OFDMA Uplink Trigger Frame Segmentation for Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE 802.11 wireless communication standard faces inefficiencies due to significant overhead in frame transmissions, particularly at higher traffic conditions, where the benefits of broadcast trigger frames are outweighed by complexity, extra transmissions, and time required for overhead information.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple directed trigger frames, known as unicast trigger frames, within a single physical layer convergence protocol data unit (PPDU), which allows for reduced overhead and simplified signaling by integrating trigger information directly into data frames or transmitting it separately, and the use of a block acknowledgement scheme that allocates resource units to stations in the same order as their downlink transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If broadcast trigger frames are used to enable random access mechanism for OFDMA transmission, then uplink data transmission efficiency is improved, but transmission overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trigger frame information into two parts: common trigger information broadcast to all stations, and station-specific trigger information transmitted individually to each station. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the benefits of trigger-based OFDMA while reducing the overhead associated with broadcasting complete trigger frames to all stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and separates the station-specific trigger information from the common broadcast trigger frame. By taking out the individual station parameters and transmitting them separately, the system reduces the amount of data that needs to be broadcast to all stations, thereby reducing overall transmission overhead while maintaining uplink efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broadcast trigger frames are transmitted separately prior to data transmissions, then random access mechanism is enabled, but device complexity increases due to computing trigger frame parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of common trigger parameters and distributes them in advance through broadcast messages. By pre-computing and distributing the common parameters before the actual data transmission, the system enables the random access mechanism while reducing the real-time computational complexity at both the access point and station levels.
3Productivity
If broadcast trigger frames are used, then OFDMA uplink transmission is enabled, but time required for sending overhead information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the common trigger information with the downlink data transmission by including it in the downlink frame structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate trigger frame transmissions, thereby reducing the time required for sending overhead information while still enabling OFDMA uplink transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Managing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) uplink acknowledgements is described herein. An example system can include an interface circuit to generate a physical layer convergence protocol data unit (PPDU) including a physical layer preamble, a first sub-channel field corresponding to a first station, and a second sub-channel field corresponding to a second station. The first sub-channel field can carry a first unicast trigger corresponding to the first station, and the second sub-channel field can carry a second unicast trigger corresponding to the second station. The interface circuit can also transmit the PPDU to the first and second stations.