Access Point Angle of Arrival Interference Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Access points (APs) in Wi-Fi communications face challenges in reducing interference with incumbent devices and backhaul devices, particularly in the 6 GHz frequency band, due to lack of precise location information and insufficient techniques for avoiding interference.

Innovation Solution

An access point (AP) is equipped with a processing device and a transceiver that detects incumbent and backhaul transmissions, computes the angle of arrival, and generates an avoidance beam to transmit in specific directions, thereby minimizing interference with incumbent and backhaul devices without requiring precise location information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If an access point transmits in all directions to maximize coverage, then the service area is improved, but interference with incumbent devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice areaVSAvoidinterference with incumbent devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The access point applies different transmission characteristics to different spatial directions by generating an avoidance beam with direction-specific nulls. The beamformer creates localized interference suppression in directions where incumbent devices are detected, while maintaining full transmission power in other directions, thus achieving local quality differentiation to resolve the contradiction between coverage and interference avoidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the transmission pattern by continuously detecting incumbent device locations and recomputing avoidance beams in real-time. The null directions in the avoidance beam are dynamically positioned based on the angle of arrival of incumbent transmissions, allowing the access point to adapt its radiation pattern dynamically rather than using a static transmission configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an avoidance beam is generated to reduce interference, then harmful factors are reduced, but transmission power is lost in certain directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference with incumbent devicesVSAvoidtransmission power

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The avoidance beam applies interference suppression only partially - specifically in the directions where incumbent devices are detected - rather than reducing power in all directions. The beamformer creates nulls only in the necessary angular sectors, leaving transmission power intact in all other directions, thus applying partial action to minimize energy loss while achieving the required interference reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If angle of arrival computation is implemented to identify incumbent directions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle of arrival detectionVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex physical location determination mechanisms with signal processing-based angle of arrival computation. Instead of using precise geographic data or mechanical positioning systems, the access point uses electromagnetic signal processing techniques to compute the angle of arrival of incumbent transmissions, substituting a complex mechanical or computational positioning system with a more straightforward signal processing approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively reduces interference with incumbent and backhaul devices by dynamically adjusting the transmission direction of the AP, ensuring compliance with interference-to-noise ratio regulations and enhancing the overall performance of Wi-Fi communications in the 6 GHz band.

Implementation Method 1

a transceiver that detects incumbent and backhaul transmissions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

compute an angle of arrival between the AP and the one or more incumbent transmissions received from the incumbent device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAngle of arrival computation:

Implementation Method 3

The transceiver may be configured to transmit the incumbent avoidance beam in the one or more operating directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250031060A1ACCESS POINT (AP) ANGLE OF ARRIVAL (AoA) INTERFERENCE REDUCTION

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 MAXLINEAR INC

AI summary

According to an aspect of an example, an access point (AP) may include a processing device and a transceiver. The processing device may be configured to detect an incumbent transmission from an incumbent device. The processing device may be configured to compute an angle of arrival between the AP and the incumbent transmission from the incumbent device. The processing device may be configured to generate an incumbent avoidance beam, wherein the incumbent avoidance beam is configured to transmit in one or more operating directions to facilitate avoidance of the incumbent device. The transceiver may be configured to transmit the incumbent avoidance beam.