Full-Duplex Access Point Spatial Channel Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi networks operate in a half-duplex mode, where access points (APs) and stations (STAs) can either transmit or receive data at a given time, but not simultaneously, limiting network performance and requiring expensive full-duplex capable devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an access point (AP) selecting stations (STAs) for concurrent uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) communications based on signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) measurements, allowing the AP to transmit DL data to one STA while receiving UL data from another STA on different wireless channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If half-duplex mode is used in Wi-Fi networks, then device complexity is reduced, but medium utilization and data throughput are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless communication system into half-duplex STAs and a full-duplex AP, where the AP performs both receiving and transmitting operations simultaneously on different spatial channels while STAs maintain simpler half-duplex operation. This segmentation allows full-duplex functionality to be achieved without requiring all devices to have expensive full-duplex capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The AP is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a transmitter and receiver simultaneously on different spatial channels. This universal design enables the AP to handle both uplink and downlink communications concurrently, improving medium utilization without requiring every STA to have full-duplex capabilities.
2Productivity
If full-duplex capable devices are deployed, then medium utilization improves, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments full-duplex functionality to only the AP level rather than requiring it at the STA level. This allows most devices (STAs) to remain as inexpensive half-duplex devices while the AP, which naturally requires advanced capabilities for coordinated communication, implements full-duplex operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses spatial channels as a form of copying or virtualization, where multiple communication streams are multiplexed across different spatial dimensions. This allows the system to achieve full-duplex throughput benefits without requiring physical full-duplex capabilities at every device, effectively copying the full-duplex function across spatial channels.
3Productivity
If concurrent uplink and downlink communications are implemented, then data throughput increases, but cross-interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication spectrum into different spatial channels, allowing uplink and downlink transmissions to occur simultaneously on separate spatial dimensions. This spatial segmentation enables concurrent communications while isolating interfering signals to specific spatial channels, managing cross-interference through spatial separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different quality characteristics to different spatial channels, optimizing transmission parameters locally for each spatial channel based on its specific interference conditions. This allows concurrent uplink and downlink communications to proceed with minimized cross-interference by tailoring local transmission characteristics to each spatial channel's conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatuses for implementing full-duplex communications at an access point (AP) without configuring or modifying associated stations (STAs) to operate as full duplex devices. In some implementations, the AP may select at least one of one or more first STAs to transmit uplink (UL) data to the AP, determine a downlink (DL) signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) for each of one or more second STAs, select at least one of the one or more second STAs to pair with the selected at least one first STA for concurrent DL and UL communications with the AP based at least in part on the determined SINRs, and transmit DL data to the selected at least one second STA concurrently with receiving at least a portion of the UL data from the selected at least one first STA.