Wireless Sounding Signal Measurement Across PHY and MAC Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensing technologies lack an efficient and effective method for wireless sensing measurement and reporting, particularly in the context of IoT applications, where human activities significantly impact wireless signal propagation, and current technical standards like IEEE 802.11bf have not fully addressed these details.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for wireless sensing that involves transmitting a time series of wireless sounding signals based on a wireless protocol, performing wireless sensing measurements, and reporting these results through the physical and medium access control layers to higher layers for task execution, utilizing a receiver and transmitter in a wireless data communication network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless sensing measurement and reporting is implemented in rich-scattering environments, then sensing capability is improved, but standardization completeness and system reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless sensing system into distinct functional layers: physical layer for signal transmission, medium access control layer for coordination, and application layer for sensing processing. This segmentation allows each layer to be standardized independently, improving overall system reliability while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions through channel sounding signals transmitted before actual sensing operations. These sounding signals enable the system to characterize the wireless channel properties in advance, establishing a foundation for reliable sensing measurements without requiring complex real-time processing during actual sensing tasks.
2Measurement precision
If bandwidth is increased to access more multipaths in rich-scattering environments, then sensing measurement precision is improved, but system complexity and standardization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the medium access control layer to serve multiple functions: it manages channel access, coordinates sounding signal transmissions, and facilitates sensing operations. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle increased bandwidth and multipath utilization without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, as existing MAC mechanisms are extended rather than replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the physical layer, specifically modulating signal characteristics such as frequency, time, and spatial parameters to access different multipaths. By changing these parameters systematically through the sounding signals, the system can characterize the channel response across different bandwidths without requiring complex signal processing at each individual frequency component.
3Productivity
If wireless sounding signals are transmitted through wireless channels to perform sensing measurements, then data communication capability is improved, but signal propagation complexity in indoor and metropolitan environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces channel sounding signals as intermediary elements that mediate between the transmitter and receiver. These sounding signals act as probes to characterize the wireless channel's propagation characteristics, including multipath effects in indoor and metropolitan environments. By using these intermediary signals, the system can accurately model signal propagation without directly transmitting complex sensing data through the same channel, thereby simplifying the overall communication process.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and systems for wireless sensing are described. In one example, a described system in a wireless data communication network comprises: a transmitter configured to transmit a time series of at least one wireless sounding signal (WSS) based on a standard wireless network protocol associated with the wireless data communication network, and a receiver. The wireless data communication network comprises a physical (PHY) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and at least one higher layer. The receiver is configured to: receive the time series of at least one WSS (TSWSS) based on the standard wireless network protocol through a wireless channel of a venue, and perform a plurality of wireless sensing measurements based on the received TSWSS to obtain sensing measurement results based on the standard wireless network protocol. The PHY layer or the MAC layer of the receiver provides the sensing measurement results locally to the at least one higher layer of the receiver based on the standard wireless network protocol. The sensing measurement results are available to the at least one higher layer of the receiver for performing a sensing-based task based on the sensing measurement results.