Aggregated EHT and EHT+ NDPs for Faster WLAN Channel Sounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently performing channel sounding across different protocol standards, such as EHT and EHT+, which hinders effective beamforming and data transmission in wireless local area networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating and transmitting an aggregated physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) comprising NDPs based on both EHT and EHT+ standards, with each NDP having the same duration and transmitted in different bands, allowing simultaneous channel estimation for devices supporting both standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate channel sounding is performed for EHT and EHT+ standards, then compatibility with existing devices is maintained, but the time required for channel sounding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple NDPs for different protocol standards (EHT and EHT+) into a single aggregated PPDU structure. This merging allows the access point to transmit channel sounding signals for both standards simultaneously in one transmission opportunity, thereby reducing the total time required for channel sounding while maintaining compatibility with devices supporting different standards through the unified aggregated structure
2Loss of time
If aggregated PPDU with multiple NDPs is transmitted, then channel sounding time is reduced, but the complexity of signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregated PPDU is segmented into distinct NDP components, each corresponding to a specific protocol standard (EHT, EHT+). Each NDP maintains its own structure and characteristics, allowing receiving devices to selectively process only the NDPs relevant to their supported standards. This segmentation reduces the effective processing complexity for each device while enabling time-efficient aggregated transmission
3Adaptability or versatility
If NDPs of different durations are used for EHT and EHT+, then each standard can use its optimized duration, but synchronization and aggregation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by padding or truncating NDPs to ensure they all have the same duration within the aggregated PPDU. This standardization of the duration parameter enables straightforward synchronization and aggregation of multiple NDPs from different protocol standards, while the actual channel estimation can still leverage the optimal characteristics of each standard through the unified structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes generating a first aggregated physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a first null data packet (NDP) based on an extremely high throughput (EHT) protocol standard and a second NDP based on an EHT+ protocol standard, which is a next generation of the EHT protocol standard, and transmitting the first aggregated PPDU to a second apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. Each of the first NDP and the second NDP has a same duration, and the first NDP is transmitted in a first band and the second NDP is transmitted in a second band that is different from the first band.