Access Point Delay Estimation for SDMA Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently multiplexing multiple users due to delay time differences among terminals, leading to interference and reduced throughput in CSMA-based wireless LAN systems, especially when terminals simultaneously access an access point.

Innovation Solution

The system employs an access point that estimates and notifies terminals of their delay times through frame exchange, allowing terminals to control their transmission timing to minimize interference and enable effective space division multiple access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If space division multiple access is implemented in CSMA-based wireless LAN systems, then throughput for multiple users can be improved, but interference among users occurs due to delay time differences in simultaneous uplink access

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point performs preliminary delay time estimation for each terminal before simultaneous uplink transmission. By calculating the delay time difference between terminals in advance and notifying them, the system enables terminals to adjust their transmission timing beforehand, preventing interference during SDMA operation while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access point estimates delay times of terminals based on frame exchange and provides feedback by notifying each terminal of its specific delay time. This feedback mechanism allows terminals to synchronize their uplink transmissions properly, resolving the interference problem while enabling multi-user spatial multiplexing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If terminals perform simultaneous uplink access to improve throughput, then productivity increases, but delay time differences cause interference among users

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary delay time estimation and notification before simultaneous uplink access. Terminals use this advance information to adjust their transmission timing, ensuring reliable interference-free reception at the access point while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If delay time estimation and notification mechanisms are added to enable SDMA, then interference is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access point utilizes existing frame exchange traffic between itself and terminals to estimate delay times, rather than requiring separate dedicated measurement signals. This self-service approach uses readily available communication resources to reduce interference while minimizing additional system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The delay time estimation mechanism leverages the universal frame exchange already necessary for normal communication operations. The same uplink and downlink frames used for data transmission also serve the dual purpose of delay time measurement, eliminating the need for separate signaling channels and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2439974B1Communication device, communication method, computer program, and communication system
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2439974B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2439974B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2439974B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Appropriate communication operation is performed by employing space division multiple access in which wireless resources on a space axis are shared by a plurality of users. Frame exchange is performed between an access point and terminals whereby the access point estimates delay times of the terminals and notifies the terminals of information on the delay times and the terminals perform uplink frame transmission to the access point taking a difference among the delay times into consideration. Interference among users may be reduced in the access point and throughput of a system which performs the space division multiple access is improved.