Access Point Transmission Power Control for Uplink Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-user transmission (MU) with random access in IEEE 802.11ax, the access point struggles to determine appropriate transmission power for stations, leading to increased reception power differences and interference, which can exceed the dynamic range of A/D conversion and reduce Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR).

Innovation Solution

The access point dynamically controls transmission power by including target reception power values in random access control signals, allowing stations to adjust their power based on path-loss estimation and beam forming, ensuring reception power falls within a predetermined range, thereby reducing interference and maintaining A/D conversion dynamic range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If random access resource allocation is used in UL MU transmission, then station access flexibility is improved, but reception power difference between stations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestation access flexibilityVSAvoidreception power uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The access point performs preliminary path-loss estimation for each station before the actual uplink transmission. This preliminary action allows the access point to predict the reception power of each station's uplink signal and calculate appropriate target reception power values in advance, which are then included in the trigger frame to guide station transmission power adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access point provides feedback to stations about their estimated path-loss and target reception power values through the trigger frame. This feedback mechanism enables stations to adjust their transmission power accordingly, ensuring that reception power differences between stations are reduced while maintaining random access flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If transmission power is increased to ensure reception quality, then Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio is improved, but interference between stations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception signal qualityVSAvoidinterference between stations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point calculates individualized target reception power values for each station based on their specific path-loss conditions. This local quality approach ensures that each station transmits at the appropriate power level for its specific location and channel conditions, rather than using a uniform high power level for all stations, thereby maintaining reception quality while reducing unnecessary interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If target reception power values are individually set for each station, then reception power uniformity is improved, but control signal complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception power uniformityVSAvoidcontrol signal structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access point merges multiple pieces of control information including path-loss estimation results, target reception power values, and resource allocation information into a single trigger frame. This merging approach allows individualized power control for each station while using a unified control signal structure, avoiding the need for separate control messages for each station and thus limiting the increase in control signal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3402257B1Communication device and communication method
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3402257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3402257B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3402257B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A communication device of the present disclosure includes: a target reception power setting unit that sets at least one target reception power value as UL transmission power control information for controlling upstream transmission power of each of multiple stations, the target reception power value being a target value of reception power when an upstream signal is received from each of the multiple stations; a signal generating unit that generates a random access control signal including the at least one target reception power value; and a transmitting unit that transmits the random access control signal.