Sector Sweep Training Sequences for Faster WLAN Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency of sector sweep processes in wireless local area networks (WLAN) using current sector sweep frames due to their long length, which includes redundant information such as preambles and physical frame headers, leading to low sector sweep efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sector sweep method utilizing a new frame structure that includes only training sequences, omitting redundant information, and employing indication information to align the start time and type of sector sweeps, allowing for improved throughput and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a current SSW frame is used for sector sweep, then the frame includes complete protocol information (preamble, physical frame header, etc.), but the frame length becomes long and sector sweep efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential training sequence from the complete SSW frame structure, removing redundant protocol elements such as preamble and physical frame header. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by retaining the core functional element (training sequence for beam training) while eliminating non-essential components that increase frame length and reduce efficiency.
2Loss of information
If a long SSW frame is transmitted, then all protocol information is conveyed, but the transmission time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by removing redundant protocol information from the SSW frame, keeping only the training sequence that is essential for sector sweep functionality. This reduces the frame transmission time significantly while maintaining the necessary information for beam training operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting a complete protocol frame and then extracting useful information, the patent inverts the approach by transmitting only the essential training sequence from the beginning, eliminating the need to transmit and then process redundant protocol elements.
3Measurement precision
If indication information is added to the first frame, then start time alignment is achieved, but the frame structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by including indication information in the first frame that specifies the start time of the sector sweep in advance. This allows the second communication apparatus to prepare and align its receiving operations beforehand, achieving precise time synchronization without requiring complex real-time coordination mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A sector sweep method includes a first communication apparatus transmitting a first frame on a first frequency domain resource or a second frequency domain resource, where the first frame includes information about M training sequences, and the M training sequences are used for a sector sweep on the second frequency domain resource. The first communication apparatus performs the sector sweep with the second communication apparatus on the second frequency domain resource based on the information about the M training sequences, where a frequency corresponding to the first frequency domain resource is less than a frequency corresponding to the second frequency domain resource. The first communication apparatus performs the sector sweep with the second communication apparatus by using a new sector sweep frame (namely, a training sequence).