Multi-AP Coordinated Beamforming for EHT Wi-Fi

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies, particularly in IEEE 802.11 standards and Extremely High Throughput (EHT) Wi-Fi, face challenges in achieving optimal beamforming techniques to manage increasing demand for wireless channel access and interference from multiple access points.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multi-access point coordinated beamforming (CBF) through a sequential sounding sequence, where an access point acts as a master to initiate and decode CSI reports from both associated and overlapping BSS and OBSS STAs, allowing for the determination of direct and interfering channel information to optimize beamforming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multi-AP coordinated beamforming is implemented to achieve higher throughput, then data transmission rate is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple APs coordinating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beamforming process into distinct phases: sounding sequence initiation by master AP, CSI report collection from multiple APs, and coordinated transmission. Each AP operates semi-independently with defined roles (master/AP participating), reducing overall system complexity while enabling multi-AP coordination for higher throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The master AP acts as an intermediary that coordinates the sounding sequence and collects CSI reports from multiple APs. This intermediary role simplifies the coordination complexity by centralizing control while still enabling distributed beamforming across multiple APs to achieve higher data transmission rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If sequential sounding sequence is used to collect CSI reports from multiple STAs, then channel information accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel information accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic sounding sequences where the master AP initiates regular CSI collection cycles. Multiple APs participate in structured phases (sounding, reporting, feedback) that repeat periodically, ensuring accurate channel information is collected systematically while managing time consumption through efficient phase transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The master AP preliminarily determines the sounding sequence and allocates resources before actual CSI collection begins. This preliminary setup includes identifying participating APs, configuring sounding parameters, and preparing for efficient sequential reporting, which reduces time consumption during the actual measurement phase while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11621753B2Multi-AP coordinated beamforming (CBF) for extremely high throughput (EHT)

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An access point (AP) may operate as a master AP (AP1) to perform multi-AP coordinated beamforming (CBF). The AP1 may to initiate a first sounding sequence with one or more STAs associated with the AP1 (BSS STAs) and the one or more STAs associated with a second AP (AP2) (OBSS STAs). In these embodiments, initiation of the first sounding sequence triggers the AP2 to join the sounding sequence to initiate a second sound sequence with the BSS STAs and the OBSS STAs.