HE-SIG-B Phase Scrambling for Lower WLAN Peak Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless local area network (WLAN) devices face performance degradation due to increased interference and high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in wireless communications, particularly in scenarios with repeated information in the HE-SIG-B field, leading to reduced transmit power and coverage.

Innovation Solution

Scrambling of the HE-SIG-B field is performed using a predetermined scrambling seed value, which can be broadcasted in management frames or conveyed in the SIG-A field, to randomize repeated bits and reduce PAPR, involving phase rotation and scrambling operations within each HE-SIG-B field channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If repeated information is used in the HE-SIG-B field for robust transmission, then reliability is improved, but peak-to-average power ratio increases causing transmit power reduction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmit power
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the HE-SIG-B field content through scrambling operations. A scrambling seed value is used to randomize the repeated information bits, transforming the signal characteristics while preserving the information content. This changes the parameter distribution of the transmitted signal, reducing peak power occurrences while maintaining the reliability benefits of repeated information transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If repeated information is used in the HE-SIG-B field for robust transmission, then reliability is improved, but coverage is reduced due to high PAPR

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes through scrambling to modify the signal's power distribution characteristics. By applying a scrambling sequence to the HE-SIG-B field, the signal transitions from having high peak power values to a more uniform power distribution, enabling transmission at higher average power levels that extend coverage area while maintaining the reliability advantages of repeated information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If scrambling is applied to HE-SIG-B field to reduce PAPR, then transmit power efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmit power efficiencyVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by performing the scrambling operation on the HE-SIG-B field before transmission. The scrambling seed value is predetermined and available at both transmitter and receiver, allowing the scrambling and unscrambling operations to be executed efficiently using simple XOR operations. This preliminary processing reduces PAPR and improves power efficiency without requiring complex real-time signal processing during transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3353901B1Apparatus and method for scrambling control field information for wireless communications
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 ATLAS GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP3353901B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3353901B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3353901B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

In wireless communications, a high-efficiency (HE) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) includes an HE signal-B (SIG-B) field. In order to prevent undesirably large peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) transmissions caused by repeated information in the HE SIG-B field, the HE SIG-B field may be scrambled. Scrambling of the HE SIG-B field may include scrambling of modulated data tones of each of one or more HE SIG-B field channels of the HE SIG-B field. This scrambling may include applying a phase rotation to the modulated data tones within each of the one or more HE SIG-B field channels. This scrambling (or phase rotation) is performed in addition to a phase rotation applied to each entire HE SIG-B field channel that is commonly referred to as a gamma rotation.