MU-MIMO OFDMA Resource Allocation via Segmented HE-SIG-B Fields

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless networking technologies, particularly in MU-MIMO and OFDMA communications, face challenges in efficiently allocating resource units and spatial streams in high-density scenarios, leading to suboptimal performance and increased power consumption in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

A method for wireless devices to determine and allocate resource units by parsing HE-SIG-B frames, which include subfields indicating the number of users and type of resource allocation, allowing for efficient allocation of spatial streams and modulation schemes, thereby optimizing MU-MIMO and OFDMA transmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If resource allocation information is communicated to stations in MU OFDMA transmissions, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments resource allocation information into distinct fields within the HE-SIG-B structure, organizing allocation data by user and resource unit. This segmentation allows stations to efficiently parse only relevant allocation information without processing entire frames, reducing complexity while maintaining allocation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary encoding and organization of resource allocation information in the HE-SIG-B field before transmission. By pre-structuring the allocation data with clear field definitions and formats, stations can perform straightforward decoding operations rather than complex real-time analysis, reducing processing complexity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If resource allocation information is communicated to stations in MU OFDMA transmissions, then throughput is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates critical resource allocation information into dedicated fields within HE-SIG-B, separating essential allocation data from other frame information. This extraction allows battery-operated stations to focus processing energy only on decoding relevant allocation fields rather than entire frames, reducing power consumption while maintaining throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial processing where stations decode only the portions of HE-SIG-B containing their allocated resource information rather than fully decoding all allocation data. This partial action approach reduces processing power consumption for battery-operated devices while still achieving the necessary throughput for their specific allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If HE-SIG-B fields include detailed resource allocation subfields, then allocation precision is improved, but frame complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation precisionVSAvoidframe complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed allocation information specifically in the fields relevant to each user's resource units, rather than uniformly detailed information for all resources. Each user receives precise allocation data for their specific RUs while avoiding unnecessary complexity from other users' allocation details, balancing precision with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3357175B1Resource allocation indication for multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 NEWRACOM INC
  • EP3357175B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3357175B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3357175B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A wireless device receives a frame including a first Resource Unit (RU) allocation subfield including resource information for a first frequency area and indicating a first number of user fields in a first channel that correspond to the first frequency area, and a second RU allocation subfield including resource information for a second frequency area and indicating of a second number of user fields in a second channel that correspond to the second frequency area. When the first and second frequency areas are a same RU, the wireless device determines, using both the RU allocation subfields, a number of users allocated to the same RU. A wireless device generates and transmits a frame including first and second RU allocation subfields as described above. When the first and second frequency area are a same RU, both the RU allocation subfields indicates a number of users allocated to the same RU.