AID, start AID, UL BW, and BW Offset shown in the Trigger frame. In step 2508, a step of preparing, generating, and transmitting an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency region corresponding to the calculated RU tone set index is executed. Returning to step 2504, if it is determined that the BW Offset field is 0, step 2510 is executed, and a conventional calculation method for determining the RU tone set index is executed.

[0102] With such simple parameters shown in the Trigger frame, the AP can control each assigned RU tone set to any higher 20 / 80 / 160 MHz subchannel. In the extended NDP feedback procedure described in the second embodiment, the number of bits required is even less than that in the first embodiment.

[0103] In the following paragraphs, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the third embodiment, a parameter including a subchannel offset value is used as frequency region information indicating a frequency region within an operation channel of a STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0104] Figure 26 shows an exemplary format of the EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2600 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2600 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a Subchannel Offset subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0105] The Subchannel Offset field indicates the position of the 20 MHz subchannel where the assigned RU tone set is located within the EHT TB feedback NDP. Table 3 shows the encoding of the Subchannel Offset field.

[0106] Table 3 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the Subchannel Offset field.

[0107]

Table 3

[0108] In addition to, or instead of, this, the HE / EHT P160 subfield of the Common Info field (see FIG. 17) can be used to indicate in which 160 MHz subchannel the EHT TB feedback NDP is transmitted, and thus the Subchannel Offset subfield only needs to indicate a position within the 160 MHz range.

[0109] When an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, a related non-AP STA that meets the feedback conditions calculates an RU tone set index based on the values of the subfields of AID, start AID, and subchannel offset according to Equation (7), and determines the corresponding RU tone set and frequency region for transmitting a feedback response, where N subchannel is the value of the Subchannel Offset subfield.

[0110]

Number

[0111] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU using multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include different start AID values and subchannel offset values.

[0112] Note that the AP needs to carefully determine the subchannel offset so as not to assign the same RU tone set index to multiple non-AP STAs.

[0113] FIG. 27 shows a flowchart 2700 illustrating a process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2702. In step 2702, a step is performed to determine whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation. In one embodiment, in step 2702, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes the step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0114] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 2704 is executed; otherwise, step 2712 is executed. In step 2704, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 2706, a step is executed to determine the starting AID value and subchannel offset value for each non-AP STA. In step 2708, a step is executed to prepare and generate an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA. In step 2710, a step is executed to prepare a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmit it to a plurality of non-AP STAs, and the process can end. Returning to step 2702, if it is determined in the current situation that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced in step 2712, and then the process can end.

[0115] FIG. 28 shows a flowchart 2800 illustrating a process performed by an STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 2802. In step 2802, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 2804, a step of calculating an RU tone set index is executed based on the values of the sub-fields of the AID, start AID, UL BW, and sub-channel offset indicated in the Trigger frame. In step 2806, a step of preparing, generating, and transmitting an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency domain corresponding to the calculated RU tone set index is executed.

[0116] With such simple parameters indicated in the Trigger frame, the AP can control each assigned RU tone set to any higher 20 MHz sub-channel. In the extended NDP feedback procedure described in the third embodiment, the number of bits required is even less than the procedures described in the first and second embodiments.

[0117] In the following paragraphs, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the STA is instructed to adjust the RU tone set index so as to correspond to the frequency domain within the operating channel of the STA in order to transmit a feedback response.

[0118] Figure 29 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2900 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 2900 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a Self Adaptive Flag subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0119] The Self Adaptive Flag subfield indicates whether a scheduled non-AP STA should adapt the RU tone set index. Table 4 shows the encoding of the Self Adaptive Flag subfield.

[0120] Table 4 shows the instructions / meanings corresponding to two different values of the Self Adaptive Flag subfield.

[0121]

Table 4

[0122] When the EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, the related non-AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions calculate the RU tone set index based on the AID, start AID, and the values of the sub-fields of the UL BW, as well as the parked sub-channels. If the value of the Self Adaptive Flag sub-field is 0, the conventional NDP feedback report is shown, and the process performed by the non-AP STA is the same as the process defined in the 802.11ax specification. If the value of the Self Adaptive Flag sub-field is 1, the non-AP STA determines the initial RU tone set index using Equation (8).

[0123]

Number

[0124] If the initial RU tone set corresponds to the frequency region within the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA, the non-AP STA transmits at the RU tone set of the EHT TB feedback NDP, i.e., RU_TONE_SET_INDEX = RU_TONE_SET_INDEX_Initial.

[0125] If the initial RU tone set corresponds to the frequency region outside the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA, the non-AP STA shifts the index from the initial RU tone set index to the index closest to the frequency region within the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA and the bandwidth of the required EHT TB feedback NDP. The shifted RU tone set index is shown in Equation (9), and OffsetValue is the offset value determined by the non-AP STA.

[0126]

Number

[0127] By indicating the Self Adaptive Flag subfield, the non-AP STA can control itself so that the assigned RU tone set index is located in a specific frequency segment.

[0128] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU using multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include different starting AID values and self-adaptive flag values.

[0129] Note that when the shifted RU tone set index collides with other RU tone set indexes, the AP needs to transmit an EHT NFRP Trigger frame with the Self Adaptive Flag subfield set to "1" to the non-AP STA.

[0130] FIG. 30 shows a flowchart 3000 illustrating the process performed by the AP in the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 3002. In step 3002, a step is performed to determine whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation. In one embodiment, in step 3002, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes a step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0131] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is insufficient, step 3004 is executed; otherwise, step 3012 is executed. In step 3004, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 3006, a step of determining the start AID value and the self-adaptive flag value of each non-AP STA is executed. In step 3008, a step of preparing and generating the EHT NFRP Trigger frame of each non-AP STA is executed. In step 3010, a step of preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs is executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 3002, in the current situation, if it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 3012, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0132] Figure 31 shows a flowchart 3100 illustrating a process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 3102. In step 3102, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 3104, a step is performed to determine whether the value of the Self Adaptive Flag subfield is 0. If it is determined that the value of the Self Adaptive Flag subfield is not 0, step 3106 is executed; otherwise, step 3114 is executed. In step 3106, a step is executed to calculate an initial RU tone set index based on the values of the AID, start AID, and UL BW subfields indicated in the Trigger frame. In step 3108, a step is performed to determine whether the initial RU tone set index is within the operating frequency range of the STA. If it is determined that the initial RU tone set index is within the operating frequency range of the STA, step 3112 is executed; otherwise, step 3110 is executed. In step 3110, a step is performed to determine the RU tone set index within the operating frequency range that is closest to the initial RU tone set index. In step 3112, a step is executed to prepare, generate, and transmit an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency region corresponding to the RU tone set index. Returning to step 3104, if it is determined that the Self Adaptive Flag subfield is 0, step 3114 is executed, where a conventional calculation method for determining the RU tone set index is executed.

[0133] With this Self Adaptive Flag subfield and indication, the non-AP STA can adjust the RU tone set index by itself. However, careful scheduling on the AP side is required. The extended NDP feedback procedure described in this fourth embodiment is less flexible compared to the first, second, and third embodiments.

[0134] In the following paragraphs, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the fifth embodiment, a parameter including a new modulo value or modulation value is used as frequency domain information indicating a frequency domain within the operating channel of the STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0135] FIG. 32 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3200 according to a first example of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3200 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a New Mod subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0136] The New Mod field indicates the modulo or modulation value used in the calculation stage. The encoding of the New Mod subfield is shown in Table 5.

[0137] Table 5 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the New Mod subfield.

[0138]

Table 5

[0139] When an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, the relevant non - AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions calculate the RU tone - set index based on the AID, start AID, and the value of the New Mod subfield using Equation (10), and determine the RU tone - set to transmit. In the equation, NewMod is the modulo value shown in the New Mod subfield.

[0140]

Equation

[0141] Furthermore, the non - AP STA uses Equation (11) to determine the spatial stream to be assigned.

[0142]

Equation

[0143] For example, the AP requests 40MHz EHT TB feedback NDP from all non - AP STAs with a start AID of 1, and one of the non - AP STAs belongs to AID26. When the value of the New Mod subfield is set to 18×2 BW , the non - AP STA calculates the RU tone - set index as 26 in spatial stream #0. When the value of the New Mod subfield is set to 18, the non - AP STA calculates the RU tone - set index as 8 in spatial stream #1.

[0144] By adding the value of such a new Mod (New Mod) subfield to the formula, the AP can control each assigned RU tone set to a lower value so that the RU set call to be assigned is within another 20 MHz subchannel. However, the position of the RU tone set within the 20 MHz subchannel cannot be controlled.

[0145] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU that uses multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include different starting AID values and new Mod values.

[0146] Note that the AP needs to carefully determine the new Mod so as not to assign the same RU tone set index to multiple non-AP STAs.

[0147] FIG. 33 shows a flowchart 3300 illustrating the process performed by the AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a first example of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 3302. In step 3302, a step is performed to determine whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation. In one embodiment, in step 3302, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0148] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 3304 is executed; otherwise, step 3312 is executed. In step 3304, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 3306, steps for determining the starting AID value and the new Mod value for each non-AP STA are executed. In step 3308, steps for preparing and generating an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA are executed. In step 3310, steps for preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs are executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 3302, in the current situation, if it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 3312, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0149] FIG. 34 shows a flowchart 3400 illustrating a process performed by an STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a first example of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 3402. In step 3402, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 3404, steps for calculating an RU tone set index are executed based on the values of the AID, starting AID, and new Mod subfields indicated in the Trigger frame. In step 3406, steps for preparing, generating, and transmitting an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency domain corresponding to the RU tone set index are executed.

[0150] With such simple parameters indicated in the Trigger frame, the AP can control some of the assigned RU tone sets to different 20 MHz subchannels. The extended NDP feedback procedure described in this example of the fifth embodiment is less flexible compared to the first, second, and third embodiments.

[0151] Alternatively, instead of indicating a new Mod value, it indicates a new Mod flag. FIG. 35 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3500 according to a second example of the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3500 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a New Mod Flag subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0152] The New Mod Flag field indicates whether the new 2007-based modulo rule is applied. Note that instead of 2007, other predefined / fixed values with reasonable and sufficient magnitudes (e.g., 5005-based modulo rule) can be used. Further, when the 2007-based modulo rule (or other rules) is used, the value of the Starting AID needs to be appropriately set so that the rule is supported. The encoding of the New Mod Flag subfield is shown in Table 6.

[0153] Table 6 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the New Mod subfield.

[0154]

Table 6

[0155] If the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 0, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is indicated, and the non-AP STA is determined to be scheduled to respond to the EHT NFRP Trigger frame in the same manner as defined according to the 802.11ax specification. If the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 1, the 2007-based modulo rule is applied, and the non-AP STA's AID uses the Starting AID subfield in the requested Trigger frame to start AID+N STA -2007 to determine whether it is scheduled to respond to the EHT NFRP Trigger frame under the feedback condition that it is less than, where N STA is the total number of non-AP STAs scheduled to respond to the NFRP Trigger frame calculated in the same manner as defined according to the 802.11ax specification.

[0156] Upon receiving the EHT NFRP Trigger frame, the relevant non-AP STAs that meet the feedback condition calculate the RU tone set index based on the values of the AID subfield, the Starting AID subfield, and the modulo value 2007 according to Equation (12), and determine the corresponding RU tone set and frequency region for transmitting the feedback response.

[0157]

Number

[0158] For example, assume that an AP requests 40 MHz EHT TB feedback NDPs from several non-AP STAs, and one of them is a non-AP STA with AID7. If the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 0, i.e., the 2007-based modulo rule is not applied and the Starting AID subfield is set to 1, the non-AP STA calculates the RU tone set index as 7. If the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 1, i.e., the 2007-based modulo rule is applied and the Starting AID subfield is set to 1990, the non-AP STA calculates the RU tone set index as 24.

[0159] With the New Mod Flag subfield indicating the 2007-based modulo rule, the AP can control each assigned RU tone set to a higher value so that the assigned RU set call is within a higher 20 MHz subchannel.

[0160] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU using multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include different starting AID values and new Mod flag values.

[0161] Note that the AP needs to carefully schedule the receivers targeted by the EHT NFRP Trigger frames indicating the 2007-based modulo rule so as not to assign the same RU tone set index to multiple non-AP STAs.

[0162] FIG. 36 shows a flowchart 3600 illustrating a process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second example of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 3602. In step 3602, a step is performed to determine whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation. In one embodiment, in step 3602, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes the step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0163] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 3604 is executed; otherwise, step 3612 is executed. In step 3604, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 3606, a step is executed to determine the starting AID value and the new Mod value for each non-AP STA. In step 3608, a step is executed to prepare and generate an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA. In step 3610, a step is executed to prepare a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmit it to a plurality of non-AP STAs, and the process can end. Returning to step 3602, if it is determined in the current situation that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 3612, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0164] FIG. 37 shows a flowchart 3700 illustrating a process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second example of a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts at step 3702. At step 3702, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. At step 3704, a step is performed to determine whether the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 0. If it is determined that the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is not 0, step 3706 is executed; otherwise, step 3710 is executed. At step 3706, it is determined whether the STA is scheduled to respond based on the 2007-based modulo rule, and a step is executed to calculate the RU tone set index based on the values of the AID and start AID subfields shown in the Trigger frame and the modulo value 2007. At step 3708, a step is executed to prepare, generate, and transmit an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency region corresponding to the RU tone set index. Returning to step 3704, if it is determined that the value of the New Mod Flag subfield is 0, step 3710 is executed, and in this step, it is determined whether the STA is scheduled to respond, and a conventional calculation method for calculating the RU tone set index is executed.

[0165] With such simple parameters shown in the Trigger frame, the AP can control several allocatable RU tone sets to different 20 MHz subchannels with different rules. The extended NDP feedback procedure described in this example of the fifth embodiment has the same performance as the first, second, and third embodiments.

[0166] In the following paragraphs, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the sixth embodiment, information on the bandwidth and position in the signal field is used as frequency domain information indicating the frequency domain within the operation channel of the STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0167] Similar to requesting a TB A-PPDU, the AP can transmit one or more EHT NFRP Trigger frames to request an aggregated TB feedback NDP from a non-AP STA. The bandwidth information of each HE / EHT TB feedback NDP in the aggregated TB feedback NDP is indicated in the EHT NFRP Trigger frame.

[0168] FIG. 38 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3800 according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 3800 includes a Frame Control field, a Duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The Frame Control field, the Duration field, the RA field, and the TA field can be grouped as a MAC header. The common field is composed of a Trigger Type subfield, a UL Length subfield, a More TF subfield, a CS Required subfield, a UL BW subfield, a GI and HE-LTF Type subfield, a Number OF HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield, an AP Tx Power subfield, a HE / EHT P160 subfield, and an EHT Reserved subfield. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a BW Extension field, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0169] The UL BW subfield of the Common Info field indicates the bandwidth of the required HE / EHT TB feedback NDP that overlaps with the primary channel. The BW Extension subfield of the User Info field indicates the bandwidth and position of the required EHT TB feedback NDP that does not overlap with the primary channel. The encoding of the BW Extension subfield is shown in Table 7.

[0170] Table 7 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the BW Extension subfield.

[0171]

Table 7

[0172] In addition to or instead of this, the HE / EHT P160 subfield of the Common Info field (see Figure 38) can be used to indicate in which 160 MHz subchannel the EHT TB feedback NDP is transmitted, and thus the BW Extension subfield only needs to indicate the position within the 160 MHz range.

[0173] According to the sixth embodiment, when the AID of the non-AP STA is greater than or equal to the starting AID and less than starting AID + N STA the non-AP STA is scheduled to respond to the EHT NFRP Trigger frame, where the starting AID value is the value of the Starting AID subfield, and N STA is the total number of non-AP STAs scheduled to respond to the NFRP Trigger frame. N STA is calculated using equations (13) - (15), where N STA 1 is the total number of non-AP STAs scheduled to respond to the primary NDP, and N STA2 is the total number of non-AP STAs scheduled to respond to the secondary NDP, BW1 is the value of the UL BW subfield, BW2 is the value of the BW Extension subfield, and MultuplexingFlag is the value of the Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.

[0174]

Number

[0175]

Number

[0176]

Number

[0177] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit one EHT NFRP Trigger frame to all non-AP STAs in the DL PPDU using full bandwidth transmission, if permitted. In an alternative embodiment, the AP may transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU that uses multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA), or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include a different BW Extension subfield value.

[0178] When the EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, the relevant non-AP STAs that meet the feedback conditions calculate the RU tone set index based on the values of the AID, starting AID, UL BW, and sub-fields of the BW extension. The non-AP STA first determines which EHT TB feedback NDP it can transmit. If only one EHT TB feedback NDP overlaps with its operating frequency range, the non-AP STA calculates the RU tone set index in the same way as defined in the 802.11ax specification and transmits it in the assigned RU tone set of the EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0179] When two or more EHT TB feedback NDPs overlap with the operating frequency range, the non-AP STA determines the RU tone set. The step of determining the RU tone set includes a first step of calculating the initial RU tone set index that overlaps with the primary channel based on the UL BW sub-field using Equation (8).

[0180] If the initial RU tone set corresponds to a frequency region within the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA, the non-AP STA transmits in the RU tone set of the EHT TB feedback NDP, i.e., at RU_TONE_SET_INDEX = RU_TONE_SET_INDEX_Initial, which overlaps with the primary channel.

[0181] If the initial RU tone set corresponds to a frequency region outside the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA, the non-AP STA calculates a second RU tone set index that does not overlap with the primary channel based on the BW Extension sub-field using Equation (16), where BWExtension is the bandwidth indicated in the BW Extension sub-field.

[0182]

Equation

[0183] When the second RU tone set corresponds to a frequency region within the operating frequency range of the non-AP STA, the non-AP STA transmits at the RU tone set of the EHT TB feedback NDP, i.e., at RU_TONE_SET_INDEX = RU_TONE_SET_INDEX_Second, which does not overlap with the primary channel.

[0184] The AP can control, via the BW Extension subfield, such that the RU tone set index to be assigned is located in a specific EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0185] FIG. 39 shows FIG. 3900 illustrating an exemplary extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure, where a 160 MHz BSS exists. Among a total of 40 non-AP STAs associated with the AP within the BSS, 36 non-AP STAs are parked at the primary 80 MHz (P80), and 4 non-AP STAs are parked at the secondary 80 MHz (S80). STA1 having AID1 is one of the 36 non-AP STAs parked at P80, and STA2 having AID2 is one of the 4 non-AP STAs parked at S80.

[0186] The AP transmits an EHT NFRP Trigger frame requesting an aggregated EHT TB feedback NDP having a 40 MHz NDP at P80 and a 20 MHz NDP at S80. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame is transmitted to all STAs, with the Starting AID subfield set to 1, the UL BW subfield set to 80 MHz, and the BW Extension subfield set to 0 indicating a 20 MHz NDP at the fifth lowest 20 MHz.

[0187] When the STA1 receives the EHT NFRP Trigger frame, it calculates the assigned RU tone set index at 40 MHz as 1, and thus transmits at the RU tone set index #1 of the 40 MHz EHT TB feedback NDP at P80. In contrast, the STA2 calculates the assigned RU tone set index as 2, and thus transmits at the RU tone set index #2 of the 20 MHz EHT TB feedback at S80. As a result, all non-AP STAs parked on different subchannels can be supported in one NDP feedback reporting procedure.

[0188] Figure 40 shows a flowchart 4000 illustrating the process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second example of the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 4002. In step 4002, a step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation is performed. In one embodiment, in step 4002, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes a step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in one NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0189] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 4004 is executed; otherwise, step 4012 is executed. In step 4004, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 4006, a step of determining the start AID value and bandwidth extension value of each non-AP STA is executed. In step 4008, a step of preparing and generating the EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA is executed. In step 4010, a step of preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs by full bandwidth transmission or MU-MIMO / OFDMA transmission is executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 4002, in the current situation, if it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 4012, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0190] Figure 41 shows a flowchart 4100 illustrating the process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 4102. In step 4102, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 4104, a step is performed to determine whether the non-AP STA is scheduled to respond based on the UL BW and the BW extension subfield. If it is determined that the non-AP STA is scheduled to respond, step 4106 is executed; otherwise, the process can end. In step 4106, a step is performed to determine whether both of the two TB feedback NDPs overlap with the operating frequency range of the STA. If it is determined that the two TB feedback NDPs do not overlap with the operating frequency range, step 4108 is executed; otherwise, step 4116 is executed. In step 4108, a step is executed to calculate an initial RU tone set index based on the values of the AID, start AID, and UL BW subfield shown in the Trigger frame. In step 4110, a step is executed to determine whether the initial RU tone set index is within the operating frequency range of the STA. If it is determined that the initial RU tone set index is within the operating frequency range of the STA, step 4112 is executed; otherwise, step 4114 is executed. In step 4112, a step is executed to calculate a second tone set index based on the values of the AID, start AID, and BW extension subfield shown in the Trigger frame. In step 4114, a step is executed to prepare, generate, and transmit an EHT feedback TB NDP in the frequency region corresponding to the RU tone set index. In step 4116, a step is executed to calculate an RU tone set index based on the bandwidth of the TB feedback NDP that overlaps with the operating frequency range of the STA.

[0191] When aggregated TB NDP is requested, non-AP STAs parked on any subchannel can be supported, and the AP can generate a single NFRP Trigger frame for all non-AP STAs.

[0192] In the following paragraphs, a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the seventh embodiment, bandwidth and position information in two different signal fields are used as frequency domain information indicating the frequency domain within the operation channel of the STA for transmitting a feedback response.

[0193] Referring to FIG. 38, unlike the sixth embodiment, the UL BW subfield of the Common Info field can indicate the bandwidth of the required HE / EHT TB feedback NDP that overlaps or does not overlap with the primary channel, and the BW Extension subfield of the User Info field indicates the position of the required EHT TB feedback NDP. The encoding of the BW Extension subfield is shown in Table 8, and the resolution of the subchannel is the bandwidth indicated in the UL BW subfield.

[0194] Table 8 shows various instructions / meanings corresponding to different values of the BW Extension subfield.

[0195]

Table 8

[0196] When an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received, the associated non-AP STAs that meet the feedback criteria calculate the RU tone set index based on the values of the AID, starting AID, and the subfield of the UL BW. The non-AP STA calculates the RU tone set index based on the UL BW subfield using Equation (2) and transmits it in the assigned RU tone set of the indicated EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0197] The non-AP STA further calculates the total number of non-AP STAs that are scheduled to respond and calculates the RU tone set index using the values of the AID, starting AID, and UL BW indicated in the NFRP Trigger frame received through the operating channel (i.e., an implicit offset based on the SST setup is applied to control the index to a higher frequency).

[0198] The BW Extension field allows the AP to control such that the assigned RU tone set index is located in a specific EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0199] In one embodiment, the AP can transmit multiple EHT NFRP Trigger frames to different non-AP STAs in a PPDU that uses multi-user (MU) transmission (e.g., MU-MIMO and / or OFDMA) or in an A-PPDU. Each EHT NFRP Trigger frame can include different UL BW and BW Extension subfield values.

[0200] FIG. 42 shows a flowchart 4200 illustrating a process performed by an AP in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a second example of a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 4202. In step 4202, a step is performed to determine whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient for the current situation. In one embodiment, in step 4202, the step of determining whether the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient includes the step of determining whether all non-AP STAs can be supported in a single NDP feedback reporting procedure in either a non-SST scenario or an SST scenario.

[0201] If it is determined that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is not sufficient, step 4204 is executed; otherwise, step 4212 is executed. In step 4204, the process proceeds to the extended NDP feedback reporting procedure. In step 4206, a step of determining the value of the UL BW subfield for each non-AP STA is executed. In step 4208, a step of preparing and generating an EHT NFRP Trigger frame for each non-AP STA is executed. In step 4210, a step of preparing a DL PPDU for transmitting the EHT NFRP Trigger frame and transmitting it to a plurality of non-AP STAs is executed, and the process can end. Returning to step 4204, if it is determined in the current situation that the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is sufficient, in step 4212, the conventional NDP feedback reporting procedure is advanced, and then the process can end.

[0202] FIG. 43 shows a flowchart 4300 illustrating a process performed by a STA in an extended NDP feedback reporting procedure according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. The process starts from step 4302. In step 4302, an EHT NFRP Trigger frame is received. In step 4304, a step of calculating an RU tone set index is executed based on the values of the AID, start AID, and UL BW sub-fields indicated in the Trigger frame. In step 4306, a step of preparing, generating, and transmitting an EHT feedback TB NDP based on the UL BW and BW extension sub-fields indicated in the Trigger frame is executed, and the process can end.

[0203] Advantageously, the solution provided by the seventh embodiment requires fewer changes and is more flexible compared to the solution of the sixth embodiment. However, the AP needs to generate different NFRP Trigger frames for different non-AP STAs.

[0204] In the following paragraphs, embodiments regarding two other variant forms of the NFRP Trigger frame including frequency domain information indicating the frequency domain within the operating channel of the STA for transmitting a feedback response are described.

[0205] Figure 44 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 4400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 4400 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, a New AID subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield. In this variant, the New AID subfield of the User Info field indicates a new AID assigned to a non-AP STA.

[0206] The new AID is only valid inside the NDP feedback reporting procedure or can be valid until association / reassignment. A non-AP STA that receives an EHT NFRP Trigger frame indicating a new AID value determines whether it meets the feedback conditions and calculates the RU tone set index using the new AID value instead of the old AID value. Alternatively, the AP may send an AID Switch Response frame indicating such a new AID. The AP determines that the assignment of the new AID is successful only when it receives a feedback response from the non-AP STA in the EHT-LTF field of the EHT TB feedback NDP sent by the non-AP STA.

[0207] On one hand, in the NDP feedback reporting procedure, the AID of the BSS may not be continuous. Such continuous BSS AIDs may be accidental. For example, initially, there are 8 STAs associated with the BSS having AIDs 1 to 8. When the STA with AID 3 detaches and is released from the association in the BSS, the position of AID 3 becomes vacant. Continuous BSS AIDs may not be accidental. For example, in multi-link transmission, AIDs are assigned discontinuously. The first group of STAs operating at 2.4 GHz are assigned AIDs 1 to 50, and the second group of STAs operating at 5 GHz are assigned AIDs 1001 to 1050.

[0208] In a high-density environment, there are many vacant AIDs in the BSS, and holes may occur in the EHT-LTF field of the EHT TB feedback NDP.

[0209] Therefore, instead of indicating only the starting AID, the AP can specifically further indicate the scheduled AIDs in the NFRP Trigger frame (for example, provide a list of AIDs scheduled to respond). There are two options to achieve this: (i) Option 1: Include multiple User Info fields in the NFRP Trigger frame; Option 2: Indicate the starting AID and a bitmap of the scheduled AIDs.

[0210] Figure 45 shows an exemplary format of the EHT NFRP Trigger frame 4500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT Trigger frame 4500 is used for the above-described variant option 1 to include a plurality of user information (User Info) fields. The EHT Trigger frame 4500 includes a Frame Control field, a Duration field, an RA field, a TA field, a Common Info field, a User Info List field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The Frame Control field, the Duration field, the RA field, and the TA field can be grouped as a MAC header. The common fields include a Trigger Type subfield, a UL Length subfield, a More TF subfield, a CS Required subfield, a UL BW subfield, a GI And HE-LTF Type subfield, a Number OF HE / EHT-LTF Symbols subfield, an AP Tx Power subfield, a Number of Users subfield, a HE / EHT P160 subfield, and an EHT Reserved subfield. The User Info List field includes a plurality of User Info fields, and each User Info field includes an AID List subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield.The number of Users subfield of the Common Info field indicates the number of User Info fields included in the User Info List field. The AID List subfield of each User Info field contains several AID fields, such as the 1st AID subfield and the 2nd AID subfield. This is because there are not enough bits in one User Info field (40 bits). The AID List subfield can be used to indicate the AID of the STA that is scheduled to respond to the NFRP Trigger frame.

[0211] FIG. 46 shows an exemplary format of an EHT NFRP Trigger frame 4600 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The EHT Trigger frame 4600 is used for the above-described variant option 2 to include a bitmap for the starting AID and other AIDs. The EHT NFRP Trigger frame 4600 includes a MAC header (Frame Control field, Duration field, RA field, and TA field), a Common Info field, a User Info field, a Padding field, and an FCS field. The User Info field includes a Starting AID subfield, an AID Bitmap subfield, a Feedback Type subfield, a UL Target Receive Power subfield, and a Number Of Spatially Multiplexed Users subfield. The (AID - Starting AID)-th bit of the AID Bitmap subfield indicates whether a non-AP STA having the corresponding AID is scheduled to respond and the RU tone index.

[0212] FIG. 47 shows the configuration of a communication device, such as an AP, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the schematic example of the communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 4700 includes a circuit 4702, at least one wireless transmitter 4710, at least one wireless receiver 4712, and at least one antenna 4714 (for simplicity, only one antenna is depicted in FIG. 47). The circuit 4702 can include at least one controller 4708 for performing tasks designed by the controller 4708 to execute communication for feedback response transmission in the indicated frequency band under the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 4702 can further include a transmission signal generator 4704 and a reception signal processor 4706. The at least one controller 4708 can control the transmission signal generator 4704 and the reception signal processor 4706. The transmission signal generator 4704 can include a frame generator 4722, a control signaling generator 4724, and a PPDU generator 4726. The frame generator 4722 can generate a MAC frame, such as a HE / EHT null data packet (NDP) feedback report pole (NFRP) Trigger frame described in various embodiments of the present disclosure. The control signaling generator 4724 can generate a control signaling field of the generated PPDU (e.g., the HE / EHT-SIG field of the HE / EHT PPDU including the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame). The PPDU generator 4726 can generate a PPDU (e.g., the HE / EHT PPDU including the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame).

[0213] The received signal processor 4706 can include a data demodulator and decoder 4732 that can demodulate and decode the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the HE / EHT-LTF of the HE / EHT TB feedback NDP). The received signal processor 4706 can further include a control demodulator and decoder 4734 that can demodulate and decode the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the HE-SIG-A / U-SIG field of the HE / EHT TB feedback NDP). At least one controller 4708 can include a control signaling (signal) parser 4742 and a scheduler 4744. The scheduler 4744 can determine RU information and user-specific allocation information for downlink SU transmission or MU transmission, as well as trigger information for uplink MU transmission allocation. The control signal parser 4742 can analyze the control signaling portion of the received signal and the trigger information for uplink MU transmission allocation shared by the scheduler 4744, and can assist the data demodulator and decoder 4732 in demodulating and decoding the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the HE / EHT-LTF of the HE / EHT TB feedback NDP).

[0214] FIG. 48 shows the configuration of a communication device, e.g., an STA, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Similar to the schematic example of the communication device 1200 shown in FIG. 12, the communication device 4800 includes a circuit 4802, at least one wireless transmitter 4810, at least one wireless receiver 4812, and at least one antenna 4814 (for simplicity, only one antenna is depicted in FIG. 48). The circuit 4802 can include at least one controller 4808 for use in executing tasks designed such that the controller 4808 executes communication for feedback response transmission in an indicated frequency band with the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 4802 can further include a transmission signal generator 4804 and a reception signal processor 4806. The at least one controller 4808 can control the transmission signal generator 4804 and the reception signal processor 4806. The reception signal processor 4806 can include a data demodulator and decoder 4832 and a control demodulator and decoder 4834. The control demodulator and decoder 4834 can demodulate and decode the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame described in various embodiments of the present disclosure). The data demodulator and decoder 4832 can demodulate and decode the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the data field of the HE / EHT PPDU including the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame) according to the RU information and the user-specific allocation information of its own allocation.

[0215] At least one controller 4808 can include a control signaling (signal) parser 4842, a scheduler 4844, and a trigger information parser 4846. The control signal parser 4842 can analyze the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the HE / EHT-SIG field of the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame) and assist the data demodulator and decoder 4832 in demodulating and decoding the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the data field of the HE / EHT PPDU including the HE / EHT NFRP Trigger frame). The trigger information parser 4846 can analyze trigger information for its uplink allocation from the received trigger frame included in the data portion of the received signal. The transmission signal generator 4804 can include a control signaling generator 4824 that can generate the control signaling field of the generated PPDU (e.g., the HE / EHT-SIG field of the HE / EHT PPDU including the HE / EHT TB feedback NDP). The transmission signal generator 4804 can further include a PPDU generator 4826 that generates a PPDU (e.g., the HE / EHT TB feedback NDP). The transmission signal generator 4804 can further include a frame generator 4822 that can generate a MAC frame.

[0216] As described above, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an advanced communication system, communication method, and communication apparatus for transmitting a feedback response in an indicated frequency band in a MIMO WLAN network, and improve spectral efficiency in the MIMO WLAN network.

[0217] The present disclosure can be implemented by software, by hardware, or by software cooperating with hardware. Each functional block used in the description of each of the above-described embodiments can be implemented in part or in whole by an LSI such as an integrated circuit, and each process described in each embodiment can be controlled in part or in whole by the same LSI or a combination of LSIs. The LSI can be formed individually as a chip, or one chip can be formed so as to include part or all of the functional blocks. The LSI can include a data input / output section coupled to itself. Here, the LSI can also be referred to as an IC, a system LSI, a super LSI, or an ultra LSI depending on the difference in the degree of integration. However, the technology for implementing the integrated circuit is not limited to the LSI, and it may be implemented by using an application-specific circuit, a general-purpose processor, or a dedicated processor. Furthermore, an FPGA (field programmable gate array) that can be programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells arranged inside the LSI can also be used. The present disclosure can be implemented as digital processing or analog processing. As a result of the progress of semiconductor technology or another derivative technology, when the LSI is replaced by future integrated circuit technology, the functional blocks can be integrated using the future integrated circuit technology. Biotechnology can also be applied.

[0218] The present disclosure can be implemented by any type of apparatus, device, or system having a communication function (referred to as a communication apparatus).

[0219] Some non-limiting examples of such communication devices include telephones (e.g., mobile phones, smartphones), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (e.g., laptops, desktops, notebooks), cameras (e.g., digital still / video cameras), digital players (digital audio / video players), wearable devices (e.g., wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices), game consoles, e-book readers, telemedicine / telehealth (remote medical / pharmaceutical) devices, vehicles providing communication functions (e.g., automobiles, airplanes, ships), and various combinations thereof.

[0220] The communication device is not limited to being portable or mobile, and can include any type of device, apparatus, or system that is non-portable or stationary, such as smart home devices (e.g., home appliances, lighting, smart meters, control panels), vending machines, and any other "things" within the network of the "Internet of Things (IoT)".

[0221] Communication can include, for example, the step of exchanging data through a cellular system, a wireless LAN system, a satellite system, among others, and various combinations thereof.

[0222] The communication device can include a device such as a controller or a sensor coupled to a communication device that executes the communication functions described in the present disclosure. For example, the communication device can include a controller or a sensor that generates a control signal or a data signal used by a communication device that executes the communication functions of the communication device.

[0223] The communication device can further include infrastructure facilities, such as base stations, access points, and any other device, apparatus, or system that communicates with or controls devices such as those in the non-limiting examples above.

[0224] Although some features of various embodiments have been described with reference to the apparatus, it will be understood that the corresponding features apply equally to the methods of the various embodiments, and vice versa.

[0225] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and / or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure as broadly described, as shown in the specific embodiments. Accordingly, the present embodiments are considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

[0226] Table 9 shows the RU tone index and the corresponding RU tone set.

[0227] [Table 9]

Claims

1. A communication device, A circuit that generates a signal containing multiple trigger frames, each requesting a feedback response from multiple peer communication devices, A transmitter that transmits the generated signal to the plurality of peer communication devices by transmitting one of the plurality of trigger frames on the primary channel and another of the plurality of trigger frames on a channel different from the primary channel, It is equipped with, Each of the plurality of trigger frames includes frequency domain information indicating the frequency domain used to transmit the feedback response within at least one operating channel of the plurality of peer communication devices. Communication device.

2. The communication device according to Claim 1, wherein the index value of the resource unit (RU) tone assigned to a peer communication device that receives a trigger frame transmitted on the primary channel and the index value of the RU tone assigned to a peer communication device that receives a trigger frame transmitted on a channel different from the primary channel are determined in the same manner.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the feedback response is transmitted in a trigger-based (TB) feedback null data packet (NDP), and the device includes adjusting the index value of the RU tone so that the frequency domain information corresponds to the frequency domain.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the frequency domain information includes parameters used in a calculation step in which the adjustment of the index value of the assigned RU tone is calculated.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the parameter includes an offset value used for adjusting the index value of the assigned RU tone so that it corresponds to the frequency domain.

6. The communication device according to claim 4, comprising a self-adaptive procedure indicator indicating permission for one of the plurality of peer communication devices to self-adjust the value of the assigned RU tone index so that the parameter corresponds to the frequency domain in the operating channel of the plurality of peer communication devices or another frequency domain close to the frequency domain.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback response is transmitted in a plurality of TB feedback NDPs, and the generated signal includes a field indicating information for determining which of the plurality of TB feedback NDPs is used for the transmission of the feedback response.

8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the field indicates the bandwidth of one of the plurality of TB feedback NDPs that overlaps with the primary channel.

9. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the field indicates the bandwidth and location of one of the plurality of TB feedback NDPs that does not overlap with the primary channel.

10. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the field indicates the bandwidth of one of the plurality of TB feedback NDPs, and the generated signal includes another signal field indicating the location of one of the plurality of TB feedback NDPs.

11. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the generated signal includes a new identifier assigned to one of the plurality of peer communication devices.

12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the generated signal includes an identifier or identifier bitmap for identifying only one of the plurality of peer communication devices that are scheduled to transmit the feedback response.

13. A communication method implemented by a communication device, A step of generating a signal that includes multiple trigger frames requesting feedback responses from multiple peer communication devices, The step of transmitting the signal to the plurality of peer communication devices by transmitting one of the plurality of trigger frames on the primary channel and another of the plurality of trigger frames on a channel different from the primary channel, Each of the plurality of trigger frames includes frequency domain information indicating the frequency domain used to transmit the feedback response within at least one operating channel of the plurality of peer communication devices; A communication method that includes this.

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