Sectorized Beam Multi-Sector Transmission for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless network technologies face challenges with interference and reduced throughput due to hidden nodes and high complexity in multi-user Multiple-input Multiple-output (MU-MIMO) systems, especially in long-range outdoor networks, where sectorized beam transmission is not efficiently supported.

Innovation Solution

A method for wireless communication that uses sectorized beams to enable simultaneous transmission to multiple stations, employing MU-MIMO signal format and protocol, with sector training and feedback mechanisms to group stations and reduce interference, resulting in low implementation complexity and overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If DL MU-MIMO transmission is implemented to enable simultaneous transmission to multiple stations, then network capacity increases, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidstation implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coverage area into multiple sectors using sectorized beams, allowing the system to handle multiple spatially separated stations simultaneously. This segmentation approach enables the AP to transmit to multiple stations in different sectors using the same time-frequency resources, thereby increasing network capacity while keeping individual station complexity low, as each station only needs to communicate within its assigned sector

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different sectorized beams to different spatial regions. Each sector is optimized for stations located in that specific direction, allowing the system to provide high-quality service to multiple stations simultaneously without requiring full MIMO capability at each station. This reduces device complexity while maintaining high network capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If channel measurement and feedback are performed frequently to maintain accurate channel information, then transmission reliability improves, but signaling overhead and medium time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel information accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic channel measurement and feedback mechanisms where channel information is updated at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains sufficient channel information accuracy for reliable transmission while significantly reducing the signaling overhead and medium time consumption associated with frequent feedback transmissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs channel measurement and feedback in advance during sector training phases, establishing channel information before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action ensures that accurate channel information is available when needed for transmission, while avoiding the need for continuous feedback during data transmission, thereby reducing signaling overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If sectorized beams are used to reduce medium contention and interference, then spatial reuse efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to beam management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial reuse efficiencyVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wireless medium into multiple spatial sectors using sectorized beams, allowing simultaneous transmissions in different sectors without interference. This segmentation enables efficient spatial reuse by isolating transmissions in different directional sectors, thereby improving productivity while keeping beam management complexity manageable through structured sector division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes each sector with dedicated beamforming parameters and transmission characteristics tailored to that specific spatial region. This local quality approach allows the system to achieve high spatial reuse efficiency by optimizing transmission for each sector independently, while the overall system complexity is managed through the modular sector-based structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2949091B1Sectorization feedback and multi-sector transmission in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 MEDIATEK SINGAPORE PTE LTD
  • EP2949091B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2949091B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2949091B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method of downlink multi-sector transmission is provided. An initiator station first performs sector training by transmitting a plurality of sounding signals to a plurality of responder stations in a wireless network. The coverage associated with the initiator station is partitioned into a plurality of sectors, and each sector is covered by a sectorized beam. The initiator station then receives sector ID feedback information from each responder station in response to the sounding signals. The sector ID feedback information indicates preference to each of the sectors from each responder station. Next, the initiator station groups multiple spatially orthogonal responder stations together based on the sector ID feedback information. Finally, the initiator station performs multi-sector transmission by simultaneously transmitting data to the multiple responder stations in different sectors using corresponding sectorized beams.