Beamforming Protocol for Millimeter-Wave Bonded Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beamforming techniques in millimeter-wave wireless communication networks face challenges in establishing reliable high-throughput links due to limitations in channel bandwidth and interference, particularly when transitioning from single-channel to bonded channels, which affects antenna weight vectors and sector selection.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a beamforming protocol that includes a Sector Level Sweep (SLS) phase followed by a Beam Refinement Protocol (BRP) phase, using channel bonding to extend single-channel bandwidth, allowing for the selection of optimal beam directions and antenna weight vectors suitable for both single and bonded channels, and employing Golay sequences for training fields to enhance channel estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If channel bonding is used to extend bandwidth, then data transmission rate is improved, but beamforming reliability deteriorates due to interference and antenna weight vector limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The beamforming procedure is divided into two distinct phases: Sector Level Sweep (SLS) phase for initial sector identification and Beam Refinement Protocol (BRP) phase for precise beam alignment. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, with SLS handling broad sector selection and BRP handling precise beamforming, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling bonded channel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The SLS phase performs preliminary sector identification and coarse beam alignment before the BRP phase begins. By completing the coarse alignment in advance, the BRP phase can focus solely on fine-tuning the beam directions, ensuring that reliable beamforming is established before high-rate data transmission over bonded channels commences.
2Device complexity
If single-channel protocol is used, then beamforming procedure is simple, but bandwidth limitation reduces data transmission rate
Solution Approach 1:
The beamforming procedure is designed with universality to handle both single-channel and bonded channel operations through the same SLS and BRP framework. The protocol can adaptively operate in single-channel mode for simplicity or bonded channel mode for enhanced bandwidth, making the system versatile without requiring separate procedures for different channel configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the advantages of single-channel simplicity with bonded channel bandwidth by combining multiple channels into a unified beamforming framework. The SLS and BRP phases work together to seamlessly integrate multiple bonded channels while maintaining the procedural simplicity and reliability of single-channel operation.
3Quantity of substance
If bonded channels are used, then bandwidth is extended, but interference increases affecting sector selection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Sector selection is segmented into two stages: broad sector identification during SLS phase and precise sector refinement during BRP phase. This segmentation allows the system to first identify candidate sectors over bonded channels and then perform accurate measurement and selection within those sectors, maintaining precision despite increased bandwidth and potential interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The SLS phase performs preliminary sector identification and coarse measurement before the BRP phase conducts precise measurement and final sector selection. By completing the preliminary identification in advance, the system can narrow down to a limited set of candidate sectors for precise measurement, thereby maintaining sector selection accuracy even when operating over bonded channels with increased bandwidth and interference.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of beamforming. For example, a first wireless station may be configured to communicate a plurality of Sector Level Sweep (SLS) frames with a second wireless station over a first channel; and to communicate a plurality of Beam Refinement Protocol (BRP) frames with the second wireless station over a bonded channel comprising the first channel and at least a second channel.