Greenfield Preamble Structure for Wireless Control Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

In advanced wireless communication systems, preambles occupy a significant portion of traffic and face challenges in efficiently relaying control information due to shrinking bandwidth resources, necessitating an efficient method for preamble transmission and reception that is compliant with evolving communication protocols.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for receiving a preamble in multi-user MIMO communications, comprising a short training field, a first long training field, a first signal field, one or more additional long training fields, and a second signal field, which allows for time or frequency acquisition, channel estimation, and control information retrieval, with features such as cyclic redundancy check masking to differentiate between single-user and multi-user preambles, and indications of operating bandwidth and data transmission aggregation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If preambles are transmitted before every data transmission to provide channel conditions and control information, then communication reliability is improved, but the volume of traffic increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidvolume of traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The preamble is segmented into multiple fields with distinct functions: short training field (STF) for timing synchronization, long training fields (LTF) for channel estimation, and signal (SIG) fields for control information. This segmentation allows each field to be optimized for its specific purpose while collectively providing comprehensive communication parameters without redundant repetitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The preamble structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: timing acquisition, frequency offset estimation, channel state information (CSI) acquisition, and control information transmission. By combining these functions into a single multi-functional preamble structure, the system eliminates the need for separate transmission blocks for each function, thereby reducing overall traffic volume while maintaining communication reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If preambles are used to carry more control information in advanced communications systems, then protocol compliance is improved, but bandwidth resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol complianceVSAvoidbandwidth resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different fields within the preamble are assigned different qualities and purposes: the STF provides coarse timing with higher robustness, the LTF provides precise channel estimation with higher precision, and the SIG fields provide control information with variable length. This local differentiation allows the preamble to accommodate advanced protocol requirements without uniformly increasing bandwidth consumption across the entire preamble structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The preamble structure incorporates dynamic elements where the SIG fields can vary in length and content based on the specific communication scenario and protocol requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the preamble to carry necessary control information for advanced protocols while minimizing unnecessary bandwidth consumption by only including required fields for each specific transmission scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4221045A1Method and apparatus for receiving a preamble in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2023.08.02 INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS INC
  • EP4221045A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4221045A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4221045A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A method and apparatus for transmission and reception of a Greenfield preamble are provided. In the method and apparatus, the Greenfield preamble may be a single user (SU) preamble or a multi user (MU) preamble. As an MU preamble, the Greenfield preamble includes a short training field (STF), a first long training field (LTF), a first signal (SIG) field, at least one additional LTF, and a second SIG field. Additionally, the Greenfield preamble may be utilized for efficient transmission and reception of control information to wireless devices, whereby the control information may be indicated using the STF, the first LTF, or the first or second SIG fields.