Per-STA Puncturing Negotiation for OFDMA Interference Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly those using Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), face challenges in efficiently managing RF interference by not having a mechanism to dynamically adjust channel usage on a per-Station (STA) basis, leading to potential de-sense issues due to interference from platform components.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a puncturing negotiation system that allows APs and STAs to negotiate a static puncturing pattern, using Puncturing Request and Response frames with a Disabled Subchannel Bitmap, to selectively avoid interfered channels, enabling dynamic adjustment of transmission and reception patterns without impacting other STAs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If static puncturing is implemented to avoid RF interference, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to negotiation overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The puncturing pattern is negotiated and determined in advance before actual data transmission occurs. The AP and STA exchange puncturing request and response frames to establish the puncturing configuration beforehand, so that during normal communication, both parties can directly apply the pre-determined puncturing pattern without real-time decision-making, thus improving reliability while managing complexity through advance preparation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If per-STA puncturing negotiation is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to negotiation overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Each STA can negotiate its own specific puncturing pattern based on its individual interference conditions. The puncturing request frame includes a STA-specific disabled subchannel bitmap that reflects the interference characteristics experienced by that particular STA, allowing customized puncturing configurations for different stations rather than applying a uniform puncturing pattern to all STAs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The puncturing negotiation is performed during the association phase or before data transmission begins, so that when actual communication occurs, the puncturing pattern is already established and can be applied immediately without causing delays during data transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If static puncturing is used to reduce RF interference, then communication quality is improved, but productivity decreases due to reduced channel utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Only the specific subchannels that are interfered with are punctured (set to 1 in the bitmap), while the non-interfered subchannels remain available for normal transmission. This allows the system to maintain high productivity by utilizing all usable spectrum resources, while simultaneously improving communication quality by avoiding only the necessary interfered frequencies rather than applying broad puncturing restrictions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The puncturing pattern is dynamically adjustable based on changing interference conditions. If interference conditions change, the STA can initiate a new puncturing negotiation to update its puncturing pattern, allowing the system to adapt to varying environmental conditions and optimize the balance between communication quality and productivity over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4304122A1Systems, methods, and devices for per-sta puncturing negotiation
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 INTEL CORP
  • EP4304122A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4304122A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4304122A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to puncturing negotiation. A device may generate a puncturing request frame for scheduling static puncturing of physical layer (PHY) convergence protocol data units (PPDUs) with a first device. The device may cause to send the puncturing request frame to the first device. The device may identify a puncturing response frame received from the first device.