60GHz Wireless Clustering via Beacon Interval Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 60GHz wireless communication systems face interference issues when trying to cluster devices with different bandwidths and channels, leading to coexistence failures in dense office environments.
Innovation Solution
A clustering method that adjusts beacon intervals to align with available slots on target channels, allowing devices to detect and join clusters by sending beacon frames in empty periods, ensuring synchronization and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If beamforming with narrow beam is used to suppress interference, then directional communication capability is improved, but co-frequency channel interference from neighboring work stations still occurs in dense office environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where PCPs transmit beacon frames at specific intervals and data transmissions occur in scheduled time slots. This periodic structure allows co-channel PCPs to take turns transmitting, reducing interference while maintaining directional beamforming capabilities for high-speed communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic clustering mechanisms where PCPs can join or leave clusters, and cluster memberships are updated based on interference conditions and channel availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance in dense environments by forming clusters that minimize interference while preserving beamforming benefits.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If clustering between co-channel PCPs with equal bandwidth is implemented, then interference between basic service sets is reduced, but co-existence fails when a large number of PCPs with different bandwidth and on different channels exist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends clustering to accommodate PCPs with different bandwidth parameters and channel frequencies. PCPs can join clusters as synchronization members or non-synchronization members depending on their bandwidth and channel characteristics. This parameter flexibility allows diverse PCPs to coexist while maintaining interference reduction through coordinated beacon transmission and time-division multiplexing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple PCPs transmit beacon frames simultaneously on the same channel, then cluster synchronization is achieved, but interference increases and co-existence fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments beacon transmission opportunities by creating hierarchical cluster structures with master PCPs that coordinate beacon transmissions. Member PCPs receive synchronized beacons from the master and transmit their own beacons in coordinated time slots, preventing simultaneous transmissions while maintaining cluster synchronization through the hierarchical structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a clustering method, including: adjusting, by a first device, a beginning of its own first small bandwidth beacon transmission interval to be aligned with a selected empty Beacon SP, setting its own BI to be equal to a synchronization device beacon interval S-BI, and joining, after accordingly adjusting an interval VBI for sending a beacon frame on a large bandwidth channel and an interval SBBI for sending a beacon frame on a small bandwidth channel, a target small bandwidth cluster; or sending a beacon frame including a cluster probe IE over a large bandwidth channel, requesting, by using the cluster probe IE, a synchronization PCP to return cluster synchronization information and control information, so as to detect cluster synchronization information and control information of a target large bandwidth cluster, and joining the target large bandwidth cluster according the information and a second PCP. The embodiments of the present invention further disclose a clustering apparatus. By using the present invention, multiple devices with different bandwidth and on different channels can perform clustering, which reduces interference and implements coexistence.