D2D Beamforming via Over-Listening to Reduce Training Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of beamforming in device-to-device (D2D) communication links increases exponentially with the number of devices and communication links, particularly in wireless local area networks operating in the 60 GHz millimeter waveband, leading to significant beamforming overhead and challenges in supporting heterogeneous quality of service requirements.
Innovation Solution
The use of over-listening, where a station obtains information from sector sweep communications between other stations and an access point, allows a device to determine the preferred transmit sector for D2D communication, reducing the need for extensive beamforming training and overhead by enabling devices to identify optimal transmission sectors through feedback frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional beamforming training is used for each D2D communication link, then communication quality is maintained, but beamforming overhead and system complexity increase exponentially with the number of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having devices perform beamforming training with the access point in advance, so that beamforming parameters are pre-established before D2D communication begins. This allows devices to skip extensive beamforming training when establishing D2D links, reducing overhead while maintaining communication quality through the pre-configured beamforming parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by allowing a device to obtain and use beamforming parameters from another device's communication with the access point. Instead of performing independent beamforming training, devices copy the beamforming configuration information from over-listened communications, significantly reducing the complexity of establishing D2D links
2Measurement precision
If extensive beamforming training is performed to establish D2D links, then optimal transmit sectors are identified, but time and overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary beamforming training with each device individually before D2D communication occurs. This pre-established beamforming information is then reused for D2D link establishment, achieving accurate sector identification without the time penalty of performing extensive training for each D2D link
Solution Approach 2:
The access point acts as an intermediary that facilitates beamforming parameter acquisition. Devices obtain beamforming information by listening to communications between the access point and other devices, allowing accurate sector identification through the intermediary's pre-configured parameters rather than direct device-to-device training
3Reliability
If beamforming training is performed for all possible D2D links, then communication reliability is maximized, but system overhead becomes unsustainable with large numbers of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the beamforming parameters obtained through over-listening applicable to multiple D2D communication scenarios. A single beamforming training session with the access point enables multiple devices to establish reliable D2D links using the same pre-configured parameters, reducing overhead from exponential to linear scaling with device count
Solution Approach 2:
Devices perform self-service by autonomously acquiring beamforming parameters through over-listening to access point communications. This eliminates the need for the system to coordinate and manage beamforming training for every possible D2D link pair, significantly reducing control overhead while maintaining reliability through self-configured beamforming
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for device-to-device (D2D) communication between a first device and a second device. The first device receives a communication transmitted by the second device, where the communication is intended for another recipient other than the first device. The communication provides information for the first device to determine a preferred transmit sector to be used by the second device for the D2D communication. The first device transmits a communication to the second device that provides information indentifying the preferred transmit sector to be used by the second device. As a receiver in the D2D communication, the first device receives data from the second device, transmitted on the preferred transmit sector. As a transmitter in the D2D communication, the first device transmits data to the second device on a preferred transmit sector identified in another communication received from the second device.