Directional Antenna Broadcast Multicast Frame Ordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless local area networks (WLANs) face inefficiencies in broadcast and multicast operations, particularly in achieving high throughput and low latency, especially in next-generation 60 GHz WLANs like IEEE 802.11ay, due to sequential transmission overhead and interference.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting an announcement frame indicating a broadcast or multicast service period with an end time and frame order, using directional or quasi-omni-directional antenna patterns, and receiving acknowledgement frames, allowing for simultaneous and efficient frame transmission and spatial reuse, reducing inter-frame spacing and leveraging beamforming training for connectivity maps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sequential transmission is used for broadcast and multicast frames, then transmission reliability is improved through acknowledgement frames, but transmission time and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcast/multicast transmission is segmented into multiple service periods, each handling a subset of recipient devices. The announcing device divides the overall transmission task into manageable chunks, allowing parallel processing of different frame sequences to different device groups, thereby reducing total transmission time while maintaining reliability through segmented acknowledgment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential single-dimension transmission to parallel multi-dimension transmission by creating multiple beamformed paths simultaneously. Different sequences of frames are transmitted along different spatial dimensions (beams) to different recipient devices or device groups at the same time, dramatically reducing overall transmission time while maintaining individual frame reliability.
2Productivity
If directional antenna patterns are used for frame transmission, then data rate and spectrum efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases due to beamforming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Beamforming training is performed in advance to establish connectivity maps and predetermined beam paths between the announcing device and recipient devices. This preliminary action stores the necessary spatial information and beam configurations, allowing the system to reuse these pre-established paths for subsequent frame transmissions without performing complex real-time beamforming calculations, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining high data rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of frame sequences and transmits them along different beamformed paths simultaneously. Instead of sequentially sending identical frames through a single complex beamforming process, the system replicates the transmission across multiple pre-configured beam paths, simplifying the transmission process while achieving spatial diversity and high throughput.
3Productivity
If multiple sequences of frames are transmitted simultaneously to multiple recipient devices, then throughput is improved, but interference between transmissions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transmission characteristics to different spatial locations by using beamforming to direct each frame sequence along a specific directional path tailored to the recipient device's location. Each beam is optimized for its local spatial region, allowing simultaneous transmissions to different locations without mutual interference, thereby achieving high throughput while eliminating harmful interference effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial separation through beamforming as an intermediary mechanism between simultaneous frame transmissions. By using directional beams as intermediaries that carry frame sequences to specific recipient devices, the system enables parallel transmissions without direct interference, as each beam acts as an isolated transmission channel in its designated spatial direction.
4Reliability
If announcement frames are transmitted using quasi-omni-directional patterns, then all recipient devices receive the announcement reliably, but transmission power is dispersed and data rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The announcement transmission is segmented into multiple directional beams that collectively cover all recipient device locations. Instead of using a single quasi-omni-directional pattern that disperses power, the system divides the announcement transmission into multiple focused directional segments, each targeting a specific spatial region or device group, thereby concentrating power in each direction while ensuring all devices receive their localized announcement reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic transmission of announcement frames across different beamformed directions in a systematic sequence. By periodically cycling through different directional beams to cover all recipient devices, the system achieves reliable announcement delivery to all devices while maintaining high data rates through focused directional transmissions, rather than continuously using power-dispersive omnni-directional patterns.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances spectrum efficiency, data rate, and reduces latency, enabling efficient multicast/broadcast schemes in applications like Video/Mass-Data Distribution/Video on Demand Systems under IEEE 802.11ay or other standards.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, at the first wireless communication device using a directional antenna pattern, the each of the sequence of frames to the respective one of the number of second wireless communication devices
Implementation Method 2
transmitting the announcement frame includes transmitting the announcement frame using a quasi-omni-directional antenna pattern
Implementation Method 3
leveraging beamforming training for connectivity maps
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to broadcast and multicast in a wireless communication system. In some implementations, an announcement frame indicating a broadcast or multicast service period to multiple second wireless devices is transmitted by a first wireless device. The announcement frame indicates (i) an end time of the broadcast or multicast service period and (ii) an order of a sequence of frames to be directed to the multiple second wireless devices. Each of the sequence of frames is transmitted at the first wireless device using a directional antenna pattern to a respective one of the multiple second wireless devices, according to the order of the sequence of frames indicated in the announcement frame. An acknowledgement frame in response to the each of the sequence of frames is received at the first wireless device from the respective one of the multiple second wireless devices.