PPDU Padding Threshold Signaling with RU Bitmask Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Providing nominal packet padding values in an exhaustive or traversal manner for varying numbers of space-time streams and resource unit sizes results in significant overheads, especially as devices support more streams and larger RU sizes.
Innovation Solution
A method to indicate nominal packet padding values by using a physical layer packet extension thresholds field that includes an RU index bitmask and NSS subfield, allowing omission of certain modulation threshold subfields to reduce overheads and flexibly determine padding values based on indicated thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nominal packet padding values are provided in an exhaustive or traversal manner for each NSTS, RU size, and modulation threshold, then complete coverage of all possible combinations is achieved, but overheads become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exhaustive list of modulation threshold subfields into multiple groups based on RU index bitmask patterns. Instead of providing all possible combinations, the information field is divided into subsets that correspond to different RU index configurations, allowing the receiver to reconstruct the complete set of padding values through logical operations on these segmented groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The modulation threshold subfields are designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. Each subfield in the segmented groups can represent different modulation thresholds depending on the RU index bitmask pattern being applied. This multi-functionality allows a reduced set of subfields to cover all necessary combinations when combined with the RU index bitmask information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of supported space-time streams and RU sizes increases, then device capability and adaptability improve, but the overheads for indicating nominal packet padding values increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension by adding the RU index bitmask subfield to the existing modulation threshold subfields. This creates a two-dimensional structure where one dimension represents the modulation thresholds and the other represents the RU index patterns. By operating in this expanded dimensional space, the system can cover all combinations of NSTS, RU sizes, and modulation thresholds without linearly increasing the number of subfields required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using bitmask patterns to encode RU index information. Instead of explicitly listing all RU size combinations, the system uses binary bitmask representations that can compactly encode multiple RU index values. This parameter transformation allows the same physical space to represent exponentially more configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This application provides a nominal packet padding value indication method, a determining method, and a communication apparatus, to reduce overheads of a physical layer packet extension thresholds field. The indication method includes: A first device generates a PPDU, and sends the PPDU to a second device. A physical layer packet extension thresholds information field included in the PPDU includes a plurality of packet extension threshold subfield sets corresponding to different nominal packet padding values, and each packet extension threshold subfield set indicates a modulation threshold corresponding to an NSS of n and an RU with an index b. If a value of an RU index bitmask subfield corresponding to an RU with an index y is 0, a value range of b does not include y. In a packet extension threshold subfield set that corresponds to a same nominal packet padding value, that the value of the RU index bitmask subfield corresponding to the RU with the index y is 0 indicates that a modulation threshold corresponding to the NSS of n and the RU with the index y is a modulation threshold corresponding to an NSTS of n and an RU with an index m1.