Short Preamble PHY Data Units for 60 GHz Wireless Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In high data rate wireless communication systems operating in the 60 GHz band, the large bandwidth occupied by the PHY preamble limits efficiency, especially when data payloads are small, leading to suboptimal data transfer rates due to high directional antennas and the need for beamforming.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to generate PHY data units with a shorter preamble, allowing for reduced PHY overhead by using a format with fewer symbols in the preamble, enabling efficient data transfer over communication channels, particularly when devices are close and beamforming gain is optimal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard PHY preamble format with multiple symbols is used, then synchronization and channel estimation reliability are improved, but PHY overhead increases and data transfer efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic preamble length adaptation where the PHY preamble can be configured with different numbers of symbols based on communication conditions. When devices are in close proximity with optimal beamforming gain, a shorter preamble format is used to reduce overhead. When reliability requirements are higher or channel conditions are poorer, a longer preamble format provides enhanced synchronization and channel estimation capability. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between reliability and efficiency based on actual operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of preamble length (number of symbols) to resolve the contradiction between reliability and data transfer efficiency. By providing multiple preamble formats with different symbol counts and allowing selection based on communication scenario, the system can adjust this critical parameter to achieve optimal performance. The shorter preamble formats reduce overhead for efficient data transfer while longer formats provide enhanced reliability when needed.
2Speed
If beamforming is applied to achieve high data rates over distance, then directional gain is improved, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial beamforming action by using shorter preamble formats in scenarios where full beamforming processing is not necessary. When devices are in close proximity, the system can achieve sufficient data rates with reduced beamforming complexity. The shorter preambles reduce the processing overhead and complexity while maintaining adequate performance for near-field communications, applying only the necessary degree of beamforming processing rather than always using the most complex full beamforming approach.
3Measurement precision
If PHY preamble occupies large bandwidth for training information, then channel estimation accuracy is improved, but available bandwidth for data transmission decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the bandwidth occupation of PHY preamble based on communication requirements. In scenarios where channel conditions are good and devices are close together, shorter preamble formats occupy less bandwidth, leaving more bandwidth available for data transmission. In scenarios requiring higher channel estimation accuracy, longer preamble formats occupy more bandwidth but provide the necessary training information. This dynamic bandwidth allocation resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and available data bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of preamble duration (number of symbols) to optimize the trade-off between channel estimation accuracy and available data bandwidth. By providing multiple preamble formats with different lengths and allowing adaptive selection, the system can adjust this parameter to match communication conditions. Shorter preambles free up more bandwidth for data while longer preambles provide enhanced channel estimation when required by the transmission scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
In a wireless communication system where communication devices utilize physical layer (PHY) data units that conform to a first format to communicate information associated with a layer of a protocol stack above a media access channel (MAC) layer, where the first format is associated with a first number of symbols in a preamble, a method for generating a PHY data unit that conforms to a second format includes generating a preamble of the PHY data unit, where the preamble includes a second number of symbols, wherein the second number is smaller than the first number; and generating another portion of the PHY data unit.