Mobile Beamforming Channel Sounding with Selective Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing IEEE 802.11ac beamforming process is inefficient when dealing with multiple recipients, as it requires significant airtime to transmit beamforming messages and obtain feedback matrices from all devices, leading to prolonged interruptions in Wi-Fi data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A method where a beamforming system identifies and prioritizes devices that have moved beyond a threshold distance, allowing the beamformer to skip unnecessary feedback matrix requests and adjust signal projection accordingly, thereby reducing the number of recipients involved in the beamforming process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the beamformer transmits beamforming messages and obtains feedback matrices from all devices, then the beamforming process maintains comprehensive channel information, but the airtime required increases significantly and data transmission interruptions are prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeamforming channel information completenessVSAvoidairtime for beamforming process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selecting only a subset of beamformees (those who have moved beyond a threshold distance) to participate in the beamforming process, rather than including all associated beamformees. This reduces the number of feedback matrix requests and decreases the time required for beamforming cycles, while still maintaining sufficient channel information for effective beamforming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the beamforming process includes all associated beamformees, then channel information is comprehensive, but the number of recipients increases and processing complexity rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel information completenessVSAvoidnumber of recipients in beamforming process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent filters the list of beamformees to include only those who have moved beyond a threshold distance from the beamformer. This partial selection reduces the number of recipients that need to be processed in each beamforming cycle, decreasing system complexity while maintaining adequate channel information for effective signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If the beamformer waits for feedback from all beamformees, then complete feedback is obtained, but the time required for beamforming cycles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback matrix completenessVSAvoidbeamforming cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent obtains feedback matrices only from a selected subset of beamformees (those who have moved beyond the threshold distance) rather than waiting for feedback from all associated beamformees. This partial feedback approach reduces the beamforming cycle duration and increases throughput, while still obtaining sufficient feedback information for effective beamforming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3639548B1Method and device for channel sounding
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP3639548B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3639548B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3639548B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

It is provided a method performed by a beamformer device for channel sounding in a network comprising a beamformer device and at least one beamformee device, the method comprises in each round of channel sounding, sending an announcement message including identification information of beamformee devices included in a list when the list is not empty and clearing the list, wherein the beamformee devices included in the list have moved a distance exceeding a threshold value.