RU Combination Signaling for Flexible WLAN 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 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 signal fields like HE-SIG-B or EHT-SIG.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single RU is allocated to users according to 802.11ax standard, then the allocation process is simple, but the RU allocation flexibility is reduced and spectrum utilization becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a large RU into multiple smaller RUs (e.g., dividing a 242-tone RU into multiple 26-tone, 52-tone, or 106-tone RUs). This segmentation enables flexible allocation of multiple smaller RUs to different users or purposes, improving RU allocation flexibility and spectrum utilization while maintaining manageable complexity through structured division
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of RU allocation by enabling allocation along both the frequency dimension (multiple RUs) and the user dimension (multiple users). This multi-dimensional allocation approach allows simultaneous assignment of multiple RUs to one or more users, enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
2Productivity
If multiple RUs are allocated to one or more users, then spectrum utilization improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal RU allocation framework that can handle multiple allocation scenarios: single RU to single user, multiple RUs to single user, single RU to multiple users, and multiple RUs to multiple users. This multi-functional allocation mechanism improves spectrum utilization across diverse scenarios while using a unified approach to manage system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of RU allocation by introducing variable RU sizes (26-tone, 52-tone, 106-tone, 242-tone) and enabling dynamic combination of these RUs. This parameter variability allows the system to optimize spectrum utilization for different traffic conditions while managing complexity through standardized parameter sets
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.