Cross-BSSID MU-MIMO Grouping via Unified Feedback Tables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current MU-MIMO technologies are limited in their ability to group client devices across different basic service sets (BSS), which restricts their potential for improving data throughput, as they can only transmit to devices within the same BSS, missing opportunities for enhanced data transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for network devices to group client devices across different BSS by using sounding information to determine channel state and beamforming capabilities, allowing for the construction of feedback tables that facilitate MU-MIMO transmissions across multiple BSS, thereby enabling simultaneous data transmission to multiple client devices with similar traffic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MU-MIMO is limited to grouping client devices within the same BSS, then device complexity and BSS management are simplified, but data throughput and network efficiency are reduced due to missed grouping opportunities across BSS

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidBSS management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the grouping capability across multiple BSS by having the AP maintain a unified feedback table that includes client devices from different BSSs. The AP constructs this table by receiving feedback frames from clients in various BSSs and combines this information with sounding information to create a comprehensive basis for cross-BSS MU-MIMO grouping, thereby increasing data throughput without isolating BSS management entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the feedback collection process by maintaining separate feedback tables for different BSSs initially, then selectively merging relevant feedback information when constructing the unified feedback table for cross-BSS grouping. This segmented approach allows the system to manage complexity at the BSS level while enabling throughput improvement through selective integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If channel sounding is performed for all client devices across multiple BSS, then beamforming accuracy and grouping precision are improved, but use of energy and processing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel state measurement precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption for sounding

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing channel sounding only for client devices that are candidates for cross-BSS grouping, rather than universally sounding all clients across all BSSs. The AP selectively initiates sounding based on traffic characteristics and grouping opportunities, thereby achieving sufficient measurement precision for cross-BSS MU-MIMO while reducing overall energy consumption compared to comprehensive sounding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If client devices from different BSS are grouped for simultaneous transmission, then network efficiency and data transfer rates improve, but traffic management complexity and queue handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidtraffic management ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a unified feedback table structure and grouping mechanism that handles both same-BSS and cross-BSS client devices through the same process. The AP uses consistent traffic characteristic analysis and grouping criteria regardless of BSS boundaries, allowing multi-functional handling of diverse client scenarios without requiring separate management procedures, thereby improving network efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10193610B2Enhancing MU-MIMO to group clients across multiple BSSIDs for a physical radio

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

MU-MIMO provides a mechanism for a wireless network device to transmit to multiple client devices at the same time. When employing MU-MIMO, a network device may group two or more associated client devices, and transmit beamformed signals to each group. In some implementations, a network device may initiate channel sounding. Channel sounding may include transmitting sounding frames to client devices associated with two or more basic service sets. Channel sounding may facilitate beamforming transmissions to client devices associated with the two or more basic service sets. The network device may receive feedback frames from client devices associated with the two or more basic service sets. A feedback frame may indicate how a sounding frame was received. In some implementations, the network device may further construct a feedback table from the feedback frames. The feedback table may facilitate grouping of the client devices for beamforming transmissions.