NDPA Frame Indication Using Reserved Sounding Bits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing NDPA frame format in IEEE 802.11be Draft 1.0 is limited to indicating only a few variants, such as VHT, HE, and EHT R1, and does not support future amendments.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced NDPA frame format is introduced, utilizing additional bits in the sounding dialog token field to indicate the presence of a second field, which can support future NDPA variants, including vendor-specific frames, without creating an additional control frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the existing NDPA frame format is used, then the frame structure is simple and legacy devices can understand it, but it can only indicate a limited number of NDPA variants and does not support future amendments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a variant indication field within the existing sounding dialog token field of the NDPA frame. By nesting the new functionality inside an existing field structure, the patent enables support for multiple NDPA variants without adding external frame elements, thus maintaining simplicity while increasing adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes bits within the sounding dialog token field that were previously unused or reserved, effectively adding a new dimension of information encoding within the existing frame structure. This allows the frame to carry additional variant information without increasing overall frame size or complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional bits are added to indicate NDPA variants, then future variants can be supported, but the frame size and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sounding dialog token field is designed to serve multiple functions: it maintains its original role in dialog token identification while simultaneously encoding NDPA variant information. This multi-functionality allows the same field to support both legacy operations and new variant indication capabilities without increasing frame size
3Adaptability or versatility
If a new control frame is created to support future variants, then extensibility is achieved, but device complexity and protocol overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the variant indication functionality with the existing NDPA frame structure by utilizing the sounding dialog token field. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate control frames or additional signaling mechanisms, achieving extensibility while maintaining protocol simplicity
4Adaptability or versatility
If the sounding dialog token field is used to indicate variants, then frame format is enhanced, but backward compatibility with legacy devices must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using specific bit positions within the sounding dialog token field for variant indication while preserving the overall field structure. Legacy devices can ignore the variant indication bits and process the frame according to existing protocols, while new devices can interpret the variant information, thus maintaining backward compatibility while enabling forward functionality
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus related to NDPA frame indication. An aspect of the disclosure provides a method. The method includes sending, to one or more stations (STAs), a request for channel state information (CSI). The request includes a null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame including a first field and a second field. The first field indicates presence of the second field, and the second field indicates a variant of the NDPA frame. The method further includes receiving, from the one or more STAs, a CSI feedback response based on the request. In some embodiments, the first field is one of a sounding dialog token field and indicates the presence of the second field via at least two bits. In some embodiments, the first field is a frame control field and indicates the second field via a 4-bit subtype subfield.