RU Combination Signaling for Flexible Wi‑Fi Resource Allocation
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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 spectrum utilization, especially in cases of preamble puncturing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for indicating the combination status of multiple contiguous or discontiguous RUs, allowing users to transmit data using a combination of small-size RUs (26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone) or large-size RUs (242-tone, 484-tone, 996-tone) within a 20-MHz channel, enhancing RU allocation flexibility and spectrum utilization.
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 the frequency band into multiple RUs (26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, 242-tone, 484-tone, 996-tone) that can be independently allocated and combined. This segmentation allows the system to divide a single RU into multiple smaller RUs or combine multiple RUs into larger contiguous blocks, providing flexible allocation while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized RU sizes and combination rules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic RU allocation where the number and size of RUs assigned to each user can vary based on channel conditions, user requirements, and interference patterns. The system can dynamically adjust RU configurations including contiguous and discontiguous allocations, enabling adaptability while using standardized signaling mechanisms to control complexity
2Productivity
If multiple contiguous or discontiguous RUs are allocated to users, then spectrum utilization is improved, but the complexity of RU allocation and indication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple RUs into contiguous or discontiguous allocations for single users or groups of users. By combining standardized RU units (26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 996 tones) in various configurations, the system achieves higher spectrum utilization while relying on the regularity of RU structures to manage the complexity of indicating these combinations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal RU allocation framework that can handle multiple allocation scenarios (contiguous, discontiguous, single user, multi-user) using a unified signaling approach. The resource allocation field in the signal can universally indicate various RU combinations through standardized encoding, reducing the need for separate mechanisms for different allocation types
3Reliability
If preamble puncturing is performed, then interference mitigation is achieved, but spectrum utilization decreases without multi-RU support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different RU allocations to different users within the same channel, where some users may experience puncturing in specific RUs while others maintain full access. This enables localized interference mitigation for affected users without degrading the overall spectrum utilization for the channel, as other users can still utilize the punctured RUs
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. The method provided in this application can support one or more users in transmitting data by using a plurality of contiguous or discontiguous RUs, and indicate a combination status of the plurality of RUs to the user.