Aggregate PPDU Format for MIMO WiGig and Legacy Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing WiGig technologies face challenges in maximizing transmission efficiency while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy devices and supporting MIMO transmission with variable bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves defining a transmission format and method for aggregate MF PPDUs that include a legacy STF, CEF, and header, along with an NG60 header, STF, and CEFs, allowing for MIMO spatial multiplexing and variable bandwidth, while ensuring legacy devices can decode the legacy header correctly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If aggregate MF PPDU format is defined to support MIMO transmission with variable bandwidth, then transmission efficiency and data throughput are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aggregate MF PPDU is segmented into multiple individual MF PPDUs, each with its own header and data portion. This segmentation allows each component to be independently processed and transmitted, simplifying the overall transmission mechanism while enabling efficient aggregate transmission through concatenation of multiple units without inter-frame spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The defined aggregate MF PPDU format serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports MIMO spatial multiplexing transmission, accommodates variable bandwidth configurations, maintains backward compatibility with legacy WiGig devices through proper header structure, and enables efficient aggregate transmission. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single format capable of handling diverse transmission requirements.

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

2Productivity

If aggregate MF PPDU format is defined to support MIMO transmission with variable bandwidth, then data throughput is improved, but format definition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata throughputVSAvoidformat definition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aggregate MF PPDU format incorporates dynamic parameters that allow variable bandwidth and MIMO configurations. The format can adapt to different transmission conditions by adjusting the number of spatial streams, bandwidth allocation, and aggregation level, enabling high data throughput while maintaining a standardized format definition that handles variability through structured parameter fields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If new transmission format for aggregate MF PPDU is introduced, then transmission efficiency is maximized, but backward compatibility with legacy devices may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidbackward compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The aggregate MF PPDU format uses the legacy header structure as an intermediary layer that legacy devices can recognize and process, while the actual data transmission utilizes the new efficient aggregate format. This intermediary approach allows legacy devices to coexist with new devices without preventing the deployment of high-efficiency transmission formats, as legacy devices simply ignore the aggregate structure and process individual PPDUs as before.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3790210B1Transmission device and transmission method for aggregate physical layer protocol data unit
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 APPLE INC
  • EP3790210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3790210B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3790210B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A transmission apparatus of the present disclosure includes a transmission signal generator which, in operation, generates a transmission signal having an aggregate Physical layer Protocol Data Unit (aggregate PPDU) that includes a legacy preamble, a legacy header, a non-legacy preamble, a plurality of non-legacy headers and a plurality of data fields; and a transmitter which, in operation, transmits the generated transmission signal, wherein the legacy preamble, the legacy header and the plurality of non-legacy headers are transmitted using a standard bandwidth, while the non-legacy preamble and the plurality of data fields are transmitted using a variable bandwidth that is larger than the standard bandwidth and wherein a plurality of sets of a non-legacy header and a corresponding data field are transmitted sequentially in a time domain.