Cross-AP Channel Sounding Using User Association Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of performing channel sounding across multiple access points (APs) in wireless networks to avoid interference and improve data transmission rates is not adequately addressed, particularly when APs are deployed on the same frequency, leading to potential interference and limited resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for channel sounding across APs, utilizing user association frames to determine channel sounding results based on identification information and synchronization, reducing unnecessary sounding and improving data transmission rates by ensuring concurrent data transmission without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple APs are deployed on the same frequency to improve network coverage and transmission rate, then the data transmission rate is improved, but interference between APs occurs and reliable data transmission cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful interference between APs into a beneficial mechanism by using the interference signals themselves for channel sounding. APs perform channel sounding on signals from other APs, transforming the interference problem into an opportunity to obtain cross-AP channel state information, which is then used to enable interference-aware concurrent transmission.
2Productivity
If channel sounding is performed across APs to enable interference nulling mode, then concurrent data transmission is enabled, but the complexity of channel sounding increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the channel sounding processes of multiple APs into a unified cross-AP channel sounding framework. Instead of each AP independently performing separate sounding procedures, the system coordinates channel sounding across APs, allowing them to share channel state information and perform joint interference nulling, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinator entity that acts as an intermediary to manage cross-AP channel sounding. The coordinator receives channel state information from multiple APs, processes the information, and distributes relevant data back to the APs, simplifying the coordination overhead and reducing the complexity individual APs would face if they had to directly communicate with each other.
3Ease of operation
If traditional single-AP channel sounding is used, then the implementation is simple, but channel sounding cannot be performed across APs and interference nulling is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal channel sounding mechanism that functions both within a single AP and across multiple APs. The cross-AP channel sounding framework is designed to be compatible with existing single-AP operations, allowing the system to maintain simplicity for basic operations while enabling advanced cross-AP functionality when needed, thus achieving multi-functionality without sacrificing ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses channel sounding methods and communication apparatuses. One method includes: receiving, by a second access point, a user association frame from a first access point, wherein the user association frame carries identification information of a first station and is used to determine a first channel sounding result of the first station associated with the first access point, and determining, by the second access point, the first channel sounding result from a plurality of second channel sounding results based on the user association frame, wherein the plurality of second channel sounding results are obtained by the second access point by performing sounding on a plurality of channel sounding frames from a plurality of stations.