Channel Resource Scheduling for Spatial Sharing Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing 802.11ad standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs) incurs high overheads and wastes channel resources due to the requirement of beamforming training before spatial sharing assessment, which limits system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A channel resource scheduling method that encapsulates directional channel quality measurement information in management frames, allowing access points to select candidate station pairs for spatial sharing without overlapping time domains, reducing overheads and conserving channel resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beamforming training is performed before spatial sharing assessment as specified in 802.11ad standard, then directional channel quality measurement can be obtained, but channel resource overheads increase and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines directional channel quality measurement with data transmission by allowing stations to perform measurement during data transmission time periods. This merging eliminates the need for separate beamforming training phases, reducing channel resource overhead while obtaining the required directional channel quality information for spatial sharing assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs beamforming training in advance during the A-BFT (Association Beamforming Training) phase before spatial sharing assessment. By completing the training beforehand, the system avoids repeated beamforming training operations, reducing channel resource consumption during the actual spatial sharing assessment while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If separate directional channel quality measurement requests and responses are implemented, then measurement accuracy is ensured, but protocol complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges directional channel quality measurement requests and responses into existing data transmission frames. Instead of implementing separate measurement request and response protocols, the system utilizes data transmission frames to carry both data and measurement information, thereby reducing protocol complexity and overhead while maintaining measurement accuracy through the same directional channel quality assessment mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If all station pairs perform directional channel quality measurement, then spatial sharing assessment accuracy is improved, but channel resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial measurement by allowing only selected station pairs to perform directional channel quality measurement during spatial sharing assessment, rather than requiring all station pairs to measure. This partial action approach maintains sufficient assessment accuracy for the selected pairs while significantly reducing overall channel resource consumption and improving system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables stations to perform directional channel quality measurement during their own data transmission time periods without requiring dedicated measurement resources. Each station utilizes its transmission opportunity to gather measurement information, making the measurement process self-service and eliminating the need for separate measurement resource allocation, thereby improving system efficiency while maintaining assessment accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some embodiments, a channel resource scheduling method includes sending a management frame that includes directional channel quality measurement information. The directional channel quality measurement information includes identifiers of at least two candidate station pairs selected by the access point to perform channel quality measurement and a channel resource that is used for directional channel quality measurement and that is allocated to each candidate station pair in the at least two candidate station pairs. A directional channel quality measurement report returned by each candidate station in the at least two candidate station pairs is received. At least two target station pairs to perform spatial sharing are selected based on the directional channel quality measurement report of each candidate station. In at least some embodiments, the directional channel quality measurement information can be carried in the management frame to save the channel resource and improve system efficiency.