Millimeter-Wave Beam Training With Sector Sweep Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) technologies face challenges in efficiently utilizing millimeter wave bands for high-speed communication due to signal attenuation, diffraction, and beam misalignment, which affect transmission efficiency and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sector sweep frames for beamforming using sub-carriers in the millimeter wave band, including sector IDs and sub-carrier indices, allows for adaptive beam training and alignment, optimizing signal transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If millimeter wave band is used for high-speed wireless communication, then transmission speed is improved, but signal attenuation and beam misalignment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beamforming training before actual data transmission. The access point transmits sector sweep frames containing training signals in different beam directions before communication begins. This preliminary beam alignment ensures that both devices know the optimal beam directions in advance, preventing beam misalignment during high-speed transmission and thereby resolving the contradiction between high transmission speed and signal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the sector sweep frame structure, where the receiving device measures signal strength for different beam directions and feeds back this information to the transmitting device. The feedback includes received power information for each beam direction, allowing the transmitting device to adjust its beamforming weights and select the optimal beam direction. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable signal transmission even at millimeter wave frequencies by continuously optimizing beam alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If beamforming is implemented for millimeter wave communication, then transmission accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the beamforming process into discrete sectors. Instead of continuously adjusting beam directions, the system divides the angular space into multiple sectors and transmits training signals in each sector sequentially. This segmentation simplifies the beamforming control by reducing continuous optimization problems into discrete sector-based operations, making the system more manageable while maintaining accurate beam alignment for millimeter wave communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting beamforming weights and spatial filters based on feedback information. The system changes parameters such as beam direction, beam width, and weight distribution according to the received power measurements from sector sweep frames. This parameter adaptation allows the system to achieve accurate beam transmission without requiring complex hardware modifications, as the complexity is managed through software-based parameter optimization rather than hardware complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device according to one embodiment may comprise a wireless communication circuit for transmitting and receiving wireless signals. The electronic device may comprise: a processor operatively connected to the wireless communication circuit; and a memory for storing instructions. When executed individually or collectively by the processor, the instructions cause the electronic device to: transmit, on the basis of subcarriers in a millimeter wave band, one or more sector sweep frames for beamforming; and receive feedback information about the one or more sector sweep frames through the millimeter wave band. The feedback information can include: a sector ID of a sector sweep frame received as the strongest signal from an external electronic device, from among the one or more sector sweep frames; and a subcarrier index of the sector sweep frame received as the strongest signal.