PPDU Signal Field for Multi-RU Combination Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 802.11ax standard lacks support for allocating multiple contiguous or discontiguous resource units (RUs) to users, leading to reduced flexibility and low spectrum utilization, especially in cases of preamble puncturing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for indicating a combination status of multiple contiguous or discontiguous RUs, allowing users to transmit data using a plurality of RUs, including small-size (26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone) and large-size (242-tone, 484-tone, 996-tone) RUs, through a signal field in the PPDU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only a single RU is allocated to users in 802.11ax, then the system maintains simple allocation structure, but RU allocation flexibility and spectrum utilization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a 20-MHz channel into multiple small-size RUs (26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone) and introduces a combination indication mechanism that allows users to be allocated multiple RUs. The signal field is segmented to include both resource unit allocation subfields and combination indication subfields, enabling flexible configuration of RU combinations while maintaining structured signal organization.
2Productivity
If multiple RUs are allocated to users, then spectrum utilization is improved, but the complexity of indicating resource allocation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the resource unit allocation information and combination indication information into a unified signal field structure. The combination indication subfield is integrated with the resource unit allocation subfield, allowing the system to indicate multiple RU allocations and their combination status through a coordinated signaling mechanism that improves spectrum utilization while managing signal complexity.
3Productivity
If multiple RUs are combined for user transmission, then data transmission efficiency is enhanced, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring combination status increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a combination indication subfield in the signal field that provides feedback information about the combination status of allocated RUs. This feedback mechanism enables the receiving device to accurately detect and measure the combination status by examining the indication information, thereby resolving the difficulty of detecting multi-RU combination configurations while maintaining enhanced data transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a resource unit combination indication method and a communications apparatus. The method includes: determining a physical layer protocol data unit PPDU, where the PPDU includes a signal field, the signal field includes a resource unit allocation subfield and a combination indication corresponding to the resource unit allocation subfield, the resource unit allocation subfield indicates a plurality of resource units, and the combination indication indicates combination information of the plurality of resource units; and sending the PPDU.