Communication device and communication method for control signaling

Abstract

To provide a communication device and communication method for control signaling. [Solution] The communication device of the present disclosure includes a transmitter that transmits a trigger frame including an association identifier 12 (AID12) subfield and a user field including signaling indicating a multi-resource unit, and a receiver that receives a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB-PPDU) transmitted using the multi-resource unit from a station identified by the AID12 subfield, wherein in the allocation of the multi-resource unit, if two or more consecutive resource units of the same size fit exactly into a single resource unit of a larger size, the two or more consecutive resource units are not allocated to the station.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device and a communication method for control signaling, and particularly to a communication device and a communication method for control signaling in an extremely high throughput wireless local area network (EHT WLAN).

Background Art

[0002] In the standardization of next-generation wireless local area networks (WLANs), the IEEE 802.11 working group is discussing a new wireless access technology that is backward compatible with IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax technologies, which is called an extremely high throughput (EHT) WLAN.

[0003] In EHT WLAN, in order to bring a significant increase in peak throughput and capacity beyond the high efficiency (HE) WLAN of IEEE 802.11ax, it is required to increase the maximum channel bandwidth from 160 MHz to 320 MHz, increase the maximum number of spatial streams from 8 to 16, and support multi-band operation. Also, in order to improve spectral efficiency compared to the HE WLAN of 11ax, it has been proposed to enable multiple consecutive or non-consecutive resource units (RUs) to be assigned to one communication device.

[0004] However, there has been no discussion so far on an efficient signaling support for assigning one or more RUs to one communication device in terms of a communication device and a communication method for control signaling, particularly from the perspective of EHT WLAN.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for communication devices and methods that provide a feasible technical solution for control signaling in the context of EHT WLANs. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the background of this disclosure. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Non-limiting embodiments of this disclosure contribute to providing communication devices and communication methods for control signaling in the context of EHT WLANs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided comprising: a circuit that generates a transmission signal during operation that includes a plurality of user fields and a data field that includes a plurality of resource units; and a transmission unit that transmits the generated transmission signal during operation, wherein one transmission method is applied to one or more resource units among the plurality of resource units that are assigned to another communication device, one or more user fields among the plurality of user fields are addressed to the other communication device, the number of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device is equal to the number of the one or more resource units that are assigned to the other communication device, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device corresponds to the one or more resource units that are assigned to the other communication device.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided comprising: a receiving unit that, during operation, receives a signal including a plurality of user fields and a data field including a plurality of resource units; and a circuit that, during operation, processes the received signal, wherein a single transmission method is applied to one or more resource units from the plurality of resource units that are assigned to the communication device, one or more user fields from the plurality of user fields are addressed to the communication device, the number of the one or more user fields addressed to the communication device is equal to the number of the one or more resource units that are assigned to the communication device, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the communication device corresponds to the one or more resource units that are assigned to the communication device.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided for generating a transmission signal including a plurality of user fields and a data field including a plurality of resource units, and transmitting the generated transmission signal, wherein one transmission method is applied to one or more resource units among the plurality of resource units assigned to another communication device, one or more user fields among the plurality of user fields are addressed to the other communication device, the number of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device is equal to the number of the one or more resource units assigned to the other communication device, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device corresponds to the one or more resource units assigned to the other communication device.

[0010] These comprehensive or specific embodiments may be implemented as a system, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium, or as any combination of a system, device, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0011] Further advantages and effects of one embodiment of this disclosure will be made apparent from the specification and drawings. Such advantages and / or effects are provided by several embodiments and features described in the specification and drawings, but not all of them are necessarily provided in order to obtain one or more identical features. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] Embodiments of this disclosure will be better understood and readily grasped by those skilled in the art from the following description, which is for illustrative purposes only, in conjunction with the drawings. [Figure 1A] This is a schematic diagram of single-user (SU) MIMO communication between an access point (AP) and a terminal (STA) in a MIMO (multiple input multiple output) wireless network, including uplink and downlink communication. [Figure 1B] This is a schematic diagram of downlink multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) communication between an AP and multiple STAs in a MIMO wireless network. [Figure 1C] This is a schematic diagram of uplink MU-MIMO communication between an AP and multiple STAs in a MIMO wireless network. [Figure 2A] This figure shows an example of the format of an EHT MU Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) used for downlink multi-user (MU) communication between an AP and multiple STAs in an EHT WLAN. [Figure 2B] This table shows how the number of EHT signal B (EHT-SIG-B) content channels depends on the bandwidth and the value of L in various embodiments. [Figure 2C] This diagram shows the arrangement of one or two EHT-SIG-B content channels in a 40MHz EHT MU PPDU. [Figure 2D]This diagram shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels in an 80MHz EHT MU PPDU. [Figure 2E] This diagram shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels in an 80+80MHz or 160MHz EHT MU PPDU. [Figure 2F] This diagram shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels in a 160+160MHz or 320MHz EHT MU PPDU. [Figure 2G] This figure shows an example of an EHT trigger-based (TB) PPDU format used for uplink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs in an EHT WLAN. [Figure 3A] This figure shows schematic examples of communication devices according to various embodiments. The communication device may be implemented as an AP or STA and may be configured for control signaling according to various embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 3B] This diagram shows the flow chart of communication methods according to various embodiments. [Figure 4A] This flowchart shows downlink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs using an EHT MU PPDU according to various embodiments. [Figure 4B] This diagram shows the EHT-SIG-B field of the EHT MU PPDU in more detail. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the processing flow of a received EHT MU PPDU according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the processing flow of a received EHT MU PPDU according to another embodiment. [Figure 7A] This flowchart shows uplink MU communication between an AP and multiple STAs using an EHT trigger frame, according to various embodiments. [Figure 7B] This figure shows an example of the format of an EHT trigger frame. [Figure 7C]This is a diagram showing the user information field of an EHT trigger frame in more detail. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing the flow of processing of a received EHT trigger frame according to one embodiment. [Figure 9A] This is a diagram showing an example of a type 1 user information field of an EHT trigger frame. [Figure 9B] This is a diagram showing an example of a type 2 user information field of an EHT trigger frame. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing the flow of processing of a received EHT trigger frame according to other embodiments. [Figure 11] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication device, such as an AP, according to various embodiments. [Figure 12] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication device, such as a STA, according to various embodiments.

[0013] Those skilled in the art can understand that the elements in the figures are shown simply and clearly and are not necessarily drawn to a certain scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures, diagrams, or flowcharts may be exaggerated relative to other elements for the purpose of facilitating an accurate understanding of the present embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings for illustrative purposes only. Like reference numerals and letters shown in the drawings refer to like elements or equivalents.

[0015] In the following paragraphs, some exemplary embodiments are described with reference to access points (APs) and terminals (STAs) for uplink or downlink control signaling, particularly in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless network.

[0016] In IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology, a terminal, also known as an STA, is a communication device that supports the use of the 802.11 protocol. Based on the definition in IEEE 802.11-2016, an STA may be any device that includes IEEE 802.11-compliant media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interfaces for wireless media (WM).

[0017] For example, an STA may be a laptop computer, a desktop computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an access point in a WLAN (wireless local area network) environment, or a Wi-Fi telephone. An STA may be fixed or mobile. In a WLAN environment, the terms "STA," "wireless client," "user," "user device," and "node" are often used interchangeably.

[0018] Similarly, an AP, also known as a WAP (wireless access point) in IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology, is a communication device that allows STAs within a WLAN to connect to a wired network. APs typically connect to a router (via a wired network) as standalone devices, but they may also be integrated with or incorporated into the router.

[0019] As mentioned above, an STA within a WLAN can, in some cases, operate as an AP, and vice versa. This is because a communication device in IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) technology may have both STA hardware components and AP hardware components. Thus, a communication device can switch between STA mode and AP mode based on the actual WLAN conditions and / or requirements.

[0020] In a MIMO wireless network, "multiple" refers to multiple antennas used simultaneously for transmission and multiple antennas used simultaneously for reception on a wireless channel. In this context, "multiple-input" refers to multiple transmitting antennas that input wireless signals to the channel, and "multiple-output" refers to multiple receiving antennas that receive wireless signals from the channel and input them into the receiving unit. For example, in an N×M MIMO network system, N is the number of transmitting antennas and M is the number of receiving antennas, and N and M may or may not be equal. For simplicity, the number of transmitting antennas and receiving antennas will not be explained further in this disclosure.

[0021] In MIMO wireless networks, single-user (SU) and multi-user (MU) communication may be deployed for communication between communication devices such as APs and STAs. MIMO wireless networks have advantages such as spatial multiplexing and spatial diversity, and achieve higher data rates and robustness by using multiple spatial streams. In various embodiments, the term “spatial stream” may be used interchangeably with the term “space-time stream (or STS).”

[0022] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of SU-MIMO communication 100 between AP102 and STA104 in a MIMO wireless network. As shown, the MIMO wireless network may include one or more STAs (e.g., STA104, STA106, etc.). In SU-MIMO communication 100, AP102 transmits multiple space-time streams, along with all space-time streams directed to one communication device, i.e., STA104, using multiple antennas (e.g., four antennas as shown in Figure 1A). For simplicity, the multiple space-time streams directed to STA104 are shown as grouped data transmission arrows 108 directed to STA104.

[0023] The SU-MIMO communication 100 can be configured to enable bidirectional transmission. As shown in Figure 1A, in the SU-MIMO communication 100, STA 104 transmits multiple spatial-time streams along with all spatial-time streams directed to AP 102 using multiple antennas (for example, two antennas as shown in Figure 1A). For simplicity, the multiple spatial-time streams directed to AP 102 are shown as grouped data transmission arrows 110 directed to AP 102.

[0024] Thus, the SU-MIMO communication 100 shown in Figure 1A enables SU transmission on both the uplink and downlink in a MIMO wireless network.

[0025] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of downlink MU-MIMO communication 112 between AP114 and multiple STA116, 118, and 120 in a MIMO wireless network. The MIMO wireless network may include one or more STAs (e.g., STA116, STA118, STA120, etc.). In downlink MU-MIMO communication 112, AP114 uses multiple antennas to simultaneously transmit multiple streams to STA116, 118, and 120 in the network through spatial mapping or precoding techniques. For example, two spatial-time streams can be directed to STA118, another spatial-time stream to STA116, and yet another spatial-time stream to STA120. For simplification, the two spatial-time streams directed to STA118 are shown as grouped data transmission arrow 124, the spatial-time stream directed to STA116 is shown as data transmission arrow 122, and the spatial-time stream directed to STA120 is shown as data transmission arrow 126.

[0026] Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of uplink MU-MIMO communication 128 between AP130 and multiple STA132, 134, and 136 in a MIMO wireless network. The MIMO wireless network may include one or more STAs (e.g., STA132, STA134, STA136, etc.). In uplink MU-MIMO communication 128, STA132, 134, and 136 simultaneously transmit their respective streams to AP130 in the network using their respective antennas through spatial mapping or precoding techniques. For example, two spatial-time streams may be directed from STA134 to AP130, another spatial-time stream may be directed from STA132 to AP130, and yet another spatial-time stream may be directed from STA136 to AP130. For simplicity, the two spatial-time streams from STA134 to AP130 are shown as grouped data transmission arrow 140, the spatial-time stream from STA132 to AP130 is shown as data transmission arrow 138, and the spatial-time stream from STA136 to AP130 is shown as data transmission arrow 142.

[0027] Due to the packet / physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) transmission and distributed MAC scheme in 802.11 WLANs, there is no time scheduling (e.g., periodic time slot allocation like time division multiple access (TDMA) for data transmission). Frequency and spatial resource scheduling is performed on a packet basis. In other words, resource allocation information is on a PPDU basis.

[0028] In 11ax HE WLANs, only one resource unit (RU) can be assigned to an STA. The object of this disclosure is to fully overcome existing challenges by providing communication devices and methods for control signaling that enable multiple consecutive or discontinuous RUs to be assigned to an STA in order to improve the spectral efficiency of EHT WLANs compared to 11ax HE WLANs, given the increase in maximum channel bandwidth from 160 MHz to 320 MHz, the increase in maximum spatial stream count from 8 to 16, and the enhanced support for multiband operation in EHT WLANs.

[0029] When a MIMO wireless network has ultra-high throughput, such as an EHT WLAN, the PPDU used for downlink MU transmission (e.g., downlink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) transmission, including MU-MIMO transmission on a single resource unit (RU) and full-bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission on the downlink) may be called an EHT MU PPDU200, as shown in Figure 2A, and the PPDU used for uplink MU transmission (e.g., uplink OFDMA transmission, including MU-MIMO transmission on a single RU and full-bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission on the uplink) may be called an EHT TB PPDU210, as shown in Figure 2G.

[0030] Figure 2A shows an example of the EHT MU PPDU200 format. It should be understood that if the IEEE 802.11 Working Group adopts a new name for ultra-high throughput next-generation WLANs instead of "EHT WLAN," the prefix "EHT" in the above fields will change accordingly. The EHT MU PPDU 200 may include a non-high-throughput short training field (L-SFT), a non-high-throughput long training field (L-LTF), a non-high-throughput signal (L-SIG) field, a format identification field (FIF) 202, an EHT signal A (EHT-SIG-A) field 204, an EHT signal B (EHT-SIG-B) field 206, an EHT short training field (EHT-STF), an EHT long training field (EHT-LTF), a data field 170, and a packet extension (PE) field. The FIF 202 is primarily used to identify the format of the EHT PPDU. As indicated by arrow 204, the EHT-SIG-A field 204 contains information necessary to decode the EHT-SIG-B field 206, such as the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and the number of EHT-SIG-B symbols. As indicated by arrow 208, the EHT-SIG-B field 206 provides OFDMA and MU-MIMO resource allocation information, allowing the STA to refer to the corresponding resources used in the data field 210. The EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, data field, and PE field may be grouped together as the EHT modulation field.EHT-SIG-B field 206 includes (or is composed of) a common field (if any) followed by a user-specific field, which together are called the EHT-SIG-B content channel.

[0031] According to various embodiments, the EHT-SIG-B field 206 of the EHT MU PPDU 200 is encoded individually for each L × 20 MHz subchannel (L=1 or 2). When the bandwidth exceeds 20 MHz, the EHT-SIG-B decoding performance is better with L=1 EHT-SIG-B fields compared with L=2 EHT-SIG-B fields. This is because the channel estimation used to decode the EHT-SIG-B field is based on the L-LTF transmitted in a 20 MHz bandwidth. Decoding the L=2 EHT-SIG-B field requires channel estimation with interpolation, which can degrade the decoding performance of the L=2 EHT-SIG-B field. On the other hand, the L=2 EHT-SIG-B field can have less EHT-SIG-B overhead compared to the L=1 EHT-SIG-B field, especially for larger bandwidths. Furthermore, if the target STA of the EHT MU PPDU200 includes at least one STA operating at 20 MHz, the EHT-SIG-B field with L=2 should not be used because it cannot be decoded by the STA operating at 20 MHz. Therefore, it is advantageous that the AP can determine the value of L at its own discretion and can include signaling in the EHT-SIG-A field of the EHT MU PPDU200 to indicate whether L takes the value of 1 or 2.

[0032] Figure 2B is a table showing how the number of EHT-SIG-B content channels depends on the bandwidth and the value of L in various embodiments. As shown in Figure 2B, when the bandwidth is 20 MHz, L can only be 1 because the EHT-SIG-B field is encoded every 20 MHz, and there is only one EHT-SIG-B content channel. In embodiments with a bandwidth of 40 MHz, the AP can assign a value of 1 or 2 to L. If L is set to "1", there are two EHT-SIG-B content channels. If L is set to "2", there is only one EHT-SIG-B content channel. In embodiments with bandwidths of 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz, 160+160 MHz, or 320 MHz, there are two EHT-SIG-B content channels regardless of the value of L. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0033] Figure 2C shows the arrangement of one or two EHT-SIG-B content channels in a 40MHz EHT MU PPDU. The number of EHT-SIG-B content channels depends on the bandwidth and the value of L, as shown in Figure 2B. A 40MHz channel contains two 20MHz subchannels. When L=1, there are two EHT-SIG-B content channels (i.e., EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), transmitted over the first and second 20MHz subchannels, respectively. When L=2, there is only one EHT-SIG-B content channel.

[0034] Figure 2D shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels (i.e., EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2) in an 80MHz EHT MU PPDU. When L=1, in an 80MHz channel containing four 20MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is duplicated and transmitted on the first and third 20MHz subchannels, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is duplicated and transmitted on the second and fourth 20MHz subchannels. When L=2, in an 80MHz channel containing two 40MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is transmitted on the first 40MHz subchannel, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is transmitted on the second 40MHz subchannel.

[0035] Figure 2E shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels in an 80+80MHz or 160MHz EHT MU PPDU. When L=1, in an 80+80MHz or 160MHz channel containing eight 20MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is duplicated and transmitted on the first, third, fifth, and seventh 20MHz subchannels, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is duplicated and transmitted on the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth 20MHz subchannels. When L=2, in an 80+80MHz or 160MHz channel containing four 40MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is duplicated and transmitted on the first and third 40MHz subchannels, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is duplicated and transmitted on the second and fourth 40MHz subchannels.

[0036] Figure 2F shows the arrangement of two EHT-SIG-B content channels in a 160+160MHz or 320MHz EHT MU PPDU. When L=1, in a 160+160MHz or 320MHz channel containing 16 20MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is duplicated and transmitted on the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, and fifteenth 20MHz subchannels, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is duplicated and transmitted on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, and sixteenth 20MHz subchannels. When L=2, in a 160+160MHz or 320MHz channel including eight 40MHz subchannels, EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is duplicated and transmitted on the first, third, fifth, and seventh 40MHz subchannels, and EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is duplicated and transmitted on the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth 40MHz subchannels.

[0037] Figure 2G shows an example of the format of an EHT TB PPDU 210. The EHT TB PPDU 210 has a similar structure to the EHT MU PPDU 200, but the EHT-SIG-B field 206 is absent. The EHT TB PPDU 210 may include the L-SFT, L-LTF, L-SIG field, FIF, EHT-SIG-A field 212, EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, data field 214, and PE field. The EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, data field 214, and PE field may be grouped together as an EHT modulation field. The EHT TB PPDU 210 is used in an EHT WLAN for uplink MU transmissions in response to frames that transmit trigger information. The frame that transmits trigger information may be an EHT trigger frame. The information required for an uplink MU transmission from one or more STAs is transmitted by the frame requesting this transmission. In a typical transmission of the EHT TB PPDU210, information regarding EHT-SIG-A is copied from the frame carrying the previous trigger information to the EHT-SIG-A field 212 of the EHT TB PPDU210.

[0038] The maximum number of spatial streams (16) in the EHT WLAN, the maximum CBW (Crossband Width) of 320 MHz, and multiband operation significantly increase the number of allocations and / or users that can be handled in the EHT TB PPDU. As a result, frames requesting EHT TB PPDU transmission can have significantly greater signaling overhead than frames requesting HE TB PPDU transmission. Apparatus and methods according to various embodiments can advantageously reduce signaling overhead, particularly when the bandwidth exceeds 20 MHz.

[0039] According to various embodiments, the EHT WLAN supports control signaling that enables multiple contiguous or non-contiguous resource units (RUs) to be assigned to a single communication device.

[0040] Figure 3A is a partially partitioned schematic diagram of the communication device 300 according to various embodiments. The communication device 300 can be implemented as an AP or STA according to various embodiments.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3A, the communication device 300 may include a circuit 314, at least one radio transmitter 302, at least one radio receiver 304, and at least one antenna 312 (for simplification, only one antenna is shown in Figure 3A for illustrative purposes). The circuit 314 may include at least one control unit 306, which is used to perform tasks designed to be performed, including controlling communication with one or more other communication devices in a MIMO radio network, with the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 314 may further include at least one transmit signal generator 308 and at least one receive signal processor 310. At least one control unit 306 may control at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 to generate PPDUs (e.g., EHT MU PPDUs or PPDUs including EHT trigger frames if communication device 300 is an AP, or EHT TB PPDUs if communication device 300 is an STA), and may also control at least one receive signal processing unit 310 to process PPDUs (e.g., EHT TB PPDUs if communication device 300 is an AP, or EHT MU PPDUs or PPDUs including EHT trigger frames if communication device 300 is an STA) received from one or more communication devices via at least one radio receiver unit 304 under the control of at least one control unit 306. The at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 and the at least one receive signal processing unit 310 may be standalone modules of the communication device 300, communicating with at least one control unit 306 for the functions described above, as shown in Figure 3A. Alternatively, at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 and at least one receive signal processing unit 310 may be included in at least one control unit 306. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the arrangement of these functional modules is flexible and can be changed according to actual needs and / or requirements.Data processing, storage, and other related control devices can be provided on a suitable circuit board and / or chipset. In various embodiments, during operation, at least one wireless transmitter 302, at least one wireless receiver 304, and at least one antenna 312 may be controlled by at least one control unit 306.

[0042] The communication device 300 provides the functions necessary for control signaling in downlink MU communication during operation. For example, the communication device 300 may be an AP, and the circuit 314 (for example, at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 of the circuit 314) may generate a transmit signal (e.g., EHT MU PPDU) during operation that includes a plurality of user fields (for example, user fields of user-specific fields in the EHT-SIG-B field of the EHT MU PPDU) and a data field containing a plurality of RUs (for example, the data field of the EHT MU PPDU). The wireless transmitter 302 may, during operation, transmit a generated transmission signal, where one transmission method is applied to one or more RUs among a plurality of RUs assigned to other communication devices (e.g., STAs), one or more user fields among a plurality of user fields are addressed to the other communication devices, the number of one or more user fields addressed to the other communication devices is equal to the number of one or more RUs assigned to the other communication devices, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication devices corresponds to one or more RUs assigned to the other communication devices. This allows multiple consecutive or discontinuous RUs to be assigned to the other communication devices, advantageously enabling efficient signaling support and improving the spectral efficiency of the EHT WLAN compared to the 11ax HE WLAN.

[0043] The communication device 300 may be an STA, and the wireless receiver 304 may, during operation, receive a transmission signal (e.g., EHT MU PPDU) from another communication device (e.g., AP) that includes a plurality of user fields (e.g., user fields of user-specific fields in the EHT-SIG-B field of the EHT MU PPDU) and a data field containing a plurality of RUs (e.g., data fields in the EHT MU PPDU). The circuit 314 (e.g., at least one received signal processing unit 310 of the circuit 314) may process the received transmission signal, wherein one transmission method is applied to one or more RUs from a plurality of RUs assigned to the communication device (e.g., STA), one or more user fields from a plurality of user fields are addressed to the communication device, the number of one or more user fields addressed to the communication device is equal to the number of one or more RUs assigned to the communication device, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the communication device corresponds to one or more RUs assigned to the communication device.

[0044] The communication device 300, when in operation, provides the functions necessary for control signaling in uplink MU communication. For example, the communication device 300 may be an STA, and the radio receiver 304, when in operation, may receive a signal (e.g., an EHT trigger frame) from another communication device (e.g., an AP) that includes a plurality of user information fields (e.g., user information fields in the user information list field within the EHT trigger frame). The circuit 314 (e.g., at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 of the circuit 314) may, when in operation, generate a transmit signal (e.g., an EHT TB PPDU) that includes a data field (e.g., an EHT TB PPDU) that includes a plurality of RUs. The wireless transmission unit 302 may, during operation, transmit the generated transmission signal to the other communication device, and one transmission method may be applied to one or more RUs among a plurality of RUs assigned to the communication device, and one or more user information fields among a plurality of user information fields of the signal received from the other communication device may be addressed to the communication device, and the number of one or more user information fields addressed to the communication device may be less than the number of one or more RUs assigned to the communication device.

[0045] For example, the communication device 300 may be an AP, and the circuit 314 (for example, at least one transmit signal generation unit 308 of the circuit 314) may, during operation, generate a transmit signal (e.g., an EHT trigger frame) that includes a plurality of user information fields (e.g., user information fields of the user information list field in the EHT trigger frame). The wireless transmit unit 302 may, during operation, transmit the generated transmit signal to another communication device. The wireless receive unit 304 may, during operation, receive a signal (e.g., an EHT TB PPDU) that includes a data field (e.g., an EHT TB PPDU) containing a plurality of RUs from the other communication device (e.g., an STA), and one transmission method may be applied to one or more RUs from the plurality of RUs that are assigned to the other communication device, and one or more user information fields from the plurality of user information fields of the transmit signal are addressed to the other communication device, and the number of one or more user information fields addressed to the other communication device may be less than the number of one or more RUs assigned to the other communication device.

[0046] Figure 3B is a diagram showing the flow of a communication method for control signaling according to various embodiments. In step 318, a transmit signal is generated that includes a plurality of user fields and a data field containing a plurality of RUs. In step 320, the generated transmit signal is sent to another communication device, and one transmit method is applied to one or more RUs from the plurality of RUs that are assigned to the other communication device, one or more user fields from the plurality of user fields are addressed to the other communication device, the number of one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device is equal to the number of one or more RUs assigned to the other communication device, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to the other communication device corresponds to one or more RUs assigned to the other communication device.

[0047] The following paragraphs describe several exemplary embodiments of control signaling in downlink MU communication, with reference to APs and multiple STAs.

[0048] Figure 4A is a flowchart 400 illustrating downlink MU communication between AP402 and multiple STA404, 406 using an EHT MU PPDU 410 according to various embodiments. Block 408 shows a contention-based channel access procedure, e.g., an Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) procedure, and also shows SIFS (Short Interframe Spacing) 411. AP402 may generate a transmit signal (e.g., an EHT MU PPDU) that includes multiple user fields and a data field containing multiple RUs. One or more of the multiple user fields are addressed to STA404, and one or more transmit schemes are applied to one or more RUs assigned to STA404 in order to send an aggregate MAC protocol data unit (A-MPDU) to STA404. The A-MPDU may contain trigger information requesting the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU from STA404. Similarly, one or more user fields from a group of user fields are addressed to STA406, and one transmission scheme is applied to one or more RUs assigned to STA406 in order to send other A-MPDUs to STA406. The A-MPDU may include trigger information that requests the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU from STA406. According to this disclosure, the number of one or more user fields addressed to each STA404,406 is equal to the number of one or more RUs assigned to STA404,406, and each of the one or more user fields addressed to each STA404,406 corresponds to one or more RUs assigned to STA404,406. In another embodiment, each of the one or more user fields addressed to each STA404,406 contains the same user-specific assignment information. In another embodiment, the group of user fields are each either type 1 user fields or type 2 user fields and include signaling indicating their type. Each of the one or more user fields addressed to each STA404,406 contains at least one type 1 user field.According to one embodiment, a Type 1 user field includes user-specific assignment information, while a Type 2 user field does not include user-specific assignment information. In one embodiment, at least one Type 1 user field includes signaling indicating whether one RU is assigned to each STA404, 406. In another embodiment, if the number of RUs assigned to each STA404, 406 is greater than one, one or more user fields addressed to each STA404, 406 include at least one Type 2 user field, and at least one Type 2 user field includes signaling to indicate whether the RUs assigned to each STA404, 406 are consecutive. The wireless transmitter of AP402 may transmit the generated transmission signal 410 to STA404, 406.

[0049] In an IEEE 802.11 network, SIFS is the time interval before the STA sends an acknowledgment. The wireless receivers of STA404 and 406 may receive each A-MPDU in the transmission signal 410 based on user-specific assignment information contained in one or more user fields addressed to STA404 and 406, and one or more RUs assigned to STA404 and 406, and the circuits of STA404 and 406 may process the received A-MPDUs, respectively. After the final symbol of the transmission signal 410 is transmitted, SIFS 411 becomes active, and at 412, the wireless transmitters of STA404 and 406 may simultaneously transmit their respective EHT TB PPDUs 414 and 415 based on trigger information contained in the EHT MU PPDU 410 to indicate that they have successfully received their respective A-MPDUs.

[0050] Figure 4B is a diagram showing the EHT-SIG-B field 206 of the EHT MU PPDU 200 in more detail. The EHT-SIG-B field 206 includes (or consists of) a common field 420 (if present) followed by a user-specific field 422, which together are called the EHT-SIG-B content channel. The common field 420 contains information about RU allocation, such as the RU allocation used in the EHT modulation field, the RUs allocated to MU-MIMO, and the number of users in the MU-MIMO allocation. The user-specific field 422 consists of one or more user block fields, each user block field containing one or two user fields for non-MU-MIMO allocation and / or MU-MIMO allocation. For example, the user-specific field 422 contains three user block fields 1-3, as shown in Figure 4B. User block field 1 includes two user fields, such as user field 1 and user field 2; user block field 2 includes two user fields, such as user field 3 and user field 4; and user block field 3 includes one user field 5. One or two user fields within each user block field 1 to 3 are appended with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for error detection and a tail bit to make the user block field the user block field size. In one embodiment, the last user block may consist of one or two user fields, depending on the total number of user fields allowed by the user-specific field 422 indicating odd or even.

[0051] According to this disclosure, user fields such as user fields 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contain user information indicating user-specific assignments, i.e., user-specific assignment information. For non-MU-MIMO assignments, user-specific assignment information includes information on coding, such as the number of spatial streams (NSTS), transmit beamforming (Tx BF), modulation and coding scheme (MCS), dual carrier modulation (DCM), and error control coding. For MU-MIMO assignments, user-specific assignment information includes information on coding, such as spatial configuration, MCS, and error control coding. According to one embodiment, Tables 1 and 2 show details of the subfields (STA identifier (ID), NSTS, Tx BF, DCM, MCS, coding, spatial configuration) in the user fields for non-MU-MIMO assignments and MU-MIMO assignments, respectively.

[0052] Table 1 shows the user field format for non-MU-MIMO assignments, where BCC is Binary Convolutional Code and LDPC is Low Density Parity Code. [Table 1]

[0053] Table 2 shows the user field format for MU-MIMO assignments, where BCC is Binary Convolutional Code and LDPC is Low Density Parity Code. [Table 2]

[0054] Conventionally, the user field consists of a total of 21 bits according to the format described above. To support up to 16 spatial streams in an EHT WLAN, the number of bits in the NSTS subfield may be increased from 3 bits to 4 bits in non-MU-MIMO assignments, and the number of bits in the spatial configuration subfield may be increased from 4 bits to 6 bits. The user field according to this disclosure may consist of a total of 22 bits in both non-MU-MIMO and MU-MIMO assignments, in other words, it may include one additional bit compared to the conventional user field.

[0055] According to this disclosure, one or more RUs may be assigned to an STA in an EHT MU PPDU. A single transmission scheme is applied to one or more RUs assigned to an STA in an EHT MU PPDU. The transmission scheme is characterized by several parameters, such as MCS and coding, which are included in user-specific assignment information. The number of user fields addressed to an STA is the same as the number of RUs assigned to the STA. Therefore, a user field addressed to an STA uniquely corresponds to a RU assigned to the STA. In particular, this can be achieved by determining whether the ID of the STA matches the value of the STA ID subfield of the user field, and depending on whether the ID of the STA matches the value of the STA ID subfield of the user field, determining the assigned RU corresponding to the user field based on the RU assignment information of the common field and the position of the user field in the user-specific field within the same EHT-SIG-B channel. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more user fields corresponding to one or more RUs assigned to an STA contain the same user-specific assignment information; that is, one or more user fields corresponding to one or more RUs assigned to an STA have the same subfield values ​​for user-specific assignment information because one transmission method is applied to one or more RUs. In one embodiment, if two or more consecutive RUs exactly fit to one RU with a larger RU size, those two or more consecutive RUs of the same RU size are not assigned to the STA. For example, two consecutive 26-tone RUs exactly fit to a 52-tone RU, or four consecutive 26-tone RUs exactly fit to a 106-tone RU. This allows for maximum utilization of tones and advantageously reduces the number of user fields in the EHT MU PPDU.

[0056] Figure 500 shows the processing flow of an received EHT MU PPDU according to one embodiment. The STA is configured to process the EHT-SIG-B field of the received EHT MU PPDU to find one or more RUs assigned to it. In step 502, the EHT-SIG-B content channel index i may be initialized to 1, indicating the first EHT-SIG-B content channel in the EHT-SIG-B field, and the assigned RU counter may be initialized to 0. In step 504, the user field index j may be initialized to 1, indicating the first user field in the EHT-SIG-B content channel i. In step 506, it may be determined whether user field j is valid. If the CRC check of the user block field containing user field j fails, user field j may be determined to be invalid. If user field j is determined to be valid, step 508 is performed. In step 508, it is determined whether the value of the STA ID subfield of user field j matches the ID of the STA. If it is determined that the value of the STA ID subfield matches the ID of the STA, step 510 is executed. In step 510, the assigned RU corresponding to user field j is determined from the RU assignment information in the common fields and the position of user field j in the user-specific fields of the EHT-SIG-B content channel i. In step 512, the assigned RU counter may be incremented by 1. In step 514, it is determined whether the assigned RU counter is 1. If it is determined that the assigned RU counter is 1, indicating that one RU (the first RU) has been assigned to the STA, then step 516 is executed to retrieve user-specific assignment information, and the process proceeds to step 522. If in step 514 the assigned RU counter is not 1, indicating that two or more RUs have been assigned to the STA, then step 518 is executed instead. In step 518, it is determined whether user field j contains the same user-specific assignment information previously retrieved from another user field (e.g., user field j-2).If user field j does not contain the same user-specific assignment information, the received EHT MU PPDU may be identified as containing an error, and the EHT MU PPDU is discarded in step 520. If user field j contains the same user-specific assignment information in step 518, processing proceeds to step 522.

[0057] Returning to step 506, for example, if the CRC check for a user block field containing user field j fails, user field j is determined to be invalid. In this case, user field j is not processed any further, and processing of the received EHT MU PPDU proceeds to step 522. Similarly, in step 508, if the value of the STA ID subfield does not match the STA ID, user field j is not processed any further, and processing proceeds to step 522.

[0058] In step 522, the user field index j may be incremented by 1. Next, in step 524, it is determined whether the incremented index value j is greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i. If the incremented index value j is not greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i, it indicates that at least one user field in EHT-SIG-B content channel i has not been processed, and step 506 is performed using the user field with the incremented index j. If the incremented index value j is greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i, step 526 is performed instead. In step 526, the index i is incremented by 1. In step 528, it is determined whether the incremented index value i is greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels. If the incremented index value i is not greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels, it indicates that at least one EHT-SIG-B content channel has not been processed, and step 504 is performed using the user fields of the EHT-SIG-B content channel with the incremented index i. If the incremented index value i is greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels, it indicates that all user fields of the EHT-SIG-B content channel have been processed, and processing of the received EHT MU PPDU may be terminated.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more user fields corresponding to one or more RUs assigned to an STA contain the same user-specific assignment information, i.e., one or more user fields corresponding to one or more RUs assigned to an STA have the same subfield values. If in step 514 it is determined that the assigned RU counter is not 1 and it is indicated that two or more RUs have been assigned to the STA, then in step 518 it is determined whether user field j contains the same user-specific assignment information as previously obtained from another user field (e.g., user field j-2). If it is determined that user field j contains the same user-specific assignment information, the user-specific assignment information for user field j is not obtained, and in step 522 the index j is incremented by 1 (corresponding to the next user field j+1 (if any)). On the other hand, if it is determined that user field j does not contain the same user-specific assignment information, the received EHT MU PPDU may be identified as containing an error and is discarded in step 520. Such errors may occur when decoding user fields corresponding to multiple RUs that belong to different user block fields that have been assigned to an STA.

[0060] According to this disclosure, when one or more RUs are assigned to an STA, the user fields corresponding to one or more RUs assigned to the STA all contain the same user-specific assignment information. In this case, although each user field addressed to the STA may contain information that helps the STA look up and find its own user field, it is sufficient to obtain the user-specific assignment information from one of the user fields addressed to the STA. This can favorably increase the power efficiency of the STA.

[0061] The first user field addressed to STA indicates the EHT-SIG-B content channel with the smallest index i that contains at least one user field addressed to STA, and the last user field addressed to STA indicates the EHT-SIG-B content channel with the largest index i that contains at least one user field addressed to STA. For example, with a bandwidth of 40 MHz, an EHT MU PPDU containing two EHT-SIG-B content channels with RU assignment subfield values ​​of 10 and 15, respectively, showing the RU assignment pattern defined in IEEE P802.11ax / D5.0, may be received as follows: (i) EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 with its RU assignment subfield set to 10, showing the RU assignment pattern of RU1 (52 tones), RU2 (52 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU3 (52 tones), and RU4 (52 tones). The five RUs correspond to the five user fields (UF) UF1 to UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1. (ii) EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 with the RU assignment subfield set to 15, showing an RU assignment pattern of RU5 (52 tone), RU6 (52 tone), RU14 (26 tone), RU7 (52 tone), and RU8 (52 tone). The five RUs correspond to the five user fields UF1 to UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2. Assuming that discontinuous RUs are assigned to STA, and that four RUs are assigned to STA from EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 (RU1 and RU3, both 52 tone) and from EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 (RU14 and RU8, both 26 tone), the first user field addressed to STA is UF1 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, and the last user field addressed to STA is UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there are two types of user fields. Type 1 user fields contain user-specific assignment information, while Type 2 user fields do not contain user-specific assignment information but contain some RU assignment information to help other communication devices, such as the target STA, quickly explore their remaining user fields. Each user field includes signaling (e.g., a UF type subfield of the user field) indicating whether the user field is a Type 1 or Type 2 user field. For example, the UF type subfield indicates a Type 1 user field when set to 0 and a Type 2 user field when set to 1. In one embodiment, when one RU is assigned to the STA, the Type 1 user field corresponds to the assigned RU. In such an embodiment, the STA can determine that it is a single RU assignment when it identifies a Type 1 user field that includes a single RU assignment flag subfield set to 1. Tables 3 and 4 detail the subfields of Type 1 user fields for non-MU-MIMO and MU-MIMO assignments, respectively.

[0063] Table 3 provides a more detailed view of the subfields of the Type 1 user field in non-MU-MIMO assignments. [Table 3]

[0064] Table 4 shows the subfields of the Type 1 user field in MU-MIMO assignment in more detail. [Table 4]

[0065] In another embodiment, when multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to an STA, the last user field addressed to the STA is a type 1 user field, and the remaining user fields addressed to the STA are each type 2 user fields. According to this embodiment, only one user field of the user-specific fields contains user-specific assignment information for the multi-RU assigned to the STA. The contiguous RU assignment flag subfield of a type 2 user field may be set to 0 to indicate that multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to the STA. In such embodiments, the STA can (i) identify a type 2 user field addressed to the STA and then easily determine the position of the next user field addressed to that STA; (ii) identify a type 1 user field addressed to the STA and then determine the total number of assigned RUs; and (iii) obtain RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information from all user fields addressed to the STA. Table 5 shows details of each subfield included in a type 2 user field. Table 6 shows details of the assigned RU information subfield when the contiguous RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0 to indicate that multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to the STA.

[0066] Table 5 shows the subfields of Type 2 user fields in more detail. [Table 5]

[0067] Table 6 shows the assigned RU information subfield when the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0. [Table 6]

[0068] In embodiments where multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to an STA, there are two options for configuring the types of user fields assigned to the STA. The first option is that the last user field assigned to the STA is a type 1 user field, and the remaining user fields assigned to that STA are each type 2 user fields. According to this option, only one user field of the user-specific fields contains user-specific assignment information for the multi-RU assigned to that STA. The consecutive RU assignment flag subfield of a type 2 user field may be set to 1 to indicate that multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to the STA. In such embodiments, after identifying the first user field assigned to the STA, the STA can easily determine the position of the remaining user fields assigned to that STA. This allows for advantageous minimization of the impact on the specification, as the same rules apply when multiple non-contiguous or consecutive RUs are assigned to the STA. In this embodiment, the second option for configuring the types of user fields assigned to an STA when multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to the STA is that type 1 and type 2 user fields are assigned to the STA alternately, and the first user field assigned to the STA is a type 2 user field. Therefore, the STA can (i) identify the first user field assigned to it, and then easily determine the location of the remaining user fields assigned to it, and (ii) obtain RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information from any two adjacent Type 1 and Type 2 user fields. By utilizing Type 1 and Type 2 user fields in this way, when multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to the STA, the search for all user fields assigned to the STA can be advantageously facilitated. Thus, the power efficiency of the STA can be improved. Table 7 shows the details of the assigned RU information subfield when the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to the STA.

[0069] Table 7 shows the assigned RU information subfield when the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1. [Table 7]

[0070] Table 9 shows an example of an EHT-SIG-B content channel with RU assignments to three STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3) for a bandwidth of 20 MHz. The EHT-SIG-B content channel may include a common field containing an RU assignment subfield and a user-specific field containing seven user fields (e.g., UF1-UF7). The value of the RU assignment subfield in the common field is 10, indicating RU assignments of RU1 (52 tones), RU3 (26 tones), RU4 (26 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU8 (26 tones), and RU9 (26 tones). Each RU assignment corresponds to one of the user fields UF1-UF7. The following is an example of RU assignments of seven RUs to three STAs. STA1 may be assigned three discontinuous RUs (e.g., RU1 (52 tones), RU3 (52 tones), and RU9 (26 tones), corresponding to UF1, UF5, and UF7, respectively). STA2 may be assigned one RU (for example, RU8, a 26-tone signal corresponding to UF6). STA3 may be assigned three consecutive RUs (for example, RU3, RU4, and RU5, all 26-tone signals corresponding to UF2 through UF4, respectively).

[0071] Regarding the three non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA1, the last user field addressed to STA1, namely UF7, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0), while the remaining user fields addressed to STA1, namely UF1 and UF5, are each type 2 user fields (UF type subfield = 1). Specifically, in the type 1 user field addressed to STA1 (UF7), the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple RUs are assigned to STA1. On the other hand, in the type 2 user fields addressed to STA1 (UF1, UF5), the contiguous RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to STA1, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 3, indicating that three RUs are assigned to STA1. Therefore, the assigned RU information subfields of UF1 and UF5 refer to the next assigned RU subfield, which indicates the next RU assigned to STA1. In this case, the next assigned RU subfield for UF1 is shown as RU3 with 52 tones, corresponding to UF5, and the next assigned RU subfield for UF5 is shown as RU9 with 26 tones, corresponding to UF7. This allows STA1 to easily determine the location of the next user field addressed to it after identifying UF1 and UF5 (Type 2 user fields) addressed to it.

[0072] For RU8, a 26-tone RU assigned to STA2, the user field corresponding to the assigned RU, namely UF6, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0). Specifically, in the type 1 user field (UF6) addressed to STA2, the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that one RU is assigned to STA2. For the three consecutive RUs assigned to STA3, the same rules as for non-consecutive RU assignments can be applied. That is, the last user field addressed to STA3, namely UF4, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0), while the remaining user fields addressed to STA3, namely UF2 and UF3, are type 2 user fields (UF type subfield = 1), respectively. Specifically, in the type 1 user field (UF4) addressed to STA3, the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple RUs are assigned to STA3. On the other hand, for type 2 user fields (UF2 and UF3) addressed to STA3, the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to STA3, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 3, indicating that a total of 3 RUs are assigned to STA3. Therefore, the assigned RU information subfield of UF2 or UF3 refers to the RU location subfield, which indicates the location of the RU corresponding to the user field among all RUs assigned to STA3. In this case, the RU location subfield of UF2 is shown as the first RU, indicating that the RU corresponding to UF2 is the first of the 3 RUs (number of assigned RUs subfield = 3) assigned to STA3, and the RU location subfield of UF3 is shown as the second RU, indicating that the RU corresponding to UF3 is the second of the 3 RUs assigned to STA3.

[0073] Tables 10 and 11 show examples of EHT-SIG-B content channels 1 and 2, respectively, including RU assignments to four STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3, STA4) with a bandwidth of 40 MHz. Each EHT-SIG-B content channel may include a common field containing an RU assignment subfield and a user-specific field containing five user fields (e.g., UF1 to UF5). The value of the RU assignment subfield in the common field of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is 10, indicating RU assignments of RU1 (52 tones), RU2 (52 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU3 (52 tones), and RU4 (52 tones). Each RU assignment corresponds to one of the user fields UF1 to UF5 in EHT-SIG-B content channel 1. The value of the RU assignment subfield in the common field of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is 15, indicating the RU assignments of 52-tone RU5, 52-tone RU6, 26-tone RU14, 52-tone RU7, and 52-tone RU8. The following is an example of RU assignment of 10 RUs to four STAs. STA1 may be assigned three non-contiguous RUs (e.g., 52-tone RU1 corresponding to UF1 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, and 26-tone RU14 and 52-tone RU8 corresponding to UF3 and UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, respectively). STA2 may be assigned two non-contiguous RUs (e.g., 52-tone RU2 corresponding to UF2 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and 52-tone RU7 corresponding to UF4 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2). STA3 may be assigned one RU (for example, RU5, a 26-tone RU corresponding to UF3 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1). STA4 may be assigned four consecutive RUs (for example, RU3 and RU4, both 52-tone RUs, corresponding to UF4 and UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, respectively, and RU5 and RU6, both 52-tone RUs, corresponding to UF1 and UF2 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, respectively).

[0074] With respect to the three discontinuous RUs assigned to STA1, the last user field addressed to STA1, i.e., UF5 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0), and the remaining user fields addressed to STA1, i.e., UF1 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, are type 2 user fields (UF type subfield = 1). Specifically, in the type 1 user field addressed to STA1 (UF5 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), the UF flag subfield for different content channels is set to 1, indicating that at least one user field addressed to STA1 resides in a different EHT-SIG-B content channel, and the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that a multi-RU is assigned to STA1. On the other hand, in the Type 2 user fields assigned to STA1 (UF1 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to STA1, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 3, indicating that three RUs are assigned to STA1. Therefore, the assigned RU information subfield refers to the next assigned RU subfield, which indicates the next RU assigned to STA1. In this case, the next assigned RU subfield for UF1 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is shown as RU14 with 26 tones, corresponding to UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, and the next assigned RU subfield for UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is shown as RU8 with 52 tones, corresponding to UF5. This allows STA1 to easily determine the location of the next user field addressed to it after identifying UF1 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and UF3 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 (Type 2 user fields) addressed to it.

[0075] Similarly, with respect to the two discontinuous RUs assigned to STA2, the last user field addressed to STA2, i.e., UF4 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0), and the remaining user field addressed to STA2, i.e., UF2 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, is a type 2 user field (UF type subfield = 1). Specifically, in the type 1 user field addressed to STA2 (UF4 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), the UF flag subfield for different content channels is set to 1, indicating that at least one user field addressed to STA2 resides in a different EHT-SIG-B content channel, and the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that a multi-RU is assigned to STA2. On the other hand, in the Type 2 user field assigned to STA2 (UF2 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1), the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs are assigned to STA2, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 2, indicating that 2 RUs are assigned to STA2. Therefore, the assigned RU information subfield refers to the next assigned RU subfield, which indicates the next RU assigned to STA2. In this case, the next assigned RU subfield in UF2 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 is shown as RU7 of 52 tones, corresponding to UF4 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2. This allows STA2 to easily determine the location of the next user field addressed to it after identifying the UF2 (Type 2 user field) of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 addressed to it.

[0076] For the single RU assigned to STA3, RU5 with 26 tones, the user field corresponding to the assigned RU, namely UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0). Specifically, in the type 1 user field addressed to STA3 (UF3 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1), the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that one RU is assigned to STA3. For the four consecutive RUs assigned to STA4, the same rules as for non-contiguous RU assignment can be applied. That is, the last user field addressed to STA4, namely UF2 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, is a type 1 user field (UF type subfield = 0), while the remaining user fields addressed to STA4, namely UF4 and UF5 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 and UF1 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2, are each type 2 user fields (UF type subfield = 1). Specifically, in a Type 1 user field addressed to STA4 (UF2 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), the UF flag subfield for different content channels is set to 1, indicating that at least one user field addressed to STA4 exists in a different EHT-SIG-B content channel, and the single RU assignment flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple RUs are assigned to STA4. On the other hand, in a Type 2 user field addressed to STA4 (UF4 and UF5 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 1, and UF1 for EHT-SIG-B content channel 2), the consecutive RU assignment flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs are assigned to STA4, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 4, indicating that a total of four RUs are assigned to STA4. Therefore, the assigned RU information subfields of UF4 and UF5 refer to the RU location subfield, which indicates the location of the RU corresponding to the user field among all RUs assigned to STA4.In this case, the RU location subfields for UF4 and UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 are shown as the first and second RUs, respectively, indicating that the RUs corresponding to UF4 and UF5 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 are the first and second RUs out of the four RUs (assigned RU count subfield = 4) assigned to STA4. The RU location subfield for UF1 of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 is shown as the third RU, indicating that the RU corresponding to this user field is the third RU out of the four RUs assigned to STA4.

[0077] Figure 600 shows the processing flow of an received EHT MU PPDU according to one embodiment. The STA is configured to process the EHT-SIG-B field of the received EHT MU PPDU to find one or more RUs assigned to it. In step 602, the EHT-SIG-B content channel index i may be initialized to 1 to indicate the first EHT-SIG-B content channel, and the assigned RU counter may be initialized to 0. In step 604, the user field index j may be initialized to 1 to indicate the first user field of EHT-SIG-B content channel i. In step 606, it may be determined whether user field j is valid. If the CRC check of the user block field containing user field j fails, user field j may be determined to be invalid. If user field j is determined to be valid, step 608 is executed. If user field j is not valid, processing proceeds to step 636 instead. In step 608, it is determined whether the value of the STA ID subfield of user field j matches the ID of the STA. If the value of the STA ID subfield is determined to match the STA ID, step 610 is executed. If the STA ID subfield does not match the STA ID, the process proceeds to step 636 instead. In step 610, the assigned RU corresponding to user field j is determined from the RU assignment information in the common fields and the position of user field j in the user-specific fields of the EHT-SIG-B content channel i. In step 612, the assigned RU counter may be incremented by 1. In step 614, a type 1 user field is referenced to determine if the UF type subfield of user field j is set to 0. If user field j is a type 1 user field, step 616 is executed to obtain user-specific assignment information. In step 618, the single RU assignment flag is set to 1 and it is determined whether the assigned RU counter is 1. This step 618 is performed to identify whether the received EHT MU PPDU contains an error.If the single RU assignment flag is set to 1 and the assigned RU counter is determined to be 1, then only one RU has been assigned to the STA, and only one user field has been identified, or in other words, the EHT MU PPDU does not contain any errors, so processing can be terminated.

[0078] Returning to step 614, if user field j is a type 2 user field, step 620 is performed instead. In step 620, it may be determined whether the consecutive RU allocation flag subfield of type 2 user field j is set to 1. If the consecutive RU allocation flag subfield is not set to 1, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs are allocated to the STA, then step 622 is performed. In step 622, the number of allocated RUs is determined from the allocated RU count subfield, and the user field index j and EHT-SIG-B content channel index i are adjusted according to the next allocated RU subfield. The user field with the adjusted index j in the EHT-SIG-B content channel with the adjusted index i is then used to perform step 606. However, if the consecutive RU allocation flag subfield is set to 1 in step 620, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs are allocated to the STA, then step 624 is performed instead. In step 624, the number of allocated RUs is determined, and the allocated RU counter is adjusted according to the allocated RU count subfield and the RU position subfield. In step 626, it may be determined whether the last user field addressed to the STA is valid. If the CRC check of the user block field containing the last user field fails, the last user field is invalid. If the last user field is valid, step 616 is performed to obtain user-specific assignment information. On the other hand, if the last user field is invalid, the received EHT MU PPDU may be determined to contain an error, and the EHT MU PPDU is discarded in step 628.

[0079] Returning to step 618, this step is performed to determine whether the EHT MU PPDU contains errors when processing user fields. Specifically, if in step 618 it is determined that (i) the single RU allocation flag subfield is not set to 1, or (ii) the allocation RU counter is not 1, then step 630 is performed. If in step 630 the single RU allocation flag is set to 1, but the allocation RU counter is greater than 1, it indicates that one RU is allocated to the STA, but two or more user fields are identified by the STA. In this case, the EHT MU PPDU is identified as containing errors and is discarded in step 628. Otherwise, step 632 is performed. If in step 632 the single RU allocation flag is set to 0, but the allocation RU counter is 1, it indicates that multiple RUs are allocated to the STA, but only one user field is identified by the STA. In this case, the EHT MU PPDU is identified as containing errors and is discarded in step 628. Otherwise, in step 634, the allocated RU counter is checked to see if it matches the number of allocated RUs obtained from step 622. If it indicates that the EHT MU PPDU is the last user field (Type 1 user field) addressed to the STA, then the process may terminate because the EHT MU PPDU does not contain an error.

[0080] In step 636, the user field index j may be incremented by 1. Next, in step 638, it is determined whether the incremented user field index value j is greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i. If the incremented user field index value j is not greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i, it indicates that at least one user field in EHT-SIG-B content channel i has not been processed, and step 606 is performed using the user field with the incremented index j. If the incremented user field index value j is greater than the total number of user fields in EHT-SIG-B content channel i, step 640 is performed instead. In step 640, the EHT-SIG-B content channel index i is incremented. In step 642, it is determined whether the incremented index value i is greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels. If the incremented index value i is not greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels, it indicates that at least one EHT-SIG-B content channel has not been processed, and step 604 is performed using the first user field of the EHT-SIG-B content channel with the incremented index i. If the incremented index value i is greater than the total number of EHT-SIG-B content channels, it indicates that all user fields of the EHT-SIG-B content channel have been processed, and processing of the received EHT MU PPDU may be terminated.

[0081] The following paragraphs describe several exemplary embodiments of control signaling in uplink MU communication, with reference to APs and multiple STAs.

[0082] The EHT trigger frame can be used to request the transmission of an EHT TB PPDU in uplink MU communication, and to transmit user-specific RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information. Figure 7A is a flowchart 700 showing uplink MU communication between AP 702 and several STA 704, 706 using an EHT trigger frame in various embodiments. Block 708 shows a contention-based channel access procedure (e.g., EDCA procedure), and also shows SIFS 711. AP 702 may generate a transmit signal (e.g., an EHT trigger frame) 710 containing several user information fields (e.g., user information fields of the user information list field in the EHT trigger frame). One or more of the several user information fields are addressed to STA 704. Similarly, one or more of the several user information fields are addressed to STA 706. In one embodiment, one or more user information fields addressed to each STA 704, 706 contain the same user-specific assignment information. In another embodiment, the user information fields are either type 1 user information fields or type 2 user information fields, and include signaling indicating their type. One or more user information fields addressed to each STA704, 706 include one type 1 user information field. According to one embodiment, the type 1 user information field includes user-specific assignment information, and the type 2 user information field does not include user-specific assignment information. In one embodiment, the type 1 user information field addressed to each STA704, 706 includes signaling indicating whether one RU is assigned to each STA704, 706. The type 1 user information field addressed to each STA704, 706 also includes signaling indicating whether multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size are assigned to each STA704, 706. In another embodiment, if multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple consecutive RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to each STA704, 706, one or more user information fields addressed to each STA704, 706 include at least one type 2 user information field.Each of the at least one Type 2 user information fields includes signaling indicating one or more additional RUs assigned to each STA704, 706. The radio transmitter of AP702 may transmit the generated transmit signal 710 to STA704, 706.

[0083] The wireless receivers of STA704 and 706 receive the transmission signal 710, and the received transmission signal 710 may be processed by the circuits of STA704 and 706, respectively. After the final symbol of the transmission signal 710 is transmitted, SIFS711 is enabled, and in 712, the wireless transmitters of STA704 and 706 may simultaneously transmit their respective EHT TB PPDU714 and 715 based on user-specific RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information contained in one or more user information fields addressed to STA704 and 706.

[0084] Figure 7B shows an example of the format of an EHT trigger frame 720. The EHT trigger frame 720 may include a frame control field, a duration field, an RA (recipient STA address) field, a TA (transmitting STA address) field, a common information field 722, a user information list field 724 containing one or more user information fields, a padding field, and an FCS (frame check sequence) field. The frame control field, duration field, RA field, and TA field may be grouped in the MAC header of the EHT trigger frame 720. The common information field 722, the user information list field 724, and the padding field may be grouped in the frame body of the EHT trigger frame 720. The common information field 722 contains common parameters for all STAs involved in the uplink MU communication required by the EHT trigger frame 720. Figure 7C shows the user information field 724a of the EHT trigger frame in more detail. The user information list field 724 may include one or more user information fields, such as the user information field 724a, each of which may include an AID12 subfield, an RU assignment subfield 726, a UL FEC (forward error correction) coding type subfield, an UL MCS subfield, an UL DCM (dual carrier modulation) subfield, an SS (spatial stream) assignment subfield 728, an UL target RSSI (received signal strength indicator) subfield, and a trigger-dependent user information subfield 730. Each user information field 724a includes user-specific RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information, the user-specific RU assignment information includes information related to the RU assignment subfield 726.Specifically, in uplink MU communication, user-specific allocation information includes at least information regarding the UL FEC coding type subfield, UL MCS subfield, UL DCM subfield, SS allocation subfield, and UL target RSSI subfield. The size of the RU allocation field may be 9 bits to accommodate a 320 MHz bandwidth, and the size of the SS allocation subfield may be 8 bits to accommodate up to 16 spatial streams.

[0085] According to this disclosure, one or more RUs in an EHT TB PPDU may be assigned to an STA, and one transmission scheme applies to one or more RUs assigned to an STA in an EHT TB PPDU. In one embodiment, the number of user information fields addressed to an STA is the same as the number of RUs assigned to the STA. Thus, each user information field addressed to an STA uniquely corresponds to a RU assigned to the STA. All user fields addressed to an STA contain the same user-specific assignment information. That is, all subfields of all user information fields addressed to an STA, except for the RU assignment subfield, have the same subfield values. In one embodiment, all user information fields addressed to an STA are arranged contiguously in a user information list field. This can advantageously facilitate the retrieval of all user information fields addressed to an STA, and thus improve the power efficiency of the STA. In one embodiment, if two or more consecutive RUs fit exactly into one larger RU, those two or more consecutive RUs of the same RU size are not assigned to an STA. For example, there are two consecutive 26-tone RUs that precisely match a 52-tone RU, and four consecutive 26-tone RUs that precisely match a 106-tone RU. This allows for the advantageous and maximum utilization of tones.

[0086] Table 8 shows an example of a user information list field in an EHT trigger frame, including RU assignments to four STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3, STA4) with a bandwidth of 40 MHz. For example, the user information list field may contain 10 user information fields. Each user information field includes an RU assignment subfield indicating RU assignment information. The user information list field may show RU assignments such as RU1 (52 tones), RU2 (52 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU3 (52 tones), RU4 (52 tones), RU5 (52 tones), RU6 (52 tones), RU14 (26 tones), RU7 (52 tones), and RU8 (52 tones), where each of the 10 RUs corresponds to one user information field based on the RU assignment subfield. All user information fields (UIFs) assigned to an STA are placed contiguously in the user information list field. For example, the first three user information fields, namely UIF1 to UIF3, are assigned to STA1 in accordance with three non-contiguous RU assignments to STA1 (e.g., RU1 with 52 tones, RU14 with 26 tones, and RU8 with 52 tones); the two consecutive user information fields, namely UIF4 and UIF5, are assigned to STA2 in accordance with two non-contiguous RU assignments to STA2 (e.g., RU2 with 52 tones and RU7 with 52 tones); UIF6 is assigned to STA3 in accordance with a single RU assignment to STA3 (e.g., RU5 with 26 tones); and the consecutive user information fields, namely UIF7 to UIF10, are assigned to STA4 in accordance with four consecutive RU assignments to STA4 (e.g., RU3 with 52 tones, RU4 with 52 tones, RU5 with 52 tones, and RU6 with 52 tones).

[0087] Table 8 shows the user information fields in the user information list field within the EHT trigger frame, and their corresponding AID12 subfields and RU assignment subfields. [Table 8]

[0088] Figure 8 shows the flow of processing a received EHT trigger frame according to one embodiment. The STA is configured to process the user information list field of the EHT trigger frame to find one or more assigned RUs. In step 802, the UIF counter and the assigned RU counter may be initialized to 0, and the UIF counter counts the number of processed user information fields in the user information list field. In step 804, it may be determined whether the AID12 subfield of the user information field matches the AID (association identifier) ​​of the STA. If it is determined that the AID12 subfield matches the AID of the STA, step 806 is executed. If the AID12 subfield does not match the AID of the STA, processing proceeds to 814 instead. In step 806, the assigned RU is determined from the RU assigned subfield. In step 808, the assigned RU counter may be incremented by 1. In step 810, it is determined whether the assigned RU counter is 1. If the allocated RU counter is determined to be 1, indicating that one RU (the first RU) has been allocated to STA, step 812 is executed to obtain user-specific allocation information. After obtaining user-specific allocation information, the process proceeds to step 814. On the other hand, if in step 810 the allocated RU counter is determined to be not 1, specifically greater than 1, it indicates that two or more RUs have been allocated to STA, and the process proceeds to step 814.

[0089] In step 814, the UIF counter is incremented by 1. In step 816, it is determined whether the UIF counter is equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame. If the UIF counter is not equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame, indicating that not all user information fields in the EHT trigger frame have been processed, then step 804 is performed using the consecutive user information fields. In step 816, if the UIF counter is equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame, indicating that all user information fields in the EHT trigger frame have been processed, then processing of the received EHT trigger frame may be terminated.

[0090] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the EHT trigger frame has two types of user information fields, used when either multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple contiguous RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to the STA. A Type 1 user information field contains user-specific assignment information and is used as the first user information field addressed to the STA. On the other hand, a Type 2 user information field does not contain user-specific assignment information and is used as one of the subsequent user information fields addressed to the STA. Each user information field includes signaling, such as a UIF type subfield, that indicates whether the user information field is a Type 1 or Type 2 user information field. For example, a UIF type subfield indicates a Type 1 user information field when set to 0 and a Type 2 user information field when set to 1. In one embodiment, when one RU or multiple contiguous RUs of the same RU size are assigned to the STA or assigned for random access, one Type 1 user information field is used to transmit user-specific RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information. In another embodiment, when multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple contiguous RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to an STA or assigned for random access, a Type 1 user information field or one or more Type 2 user information fields are used to transmit user-specific RU assignment information and user-specific assignment information. In yet another embodiment, the AID12 subfield of the Type 1 or Type 2 user information field is set to a first special value (e.g., 0) to indicate that the Type 1 or Type 2 user information field assigns one or more random access RUs to the associated STA, or is set to a second special value (e.g., 2045) to indicate that the Type 1 or Type 2 user information field assigns one or more random access RUs to an unrelated STA.By utilizing Type 1 and Type 2 user information fields for transmitting user-specific RU assignment information, when two or more RUs are assigned to an STA, the number of user information fields addressed to the STA will be less than the number of RUs assigned to the STA. This allows for a favorable reduction in channel overhead.

[0091] Figure 9A shows an example of a Type 1 user information field 900 of an EHT trigger frame. The Type 1 user information field 900 may include (or consist of) an AID12 subfield, an RU assignment subfield 902, an UL FEC coding type subfield, an UL MCS subfield, an UL DCM subfield, an SS assignment subfield, an UL target RSSI subfield, and a trigger-dependent user information subfield 906. The trigger-dependent user information subfield 906 may further include a UIF type subfield (set to 0 to indicate a Type 1 user information field), a consecutive RU flag subfield 910 of the same RU size, and an assigned RU count subfield 912. Similar to uplink MU communication, user-specific assignment information includes at least information regarding the UL FEC coding type subfield, UL MCS subfield, UL DCM subfield, SS assignment subfield, and UL target RSSI subfield of the EHT trigger frame, while user-specific RU assignment information (e.g., an assigned RU used as the first RU assigned to the STA) may be included in the RU assignment subfield 902 of the EHT trigger frame. The "Consecutive RUs of the Same RU Size" flag subfield 910 is set to 1, indicating one RU or multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size assigned to the STA. If the UIF type subfield 908 is set to 0 (Type 1 user information field) and the "Consecutive RUs of the Same RU Size" flag subfield 910 is set to 1, the "Number of Assigned RUs" subfield indicates the number of consecutive RUs assigned to the STA. If the UIF type subfield 908 is set to 0 (Type 1 user information field) and the "Consecutive RUs of the Same RU Size" flag subfield 910 is set to 0, the "Number of Assigned RUs" subfield indicates the number of remaining RUs assigned to the STA. Also, if the UIF type subfield 908 is set to 0 (Type 1 user information field), the "Consecutive RUs of the Same RU Size" flag subfield 910 is set to 1, and the "Number of Assigned RUs" subfield is set to 1, only one RU is assigned to the STA.

[0092] Figure 9B shows an example of a Type 2 user information field 920 in an EHT trigger frame. The Type 2 user information field 920 may include (or consist of) an AID12 subfield, an RU allocation subfield 922, RU allocation subfields 924a, 924b, 924c, and a trigger-dependent user information subfield 926. The trigger-dependent user information subfield 926 may further include a UIF type subfield (set to 1 to indicate a Type 2 user information field) and an allocated RU subfield 930. The Type 2 user information field does not include user-specific allocation information and its related fields. Therefore, RU allocation subfields such as RU allocation subfield 1 924a, RU allocation subfield 2 924b, and RU allocation subfield 3 924c can be implemented within the Type 2 user information field 920, and each RU allocation subfield may indicate a RU allocated to an STA. The RU allocation subfield 922 may indicate the number of RU allocation subfields contained in the type 2 user information field 920, in which case the number of RU allocation subfields 922 is 3, indicating the three RU allocation subfields 924a, 924b, and 924c in the type 2 user information field 920. The allocated RU count subfield in the type 2 user information field 920 indicates the number of remaining RUs allocated to the STA in addition to the three RUs contained in the RU allocation subfields 924a, 924b, and 924c.

[0093] Table 12 shows an example of a user information list field including RU assignments to three STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3) when the bandwidth is 20 MHz. The user information list field may show RU assignments such as RU1 (52 tones), RU3 (26 tones), RU4 (26 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU3 (52 tones), RU8 (26 tones), and RU9 (26 tones). Below is an example of RU assignments of seven RUs to three STAs. STA1 may be assigned three non-contiguous RUs (e.g., RU1 (52 tones), RU3 (52 tones), and RU9 (26 tones)). STA2 may be assigned one RU (e.g., RU8 (26 tones)). STA3 may be assigned three consecutive RUs (e.g., RU3 (26 tones), RU4 (26 tones), and RU5 (26 tones)). In this example where Type 1 and Type 2 user information fields are used, the user information list field may contain four user information fields (e.g., UIF1 to UIF4) to send RU assignment information for seven RUs.

[0094] For the three non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA1, the Type 1 user information field is used as UIF1, as the first user information field addressed to STA1 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0), and the RU assignment subfield contains user-specific assignment information and information about the first assigned RU (RU1 of 52 tones). Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA1, the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple consecutive RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to STA1, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 2, indicating that there are two more RUs assigned to STA1. The Type 2 user information field is used as UIF2, as one of the subsequent user information fields addressed to STA1 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 1), and the remaining two of the three non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA1 (i.e., RU3 of 52 tones and RU9 of 26 tones) are included in RU assignment subfields 1 and 2, respectively. Specifically, in the Type 2 user information field addressed to STA1, the RU allocation subfield is set to 2, indicating that two RU allocations are included in the Type 2 user information field, while the allocated RU allocation subfield is set to 0, indicating that no other RUs are allocated to STA1.

[0095] For the single RU assigned to STA2, the Type 1 user information field is used as the first user information field addressed to STA2 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0) and as UIF3, with user-specific assignment information and information on the assigned RU (RU8 with 26 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield. Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA2, both the consecutive RU flag subfield with the same RU size and the number of assigned RUs subfield are set to 1, indicating a single RU assignment. For the three consecutive RUs assigned to STA3, the Type 1 user information field is used as the first user information field addressed to STA3 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0) and as UIF4, with user-specific assignment information and information on the first assigned RU (RU3 with 26 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield. Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA3, the consecutive RU flag subfield with the same RU size is set to 1, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size are assigned to STA3. The Assigned RU Count subfield indicates the number of consecutive RUs assigned to STA that have the same RU size as the assigned RU. In this case, the Assigned RU Count subfield is set to 3, indicating that three consecutive RUs of the same size are assigned to STA3. Therefore, it is not necessary to include assignment information for subsequent consecutive RUs of the same RU size in one or more additional user information fields, which can reduce channel overhead.

[0096] Table 13 shows an example of a user information list field including RU assignments to four STAs (e.g., STA1, STA2, STA3, STA4) with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. The user information list field may show RU assignments such as RU1 (52 tones), RU2 (52 tones), RU5 (26 tones), RU3 (52 tones), RU4 (52 tones), RU5 (52 tones), RU6 (52 tones), RU14 (26 tones), RU7 (52 tones), and RU8 (52 tones). Below is an example of RU assignments of 10 RUs to four STAs. STA1 may be assigned three discontinuous RUs (e.g., RU1 (52 tones), RU14 (26 tones), and RU8 (52 tones)). STA2 may be assigned two discontinuous RUs (e.g., RU2 (52 tones) and RU7 (52 tones)). STA3 may be assigned one RU (e.g., RU5 (26 tones)). STA4 may be assigned four consecutive RUs (e.g., RU3 with 52 tones, RU4 with 52 tones, RU5 with 52 tones, and RU3 with 52 tones). In this example where Type 1 and Type 2 user information fields are used, the user information list field may contain six user information fields (e.g., UIF1 to UIF6) to send RU assignment information for 10 RUs.

[0097] For the three non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA1, the Type 1 user information field is used as UIF1, as the first user information field addressed to STA1 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0), and the RU assignment subfield contains user-specific assignment information and information about the first assigned RU (RU1 of 52 tones). Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA1, the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple consecutive RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to STA1, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 2, indicating that there are two more RUs assigned to STA1. The Type 2 user information field is used as UIF2, as one of the subsequent user information fields addressed to STA1 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 1), and the remaining two of the three non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA1 (i.e., RU14 of 26 tones and RU8 of 52 tones) are indicated in RU assignment subfields 1 and 2, respectively. Specifically, in the Type 2 user information field addressed to STA1, the RU allocation subfield is set to 2, indicating that two RU allocations are included in the Type 2 user information field, while the allocated RU allocation subfield is set to 0, indicating that no other RUs are allocated to STA1.

[0098] Regarding the two non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA2, the Type 1 user information field is used as the first user information field addressed to STA2 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0) and as UIF3, with user-specific assignment information and information about the first assigned RU (RU2 of 52 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield. Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA2, the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous or multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size are assigned to STA2, and the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 1, indicating that there is one more RU to be assigned to STA2. The Type 2 user information field is used as one of the subsequent user information fields addressed to STA2 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 1) and as UIF4, with the remaining RU of the two non-contiguous RUs assigned to STA2 (i.e., RU7 of 52 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield 1. Specifically, in the Type 2 user information field addressed to STA2, the RU allocation subfield is set to 1, indicating that one RU allocation is included in the Type 2 user information field; the allocated RU allocation subfield is set to 0, indicating that no other RUs are allocated to STA2.

[0099] For the single RU assigned to STA3, the Type 1 user information field is used as the first user information field addressed to STA3 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0), and as UIF5, with user-specific assignment information and information on one assigned RU (RU5 with 26 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield. Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA3, both the consecutive RU flag subfield with the same RU size and the number of assigned RUs subfield are set to 1, indicating a single RU assignment. For the four consecutive RUs assigned to STA4, the Type 1 user information field is used as the first user information field addressed to STA4 in the user information list field (UIF type subfield = 0), and as UIF6, with user-specific assignment information and information on the first assigned RU (RU3 with 52 tones) included in the RU assignment subfield. Specifically, in the Type 1 user information field addressed to STA4, the consecutive RU flag subfield with the same RU size is set to 1, indicating that multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size are assigned to STA4. The Assigned RU Count subfield indicates the number of consecutive RUs assigned to STA that have the same RU size as the assigned RU. In this case, the Assigned RU Count subfield is set to 4, indicating that four consecutive RUs of the same size are assigned to STA4. Therefore, it is not necessary to include assignment information for subsequent consecutive RUs of the same size in one or more additional user information fields, which can reduce channel overhead.

[0100] Figure 10 shows the flow of processing a received EHT trigger frame according to one embodiment. The STA is configured to process the user information list field of the EHT trigger frame to find one or more assigned RUs. In step 1002, the UIF counter and the assigned RU counter may be initialized to 0, and the UIF counter counts the number of processed user information fields in the user information list field. In step 1004, it may be determined whether the AID12 subfield of the user information field matches the AID of the STA. If it is determined that the AID12 subfield matches the AID of the STA, step 1006 is executed. If the AID subfield does not match the AID of the STA, the process proceeds to 1026 instead. In step 1006, it is determined whether the UIF type subfield of the user information field is set to 0, indicating a type 1 user information field. If the user information field is a type 1 user information field, step 1008 is executed. In step 1008, the assigned RU counter is incremented by 1. In step 1010, the assigned RU is determined from the RU assignment subfield of the user information field. Then, in step 1012, user-specific assignment information is obtained. In step 1014, it is determined whether the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 1. If the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 1, indicating that one RU or multiple consecutive RUs of the same RU size are assigned to STA, step 1016 is executed. If the same RU size consecutive RU flag subfield is set to 0, indicating that multiple non-contiguous RUs or multiple consecutive RUs of different RU sizes are assigned to STA, the process may instead proceed to step 1026. In step 1016, it is determined whether the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 1. If the number of assigned RUs subfield is set to 1, it indicates that one RU is assigned to STA, and the process may terminate. If the number of assigned RUs subfield is not 1, step 1018 is executed instead.In step 1018, all remaining allocated RUs are determined from the RU allocation subfield and the allocated RU count subfield.

[0101] Returning to step 1006, if the user information field is a type 2 user information field, step 1020 is performed instead. In step 1020, the allocated RU counter is incremented according to the RU allocation subfield. In step 1022, one or more remaining allocated RUs are determined according to the RU allocation subfield and one or more corresponding RU allocation subfields. In step 1024, it is determined whether the allocated RU subfield is set to 0. If it is determined that the allocated RU subfield is set to 0, indicating that there are no other RUs allocated to the STA, the process may terminate. If the allocated RU subfield is not 0, the process may proceed to step 1026.

[0102] In step 1026, the UIF counter is incremented by 1. In step 1028, it is determined whether the UIF counter is equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame. If the UIF counter is not equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame, indicating that not all user information fields in the EHT trigger frame have been processed, then step 1004 is performed using consecutive user information fields. In step 1028, if the UIF counter is equal to the total number of user information fields in the EHT trigger frame, indicating that all user information fields in the EHT trigger frame have been processed, then processing of the received EHT trigger frame may be terminated.

[0103] Figure 11 shows the configuration of a communication device 1100, for example, an AP, according to various embodiments. Similar to the schematic example of the communication device 300 shown in Figure 3, the communication device 1100 includes a circuit 1102, at least one radio transmitter 1110, at least one radio receiver 1112, and at least one antenna 1114 (for simplicity, only one antenna is depicted in Figure 11). The circuit 1102 may include at least one control unit 1108, which is used to perform tasks designed to perform control signaling communications with the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 1102 may further include a transmit signal generation unit 1104 and a receive signal processing unit 1106. At least one control unit 1108 may control the transmit signal generation unit 1104 and the receive signal processing unit 1106. The transmit signal generation unit 1104 may include an MPDU generation unit 1122, a control signaling generation unit 1124, and a PPDU generation unit 1126. The MPDU generation unit 1122 may generate an A-MPDU (e.g., a data frame or an EHT trigger frame). The control signaling generation unit 1124 may generate the control signaling fields of the generated PPDU (e.g., the EHT-SIG-A and EHT-SIG-B fields of an EHT MU PPDU). The PPDU generation unit 1126 may generate a PPDU (e.g., an EHT MU PPDU).

[0104] The received signal processing unit 1106 may include a data demodulation / decoding unit 1132 for demodulating and decoding the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the data field of the EHT TB PPDU). The received signal processing unit 1106 may further include a control demodulation / decoding unit 1134 for demodulating and decoding the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the EHT-SIG-A field of the EHT TB PPDU). At least one control unit 1108 may include a control signaling analysis unit 1142 and a scheduler 1144. The scheduler 1144 may determine RU information and user-specific assignment information for downlink MU transmission assignments, and trigger information for uplink MU transmission assignments. The control signaling analysis unit 1142 analyzes the control signaling portion of the received signal and the trigger information for assigning uplink MU transmissions shared by the scheduler 1144, and may assist the data demodulation / decoding unit 1132 in demodulating and decoding the data portion of the received signal.

[0105] Figure 12 shows the configuration of a communication device 1200, for example, an STA, according to various embodiments. Similar to the schematic example of the communication device 300 shown in Figure 3, the communication device 1200 includes a circuit 1202, at least one radio transmitter 1210, at least one radio receiver 1212, and at least one antenna 1214 (for simplicity, only one antenna is depicted in Figure 12). The circuit 1202 may include at least one control unit 1208, which is used to perform tasks designed to perform control signaling communications with the assistance of software and hardware. The circuit 1202 may further include a received signal processing unit 1206 and a transmitted signal generation unit 1204. At least one control unit 1208 may control the received signal processing unit 1206 and the transmitted signal generation unit 1204. The received signal processing unit 1206 may include a data demodulation / decoding unit 1232 and a control demodulation / decoding unit 1234. The control demodulation / decoding unit 1234 may demodulate and decode the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the EHT-SIG-A and EHT-SIG-B fields of the EHT MU PPDU). The data demodulation / decoding unit 1232 may demodulate and decode the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the data fields of the EHT MU PPDU) according to its own assigned RU information and user-specific assigned information.

[0106] At least one control unit 1208 may include a control signaling analysis unit 1242, a scheduler 1244, and a trigger information analysis unit 1246. The control signaling analysis unit 1242 may analyze the control signaling portion of the received signal (e.g., the EHT-SIG-A and EHT-SIG-B fields of the EHT MU PPDU) and assist the data demodulation / decoding unit 1232 in demodulating and decoding the data portion of the received signal (e.g., the data fields of the EHT MU PPDU). The trigger information analysis unit 1246 may analyze trigger information for its own uplink allocation in MU communication from the received trigger frame (e.g., the EHT trigger frame). The transmit signal generation unit 1204 may include a control signaling generation unit 1224 that generates the control signaling field of the generated PPDU (e.g., the EHT-SIG-A field of the EHT TB PPDU). Furthermore, the transmission signal generation unit 1204 may include a PPDU generation unit 1226 that generates PPDUs (e.g., EHT TB PPDUs). In addition, the transmission signal generation unit 1204 may include an MPDU generation unit 1222 that generates A-MPDUs (e.g., data frames).

[0107] As described above, embodiments of the present disclosure provide advanced communication systems, communication methods, and communication devices for control signaling in ultra-high throughput MIMO WLAN networks, thereby improving spectral efficiency in MIMO WLAN networks.

[0108] This disclosure can be implemented as software, hardware, or software in conjunction with hardware. Each functional block used in the description of the above embodiments may be implemented in part or in whole as an integrated circuit (LSI), and each process described in the above embodiments may be controlled in part or in whole by one LSI or a combination of LSIs. An LSI may consist of individual chips, or it may consist of one chip that includes some or all of the functional blocks. An LSI may have data inputs and outputs. Depending on the degree of integration, LSIs may be referred to as ICs, system LSIs, super LSIs, or ultra LSIs. The method of integration is not limited to LSIs, and may be implemented with dedicated circuits, general-purpose processors, or dedicated processors. Alternatively, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connections and settings of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used. This disclosure may be implemented as digital processing or analog processing. Furthermore, if advancements in semiconductor technology or related technologies lead to the emergence of integrated circuit technologies that replace LSIs, then naturally, these technologies could be used to integrate functional blocks. The application of biotechnology, for example, is a possible possibility.

[0109] This disclosure is applicable to all types of devices, systems, and equipment with communication capabilities (collectively referred to as communication equipment).

[0110] The communication device may include a radio transceiver and a processing / control circuit. The radio transceiver may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, or both as functions. The radio transceiver (transmitting unit, receiving unit) may include an RF (Radio Frequency) module and one or more antennas. The RF module may include an amplifier, an RF modulator / demodulator, or something similar.

[0111] Non-exclusive examples of communication devices include telephones (mobile phones, smartphones, etc.), tablets, personal computers (PCs) (laptops, desktops, notebooks, etc.), cameras (digital still / video cameras, etc.), digital players (digital audio / video players, etc.), wearable devices (wearable cameras, smartwatches, tracking devices, etc.), game consoles, digital book readers, telehealth / telemedicine devices, vehicles or mobile transport with communication capabilities (cars, airplanes, ships, etc.), and combinations of the above-mentioned devices.

[0112] Communication devices are not limited to portable or movable devices, but also include all kinds of non-portable or fixed devices, devices, and systems, such as smart home devices (appliances, lighting equipment, smart meters or measuring instruments, control panels, etc.), vending machines, and any other "things" that may exist on an IoT (Internet of Things) network.

[0113] Communication includes data communication via cellular systems, wireless LAN systems, and communication satellite systems, as well as data communication using combinations of these.

[0114] Furthermore, the communication device also includes devices such as controllers and sensors that are connected to or linked to a communication device that performs the communication functions described in this disclosure. For example, this includes controllers and sensors that generate control signals and data signals used by the communication device that performs the communication functions of the communication device.

[0115] Furthermore, communication equipment includes infrastructure facilities such as base stations, access points, and any other devices, devices, and systems that communicate with or control the aforementioned non-limited types of equipment.

[0116] While some characteristics of various embodiments are described with reference to the device, the corresponding characteristics also apply to the methods of the various embodiments, and vice versa.

[0117] Those skilled in the art will understand that, as shown in certain embodiments, this disclosure may be modified and / or altered in numerous ways without departing from the broadly described spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not as limiting the invention.

[0118] Table 9 shows an example of an EHT-SIG-B content channel with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. [Table 9]

[0119] Table 10 shows an example of EHT-SIG-B content channel 1 with a bandwidth of 40 MHz. [Table 10]

[0120] Table 11 shows an example of EHT-SIG-B content channel 2 with a bandwidth of 40 MHz. [Table 11]

[0121] Table 12 shows an example of a user information list field when the bandwidth is 20 MHz. [Table 12]

[0122] Table 13 shows an example of a user information list field when the bandwidth is 40 MHz. [Table 13]

Claims

1. A transmitter that transmits a trigger frame including an association identifier 12 (AID12) subfield and a user field containing signaling indicating a multi-resource unit, A receiver that receives a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB-PPDU) transmitted using the multi-resource unit from a station identified by the AID 12 subfield, In the allocation of the multi-resource unit, if two or more consecutive resource units of the same size fit precisely into a single resource unit of a larger size, then those two or more consecutive resource units are not allocated to the station. Communication device.

2. The trigger frame includes a first type user field and a second type user field, wherein the second type user field does not include any of the user-specific information contained in the first type user field. The communication device according to claim 1.

3. A process of sending a trigger frame that includes an association identifier 12 (AID12) subfield and a user field that includes signaling indicating a multi-resource unit, The process includes receiving a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB-PPDU) transmitted using the multi-resource unit from a station identified by the AID 12 subfield, In the allocation of the multi-resource unit, if two or more consecutive resource units of the same size fit precisely into a single resource unit of a larger size, then those two or more consecutive resource units are not allocated to the station. Communication method.

4. The trigger frame includes a first type user field and a second type user field, wherein the second type user field does not include any of the user-specific information contained in the first type user field. The communication method according to claim 3.

5. The process involves sending a trigger frame that includes an association identifier 12 (AID12) subfield and a user field containing signaling indicating a multi-resource unit. The process of receiving a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB-PPDU) transmitted using the multi-resource unit from a station identified by the AID 12 subfield, and controlling the process of: In the allocation of the multi-resource unit, if two or more consecutive resource units of the same size fit precisely into a single resource unit of a larger size, then those two or more consecutive resource units are not allocated to the station. Integrated circuit.

6. The trigger frame includes a first type user field and a second type user field, wherein the second type user field does not include any of the user-specific information contained in the first type user field. The integrated circuit according to claim 5.

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