CSI Feedback Segmentation in VHT Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently communicating Channel State Information (CSI) due to large data sizes that exceed the capacity of single Media Access Control (MAC) protocol data units or Physical Layer (PHY) protocol data units, leading to overhead and inefficiencies in CSI feedback processes.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced to segment CSI feedback, utilizing Null Data Packet Announcements (NDPA) and CSI polls to break down CSI into manageable portions, allowing for efficient communication between access points and user stations, with specific packet formats and protocols supporting this segmentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If CSI feedback is transmitted using traditional single MAC protocol data units, then the communication is simple, but the data size exceeds the capacity limit causing overhead and inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI feedback data sizeVSAvoidMAC protocol data unit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the CSI feedback into multiple parts by introducing a segmentation indicator field and dividing the feedback information across multiple MAC protocol data units. This allows the large CSI feedback data to be transmitted in manageable portions, overcoming the capacity limit of single MAC protocol data units while maintaining protocol simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If CSI feedback is segmented into multiple parts, then the data capacity limit is exceeded, but the overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI feedback data sizeVSAvoidoverhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential control information (segmentation indicator, feedback type, resource allocation) from the main CSI feedback data and places it in dedicated fields within the MAC protocol data unit header. This separation allows the CSI feedback to be segmented efficiently without excessive overhead, as the control overhead is minimized and reused across multiple data units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If traditional CSI feedback method is used, then the protocol is simple, but the reliability is reduced due to data size constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI feedback reliabilityVSAvoidfeedback mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiver acknowledges receipt of CSI feedback segments and the transmitter adjusts transmission based on this feedback. This ensures reliable delivery of CSI feedback even when segmented into multiple data units, with the feedback loop enabling error correction and retransmission if necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2622771B1Systems and methods for communication of channel state information
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2622771B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2622771B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2622771B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a technique for communicating Channel State Information (CSI) feedback. In some aspects, the CSI feedback is communicated in a very high throughput (VHT) wireless communications system.