Method and apparatus for indicating an operating mode for an extended bandwidth in a wireless LAN system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating an operating mode for an extended bandwidth in a wireless LAN system are disclosed. A method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include generating a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width, and transmitting a PPDU including the frame. Here, the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width may be included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame, and the OM control subfield may include a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for instructing an operating mode for an extended bandwidth in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system.

Background Art

[0002] New technologies for improving transmission rate, increasing bandwidth, improving reliability, reducing errors, reducing latency, etc. have been introduced for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). Among WLAN technologies, the standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series can be referred to as Wi-Fi. For example, technologies recently introduced into WLAN include enhancements for Very High-Throughput (VHT) of the 802.11ac standard, enhancements for High Efficiency (HE) of the IEEE 802.11ax standard, etc.

[0003] In order to provide a more improved wireless communication environment, improvement technologies for Extremely High Throughput (EHT) are being discussed. For example, increased bandwidth, efficient utilization of multiple bands, Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) that supports increased spatial streams, technologies for multi-access point (AP) adjustment are being studied, and in particular, various technologies for supporting traffic with low latency or real-time characteristics are being studied. Furthermore, new technologies for supporting ultra high reliability (UHR), including improvement or extension of EHT technology, are being discussed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The technical problem of the present disclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for indicating an operating mode for an extended bandwidth in a wireless LAN system.

[0005] The technical problem of the present disclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for indicating information regarding an extended bandwidth when indicating an operating mode.

[0006] The technical problem to be achieved in the present disclosure is not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] A method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system according to an aspect of the present disclosure may include generating a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width, and transmitting a PPDU including the frame. Here, the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame, and the OM control subfield may include a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

[0008] A method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system according to a further aspect of the present disclosure may include receiving a physical protocol data unit (PPDU) including a frame containing information regarding an indication of an operating channel width, and performing an operation based on the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width. Here, the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame, and the OM control subfield may include a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for indicating an operating mode for an extended bandwidth in a wireless LAN system.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, when indicating an operating mode, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for indicating information regarding an extended bandwidth.

[0011] According to the present disclosure, transmission efficiency and throughput can be improved by utilizing an extended bandwidth in a wireless LAN system.

[0012] The effects obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are included as a part of the detailed description to assist in understanding the present disclosure, provide embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description, explain the technical features of the present disclosure.

[0014]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description disclosed below together with the accompanying drawings is for explaining exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and is not for showing the only embodiments in which the present disclosure can be implemented. The following detailed description includes specific details for providing a complete understanding of the present disclosure. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be implemented without such specific details.

[0016] In some cases, to avoid obscuring the concept of the present disclosure, known structures and devices may be omitted, or may be shown in the form of a block diagram centered on the core functions of each structure and device.

[0017] In the present disclosure, when a certain component is "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, this may include not only a direct connection relationship but also an indirect connection relationship in which there are still other components between them. Also, in the present disclosure, the terms "comprising" or "having" identify the presence of the recited features, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0018] In the present disclosure, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another and are not used to limit the components. Unless otherwise specifically mentioned, they do not limit the order or importance between components. Therefore, within the scope of the present disclosure, the first component in one embodiment can also be referred to as the second component in another embodiment, and similarly, the second component in one embodiment can be referred to as the first component in another embodiment.

[0019] The terms used in the present disclosure are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not for limiting the scope of the claims. As used in the description of the embodiments and the appended claims, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the context. The term "and / or" used in the present disclosure may refer to one of the related listed items or mean including any and all possible combinations of two or more of them. Also, in the present disclosure, the " / " between words has the same meaning as "and / or" unless otherwise stated.

[0020] The examples of the present disclosure may be applied to various wireless communication systems. For example, the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to a wireless LAN system. For example, the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to IEEE 802.11a / g / n / ac / ax standard-based wireless LANs. Note that the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to a newly proposed IEEE 802.11be (or, EHT) standard-based wireless LAN. The examples of the present disclosure may also be applied to an IEEE 802.11be release-2 standard-based wireless LAN that corresponds to further improved technologies of the IEEE 802.11be release-1 standard. Furthermore, the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to a next-generation standard-based wireless LAN after IEEE 802.11be. Also, the examples of the present disclosure may be applied to a cellular wireless communication system. For example, it may be applied to a cellular wireless communication system based on the technologies of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) series and the 5G NR (New Radio) series of the 3GPP (registered trademark) (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard.

[0021] Hereinafter, the technical features to which the examples of the present disclosure can be applied will be described.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] The first device 100 and the second device 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be referred to by various terms such as a terminal, a wireless device, a WTRU (Wireless Transmit Receive Unit), a UE (User Equipment), an MS (Mobile Station), a UT (user terminal), an MSS (Mobile Subscriber Station), an MSS (Mobile Subscriber Unit), an SS (Subscriber Station), an AMS (Advanced Mobile Station), a WT (Wireless terminal), or simply a user. Also, the first device 100 and the second device 200 may be referred to by various terms such as an access point (AP), a BS (Base Station), a fixed station, a Node B, a BTS (base transceiver system), a network, an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system, an RSU (road side unit), a repeater, a router, a relay, a gateway, etc.

[0024] The devices 100 and 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 may also be referred to as a station (STA). For example, the devices 100 and 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be referred to by various terms such as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a transmitting STA, a receiving STA, etc. For example, the STAs 110 and 200 may serve as an AP (access point) or a non-AP. That is, in the present disclosure, the STAs 110 and 200 may have the functions of an AP and / or a non-AP. When the STAs 110 and 200 have the AP function, they may simply be referred to as an AP, and when the STAs 110 and 200 have the non-AP function, they may simply be referred to as an STA. Also, in the present disclosure, an AP may be denoted as an AP STA.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, the first device 100 and the second device 200 can transmit and receive wireless signals using various wireless LAN technologies (e.g., IEEE 802.11 series). The first device 100 and the second device 200 may include interfaces for a medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical layer (PHY) that comply with the provisions of the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0026] In addition, the first device 100 and the second device 200 can further support various communication standards other than wireless LAN technologies (e.g., 3GPP LTE series, 5G NR series standards, etc.). Also, the devices of the present disclosure may be embodied by various devices such as mobile phones, vehicles, personal computers, AR (Augmented Reality) equipment, VR (Virtual Reality) equipment, etc. Further, the STAs in this specification can support various communication services such as voice calls, video calls, data communication, autonomous driving, MTC (Machine-Type Communication), M2M (Machine-to-Machine), D2D (Device-to-Device), IoT (Internet-of-Things), etc.

[0027] The first device 100 includes one or more processors 102 and one or more memories 104, and may further include one or more transceivers 106 and / or one or more antennas 108. The processor 102 controls the memory 104 and / or the transceiver 106, and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation flowcharts in the present disclosure. For example, after processing the information in the memory 104 to generate a first information / signal, the processor 102 can transmit a radio signal including the first information / signal via the transceiver 106. Also, after receiving a radio signal including a second information / signal via the transceiver 106, the processor 102 can store the information obtained from the signal processing of the second information / signal in the memory 104. The memory 104 may be connected to the processor 102 and can store various information related to the operation of the processor 102. For example, the memory 104 can store software code including instructions to execute part or all of the processes controlled by the processor 102 or to execute the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequences in the present disclosure. Here, the processor 102 and the memory 104 may be part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement wireless LAN technology (e.g., IEEE 802.11 series). The transceiver 106 may be connected to the processor 102 and can transmit and / or receive radio signals via one or more antennas 108. The transceiver 106 may include a transmitter and / or a receiver. The transceiver 106 may be used in the same sense as an RF (Radio Frequency) unit. In the present disclosure, the device can also mean a communication modem / circuit / chip.

[0028] The second device 200 includes one or more processors 202 and one or more memories 204, and may further include one or more transceivers 206 and / or one or more antennas 208. The processor 202 may control the memory 204 and / or the transceiver 206, and may be configured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in this disclosure. For example, after processing the information in the memory 204 to generate a third piece of information / signal, the processor 202 can transmit a wireless signal including the third piece of information / signal via the transceiver 206. Also, after receiving a wireless signal including a fourth piece of information / signal via the transceiver 206, the processor 202 can store the information obtained from the signal processing of the fourth piece of information / signal in the memory 204. The memory 204 may be connected to the processor 202 and can store various information related to the operation of the processor 202. For example, the memory 204 can store software code including instructions to execute part or all of the processes controlled by the processor 202 or to execute the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in this disclosure. Here, the processor 202 and the memory 204 may be part of a communication modem / circuit / chip designed to implement wireless LAN technology (e.g., the IEEE 802.11 series). The transceiver 206 may be connected to the processor 202 and can transmit and / or receive wireless signals via one or more antennas 208. The transceiver 206 may include a transmitter and / or a receiver. The transceiver 206 may be used in the same sense as an RF unit. In this disclosure, a device may also mean a communication modem / circuit / chip.

[0029] Hereinafter, the hardware elements of devices 100 and 200 will be described in more detail. Although not limited thereto, one or more protocol layers may be implemented by one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, one or more processors 102 and 202 can implement one or more layers (for example, the same functional layers such as PHY and MAC). One or more processors 102 and 202 can generate one or more PDUs (Protocol Data Units) and / or one or more SDUs (Service Data Units) according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams in the present disclosure. One or more processors 102 and 202 can generate messages, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams in the present disclosure. One or more processors 102 and 202 can generate a signal (for example, a baseband signal) including a PDU, an SDU, a message, control information, data, or information according to the functions, procedures, proposals, and / or methods in the present disclosure and provide it to one or more transceivers 106 and 206. One or more processors 102 and 202 can receive a signal (for example, a baseband signal) from one or more transceivers 106 and 206 and obtain a PDU, an SDU, a message, control information, data, or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams in the present disclosure.

[0030] One or more processors 102, 202 can be referred to as a controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, or microcomputer. The one or more processors 102, 202 may be embodied by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. As an example, one or more ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), one or more DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), one or more DSPDs (Digital Signal Processing Devices), one or more PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), or one or more FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) may be included in the one or more processors 102, 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in this disclosure may be embodied using firmware or software, and the firmware or software may be embodied to include modules, procedures, functions, etc. The firmware or software configured to execute the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in this disclosure may be included in the one or more processors 102, 202, stored in the one or more memories 104, 204, and driven by the one or more processors 102, 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in this disclosure may be embodied by firmware or software in the form of code, instruction words, and / or a set of instruction words.

[0031] One or more memories 104, 204 may be coupled to one or more processors 102, 202 and can store various forms of data, signals, messages, information, programs, codes, instructions, and / or commands. The one or more memories 104, 204 may be constituted by a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, a flash memory, a hard drive, a register, a cache memory, a computer-readable storage medium, and / or a combination thereof. The one or more memories 104, 204 may be located inside and / or outside the one or more processors 102, 202. Also, the one or more memories 104, 204 may be coupled to the one or more processors 102, 202 by various techniques such as wired or wireless connections.

[0032] One or more transceivers 106, 206 can transmit user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. mentioned in the methods and / or operation sequence diagrams of the present disclosure to one or more other devices. One or more transceivers 106, 206 can receive user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in the present disclosure from one or more other devices. For example, one or more transceivers 106, 206 may be connected to one or more processors 102, 202 and can transmit and receive wireless signals. For example, one or more processors 102, 202 can control one or more transceivers 106, 206 to transmit user data, control information or wireless signals to one or more other devices. Also, one or more processors 102, 202 can control one or more transceivers 106, 206 to receive user data, control information or wireless signals from one or more other devices. Also, one or more transceivers 106, 206 may be connected to one or more antennas 108, 208, and one or more transceivers 106, 206 may be configured to transmit and receive user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. mentioned in the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and / or operation sequence diagrams disclosed in the present disclosure via one or more antennas 108, 208. In the present disclosure, one or more antennas may be multiple physical antennas or multiple logical antennas (e.g., antenna ports). One or more transceivers 106, 206 may convert received wireless signals / channels, etc. from RF band signals to baseband signals in order to process the received user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. using one or more processors 102, 202. One or more transceivers 106, 206 may convert user data, control information, wireless signals / channels, etc. processed using one or more processors 102, 202 from baseband signals to RF band signals. For this purpose, one or more transceivers 106, 206 may include (analog) oscillators and / or filters.

[0033] For example, either one of STA100 and 200 can perform the intended operation of the AP, and the other one of STA100 and 200 can perform the intended operation of a non-AP STA. For example, the transceivers 106 and 206 in FIG. 1 can perform the operation of transmitting and receiving signals (for example, packets or PPDUs (Physical layer Protocol Data Units) conforming to IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax / be, etc.). Also, in the present disclosure, operations in which various STAs generate transmission and reception signals or perform data processing and calculations in advance for the transmission and reception signals may be performed by the processors 102 and 202 in FIG. 1. For example, an example of an operation of generating a transmission and reception signal or performing data processing and calculations in advance for the transmission and reception signal is 1) an operation of determining / acquiring / configuring / calculating / decoding / encoding bit information of fields (such as SIG (signal), STF (short training field), LTF (long training field), Data, etc.) included in the PPDU, 2) an operation of determining / configuring / acquiring time resources and frequency resources (such as sub-carrier resources) used for fields (such as SIG, STF, LTF, Data, etc.) included in the PPDU, 3) an operation of determining / configuring / acquiring a specific sequence (such as a pilot sequence, STF / LTF sequence, extra sequence applied to SIG) used for fields (such as SIG, STF, LTF, Data, etc.) included in the PPDU, 4) a power control operation and / or a power saving operation applied to the STA, 5) operations related to determining / acquiring / configuring / calculating / decoding / encoding an ACK signal, etc. Also, in the following example, various information (such as information regarding fields / sub-fields / control fields / parameters / power, etc.) used by various STAs for determining / acquiring / configuring / calculating / decoding / encoding transmission and reception signals may be stored in the memories 104 and 204 in FIG. 1.

[0034] Hereinafter, the downlink (DL) means a link for communication from an AP STA to a non-AP STA, and downlink PPDUs / packets / signals, etc. may be transmitted and received through the downlink. In downlink communication, the transmitter may be part of the AP STA and the receiver may be part of the non-AP STA. The uplink (UL) means a link for communication from a non-AP STA to an AP STA, and uplink PPDUs / packets / signals, etc. may be transmitted and received through the uplink. In uplink communication, the transmitter may be part of the non-AP STA and the receiver may be part of the AP STA.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an exemplary structure of a wireless LAN system to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0036] The structure of the wireless LAN system may be composed of a plurality of components. A wireless LAN that supports STA mobility transparent to the upper layer may be provided by the interaction of the plurality of components. A BSS (Basic Service Set) corresponds to the basic building block of the wireless LAN. In FIG. 2, an example is shown where there are two BSSs (BSS1 and BSS2), and each BSS includes two STAs (STA1 and STA2 are included in BSS1, and STA3 and STA4 are included in BSS2). In FIG. 2, the ellipse representing the BSS may be understood to represent the coverage area in which the STAs included in the BSS maintain communication. This area can be referred to as the BSA (Basic Service Area). When a STA moves outside the BSA, it can no longer communicate directly with other STAs within the BSA.

[0037] If the DS shown in FIG. 2 is not considered, the most basic type of BSS in a wireless LAN is an Independent BSS (IBSS). For example, an IBSS can have the smallest form consisting of only two STAs. For example, assuming that other components are omitted, BSS1 consisting of only STA1 and STA2, or BSS2 consisting of only STA3 and STA4 can each correspond to a typical example of an IBSS. Such a configuration is possible when STAs can communicate directly without an AP. Also, such a form of wireless LAN is not pre-planned and configured, but can be configured when a LAN is needed, and this can also be referred to as an ad-hoc network. Since an IBSS does not include an AP, there is no centralized management entity that performs management functions centrally. That is, in an IBSS, STAs are managed in a distributed manner. In an IBSS, all STAs may be composed of mobile STAs, connection to a distributed system (DS) is not allowed, and it forms a self-contained network.

[0038] The membership of STAs in a BSS may be dynamically changed due to STAs joining or leaving, or STAs entering or leaving the BSS area. In order to become a member of a BSS, an STA can join the BSS using a synchronization process. In order to access all services of the BSS-based structure, an STA needs to be associated with the BSS. Such an association may be set dynamically and may include the use of a Distribution System Service (DSS).

[0039] In a wireless LAN, the direct STA-to-STA distance may be limited by PHY performance. In some cases, such distance limitations may be sufficient, but in some cases, communication between STAs at a greater distance may be required. A distributed system (DS) may be configured to support extended coverage.

[0040] DS means the structure in which BSSs are interconnected. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a BSS may exist as a component of an extended form of a network composed of a plurality of BSSs. DS is a logical concept and may be specified by the characteristics of a distributed system medium (DSM). In this connection, a wireless medium (Wireless Medium, WM) and DSM may be logically separated. Each logical medium is used for different purposes and is used by different components. These media are not limited to being the same or different. In this way, the flexibility of the wireless LAN structure (DS structure or other network structures) can be explained in that a plurality of media are logically different from each other. That is, the wireless LAN structure may be implemented in various ways, and the wireless LAN structure may be specified independently according to the physical characteristics of each implementation example.

[0041] DS can support mobile devices by providing seamless integration of a plurality of BSSs and providing the logical services necessary for handling addresses to destinations. Further, DS may further include a component called a portal that acts as a bridge for connecting a wireless LAN and other networks (e.g., IEEE 802.X).

[0042] AP means an entity that enables access to the DS through the WM for the associated non-AP STA and also has the functionality of the STA. Data movement between the BSS and the DS can be performed via the AP. For example, the STAs 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 2 provide the function of enabling the associated non-AP STAs (STAs 1 and 4) to access the DS while having the functionality of the STA. Also, since all APs basically correspond to STAs, all APs are addressable entities. The address used by the AP for communication on the WM and the address used by the AP for communication on the DSM do not necessarily have to be the same. A BSS composed of an AP and one or more STAs can be referred to as an infrastructure BSS.

[0043] Data transmitted from one of the STAs associated with the AP to the STA address of the AP is always received at the uncontrolled port and may be processed by the IEEE 802.1X port access entity. Also, when the controlled port is authenticated, the transmitted data (or frame) can be transmitted to the DS.

[0044] An Extended Service Set (ESS) for providing a wider coverage may be set in the above-described DS structure.

[0045] An ESS means a network composed of a DS and BSSs that has an arbitrary size and complexity. An ESS can correspond to a set of BSSs connected to one DS. However, an ESS does not include a DS. The ESS network is characterized in that it appears as an IBSS at the LLC (Logical Link Control) layer. STAs included in an ESS can communicate with each other, and a mobile STA can transparently move from one BSS to another (within the same ESS) to the LLC. APs included in one ESS may have the same SSID (service set identification). The SSID is distinguished from the BSSID, which is the identifier of a BSS.

[0046] In a wireless LAN system, without making any assumptions about the relative physical positions of BSSs, any of the following forms is possible. BSSs may partially overlap, which is a commonly used form to provide continuous coverage. Also, BSSs do not have to be physically connected, and there is no logical limit to the distance between BSSs. Also, BSSs may be physically located at the same position, which may be used to provide redundancy. Also, one (or one or more) IBSS or ESS networks may physically exist in the same space as one (or one or more) ESS networks. This may correspond to the ESS network form when an ad hoc network operates at the location where an ESS network exists, when wireless networks physically overlapping are configured by different organizations, or when two or more different access and security policies are required at the same location.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a link setup process to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0048] In order for a STA to set up a link with a network and transmit and receive data, first, it must discover the network, perform authentication, establish an association, and carry out authentication procedures for security purposes. The link setup process can be referred to as the session start process and the session setup process. Also, the processes of discovery, authentication, association, and security setup in the link setup process can be collectively referred to as the association process.

[0049] In step S310, the STA can perform a network discovery operation. The network discovery operation may include the scanning operation of the STA. That is, in order for the STA to access the network, it must search for networks that it can participate in. The STA must identify compatible networks before participating in a wireless network, and the process of identifying networks existing in a specific area is called scanning.

[0050] Scanning methods include active scanning and passive scanning. In FIG. 3, by way of example, a network discovery operation including an active scanning process is shown. In active scanning, the STA performing the scanning sends a probe request frame and waits for a response thereto in order to search for what APs exist in the vicinity while moving channels. The responder sends a probe response frame as a response to the probe request frame to the STA that sent the probe request frame. Here, the responder may be the STA that last sent a beacon frame in the BSS of the channel being scanned. Since the AP sends a beacon frame in the BSS, the AP becomes the responder, and in the IBSS, since the STAs within the IBSS send beacon frames alternately, the responder is not constant. For example, the STA that sent a probe request frame on channel 1 and received a probe response frame on channel 1 saves the BSS-related information included in the received probe response frame, moves to the next channel (e.g., channel 2), and can perform scanning in the same way (i.e., send and receive probe requests / responses on channel 2).

[0051] Although not shown in FIG. 3, the scanning operation may be performed in a passive scanning method. In passive scanning, the STA that performs scanning waits for beacon frames while moving channels. A beacon frame is one of the management frames defined in IEEE 802.11, which notifies the existence of a wireless network and is periodically transmitted so that the STA performing scanning can search for a wireless network and participate in the wireless network. In a BSS, the AP plays the role of periodically transmitting beacon frames, and in an IBSS, the STAs within the IBSS transmit beacon frames alternately. When the STA performing scanning receives a beacon frame, it stores the information regarding the BSS contained in the beacon frame and records the beacon frame information on each channel while moving to other channels. The STA that has received a beacon frame can store the BSS-related information contained in the received beacon frame and move to the next channel to perform scanning on the next channel in the same way. Comparing active scanning and passive scanning, active scanning has the advantage that the delay and power consumption are smaller than those of passive scanning.

[0052] After the STA discovers the network, the authentication process may be performed in step S320. Such an authentication process can be called the first authentication process in order to clearly distinguish it from the security setup operation in step S340 described later.

[0053] The authentication process includes a process in which the STA transmits an authentication request frame to the AP and, in response, the AP transmits an authentication response frame to the STA. The authentication frame used for authentication request / response corresponds to a management frame.

[0054] The authentication frame may include information regarding the authentication algorithm number, authentication transaction sequence number, status code, challenge text, RSN (Robust Security Network), Finite Cyclic Group, etc. This corresponds to an example of some of the information that may be included in the authentication request / response frame, and may be replaced by other information or may further include additional information.

[0055] The STA can send an authentication request frame to the AP. The AP can determine whether to allow authentication for the STA based on the information contained in the received authentication request frame. The AP can provide the result of the authentication process to the STA using an authentication response frame.

[0056] After the STA is successfully authenticated, the association process may be performed at stage S330. The association process includes the process in which the STA sends an association request frame to the AP and, in response, the AP sends an association response frame to the STA.

[0057] For example, the association request frame may include information regarding various capabilities, beacon listen interval, SSID (service set identifier), supported rates, supported channels, RSN, mobility domain, supported operating classes, TIM (Traffic Indication Map) broadcast request, information regarding interworking service capabilities, and the like. For example, the association response frame may include information regarding various capabilities, status code, AID (Association ID), supported rates, EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access) parameter set, RCPI (Received Channel Power Indicator), RSNI (Received Signal to Noise Indicator), mobility domain, timeout interval (e.g., association comeback time), overlapping BSS scan parameters, TIM broadcast response, QoS (Quality of Service) map, and the like. This corresponds to an example of some of the information that may be included in the association request / response frame, and may be replaced by other information or may further include additional information.

[0058] After the STA successfully associates with the network, a security setup process may be performed in step S340. The security setup process in step S340 can also be said to be an authentication process using RSNA (Robust Security Network Association) request / response. The authentication process in step S320 is referred to as the first authentication process, and the security setup process in step S340 can also simply be referred to as the authentication process.

[0059] The security setup process in stage S340 may include a process of setting up a private key using, for example, a 4-way handshake using an EAPOL (Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN) frame. Further, the security setup process may be performed by a security method not defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a backoff process to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0061] In a wireless LAN system, the basic access mechanism of MAC (Medium Access Control) is the CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) mechanism. The CSMA / CA mechanism, also known as the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) of IEEE 802.11 MAC, basically adopts a "listen before talk" access mechanism. According to such a type of access mechanism, before starting transmission, the AP and / or STA can perform CCA (Clear Channel Assessment) to sense the wireless channel or medium (for example, DIFS (DCF Inter-Frame Space)) for a predetermined time interval. As a result of sensing, if it is determined that the medium is in an idle status, frame transmission can be started through the medium. On the other hand, if the medium is sensed as being in an occupied or busy state, the AP and / or STA do not start their own transmission and can set a delay period for medium access (for example, a random backoff period) and wait, and then attempt frame transmission. By applying the random backoff period, it is expected that multiple STAs will attempt frame transmission after waiting for different times from each other, so collisions can be minimized.

[0062] In addition, the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol provides HCF (Hybrid Coordination Function). HCF is based on the above-mentioned DCF and PCF (Point Coordination Function). PCF refers to a polling-based synchronous access method, in which all receiving APs and / or STAs periodically poll so that they can receive data frames. In addition, HCF has EDCA (Enhanced Distributed Channel Access) and HCCA (HCF Controlled Channel Access). EDCA is a contention-based access method for a provider to provide data frames to multiple users, and HCCA is a non-contention-based channel access method using a polling mechanism. In addition, HCF includes a medium access mechanism for improving the QoS (Quality of Service) of a wireless LAN, and QoS data can be transmitted in either the Contention Period (CP) or the Contention Free Period (CFP).

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4, the operation based on the random backoff period will be described. When the occupied / busy medium is changed to the idle state, multiple STAs can attempt to transmit data (or frames). As a solution to minimize collisions, each STA can select a random backoff count and attempt transmission after waiting for the corresponding slot time. The random backoff count has a pseudo-random integer value and can be determined to be any one of the values in the range of 0 to CW. Here, CW is the Contention Window parameter value. The CW parameter is given an initial value of CWmin, but can take a value twice as large in the case of a transmission failure (for example, when an ACK for the transmitted frame cannot be received). When the CW parameter value reaches CWmax, data transmission can be attempted while maintaining the CWmax value until successful data transmission, and is reset to the CWmin value when successful data transmission occurs. The CW, CWmin, and CWmax values are preferably set to 2 n -1 (n = 0, 1, 2,...).

[0064] When the random backoff process starts, the STA continues to monitor the medium while counting down the backoff slots by the determined backoff count value. When the medium is monitored as being in the occupied state, the countdown is stopped and waiting occurs, and when the medium becomes idle, the remaining countdown is resumed.

[0065] In the example of FIG. 4, when a packet to be transmitted arrives at the MAC of STA3, STA3 can confirm that the medium has been idle for only the DIFS period and immediately transmit a frame. The remaining STAs monitor that the medium is in the occupied / busy state and wait. During this time, data to be transmitted may occur at each of STA1, STA2, and STA5. Each STA can perform a countdown of the backoff slots according to the random backoff count value it has selected after waiting for only the DIFS period when the medium is monitored as being in the idle state. Assume that STA2 selects the minimum backoff count value and STA1 selects the maximum backoff count value. That is, an example is illustrated in which the remaining backoff time of STA5 is shorter than the remaining backoff time of STA1 when STA2 finishes the backoff count and starts frame transmission. STA1 and STA5 stop the countdown and wait for a while while STA2 occupies the medium. When STA2's occupation ends and the medium becomes idle again, STA1 and STA5 wait for only the DIFS period and then resume the stopped backoff count. That is, after counting down the remaining backoff slots for only the remaining backoff time, frame transmission can be started. Since the remaining backoff time of STA5 is shorter than that of STA1, STA5 starts frame transmission. Data to be transmitted may also occur at STA4 while STA2 occupies the medium. From the perspective of STA4, when the medium becomes idle, after waiting for only the DIFS period, it can perform a countdown according to the random backoff count value it has selected and start frame transmission. The example of FIG. 4 shows a case where the remaining backoff time of STA5 accidentally coincides with the random backoff count value of STA4. In this case, a collision may occur between STA4 and STA5. If a collision occurs, neither STA4 nor STA5 can receive an ACK, and the data transmission will fail. In this case, STA4 and STA5 can select a random backoff count value after doubling the CW value and perform a countdown.STA1 waits while the medium is busy due to the transmissions of STA4 and STA5. However, when the medium becomes idle, after waiting for only DIFS, if the remaining backoff time elapses, STA1 can start transmitting a frame.

[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a data frame is a frame used for transmitting data to be forwarded to a higher layer, and may be transmitted after a backoff that occurs after the expiration of DIFS since the medium became idle. Further, a management frame is a frame used for exchanging management information that is not forwarded to a higher layer, and is transmitted after a backoff that occurs after the expiration of an IFS such as DIFS or PIFS (Point coordination function IFS). As subtypes of management frames, there are Beacon, Association request / response, Re(-)association request / response, Probe request / response, Authentication request / response, etc. A control frame is a frame used for controlling access to the medium. As subtypes of control frames, there are RTS (Request-To-Send), CTS (Clear-To-Send), ACK (Acknowledgment), PS-Poll (Power Save-Poll), BlockAck, BlockACKReq, NDP null data packet announcement, Trigger, etc. A control frame is transmitted after a backoff that occurs after the expiration of DIFS when it is not a response frame to a previous frame, and is transmitted without a backoff after the expiration of SIFS (short IFS) when it is a response frame to a previous frame. The type and subtype of a frame may be identified by the type field and subtype field within the frame control (FC) field.

[0067] A QoS (Quality of Service) STA can transmit a frame after performing a backoff that occurs after the expiration of AIFS (Arbitration IFS) for the access category (AC) to which the frame belongs, i.e., AIFS[i] (where i is a value determined by the AC). Here, frames for which AIFS[i] can be used can be data frames, management frames, or control frames that are not response frames.

[0068] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a CSMA / CA-based frame transmission operation to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0069] As described above, the CSMA / CA mechanism includes virtual carrier sensing in addition to physical carrier sensing in which a STA directly senses the medium. Virtual carrier sensing is for complementing problems that may occur in medium access, such as the hidden node problem. For virtual carrier sensing, the MAC of a STA can utilize a NAV (Network Allocation Vector). The NAV is a value that indicates to other STAs the time remaining until the medium becomes available for a STA that is currently using the medium or has the authority to use it. Therefore, the value set as the NAV corresponds to the period during which the use of the medium is scheduled by the STA that transmits the frame, and the STA that receives the NAV value is prohibited from accessing the medium during that period. For example, the NAV may be set based on the value of the "duration" field in the MAC header of the frame.

[0070] In the example of FIG. 5, assume that STA1 is about to transmit data to STA2, and STA3 is in a position where it can overhear some or all of the frames transmitted and received between STA1 and STA2.

[0071] In order to reduce the possibility of transmission collisions among multiple STAs in the CSMA / CA-based frame transmission operation, a mechanism using RTS / CTS frames may be applied. In the example of FIG. 5, while the transmission of STA1 is in progress, as a result of the carrier sensing of STA3, it may be determined that the medium is in an idle state. That is, STA1 may be a hidden node to STA3. Or, in the example of FIG. 5, while the transmission of STA2 is in progress, as a result of the carrier sensing of STA3, it may be determined that the medium is in an idle state. That is, STA2 may be a hidden node to STA3. Before data transmission and reception between STA1 and STA2, by exchanging RTS / CTS frames, STAs outside the transmission range of either STA1 or STA2, or STAs outside the carrier sensing range for the transmission from STA1 or STA3, can be prevented from attempting to occupy the channel during the data transmission and reception between STA1 and STA2.

[0072] Specifically, STA1 can use carrier sensing to determine whether the channel is in use. In terms of physical carrier sensing, STA1 can determine the channel occupancy idle state based on the magnitude of the energy detected from the channel or the signal correlation. Also, in terms of virtual carrier sensing, STA1 can use the NAV (network allocation vector) timer to determine the occupancy state of the channel.

[0073] When the channel is in an idle state at DIFS, STA1 can transmit an RTS frame to STA2 after performing backoff. When STA2 receives the RTS frame, it can transmit a CTS frame, which is a response to the RTS frame, to STA1 after SIFS.

[0074] Although STA3 cannot overhear the CTS frame from STA2, if it can overhear the RTS frame from STA1, STA3 can use the duration information included in the RTS frame to set the NAV timer for the subsequent consecutive frame transmission period (e.g., SIFS + CTS frame + SIFS + data frame + SIFS + ACK frame). Or, although STA3 cannot overhear the RTS frame from STA1, if it can overhear the CTS frame from STA2, STA3 can use the duration information included in the CTS frame to set the NAV timer for the subsequent consecutive frame transmission period (e.g., SIFS + data frame + SIFS + ACK frame). That is, when STA3 can overhear one or more of the RTS or CTS frames from at least one of STA1 or STA2, it can set the NAV based on this. If STA3 receives a new frame before the NAV timer expires, it can update the NAV timer using the duration information included in the new frame. STA3 does not attempt channel access until the NAV timer expires.

[0075] When STA1 receives a CTS frame from STA2, it can transmit a data frame to STA2 after SIFS from the time when the reception of the CTS frame is completed. When STA2 successfully receives the data frame, it can transmit an ACK frame, which is a response to the data frame, to STA1 after SIFS. When the NAV timer of STA3 expires, it can use carrier sensing to determine whether the channel is in use. When STA3 determines that the channel is not used by other terminals during the period from the expiration of the NAV timer to DIFS, it can attempt channel access after the contention window (CW) by random backoff has passed.

[0076] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a frame structure used in a wireless LAN system to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0077] By an instruction or primitive (meaning a set of an instruction or parameters) from the MAC layer, the PHY layer can prepare an MPDU (MAC PDU) to be transmitted. For example, when receiving an instruction from the MAC layer requesting the start of transmission in the PHY layer, the PHY layer switches to the transmission mode and can configure and transmit the information (e.g., data) provided from the MAC layer in the form of a frame. Also, in the PHY layer, when detecting a valid preamble of the received frame, it monitors the header of the preamble and sends an instruction to the MAC layer notifying the start of reception in the PHY layer.

[0078] Thus, information transmission / reception in a wireless LAN system is performed in the form of a frame, and for this purpose, a Physical layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frame format is defined.

[0079] A basic PPDU frame may include a Short Training Field (STF), a Long Training Field (LTF), a SIGNAL (SIG) field, and a Data field. The most basic (e.g., non-HT (High Throughput)) PPDU frame format may be composed of only a Legacy-STF (L-STF), a Legacy-LTF (L-LTF), a SIG field, and a Data field. Also, depending on the type of the PPDU frame format (e.g., HT-mixed format PPDU, HT-greenfield format PPDU, Very High Throughput (VHT) PPDU, etc.), additional (or other types of) STF, LTF, and SIG fields may be included between the SIG field and the Data field (this will be described later with reference to FIG. 7).

[0080] The STF is a signal for signal detection, AGC (Automatic Gain Control), diversity selection, precise time synchronization, etc., and the LTF is a signal for channel estimation, frequency error estimation, etc. It can be said that the STF and LTF are signals for synchronization and channel estimation of the OFDM physical layer.

[0081] The SIG field may include a RATE field, a LENGTH field, etc. The RATE field may include information regarding the modulation and coding rate of data. The LENGTH field may include information regarding the length of data. Furthermore, the SIG field may include parity bits, SIG TAIL bits, etc.

[0082] The data field may include a SERVICE field, a PSDU (Physical layer Service Data Unit), PPDU TAIL bits, and may also include padding bits if necessary. Some bits of the SERVICE field may be used for synchronization of the descrambler at the receiving end. The PSDU corresponds to the MAC PDU defined at the MAC layer and may include data generated / used at the upper layer. The PPDU TAIL bits may be used to return the encoder to the 0 state. The padding bits may be used to align the length of the data field to a predetermined unit.

[0083] The MAC PDU is defined by various MAC frame formats, and the basic MAC frame is composed of a MAC header, a frame body, and an FCS (Frame Check Sequence). The MAC frame is composed of the MAC PDU and may be transmitted / received by the PSDU in the data part of the PPDU frame format.

[0084] The MAC header includes a Frame Control field, a Duration / ID field, an Address field, etc. The Frame Control field may include control information necessary for frame transmission / reception. The Duration / ID field may be set to the time for transmitting the frame, etc. For the specific contents of the Sequence Control, QoS Control, and HT Control sub-fields of the MAC header, reference can be made to the IEEE 802.11 standard document.

[0085] The Null Data Packet (NDP) frame format means a frame format that does not include a data packet. That is, the NDP frame means a frame format that includes the PLCP (physical layer convergence procedure) header part (i.e., the STF, LTF, and SIG fields) in the general PPDU frame format and does not include the remaining part (i.e., the data field). The NDP frame can also be referred to as a short frame format.

[0086] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a PPDU defined in the IEEE 802.11 standard to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0087] In standards such as IEEE 802.11a / g / n / ac / ax, various forms of PPDUs are used. The basic PPDU format (IEEE 802.11a / g) includes an L-LTF, an L-STF, an L-SIG, and a Data field. The basic PPDU format can also be referred to as a non-HT PPDU format.

[0088] The HT PPDU format (IEEE 802.11n) further includes the HT-SIG, HT-STF, and HT-LFT(s) fields in the basic PPDU format. The HT PPDU format shown in FIG. 7 can be referred to as the HT-mixed format. An HT-greenfield format PPDU may be further defined, which corresponds to a format composed of HT-GF-STF, HT-LTF1, HT-SIG, one or more HT-LTFs, and a Data field without including L-STF, L-LTF, and L-SIG (not shown).

[0089] An example of the VHT PPDU format (IEEE 802.11ac) further includes the VHT SIG-A, VHT-STF, VHT-LTF, and VHT-SIG-B fields in the basic PPDU format.

[0090] An example of the HE PPDU format (IEEE 802.11ax) further includes the RL-SIG (Repeated L-SIG), HE-SIG-A, HE-SIG-B, HE-STF, HE-LTF(s), and PE (Packet Extension) fields in the basic PPDU format. Depending on the detailed illustration of the HE PPDU format, some fields may be excluded or their lengths may change. For example, the HE-SIG-B field is included in the HE PPDU format for multi-user (MU), and the HE-SIG-B is not included in the HE PPDU format for single-user (SU). Also, the HE trigger-based (TB) PPDU format does not include the HE-SIG-B, and the length of the HE-STF field may change to 8 us. The HE ER (Extended Range) SU PPDU format does not include the HE-SIG-B field, and the length of the HE-SIG-A field may change to 16 us.

[0091] FIGS. 8 to 10 are diagrams for explaining examples of resource units of a wireless LAN system to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0092] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the resource unit (RU) defined in a wireless LAN system will be described. The RU may include a plurality of subcarriers (or tones). The RU may be used when transmitting signals to a plurality of STAs based on the OFDMA method. Also, the RU may be defined even when transmitting a signal to one STA. The RU may be used for the STF, LTF, data field, etc. of the PPDU.

[0093] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, RUs corresponding to different numbers of tones (i.e., subcarriers) are used, and can constitute a part of a 20 MHz, 40 MHz, or 80 MHz X-PPDU (X is HE, EHT, etc.). For example, resources may be allocated in units of the RU shown for the X-STF, X-LTF, and Data fields.

[0094] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of resource units (RUs) used in a 20 MHz band.

[0095] As shown at the topmost part of FIG. 8, 26 units (i.e., units corresponding to 26 tones) may be allocated. Six tones may be used as a guard band in the leftmost band of the 20 MHz band, and five tones may be used as a guard band in the rightmost band of the 20 MHz band. Also, seven DC tones may be inserted in the center band, i.e., the DC band, and 26 units corresponding to 13 tones each may exist on the left and right sides of the DC band. Also, 26 units, 52 units, and 106 units may be allocated to other bands. Each unit may be allocated for an STA or a user.

[0096] The RU arrangement in FIG. 8 is utilized not only in the context of multiple users (MUs) but also in the context of a single user (SU). In this case, as shown at the bottommost part of FIG. 8, it is possible to use one 242-unit. In this case, three DC tones may be inserted.

[0097] In an example of FIG. 8, RUs of various sizes are exemplified, namely, 26-RU, 52-RU, 106-RU, 242-RU, etc. However, the specific sizes of such RUs may be reduced or expanded. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the specific size of each RU (i.e., the number of corresponding tones) is not limited and is exemplary. Also, in the present disclosure, within a predetermined bandwidth (e.g., 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 MHz,...), the number of RUs may vary depending on the size of the RU. The point that the size and / or the number of RUs can be changed in the examples of FIGS. 9 and / or 10 described below is the same as that of the example of FIG. 8.

[0098] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of resource units (RUs) used on a 40 MHz band.

[0099] Similar to the use of RUs of various sizes in an example of FIG. 8, in an example of FIG. 9, 26-RU, 52-RU, 106-RU, 242-RU, 484-RU, etc. may be used. Also, five DC tones may be inserted at the center frequency, twelve tones may be used as guard bands in the leftmost band of the 40 MHz band, and eleven tones may be used as guard bands in the rightmost band of the 40 MHz band.

[0100] Also, as shown in the same figure, when used for a single user, 484-RU may be used.

[0101] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of resource units (RUs) used on an 80 MHz band.

[0102] In an example of FIG. 10, similar to the use of RUs of various sizes in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, 26-RU, 52-RU, 106-RU, 242-RU, 484-RU, 996-RU, etc. may also be used. Also, in an 80 MHz PPDU, the RU arrangements of the HE PPDU and the EHT PPDU may be different from each other, and the illustration in FIG. 10 shows an example of the RU arrangement for an 80 MHz EHT PPDU. In the illustration of FIG. 10, 12 tones are used as a Guard band in the leftmost band of the 80 MHz band, and 11 tones are used as a Guard band in the rightmost band of the 80 MHz band, which is the same in both the HE PPDU and the EHT PPDU. Different from the case where 7 DC tones are inserted into the DC band in the HE PPDU and there is one 26-RU corresponding to 13 tones on each side of the DC band, in the EHT PPDU, 23 DC tones are inserted into the DC band, and there is one 26-RU on each of the left and right sides of the DC band. Different from the case where there is one null subcarrier between 242-RUs that are not in the center band in the HE PPDU, there are 5 null subcarriers in the EHT PPDU. One 484-RU in the HE PPDU does not include a null subcarrier, but one 484-RU in the EHT PPDU includes 5 null subcarriers.

[0103] Also, as shown in the same figure, when used for a single user, 996-RU may be used, and in this case, the insertion of 5 DC tones is common to both the HE PPDU and the EHT PPDU.

[0104] EHT PPDUs above 160 MHz may be configured with multiple 80 MHz sub-blocks of FIG. 10. The RU configuration for each 80 MHz sub-block may be the same as the RU configuration of the 80 MHz EHT PPDU of FIG. 10. When the 80 MHz sub-blocks of a 160 MHz or 320 MHz EHT PPDU are not punctured and the entire 80 MHz sub-blocks are used as part of an RU or MRU (Multiple RU), the 80 MHz sub-blocks can use the 996-RU of FIG. 10.

[0105] Here, an MRU corresponds to a group of sub-carriers (or tones) composed of multiple RUs. The multiple RUs that make up an MRU may be RUs of the same size or RUs of different sizes from each other. For example, a single MRU may be defined as 52+26-tone, 106+26-tone, 484+242-tone, 996+484-tone, 996+484+242-tone, 2×996+484-tone, 3×996-tone, or 3×996+484-tone. Here, the multiple RUs that make up one MRU may correspond to RUs of a small size (e.g., 26, 52, 106) or RUs of a large size (e.g., 242, 484, 996, etc.). That is, one MRU including RUs of a small size and RUs of a large size may not be configured / defined. Also, the multiple RUs that make up one MRU may be continuous or non-continuous in the frequency domain.

[0106] When an 80 MHz sub-block contains an RU smaller than 996 tones or a portion of the 80 MHz sub-block is punctured, the 80 MHz sub-block can use an RU configuration other than the 996-tone RU.

[0107] The RU of the present disclosure may be used for uplink (UL) and / or downlink (DL) communications. For example, when trigger-based UL-MU communication is performed, the STA (e.g., AP) that transmits the trigger may use trigger information (e.g., a trigger frame or TRS (triggered response scheduling)) to allocate a first RU (e.g., 26 / 52 / 106 / 242-RU, etc.) to a first STA and a second RU (e.g., 26 / 52 / 106 / 242-RU, etc.) to a second STA. Thereafter, the first STA can transmit a first trigger-based (TB) PPDU based on the first RU, and the second STA can transmit a second TB PPDU based on the second RU. The first / second TB PPDUs may be transmitted to the AP in the same time interval.

[0108] For example, when a DL MU PPDU is configured, the STA (e.g., AP) that transmits the DL MU PPDU may allocate a first RU (e.g., 26 / 52 / 106 / 242-RU, etc.) to a first STA and a second RU (e.g., 26 / 52 / 106 / 242-RU, etc.) to a second STA. That is, the transmitting STA (e.g., AP) can transmit the HE-STF, HE-LTF, and Data fields for the first STA using the first RU and the HE-STF, HE-LTF, and Data fields for the second STA using the second RU within one MU PPDU.

[0109] Information regarding the RU allocation may be signaled in the HE-SIG-B of the HE PPDU format.

[0110] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary structure of the HE-SIG-B field.

[0111] As shown in the figure, the HE-SIG-B field may include a common field and a user-specific field. When HE-SIG-B compression is applied (e.g., in the case of full-bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission), the common field may not be included in HE-SIG-B, and the HE-SIG-B content channel may include only the user-specific field. When HE-SIG-B compression is not applied, the common field may be included in HE-SIG-B.

[0112] The common field may include information regarding RU allocation (e.g., RU assignment, RUs allocated for MU-MIMO, the number of MU-MIMO users (STAs), etc.).

[0113] The common field may include N*8 RU allocation sub-fields. Here, N is the number of sub-fields, and may have values such as N = 1 for a 20 or 40 MHz MU PPDU, N = 2 for an 80 MHz MU PPDU, N = 4 for a 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz MU PPDU,.... One 8-bit RU allocation sub-field can indicate the size (26, 52, 106, etc.) and frequency position (or RU index) of the RUs included in the 20 MHz band.

[0114] For example, if the value of the 8-bit RU allocation sub-field is 00000000, 9 26-RUs from the leftmost to the rightmost in the example of FIG. 8 are arranged in order. If the value is 00000001, 7 26-RUs and 1 52-RU are arranged in order from the leftmost to the rightmost. If the value is 00000010, it can be shown that 5 26-RUs, 1 52-RU, and 2 26-RUs are arranged in order from the leftmost to the rightmost.

[0115] As an additional example, if the value of the 8-bit RU allocation subfield is 01000y2y1y0, it can be shown that one 106-RU and five 26-RUs are arranged in order from the leftmost to the rightmost in the example of FIG. 8. In this case, for the 106-RU, multiple users / STAs may be allocated in the MU-MIMO mode. Specifically, up to eight users / STAs may be allocated to the 106-RU, and the number of users / STAs allocated to the 106-RU is determined based on 3-bit information (i.e., y2y1y0). For example, when the 3-bit information (y2y1y0) corresponds to the decimal value N, the number of users / STAs allocated to the 106-RU may be N + 1.

[0116] Basically, one user / STA may be allocated to each of the multiple RUs, and different users / STAs may be allocated to different RUs. For RUs of a predetermined size or more (e.g., 106, 242, 484, 996-tone,...), multiple users / STAs may be allocated to one RU, and the MU-MIMO mode may be applied to the multiple users / STAs.

[0117] The set of user-specific fields includes information on how all users (STAs) of the PPDU decode their own payloads. The user-specific field may include zero or more user block fields. The non-final user block field includes two user fields (i.e., information used for decoding in two STAs). The final user block field includes one or two user fields. The number of user fields may be indicated by the RU allocation subfield of HE-SIG-B, by the number of symbols of HE-SIG-B, or by the MU-MIMO user field of HE-SIG-A. The user-specific field may be encoded separately from or independently of the common field.

[0118] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the MU-MIMO scheme in which a plurality of users / STAs are assigned to one RU.

[0119] In the example of FIG. 12, assume that the value of the RU allocation subfield is 01000010. This corresponds to the case where y2y1y0 = 010 in 01000y2y1y0. 010 corresponds to 2 in decimal (i.e., N = 2), and it can be shown that 3 (= N + 1) users are assigned to one RU. In this case, one 106-RU and five 26-RUs may be arranged in order from the leftmost to the rightmost of a specific 20 MHz band / channel. Three users / STAs may be assigned to the 106-RU in the MU-MIMO scheme. As a result, a total of 8 users / STAs are assigned to the 20 MHz band / channel, and the user-specific field of HE-SIG-B may include 8 user fields (i.e., 4 user block fields). The 8 user fields may be assigned (assign) to the RU as shown in FIG. 12.

[0120] The user field may be configured based on two formats. The user field for MU-MIMO assignment may be configured in the first format, and the user field for non-MU-MIMO assignment may be configured in the second format. Referring to an example of FIG. 12, user fields 1 to 3 may be based on the first format, and user fields 4 to 8 may be based on the second format. The first format and the second format may include bit information of the same length (e.g., 21 bits).

[0121] The user field of the first format (i.e., the format for MU-MIMO allocation) may be configured as follows. For example, out of the total 21 bits of one user field, B0 to B10 include the identification information of the user (e.g., STA-ID, AID, partial AID, etc.), B11 to 14 include spatial configuration information such as the number of spatial streams for the user, B15 to B18 include MCS (Modulation and coding scheme) information applied to the Data field of the PPDU, B19 is defined as a reserved field, and B20 may include coding type (e.g., BCC (binary convolutional coding) or LDPC (low-density parity check)) information applied to the Data field of the PPDU.

[0122] The user field of the second format (i.e., the format for non-MU-MIMO allocation) may be configured as follows. For example, out of the total 21 bits of one user field, B0 to B10 include the identification information of the user (e.g., STA-ID, AID, partial AID, etc.), B11 to B13 include the number of spatial streams (NSTS) information applied to the RU, B14 includes information indicating the availability of beamforming (or the availability of applying the beamforming steering matrix), B15 to B18 include MCS (Modulation and coding scheme) information applied to the Data field of the PPDU, B19 includes information indicating the availability of DCM (dual carrier modulation), and B20 may include coding type (e.g., BCC or LDPC) information applied to the Data field of the PPDU.

[0123] The MCS, MCS information, MCS index, MCS field, etc. used in the present disclosure may be displayed with specific index values. For example, the MCS information may be displayed as index 0 to index 11. The MCS information may include information regarding the constellation modulation type (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, 1024-QAM, etc.) and information regarding the coding rate (e.g., 1 / 2, 2 / 3, 3 / 4, 5 / 6, etc.). Information regarding the channel coding type (e.g., BCC or LDPC) may be omitted from the MCS information.

[0124] FIG. 13 shows an example of a PPDU format to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0125] The PPDU in FIG. 13 may be given various names such as an EHT PPDU, a transmission PPDU, a reception PPDU, a first type or an Nth type PPDU. For example, the PPDU or EHT PPDU of the present disclosure can be given various names such as a transmission PPDU, a reception PPDU, a first type or an Nth type PPDU. Further, the EHT PPU is available in an EHT system and / or a new wireless LAN system that improves the EHT system.

[0126] The EHT MU PPDU in FIG. 13 corresponds to a PPDU that carries one or more data (or PSDU) for one or more users. That is, the EHT MU PPDU may be used for both SU transmission and MU transmission. For example, the EHT MU PPDU may correspond to a PPDU for one receiving STA or a plurality of receiving STAs.

[0127] In the EHT TB PPDU in FIG. 13, the EHT-SIG is omitted as compared with the EHT MU PPDU. A STA that has received a trigger (e.g., a trigger frame or a TRS) for UL MU transmission can perform UL transmission based on the EHT TB PPDU format.

[0128] In the illustration of the EHT PPDU format of FIG. 13, L-STF to EHT-LTF correspond to a preamble or a physical preamble and may be generated / transmitted / received / acquired / decoded at the physical layer.

[0129] The subcarrier frequency spacing of L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG (Universal SIGNAL), and the EHT-SIG field (collectively referred to as the pre-EHT modulated field) may be defined as 312.5 kHz. The subcarrier frequency spacing of EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, Data, and the PE field (collectively referred to as the EHT modulated field) may be defined as 78.125 kHz. That is, the tone / subcarrier index of the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and EHT-SIG fields may be expressed in units of 312.5 kHz, and the tone / subcarrier index of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, Data, and PE fields may be expressed in units of 78.125 kHz.

[0130] L-LTF and L-STF in FIG. 13 may be configured identically to the corresponding fields of the PPDU described in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0131] The L-SIG field of FIG. 13 is composed of 24 bits and may be used to communicate rate and length information. For example, the L-SIG field may include a 4-bit Rate field, a 1-bit Reserved bit, a 12-bit Length field, a 1-bit Parity field, and a 6-bit Tail field. For example, the 12-bit Length field may include information regarding the length or time duration of the PPDU. For example, the value of the 12-bit Length field may be determined based on the type of PPDU. For example, for non-HT, HT, VHT, or EHT PPDUs, the value of the Length field may be determined to be a multiple of 3. For example, for HE PPDUs, the value of the Length field may be determined to be a multiple of 3 + 1 or a multiple of 3 + 2.

[0132] For example, the transmitting STA can apply BCC encoding based on a coding rate of 1 / 2 to the 24-bit information of the L-SIG field. Subsequently, the transmitting STA can obtain 48-bit BCC-encoded bits. BPSK modulation may be applied to the 48-bit encoded bits, and 48 BPSK symbols may be generated. The transmitting STA can map the 48 BPSK symbols to positions excluding pilot subcarriers (e.g., {subcarrier indices -21, -7, +7, +21}) and the DC subcarrier (e.g., {subcarrier index 0}). As a result, the 48 BPSK symbols may be mapped to subcarrier indices -26 to -22, -20 to -8, -6 to -1, +1 to +6, +8 to +20, and +22 to +26. The transmitting STA can further map signals of {-1, -1, -1, 1} to subcarrier indices {-28, -27, +27, +28}. The signals may be used for channel estimation for the frequency regions corresponding to {-28, -27, +27, +28}.

[0133] The transmitting STA can generate an RL-SIG that is generated identically to the L-SIG. BPSK modulation is applied to the RL-SIG. The receiving STA can determine that the received PPDU is a HE PPDU or an EHT PPDU based on the presence of the RL-SIG.

[0134] A U-SIG (Universal SIG) may be inserted after the RL-SIG in FIG. 13. The U-SIG can have various names such as the first SIG field, the first SIG, the first type SIG, the control signal, the control signal field, the first (type) control signal, etc.

[0135] The U-SIG may contain N-bit information and may contain information for identifying the type of the EHT PPDU. For example, the U-SIG may be composed based on two symbols (e.g., two consecutive OFDM symbols). Each symbol for the U-SIG (e.g., an OFDM symbol) may have a duration of 4 us, and the U-SIG may have an overall duration of 8 us. Each symbol of the U-SIG may be used to transmit 26-bit information. For example, each symbol of the U-SIG may be transmitted and received based on 52 data tones and 4 pilot tones.

[0136] In the U-SIG (or U-SIG field), for example, A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bits) may be transmitted. The first symbol of U-SIG (e.g., U-SIG-1) transmits the first X-bit information (e.g., 26 un-coded bits) among the total A-bit information, and the second symbol of U-SIG (e.g., U-SIG-2) can transmit the remaining Y-bit information (e.g., 26 un-coded bits) among the total A-bit information. For example, the transmitting STA can obtain the 26 un-coded bits included in each U-SIG symbol. The transmitting STA can perform convolutional encoding (e.g., BCC encoding) based on a rate of R = 1 / 2 to generate 52-coded bits and can perform interleaving on the 52-coded bits. The transmitting STA can perform BPSK modulation on the interleaved 52-coded bits to generate 52 BPSK symbols assigned to each U-SIG symbol. One U-SIG symbol may be transmitted based on 56 tones (sub-carriers) from sub-carrier index -28 to sub-carrier index +28, excluding the DC index 0. The 52 BPSK symbols generated by the transmitting STA may be transmitted based on the remaining tones (sub-carriers) excluding the tones -21, -7, +7, +21 which are pilot tones.

[0137] For example, the A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bit) transmitted by U-SIG may include a CRC field (e.g., a 4-bit long field) and a tail field (e.g., a 6-bit long field). The CRC field and the tail field may be transmitted in the second symbol of U-SIG. The CRC field may be generated based on 26 bits assigned to the first symbol of U-SIG and the remaining 16 bits excluding the CRC / tail field within the second symbol, and may be generated based on a conventional CRC calculation algorithm. Also, the tail field may be used to terminate the trellis of a convolutional decoder and may be set to 0, for example.

[0138] The A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bit) transmitted by U-SIG (or, the U-SIG field) can be distinguished into version-independent bits and version-dependent bits. For example, the size of the version-independent bits may be fixed or variable. For example, the version-independent bits may be assigned only to the first symbol of U-SIG, or the version-independent bits may be assigned to both the first symbol and the second symbol of U-SIG. For example, the version-independent bits and the version-dependent bits may be referred to by various names such as the first control bit and the second control bit.

[0139] For example, the version-independent bits of U-SIG may include a 3-bit physical layer version identifier. For example, the 3-bit physical layer version identifier may include information regarding the physical layer version of the transmitted and received PPDU. For example, the first value of the 3-bit physical layer version identifier may indicate that the transmitted and received PPDU is an EHT PPDU. In other words, when the transmitting STA transmits an EHT PPDU, it can set the 3-bit physical layer version identifier to the first value. In other words, the receiving STA can determine that the received PPDU is an EHT PPDU based on the physical layer version identifier having the first value.

[0140] For example, the version-independent bits of U-SIG may include a 1-bit UL / DL flag field. The first value of the 1-bit UL / DL flag field is related to UL communication, and the second value of the UL / DL flag field is related to DL communication.

[0141] For example, the version-independent bits of U-SIG may include information regarding the length of the TXOP (transmission opportunity) and information regarding the BSS color ID.

[0142] For example, when EHT PPDUs are classified into various types (e.g., various types such as EHT PPDUs related to SU mode, EHT PPDUs related to MU mode, EHT PPDUs related to TB mode, EHT PPDUs related to Extended Range transmission, etc.), information regarding the type of EHT PPDU may be included in the version-dependent bits of U-SIG.

[0143] For example, the U-SIG may include: 1) a bandwidth field containing information about the bandwidth; 2) a field containing information about the MCS method applied to the EHT-SIG; 3) an indication field containing information about whether the DCM method is applied to the EHT-SIG; 4) a field containing information about the number of symbols used for the EHT-SIG; 5) a field containing information about whether the EHT-SIG is generated across the entire bandwidth; 6) a field containing information about the type of EHT-LTF / STF; 7) information about a field indicating the length of the EHT-LTF and the CP length.

[0144] Preambles puncturing may be applied to the PPDU in FIG. 13. Preambles puncturing may mean transmitting a PPDU where there is no signal present in one or more 20 MHz subchannels in the bandwidth of the PPDU. Preambles puncturing may be applied to the PPDU transmitted to one or more users. For example, the resolution of preambles puncturing may be 20 MHz for EHT MU PPDUs in OFDMA transmissions with a bandwidth greater than 40 MHz and non-OFDMA transmissions with 80 MHz and 160 MHz bandwidths. That is, in the above cases, puncturing for subchannels smaller than 242-tone RUs may not be allowed. Also, for EHT MU PPDUs in non-OFDMA transmissions with a 320 MHz bandwidth, the resolution of preambles puncturing may be 40 MHz. That is, puncturing for subchannels smaller than 484-tone RUs in the 320 MHz bandwidth may not be allowed. Also, preambles puncturing may not be applied to the primary 20 MHz channel in the EHT MU PPDU.

[0145] For example, for an EHT MU PPDU, information regarding preamble puncturing may be included in the U-SIG and / or EHT-SIG. For example, the first field of the U-SIG may include information regarding the contiguous bandwidth of the PPDU, and the second field of the U-SIG may include information regarding the preamble puncturing applied to the PPDU.

[0146] For example, the U-SIG and EHT-SIG can include information regarding preamble puncturing based on the following method. When the bandwidth of the PPDU exceeds 80 MHz, the U-SIG may be individually configured in 80 MHz units. For example, when the bandwidth of the PPDU is 160 MHz, the PPDU may include a first U-SIG for the first 80 MHz band and a second U-SIG for the second 80 MHz band. In this case, the first field of the first U-SIG may include information regarding the 160 MHz bandwidth, and the second field of the first U-SIG may include information regarding the preamble puncturing applied to the first 80 MHz band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern). Also, the first field of the second U-SIG may include information regarding the 160 MHz bandwidth, and the second field of the second U-SIG may include information regarding the preamble puncturing applied to the second 80 MHz band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern). The EHT-SIG consecutive to the first U-SIG may include information regarding the preamble puncturing applied to the second 80 MHz band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern), and the EHT-SIG consecutive to the second U-SIG may include information regarding the preamble puncturing applied to the first 80 MHz band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern).

[0147] As an addition or alternative, U-SIG and EHT-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing based on the following method. U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing for the entire band (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern). That is, EHT-SIG may not include information regarding preamble puncturing, and only U-SIG may include information regarding preamble puncturing (i.e., information regarding the preamble puncturing pattern).

[0148] U-SIG may be configured in units of 20 MHz. For example, when an 80 MHz PPDU is configured, U-SIG may be replicated. That is, four identical U-SIGs may be included within the 80 MHz PPDU. A PPDU with a bandwidth exceeding 80 MHz may include different U-SIGs from each other.

[0149] The EHT-SIG in FIG. 13 may include control information for the receiving STA. The EHT-SIG may be transmitted in at least one symbol, and one symbol may have a length of 4 μs. Information regarding the number of symbols used for the EHT-SIG may be included in the U-SIG.

[0150] The EHT-SIG may include the technical features of the HE-SIG-B described in FIGS. 11 and 12. For example, the EHT-SIG may include a common field and a user-specific field, identically to an example in FIG. 8. The common field of the EHT-SIG may be omitted, and the number of user-specific fields may be determined based on the number of users.

[0151] Similar to an example of FIG. 11, the common fields of the EHT-SIG and the user-specific fields of the EHT-SIG may be encoded separately. One user block field included in the user-specific field contains information for two user fields, but the last user block field included in the user-specific field may contain one or two user fields. That is, one user block field of the EHT-SIG may contain at most two user fields. Similar to an example of FIG. 12, each user field may be related to MU-MIMO allocation or non-MU-MIMO allocation.

[0152] Similar to an example of FIG. 11, the common field of the EHT-SIG may include CRC bits and Tail bits. The length of the CRC bits may be determined to be 4 bits, the length of the Tail bits may be determined to be 6 bits, and may be set to 000000.

[0153] Similar to an example of FIG. 11, the common field of the EHT-SIG may include RU allocation information. RU allocation information may mean information regarding the location of RUs to which a plurality of users (i.e., a plurality of receiving STAs) are allocated. RU allocation information may be configured in units of 9 bits (or, N bits).

[0154] Modes in which common fields of the EHT-SIG are omitted may be supported. The mode in which common fields of the EHT-SIG are omitted can be called the compressed mode. When the compressed mode is used, multiple users of the EHT PPDU (i.e., multiple receiving STAs) can decode the PPDU (e.g., the data field of the PPDU) based on non-OFDMA. That is, multiple users of the EHT PPDU can decode the PPDU (e.g., the data field of the PPDU) received in the same frequency band. When the non-compressed mode is used, multiple users of the EHT PPDU can decode the PPDU (e.g., the data field of the PPDU) based on OFDMA. That is, multiple users of the EHT PPDU can receive the PPDU (e.g., the data field of the PPDU) in different frequency bands from each other.

[0155] The EHT-SIG may be configured based on various MCS techniques. As described above, information related to the MCS technique applied to the EHT-SIG may be included in the U-SIG. The EHT-SIG may be configured based on the DCM technique. The DCM technique can provide an effect similar to frequency diversity, reduce interference, and improve coverage by reusing the same signal on two subcarriers. For example, modulated symbols to which the same modulation technique is applied may be repeatedly mapped on available tones / subcarriers. For example, among the N data tones (e.g., 52 data tones) allocated for the EHT-SIG, for the first consecutive half of the tones (e.g., the 1st to 26th tones), modulated symbols (e.g., BPSK modulated symbols) to which a specific modulation technique is applied are mapped, and for the remaining consecutive half of the tones (e.g., the 27th to 52nd tones), modulated symbols (e.g., BPSK modulated symbols) to which the same specific modulation technique is applied may also be mapped. That is, the modulated symbol mapped to the 1st tone is the same as the modulated symbol mapped to the 27th tone. As described above, information (e.g., a 1-bit field) related to whether the DCM technique is applied to the EHT-SIG may be included in the U-SIG. The EHT-STF in FIG. 13 may be used to improve automatic gain control (AGC) estimation in a MIMO environment or an OFDMA environment. The EHT-LTF in FIG. 13 may be used to estimate the channel in a MIMO environment or an OFDMA environment.

[0156] Information regarding the type of STF and / or LTF (including information regarding the GI (guard interval) applied to the LTF) may be included in the U-SIG field and / or the EHT-SIG field in FIG. 13, etc.

[0157] The PPDU in FIG. 13 (i.e., the EHT PPDU) may be configured based on an example of the RU arrangement in FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0158] For example, an EHT PPDU transmitted on a 20 MHz band, i.e., a 20 MHz EHT PPDU, may be configured based on the RUs in FIG. 8. That is, the locations of the RUs of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data field included in the EHT PPDU may be determined as shown in FIG. 8. An EHT PPDU transmitted on a 40 MHz band, i.e., a 40 MHz EHT PPDU, may be configured based on the RUs in FIG. 9. That is, the locations of the RUs of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data field included in the EHT PPDU may be determined as shown in FIG. 9.

[0159] An EHT PPDU transmitted on an 80 MHz band, i.e., an 80 MHz EHT PPDU, may be configured based on the RUs in FIG. 10. That is, the locations of the RUs of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data field included in the EHT PPDU may be determined as shown in FIG. 10. The tone-plan for 80 MHz in FIG. 10 may correspond to two repetitions of the tone-plan for 40 MHz in FIG. 9.

[0160] The tone-plan for 160 / 240 / 320 MHz may be configured in a form that repeats the pattern in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10 multiple times.

[0161] The PPDU in FIG. 13 may be identified as an EHT PPDU based on the following method.

[0162] The receiving STA can determine that the type of the received PPDU is an EHT PPDU based on the following items. For example, 1) the first symbol after the L-LTF signal of the received PPDU is BPSK, 2) an RL-SIG in which the L-SIG of the received PPDU is repeated is detected, and 3) when the result of applying modulo 3 operation to the value of the Length field of the L-SIG of the received PPDU (i.e., the remainder when divided by 3) is detected to be 0, the received PPDU may be determined to be an EHT PPDU. When the received PPDU is determined to be an EHT PPDU, the receiving STA can determine the type of the EHT PPDU based on the bit information included in the symbol after the RL-SIG in FIG. 13. In other words, the receiving STA can determine that the received PPDU is an EHT PPDU based on 1) the first symbol after the L-LTF signal that is BSPK, 2) the RL-SIG that is consecutive to the L-SIG field and is the same as the L-SIG, and 3) the L-SIG including the Length field whose result of applying modulo 3 is set to 0.

[0163] For example, the receiving STA can determine that the type of the received PPDU is an HE PPDU based on the following items. For example, 1) the first symbol after the L-LTF signal is BPSK, 2) an RL-SIG in which the L-SIG is repeated is detected, and 3) when the result of applying modulo 3 to the Length value of the L-SIG is detected to be 1 or 2, the received PPDU may be determined to be an HE PPDU.

[0164] For example, the receiving STA can determine that the type of the received PPDU is a non-HT, HT, and VHT PPDU based on the following items. For example, 1) the first symbol after the L-LTF signal is BPSK, and 2) when an RL-SIG in which the L-SIG is repeated is not detected, the received PPDU may be determined to be a non-HT, HT, and VHT PPDU.

[0165] Also, when the receiving STA detects an RL-SIG in which the L-SIG is repeated in the received PPDU, it can be determined that the PPDU is an HE PPDU or an EHT PPDU. In this case, if the rate (6 Mbps) check fails, the received PPDU may be determined to be a non-HT, HT, or VHT PPDU. If the rate (6 Mbps) check and the parity check are passed, and the result of applying modulo 3 to the Length value of the L-SIG is detected as 0, the received PPDU may be determined to be an EHT PPDU, and if the result of Length mod 3 is not 0, it may be determined to be an HE PPDU.

[0166] The PPDU of FIG. 13 may be used to transmit and receive various types of frames. For example, the PPDU of FIG. 13 may be used for one or more (simultaneous) transmissions and receptions of control frames, management frames, or data frames.

[0167] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an exemplary format of the A-control subfield of the HT control field to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0168] As described with reference to FIG. 6, the HT control field may be included in the MAC header. The HT control field may be present in a control wrapper frame and may be present in QoS Data, QoS Null, and management frames as determined by the +HTC subfield of the frame control field.

[0169] The HT control field may have a format as shown in Table 1.

[0170]

Table 1

[0171] As shown in Table 1, the HE variant HT control field may include an A (aggregated)-control subfield. The A-control subfield may have a length of 30 bits.

[0172] As shown in FIG. 14, the A-control subfield may include a control list subfield of variable length and a Padding subfield of 0 bits or more. The control list subfield may include one or more control subfields. The Padding subfield (if present) may follow the last control subfield and may be set as a sequence of 0 values in a number such that the length of the A-control subfield included in the HT control field becomes 30.

[0173] One control subfield may include a 4-bit control ID subfield and a control information subfield of variable length.

[0174] The control ID subfield can indicate the type of information included in the control information subfield. The length of the control information subfield may be defined as a fixed value for each value of the control ID subfield (excluding reserved values). The value of the control ID subfield and the length of the associated control information subfield may be defined as shown in Table 2.

[0175]

Table 2

[0176] Table 2 shows the lengths of the formats (TRS, OM, HLA, BSR, UPH, BQR, CAS, EHT OM, SRS, AAR, etc.) of the control subfields indicated by the control ID values. The ONES control subfield may have all 26 bits set to 1. The formats of each of the other control subfields are defined separately, and FIG. 14 shows an exemplary format of the OM (operating mode) control subfield having a length of 12 bits among them.

[0177] The control information subfield of the OM control subfield may include information related to the change in the operating mode (OM) of the STA that transmits the frame containing the information.

[0178] When the operating channel width of the STA exceeds 80 MHz, the Rx NSS subfield indicates the maximum number (N_SS) of spatial streams that the STA supports in reception for a PPDU bandwidth of 80 MHz or less, and may be set to the value of N_SS - 1. When the operating channel of the STA is 80 MHz or less, the Rx NSS subfield indicates N_SS, which is the maximum number of spatial streams that the STA supports in reception, and may be set to the value of N_SS - 1.

[0179] When the operating channel width of the STA exceeds 80 MHz, the maximum number of spatial streams that the STA supports in reception for a PPDU bandwidth exceeding 80 MHz may be determined by a predetermined mathematical formula considering the MCS.

[0180] The Channel Width subfield can indicate the operating channel width supported by the STA for both reception and transmission. The value of the Channel Width subfield may be set to 0 for 20 MHz, 1 for primary 40 MHz, 2 for primary 80 MHz, and 3 for 160 MHz or 80+80 MHz. A value of 0 in the Channel Width subfield may indicate the negotiated 20 MHz when related to SST (subchannel selective transmission) operation, or the primary 20 MHz in other cases.

[0181] The frame type transmitted as a response to the triggering frame and the allowed uplink multi-user (UL MU) operation may be determined based on the UL MU Disable subfield, the UL MU Data Disable subfield, and the receiving capability element (e.g., the OM Control UL MU Data Disable Rx Support subfield) (see the example in Table 3). When the OM Control field is transmitted by the AP, the UL MU Disable subfield and the UL MU Data Disable subfield may be reserved.

[0182]

Table 3

[0183] The Non-AP STA can set the value of the Tx NSTS subfield to N_STS-1, where N_STS is the maximum number of space-time streams supported by the non-AP STA in transmission. When the OM Control field is transmitted by the AP, the Tx NSTS subfield may be reserved.

[0184] The Non-AP STA can set the ER SU Disable subfield to 1 to indicate that the reception of 242-tone ER SU PPDUs is disabled, and set its value to 0 to indicate that the reception of 242-tone ER SU PPDUs is enabled. When the OM Control field is transmitted by the AP, the ER SU Disable subfield may be reserved.

[0185] The Non-AP STA can set the value of the DL MU-MIMO Resound Recommendation subfield to 1 to suggest to the AP an increase in the channel resound or channel sounding frequency with respect to that STA. When its value is set to 0, the STA can indicate that there is no suggestion to the AP regarding the channel sounding frequency. When the OM Control field is transmitted by the AP, the DL MU-MIMO Resound Recommendation subfield may be reserved.

[0186] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an exemplary format of a control information subfield in an EHT OM Control subfield to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0187] Referring to FIG. 15, the control information subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield may include information related to OM changes for a 320 MHz bandwidth, a Tx NSTS greater than 8, and an Rx NSS greater than 8 for the STA transmitting a frame including the OM indication information.

[0188] The Channel Width Extension subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield (see, for example, Figure 15), which is combined with the Channel Width subfield in the OM control subfield (see, for example, Figure 14), can indicate the operating channel width supported by the STA for both reception and transmission.

[0189] The encoding of the Channel Width Extension subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield (see, for example, Figure 15), which is combined with the Channel Width subfield in the OM control subfield (see, for example, Figure 14), may be as shown in Table 4.

[0190] [Table 4]

[0191] Referring to Table 4, an indication of the operating channel width, i.e., a BW indication, may be made using a combination of the Channel Width Extension subfield and the Channel Width subfield.

[0192] Hereinafter, a method of indicating information for the extended BW in the next-generation wireless LAN system by an OM (operating mode) indication is proposed.

[0193] In the next-generation wireless LAN system, signals may be transmitted and received using an extended BW. For example, the extended BW may correspond to a 480 MHz bandwidth, a 560 MHz bandwidth, and / or a 640 MHz bandwidth.

[0194] In contrast, in existing wireless LAN systems (e.g., IEEE 802.11be), only transmission using a maximum bandwidth of 320 MHz is considered. Therefore, when an extended BW is used in a next-generation wireless LAN system, an indication for extended BW operation may be required for signal transmission and reception for the extended BW.

[0195] Therefore, in a next-generation wireless LAN system, in order to instruct non-legacy STAs (e.g., next wi-fi STAs) to operate and transmit and receive signals with an extended BW, a definition for the extended BW in the operation mode (OM) is necessary.

[0196] In the present disclosure, a non-legacy STA means an STA that supports a next-generation wireless LAN system, and may correspond to, for example, STAs after the EHT variant (e.g., next wi-fi, UHR, etc.).

[0197] Hereinafter, in the present disclosure, when a non-legacy STA operates to transmit and receive signals using an extended BW, a specific method of instructing information for the extended BW by an OM indication is proposed.

[0198] In connection with this, the extended BW may be composed of the following channel combinations for RU / MRU allocation.

[0199] For example, when the extended BW corresponds to a 480 MHz bandwidth, the 480 MHz bandwidth may be composed of a 320 MHz channel and a 160 MHz channel. Here, the 320 MHz channel may be set as the primary channel. Here, the primary channel can mean the 320 MHz channel in a relatively high frequency region within the 480 MHz bandwidth. As an alternative, considering the case of being composed of 160 MHz unit channels, the 480 MHz bandwidth may be composed of three 160 MHz channels. At this time, the 160 MHz channels may be respectively configured as the primary (or the first) 160 MHz channel, the secondary 160 MHz, and the third 160 MHz channel (or the 160 MHz channel in a relatively low frequency region within the secondary 320 MHz).

[0200] As another example, when the extended BW corresponds to a 560 MHz bandwidth, the 560 MHz bandwidth may be composed of a 320 MHz channel and a 240 MHz channel. Here, the 320 MHz channel may be set as the primary channel. As an alternative, considering the case of being composed of 160 MHz unit channels, the 560 MHz bandwidth may be composed of three 160 MHz channels and one 80 MHz channel. At this time, the 160 MHz channels may be respectively expressed as the primary (or the first) 160 MHz channel, the secondary 160 MHz, and the third 160 MHz channel (or the 160 MHz channel in a relatively low frequency region within the secondary 320 MHz), and the 80 MHz channel may be the fourth and may be expressed as the 80 MHz channel in a relatively low frequency region.

[0201] As another example, when the extended BW corresponds to a 640 MHz bandwidth, the 640 MHz bandwidth may be composed of a 320 MHz channel and a 320 MHz channel. Here, the two 320 MHz channels may be respectively set as a primary channel and a secondary channel. Here, the secondary channel may mean a 320 MHz channel in a relatively low frequency region within the 640 MHz bandwidth. As an alternative, considering the case of being composed of channels in units of 160 MHz, the 640 MHz bandwidth may be composed of four 160 MHz channels. At this time, the 160 MHz channels may be respectively expressed as a primary (or first) 160 MHz channel, a secondary 160 MHz, a third 160 MHz channel, and a fourth 160 MHz.

[0202] Considering the channel configuration of the extended BW as described above, in order to transmit and receive signals using the extended BW, when giving an OM instruction to the STA, the instruction for the extended BW may be performed based on at least one of the following embodiments.

[0203] Hereinafter, the embodiments described in the present disclosure are only divided for the clarity of the description, and whether the configurations described in some embodiments are applied in combination / alternation / combination with the configurations of other embodiments, or are applied independently respectively, is also possible.

[0204] Example 1

[0205] This embodiment relates to a solution for giving an extended BW instruction to a non-legacy STA using the existing OM Control. In this embodiment, the case where the existing OM Control corresponds to the EHT OM Control field described above is considered for explanation.

[0206] For the extended BW indication for non-legacy STAs, the BW information is not included in the OM Control field for the next-generation wireless LAN system, and the indication may be made using the reserved value among the combined information / values of the Channel Width Extension subfield of the EHT OM Control field (see, for example, FIG. 15) and the Channel Width subfield of the OM Control field (see, for example, FIG. 14).

[0207] In this case, since no other information bits / fields are set for the indication of the extended BW, the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0208] The extended BW indication may be made using the reserved value in Table 4 described above (for example, when the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to one value and the Channel Width subfield is set to values 1 to 3).

[0209] For the extended BW indication in the next-generation wireless LAN system, the Channel Width Extension subfield of the EHT OM Control field may always be set to one value.

[0210] Considering the proposed method described above, the extended BW may be indicated based on at least one of the methods described below.

[0211] First, a method will be described when only a 640 MHz bandwidth is considered as the extended BW.

[0212] The 640 MHz bandwidth may be indicated using one of the reserved indication values in Table 4 described above. As an example, by setting the Channel Width Extension subfield to one value and the Channel Width subfield to one value, the 640 MHz bandwidth may be indicated.

[0213] The BW indication by the combination of the Channel Width Extension subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield (see, for example, FIG. 15) combined with the Channel Width subfield in the OM control subfield (see, for example, FIG. 14) may be as shown in Table 5.

[0214] [Table 5]

[0215] When set as in Table 5, since the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to a value of 1, the EHT STA can recognize the BW as 320 MHz, and only non-legacy STAs can know that the BW is 640 MHz.

[0216] Next, a method when the 480 MHz bandwidth and 640 MHz bandwidth are considered as the extended BW will be described.

[0217] The BW may be indicated using two of the reserved indication values in Table 4 described above. As an example, when the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to a value of 1, the Channel Width subfield may be set to a value of 1 to indicate a 480 MHz bandwidth, and the Channel Width subfield may be set to a value of 2 to indicate a 640 MHz bandwidth.

[0218] The BW indication by the combination of the Channel Width Extension subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield (see, for example, FIG. 15) combined with the Channel Width subfield in the OM control subfield (see, for example, FIG. 14) may be as shown in Table 6.

[0219] [Table 6]

[0220] When configured as shown in Table 6, since the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to a value of 1, the EHT STA can recognize the BW as 320 MHz. On the other hand, for non-legacy STAs, it can be understood from the value of the Channel Width subfield within the OM Control subfield that the BW is 480 MHz or 640 MHz.

[0221] Next, a method will be described when considering bandwidths of 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz as the extended BW.

[0222] The BW may be indicated using all the reserved indication values (i.e., 3 values) in Table 4 described above. As an example, when the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to a value of 1, the Channel Width subfield is set to a value of 1 to indicate a 480 MHz bandwidth, the Channel Width subfield is set to a value of 2 to indicate a 560 MHz bandwidth, and the Channel Width subfield is set to a value of 3 to indicate a 560 MHz bandwidth.

[0223] The BW indication by the combination of the Channel Width Extension subfield in the EHT OM Control subfield (see, for example, Figure 15) combined with the Channel Width subfield in the OM control subfield (see, for example, Figure 14) may be as shown in Table 7.

[0224]

Table 7

[0225] When configured as shown in Table 7, since the Channel Width Extension subfield is set to a value of 1, the EHT STA can recognize the BW as 320 MHz. On the other hand, for non-legacy STAs, it can be understood from the value of the Channel Width subfield within the OM Control subfield that the BW is 480 MHz, 560 MHz, or 640 MHz.

[0226] In this embodiment, as an example different from the method described above, information regarding the extended BW used in the next-generation wireless LAN system may be indicated using the reserved bits within the EHT OM Control field (see, for example, FIG. 15).

[0227] Specifically, the reserved 3-bit information (e.g., B3 to B5) of the EHT OM Control subfield may be used, and at this time, the indication may be performed using 2 bits or 3 bits.

[0228] For example, in the next-generation wireless LAN system, the reserved 2 bits / 3 bits of the EHT OM Control field may be defined and used as the Wide BW indication subfield. Since the subfield is defined for the next-generation wireless LAN system, it does not affect existing STAs (e.g., EHT STAs).

[0229] In connection with this, for a BW equal to or smaller than 320 MHz, the aforementioned Wide BW indication subfield may be set to a value of 0.

[0230] FIG. 16 illustrates the EHT OM Control subfield considering the extended BW indication to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0231] Referring to FIG. 16, the Wide BW indication may be based on 3 bits (e.g., B3 to B5) in connection with the extended BW indication. In case 2 bits are considered, B3 and B4 may be assigned to the Wide BW indication subfield, and B5 may be reserved.

[0232] As a specific example, when the Wide BW indication subfield is considered as 2-bit information, the value of the subfield may be defined / set as shown in Table 8.

[0233]

Table 8

[0234] The definition / setting in Table 8 may be applicable when the extended BW takes into account all of 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz. When the extended BW is composed of a combination of one or more of 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz, the indication for the said value may be changed by the combination.

[0235] As another specific example, when the Wide BW indication subfield is considered as 3-bit information, the value of the subfield may be defined / set as shown in Table 9.

[0236]

Table 9

[0237] The definition / setting in Table 9 may be applicable when the extended BW takes into account all of 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz. When the extended BW is composed of a combination of one or more of 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz, the indication for the said value may be changed by the combination.

[0238] Example 2

[0239] This embodiment relates to a solution for performing an extended BW indication using a non-legacy OM Control field to indicate the operating mode of a non-legacy STA.

[0240] Here, the non-legacy OM Control field can mean a newly defined OM Control field defined for a non-legacy STA (i.e., Next Wi-Fi STA).

[0241] In this regard, since the non-legacy STA can also support existing variants (e.g., EHT), the non-legacy OM Control field may be present in the frame together with the EHT OM Control field (e.g., see FIG. 15) and the OM control field (e.g., see FIG. 14).

[0242] When using the extended BW, for channel protection for legacy devices (e.g., EHT variant devices), the Channel Width Extension subfield and the Channel Width subfield may be set to 1 and 0 respectively (i.e., indicating a 320 MHz bandwidth).

[0243] The non-legacy OM Control field includes a subfield for indicating the extended BW, and the subfield may be configured as described below.

[0244] The subfield may be defined / named as the Wide Channel Width subfield. This name is an example, and it may be defined / named as a field with other names.

[0245] The Wide Channel Width subfield may be composed of 1 bit or 2 bits.

[0246] For example, when the Wide Channel Width subfield is configured with 1 bit, only an indication of a 640 MHz bandwidth may be considered.

[0247] The subfield is used to indicate a 640 MHz bandwidth which is an extended BW. In this case, the subfield may be defined as a 640 MHz bandwidth field. The subfield may be set to a single value for the indication of 640 MHz bandwidth. Otherwise, the subfield may be set to a value of 0. When set to a value of 0, the BW may be determined / indicated as described in Table 4 above according to the values of the EHT OM Control field and the OM Control field. That is, up to a bandwidth indication of 320 MHz at most, it may be performed in the same way as the existing method (for example, the EHT variant method).

[0248] As another example, the case where the Wide Channel Width subfield is configured with 2 bits may be considered.

[0249] In this case, up to a bandwidth indication of 320 MHz at most, it may be performed using the bandwidth information of the EHT OM Control field and the OM Control field (for example, the Channel Width Extension subfield and the Channel Width subfield), and 2-bit information may be used for the indication of the extended BW. For a bandwidth of 320 MHz or less, the value of the Wide Channel Width subfield is set to 0.

[0250] As described above, when an extended BW is indicated using 2 bits, the bit setting with the extended BW may be as follows.

[0251] When only a 640 MHz bandwidth is considered as the extended BW, the 2-bit information may be defined as the Wide Bandwidth field as shown in Table 10.

[0252]

Table 10

[0253] Referring to Table 10, for a bandwidth of 320 MHz or less, the 2-bit information may be set to 00 (0 value), and for an indication of 640 MHz bandwidth, the 2-bit information may be set to 01 (1 value). The remaining values may be reserved.

[0254] When 480 MHz and 640 MHz bandwidths are considered as the extended BW, the 2-bit information may be defined as shown in Table 11.

[0255]

Table 11

[0256] Referring to Table 11, for a bandwidth of 320 MHz or less, the 2-bit information may be set to 0 value. The 2-bit information may be set to 1 value (01) for a 480 MHz bandwidth indication and 2 value (10) for a 640 MHz bandwidth indication. The remaining value (i.e., 3 value corresponding to 11) may be reserved.

[0257] When 480 MHz, 560 MHz, and 640 MHz bandwidths are considered as the extended BW, the 2-bit information may be defined as shown in Table 12.

[0258]

Table 12

[0259] Referring to Table 12, for a bandwidth of 320 MHz or less, the 2-bit information may be set to 0 value. The 2-bit information may be set to 1 value (01) for a 480 MHz bandwidth indication, 2 value (10) for a 560 MHz bandwidth indication, and 3 value (11) for a 640 MHz bandwidth indication.

[0260] Example 3

[0261] This embodiment relates to a solution for defining an OM Control field for non-legacy (e.g., Next Wi-Fi) and indicating the extended BW.

[0262] Here, the OM Control field for non-legacy is defined only for non-legacy STAs and may be configured independently of the existing OM Control fields (e.g., FIGS. 14 and 15). The OM Control field for non-legacy may be defined / named as an extended OM Control field or an OM Control Extension field.

[0263] As described above, reserved values of the Control ID subfield may be used to indicate the newly defined OM Control field. For example, reserved values (e.g., 10 to 14) of the Control ID subfield may be used to indicate the OM Control field for non-legacy.

[0264] As an example, as shown in Table 13 below, the value of 10 in the Control ID subfield may be used.

[0265]

Table 13

[0266] As described above, the newly defined extended OM Control field or OM Control Extension field may be configured to include the following information.

[0267] The extended OM Control field or OM Control Extension field may include Channel Width information. The Channel Width information can indicate the bandwidth supported by a non-legacy STA. To indicate 20MHz / 40MHz / 80MHz / 160MHz / 320MHz / 480MHz / 560MHz / 640MHz, the information may be composed of 3-bit information as shown in Table 14 below.

[0268]

Table 14

[0269] In relation to Table 14, the value-based indication information may change depending on whether 480MHz / 560MHz / 640MHz is supported by the STA.

[0270] Additionally or alternatively, the extended OM Control field or OM Control Extension field may include Rx NSS (number of spatial streams) information. The information indicates the maximum Nss supported during reception and may be composed of 4 bits to support up to 16ss.

[0271] Additionally or alternatively, the extended OM Control field or OM Control Extension field may include Tx NSS information. The information indicates the maximum Nss supported during transmission and may be composed of 4 bits to support up to 16ss.

[0272] Additionally or alternatively, the extended OM Control field or OM Control Extension field may include the UL MU Disable subfield, UL MU Data Disable subfield, ER SU Disable subfield, and / or DL MU-MIMO Resound Recommendation subfield mentioned in Figure 14.

[0273] Figure 17 illustrates a non-legacy OM Control field considering an extended BW indication to which the present disclosure is applicable.

[0274] Referring to Figure 17, the non-legacy OM Control field may include a 3-bit Channel Width subfield, a 4-bit Tx NSS subfield, a 4-bit Rx NSS subfield, a 1-bit ER SU Disable subfield, a 1-bit DL MU-MIMO Resound Recommendation subfield, a 1-bit UL MU Disable subfield, and a 1-bit UL MU Data Disable subfield.

[0275] Figure 18 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for transmitting bandwidth indication information according to the present disclosure.

[0276] In step S1810, the STA can generate a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width.

[0277] Here, the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width may be included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield may include a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz. In this regard, the OM control subfield may include a channel width extension subfield (e.g., the Channel Width Extension subfield in Figure 15) associated with an operating channel width indication up to a maximum of 320 MHz.

[0278] For example, the wide bandwidth may include one or more of a 480 MHz bandwidth, a 560 MHz bandwidth, or a 640 MHz bandwidth.

[0279] For example, the specific subfield may be composed of at least two bits out of B3 to B5 of the OM control subfield.

[0280] Specifically, when the specific subfield is composed of 2-bit information, among B3 to B5, the remaining 1 bit may be reserved.

[0281] As an addition or alternative, when the specific subfield is composed of 2-bit information, the specific subfield set to a 0 value indicates a bandwidth equal to or smaller than 320 MHz, the specific subfield set to a 1 value indicates a 480 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a 2 value indicates a 560 MHz bandwidth, and the specific subfield set to a 3 value can indicate a 640 MHz bandwidth.

[0282] As an addition or alternative, when the specific subfield is composed of 3-bit information, the specific subfield set to a 0 value indicates a bandwidth equal to or smaller than 320 MHz, the specific subfield set to a 1 value indicates a 480 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a 2 value indicates a 560 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a 3 value indicates a 640 MHz bandwidth, and values from 4 to 7 may be reserved.

[0283] For example, based on a plurality of subfields included in the OM control subfield, the operation channel width for the STA may be determined.

[0284] For example, the specific subfield may be located next to the Tx NSTS (number of space time streams) extension subfield within the OM control subfield.

[0285] In stage S1820, the STA can transmit a PPDU including the above-mentioned frame.

[0286] The method performed by the STA described in the example of FIG. 18 may be performed by the first device 100 of FIG. 1. For example, one or more processors 102 of the first device 100 of FIG. 1 may be configured to generate a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width and transmit a PPDU including the frame via one or more transceivers 106. Note that one or more memories 104 of the first device 100 can store instructions for performing the method described in the example of FIG. 18 when executed by one or more processors 102.

[0287] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for receiving bandwidth indication information according to the present disclosure.

[0288] In stage S1910, the STA can receive a PPDU (physical protocol data unit) including a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width.

[0289] Here, the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width may be included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield may include a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

[0290] In stage S1920, the STA can perform an operation (e.g., an ACK / NACK feedback operation, etc.) based on the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width.

[0291] Examples of information regarding the indication of the operating channel width, examples of the OM control subfield, and specific contents for specific subfields are the same as those illustrated in FIG. 18 described above, and duplicate explanations thereof are omitted.

[0292] The method performed by the STA described in the example of FIG. 19 may be performed by the second device 200 of FIG. 1. For example, one or more processors 202 of the second device 200 of FIG. 1 may receive a PPDU (physical protocol data unit) including a frame containing information regarding an indication of an operating channel width via one or more transceivers 206, and may be configured to perform operations based on the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width. Note that one or more memories 204 of the second device 200 may store instructions for performing the method described in the example of FIG. 19 when executed by one or more processors 202.

[0293] As described above, compared with the operating channel width indication in the existing wireless LAN system, the operating channel width indication proposed in the present disclosure has a new feature that further includes information for indicating the operating channel width for a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

[0294] By supporting the operating channel width indication at an extended bandwidth in the next-generation wireless LAN system using the OM Control field proposed in the present disclosure, aspects of throughput and efficiency in the wireless LAN system can be enhanced.

[0295] The embodiments described above are those in which the components and features of the present disclosure are combined in a predetermined form. Each component or feature should be considered as optional unless otherwise explicitly stated. Each component or feature may be implemented in a form that does not combine with other components or features. It is also possible to combine some components and / or features to form embodiments of the present disclosure. The order of operations described in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be changed. Some components or features of an embodiment may be included in other embodiments, or may be replaced with corresponding components or features of other embodiments. It is obvious that claims without an explicit citation relationship in the claims can be combined to form embodiments, or can be included as new claims by amendment after filing.

[0296] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any way, and should be considered as exemplary. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and any changes within the equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0297] The scope of the present disclosure includes software or machine-executable instructions (e.g., operating systems, applications, firmware, programs, etc.) that cause operations according to the methods of various embodiments to be executed on a device or computer, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which such software or instructions are stored and executable on the device or computer. Instructions that can be used to program a processing system to execute the features described in the present disclosure may be stored on or in a storage medium or computer-readable storage medium, and the features described in the present disclosure may be implemented using a computer program product including such a storage medium. The storage medium can include, but is not limited to, high-speed random access memory such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solid-state memory devices, and can include non-volatile memory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. The memory can optionally include one or more storage devices located remotely from the processor. The memory or, alternatively, the non-volatile memory device within the memory includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The features described in the present disclosure may be stored on any one of the machine-readable media, control the hardware of the processing system, and be integrated into software and / or firmware that enables the processing system to interact with other mechanisms that utilize the results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Such software or firmware can include, but is not limited to, application code, device drivers, operating systems, and execution environments / containers.

Industrial Applicability

[0298] Although the method proposed in the present disclosure has been mainly described with an example applied to an IEEE 802.11-based system, it can also be applied to various wireless LANs or wireless communication systems other than the IEEE 802.11-based system.

Claims

1. A method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system, the method comprising: generating a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width; transmitting a PPDU including the frame; and the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame; the OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the OM control subfield includes a channel width extension subfield associated with an operating channel width indication up to a maximum of 320 MHz.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wide bandwidth includes one or more of a 480 MHz bandwidth, a 560 MHz bandwidth, or a 640 MHz bandwidth.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific subfield is composed of at least two bits among B3 to B5 of the OM control subfield.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, based on the specific subfield being composed of 2-bit information, the remaining 1 bit among B3 to B5 is reserved.

6. Based on the fact that the specific subfield is composed of 2-bit information, the specific subfield set to a value of 0 indicates a bandwidth equal to or smaller than 320 MHz, the specific subfield set to a value of 1 indicates a 480 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a value of 2 indicates a 560 MHz bandwidth, and the specific subfield set to a value of 3 indicates a 640 MHz bandwidth. The method according to claim 4.

7. Based on the fact that the specific subfield is composed of 3-bit information, the specific subfield set to a value of 0 indicates a bandwidth equal to or smaller than 320 MHz, the specific subfield set to a value of 1 indicates a 480 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a value of 2 indicates a 560 MHz bandwidth, the specific subfield set to a value of 3 indicates a 640 MHz bandwidth, and values 4 to 7 are reserved. The method according to claim 4.

8. Based on a plurality of subfields included in the OM control subfield, the operating channel width for the STA is determined. The method according to claim 1.

9. The specific subfield is located next to the Tx NSTS (number of space time streams) extension subfield within the OM control subfield. The method according to claim 1.

10. A station (STA) device in a wireless LAN system, the device comprising: One or more transceivers; One or more processors coupled to the one or more transceivers, The one or more processors are: Generate a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width; Set to transmit a PPDU including the frame via the one or more transceivers. Information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within the aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz, a device.

11. A method performed by a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system, the method comprising: Receiving a PPDU (physical protocol data unit) including a frame containing information regarding an indication of an operating channel width; Performing an operation based on the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width. The information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within the aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz, a method.

12. A station (STA) device in a wireless LAN system, the device comprising: One or more transceivers; One or more processors coupled to the one or more transceivers. The one or more processors are: Configured to receive, via the one or more transceivers, a PPDU (physical protocol data unit) including a frame containing information regarding an indication of an operating channel width; Perform an operation based on the information regarding the indication of the operating channel width. Information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

13. A processing device configured to control a station (STA) in a wireless LAN system, the processing device comprising: One or more processors; One or more computer memories operably coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions for performing operations based on execution by the one or more processors, The operations include: Generating a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width; and Transmitting a PPDU including the frame. Information regarding the indication of the operating channel width is included in an operating mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame. The OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more instructions, The one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a device in a wireless LAN system to generate a frame including information regarding an indication of an operating channel width, Control to transmit a PPDU including the frame, Information regarding the indication of the operation channel width is included in an operation mode (OM) control subfield within an aggregated-control (A-control) field of the frame, The OM control subfield includes a specific subfield capable of indicating a wide bandwidth greater than 320 MHz, a computer-readable medium.

Images