Partial-Bandwidth MU-MIMO Signaling for Mixed Wi‑Fi User Bandwidths

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication technologies, such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO, face challenges in optimizing transmission efficiency and throughput for users with varying bandwidth capabilities, leading to reduced performance for users with stronger capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a partial-bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission mode where users with different bandwidth capabilities can perform MU-MIMO transmission over a partial bandwidth, allowing full-bandwidth users to maintain their transmission efficiency and throughput without reducing their bandwidth range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If OFDMA or MU-MIMO transmission modes are used to allow simultaneous transmission with multiple users, then transmission efficiency and system throughput are improved, but bandwidth for transmission of users with strong capabilities is reduced, affecting their throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidbandwidth capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth into different portions: a first bandwidth allocated for MU-MIMO transmission with multiple users, and a second bandwidth allocated for single-user transmission. This segmentation allows users with strong capabilities to utilize the second bandwidth at full capacity while still benefiting from multi-user transmission in the first bandwidth, thereby resolving the contradiction between system throughput and individual bandwidth capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission modes to different bandwidth portions: MU-MIMO mode is applied to the first bandwidth for multi-user service, while single-user mode is applied to the second bandwidth for high-capability users. This local differentiation of transmission quality and mode ensures that each user type receives appropriate service according to their capabilities, maintaining both system efficiency and individual performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If maximum supported bandwidths of different users are considered equal, then transmission modes can be simplified, but users with strong capabilities cannot achieve optimal throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission mode complexityVSAvoiduser throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth selection based on user capability identification. The access point determines whether a user has strong capabilities and dynamically allocates either the first bandwidth (for MU-MIMO) or the second bandwidth (for single-user high-speed transmission). This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain simplicity in transmission modes while achieving optimal throughput for each user type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4716329A1Communication method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4716329A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4716329A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d
  • EP4716329A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4d

AI summary

A communication method and apparatus applicable to the field of communication technologies are provided, for example, applied to a wireless local area network system that supports a next-generation Wi-Fi protocol of IEEE 802.11ax, for example, 802.11be, Wi-Fi 7, or EHT; a next generation of 802.11be, for example, 802.11bn, Wi-Fi 8, or UHR; and an 802.11 series protocol like the integrated millimeter wave (IMMW) protocol, and may be further applied to a UWB-based wireless personal area network system and a sensing (sensing) system. The communication method may include: A first communication apparatus generates a PPDU, and sends the PPDU. Then, a second communication apparatus receives the PPDU, and learns, based on the PPDU, that a transmission mode of the PPDU is a partial-bandwidth MU-MIMO transmission mode. According to the method, a throughput of a user is effectively improved, and transmission efficiency is improved.