Enhanced Sector Sweep for Millimeter-Wave MIMO Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beamforming training protocols in millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless networks, such as those proposed in IEEE 802.11ay, face challenges in efficiently managing multiple user devices and optimizing beamforming settings, leading to increased latency and power consumption, especially as the number of connected users grows.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an enhanced Sector Level Sweep (SLS) beamforming protocol that allows for simultaneous training of multiple user devices using enhanced Sector Sweep (ESSW) frames, which include training units (TRN) to determine optimal beamforming settings, enabling efficient beamforming even with a large number of users by separating legacy and advanced device training phases and utilizing reciprocity in transmit/receive modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional beamforming training protocols are used with increasing numbers of users, then the system can support more users, but the beamforming duration and latency increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple user beamforming training into a single simultaneous process using one SSW frame to train multiple users at once, rather than training users sequentially. This merging of training operations reduces the overall beamforming duration while supporting multiple users, directly resolving the contradiction between supporting more users and reducing training time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by having users transmit feedback frames (SSW-FB) containing channel state information before the actual data transmission begins. This preliminary feedback collection enables the access point to pre-calculate beamforming weights and allocate resources efficiently, reducing the time needed for subsequent beamforming operations and supporting more users without proportionally increasing training duration.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional beamforming training protocols are used with increasing numbers of users, then the system can support more users, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple user training operations into a single simultaneous process, which reduces the total time the system needs to be in active training state. By training multiple users concurrently rather than sequentially, the overall power consumption increases less rapidly with the number of users, as the system can utilize feedback frames and pre-calculated beamforming weights to reduce redundant training operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where users transmit SSW-FB frames containing channel state information back to the access point. This feedback enables the access point to adapt beamforming weights and allocate resources more efficiently, reducing the need for repeated training iterations and lowering overall power consumption as the number of users increases.
3Loss of time
If enhanced Sector Level Sweep protocol is implemented, then beamforming duration growth with number of users is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beamforming training process into distinct phases: a feedback frame transmission phase where users send SSW-FB frames with channel state information, and a data transmission phase where pre-calculated beamforming weights are applied. This segmentation allows the system to reduce beamforming duration by performing calculations in advance during the feedback phase, while the added protocol complexity is managed through standardized frame structures (SSW, SSW-FB) that maintain compatibility with existing devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Generally discussed herein are devices and methods for MIMO communications. A device can include processing circuitry (e.g., PHY and/or MAC layer circuitry) configured to transmit an enhanced sector sweep (ESSW) frame for each of a plurality of transmit sectors, wherein each of the plurality of transmit sectors correspond to a weight vector for the first plurality of antennas, each ESSW frame including a plurality of training units to simultaneously beamforming train one or more responder STAs, receive an SSW feedback frame, each SSW feedback frame indicating a transmit sector of the plurality of transmit sectors and a receive sector of a corresponding STA of the one or more STAs to be used in communication between the initiator STA and the responder STA, and transmit one or more SSW acknowledgement frames to the one or more responder STAs to verify the transmit sector and receive sector to use for communication.