MIMO Spatial Stream Advertisement Proactive Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MIMO systems are reactive and inefficient in optimizing spatial stream selection, leading to improper stream selection and delayed adaptation to changing conditions, resulting in suboptimal network performance and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method where stations proactively reduce their advertised number of spatial streams based on throughput thresholds, allowing access points to allocate resources more efficiently and correct improper stream selection, with either the access point or station determining the level of reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stations reactively reduce spatial stream advertisements based on poor network quality, then stream selection optimization occurs, but adaptation delay increases and airtime is wasted due to retransmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having stations proactively reduce their advertised spatial stream capability before actual network degradation occurs. The station monitors its own throughput performance and preemptively re-advertises with reduced spatial stream support when throughput falls below a threshold, thereby avoiding the need for reactive correction after poor performance has already occurred. This eliminates the adaptation delay and retransmission waste associated with reactive systems.
2Reliability
If stations reactively adjust spatial stream advertisements, then feedback optimization occurs, but airtime is consumed during retransmissions that could be used for other transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The station performs preliminary action by monitoring its throughput and proactively re-advertising with reduced spatial stream capability before network conditions deteriorate to the point requiring correction. This prevents the need for retransmissions during the adjustment period, as the station has already prepared the reduced capability advertisement in advance, thereby eliminating the airtime loss that would occur with reactive feedback systems.
3Productivity
If stations initially advertise maximum spatial streams, then capability utilization is maximized, but improper stream selection occurs due to environmental influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static maximum capability advertisement to a dynamic advertisement that adapts to real-time network conditions. The station continuously monitors its throughput performance and dynamically adjusts its spatial stream advertisement accordingly. When throughput falls below the threshold, the station proactively re-advertises with reduced spatial stream support, enabling the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions while maintaining both capability utilization and selection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A station (STA), which supports multiple spatial streams, can, and sometimes does, re-advertise the station as supporting less spatial stream (SS) than the actual number of spatial streams that the device does actually support. In some embodiments, a station's maximum advertised maximum number of spatial streams is proactively reduced based on the station's throughput being below one or more thresholds. In some embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the access point. In some other embodiments, the analysis and level of spatial stream value to be reported in a re-advertisement is determined by the station. The access point allocating its limited supported spatial streams among stations is able to more efficiently allocate the air link resources.