Parallel Sounding in Wireless LAN Access Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for wireless local area networks are inefficient as they require sequential sounding measurements from multiple stations, leading to unacceptable delays due to the need for individual announce and null data packet messages, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An access point can request parallel sounding measurements from multiple stations by transmitting a broadcast or multicast announce message containing unicast recipient addresses, allowing simultaneous responses with optimized interframe spacing to minimize delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential sounding measurements are performed for each station using individual announce and NDP messages, then each station receives dedicated sounding information, but the time delay between measurements becomes unacceptable and efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual sounding procedures into a single parallel sounding operation. Multiple stations receive a common announce message and NDP message simultaneously, allowing them to perform sounding measurements in parallel rather than sequentially. This merging of procedures maintains measurement accuracy while dramatically reducing the time delay between measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The announce message and NDP message are designed to serve multiple stations simultaneously rather than being dedicated to a single station. The messages contain information that can be processed by multiple stations, making the sounding procedure universal and enabling parallel execution across multiple stations without requiring separate dedicated messages for each station.
2Reliability
If individual announce and NDP messages are sent to each station, then dedicated sounding information is provided, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual messaging procedures are merged into a single parallel messaging operation. The access point sends one announce message and one NDP message that are received by multiple stations simultaneously, combining what would otherwise be multiple separate transmission sequences into a single efficient operation that maintains reliable information delivery while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The announce message is transmitted preliminarily to multiple stations before the NDP message, allowing all stations to be prepared and synchronized for receiving the sounding information simultaneously. This preliminary action to multiple stations at once sets up the conditions for efficient parallel measurement execution.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a method and apparatus for obtaining sounding measurements between an access point and a wireless station within a wireless local area network are described. Some embodiments relate to Wi-Fi networks and networks operating in accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Some embodiments may allow an access point to request that multiple stations compute sounding measurements with minimal time delay between measurements. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.