Ranging NDP Bandwidth Extension for WLAN Positioning

The patent segments the bandwidth indication into multiple fields: a primary bandwidth field indicating 160 MHz or 320 MHz, and an optional puncturing pattern field that further divides the bandwidth into punctured and non-punctured portions. This segmentation allows the system to support up to 320 MHz bandwidth while maintaining backward compatibility with 160 MHz devices and providing granular control over frequency resource allocation.

The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth adaptation through puncturing patterns that can be adjusted based on channel conditions and interference. The puncturing pattern field allows the system to dynamically allocate frequency resources by selectively puncturing (excluding) certain 80 MHz or 40 MHz sub-bands from the 320 MHz bandwidth, enabling flexible optimization of distance measurement accuracy while managing signaling complexity.

The patent creates a universal signaling framework that can accommodate both 160 MHz and 320 MHz bandwidths using the same basic message structure. The bandwidth field and puncturing pattern field work together to provide multi-functionality: when the bandwidth field indicates 160 MHz, the puncturing pattern field may be omitted or set to a default value; when 320 MHz is indicated, the puncturing pattern field provides additional granularity. This universal design enables existing 160 MHz devices to operate normally while 320 MHz capable devices can utilize the extended bandwidth.

The puncturing pattern field acts as an intermediary between the basic bandwidth indication and the actual frequency resource allocation. It provides an intermediate layer of control that allows the system to indicate 320 MHz bandwidth while still managing frequency resources in manageable 80 MHz or 40 MHz units. This intermediary structure prevents the signaling framework from becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of directly managing 320 MHz bandwidth.

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed puncturing pattern information only for the portions of the 320 MHz bandwidth that require granular control. The puncturing pattern field uses compact bitmaps to indicate which 80 MHz or 40 MHz sub-bands are punctured, providing local optimization of frequency resource allocation only where needed. This approach maintains flexibility in frequency resource allocation while minimizing message overhead by not providing unnecessary detail for the entire 320 MHz bandwidth.

The patent implements partial action by providing puncturing pattern information at a selective level of detail. Rather than providing complete resource allocation information for every possible sub-band, the system provides puncturing patterns at 80 MHz or 40 MHz granularity, which is sufficient for most practical scenarios. This partial information approach achieves adequate frequency resource allocation flexibility while keeping the message overhead manageable.