Multi-User Beamforming via Virtual Sector Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely deployed wireless local area networks (WLANs) using the IEEE 802.11ad standard, interference between neighboring devices can harm performance, and inefficient beamforming can cause transmission delays or failures, especially in high-data-rate applications like ultra-high definition video streaming.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual grouping technique that allows for simultaneous transmission to multiple receivers by identifying and grouping them into orthogonal virtual sectors, reducing mutual interference and beamforming time without additional computational overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If simultaneous transmission to multiple stations is implemented, then network throughput and capacity are improved, but interference between transmissions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spatial domain into multiple orthogonal virtual sectors using virtual sector grouping (VSG). By dividing the transmission space into orthogonal sectors, the system can simultaneously transmit to multiple stations in different sectors without interference, thus improving throughput while controlling interference through spatial segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual dimension by creating virtual sectors that are orthogonal to each other in the spatial domain. This dimensional approach allows simultaneous transmissions to occur in different virtual sector directions, enabling multiple users to communicate without interfering with each other, thereby resolving the contradiction between throughput improvement and interference control.
2Reliability
If traditional beamforming techniques are used, then directional communication is achieved, but beamforming time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary sector grouping and orthogonality determination during the beamforming training phase. By pre-establishing virtual sector groupings and identifying orthogonal relationships in advance, the system reduces the computational overhead and time required during actual data transmission, as the beamforming configurations are already optimized from the training phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beamforming parameters by introducing virtual sector grouping identifiers and orthogonality indicators. These parameter changes allow the system to quickly identify and select orthogonal virtual sectors for simultaneous transmissions without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing beamforming time while maintaining directional communication reliability.
3Reliability
If more feedback overhead is added to improve transmission efficiency, then transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the virtual sector grouping information serve multiple functions: it identifies orthogonal transmission directions, enables simultaneous transmission scheduling, and provides interference mitigation guidance. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable simultaneous transmissions without requiring separate feedback mechanisms for each function, thereby reducing overall feedback overhead while maintaining transmission reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing beamforming training feedback to self-determine orthogonality relationships between virtual sectors. By leveraging the feedback already collected during training to automatically identify orthogonal configurations, the system eliminates the need for additional dedicated feedback overhead, achieving reliable transmission scheduling through self-service mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for simultaneous transmission between a transmitter and a plurality of receivers. The transmitter receives information identifying respective preferred transmission sectors for transmission from the transmitter to each receiver. The transmitter transmits a first multi-user simultaneous transmission to a first set of two or more receivers. The first set of receivers is selected for the first set by identifying that the preferred transmission sectors for transmission to the first set of receivers are included in a first virtual grouping of two or more transmission sectors. The two or more transmission sectors belonging to the first virtual grouping are defined by the transmitter.