Wi-Fi Antenna Pairing Using Measurement Frames to Cut Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of antenna combinations and communication users in Wi-Fi devices leads to higher system overheads in existing smart antenna selection methods, particularly in air interface and memory overheads.
Innovation Solution
An antenna pairing method involving a first communication apparatus sending a measurement frame, allowing a second communication apparatus to determine the pairing result, reducing system overheads by using a measurement frame instead of probe packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If probe packets are sent for antenna modes of each user to select best antenna combination, then antenna pairing accuracy is improved, but system overheads increase rapidly as antenna combination number M and user number N increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna pairing measurement process into two parts: (1) The first communication apparatus sends a single measurement frame containing channel information for multiple antenna combinations, and (2) The second communication apparatus independently determines the antenna pairing result based on this measurement frame. This segmentation eliminates the need for separate probe packets for each antenna combination, reducing system overheads from O(N*M) to a constant level while maintaining pairing accuracy.
2Reliability
If separate statistics are collected on packet error ratio for each antenna combination of each user, then reliable antenna selection is achieved, but air interface overheads and memory overheads increase to O(N*M) magnitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement process by having the first communication apparatus send a single measurement frame that contains channel information for multiple antenna combinations simultaneously. The second communication apparatus then processes this unified measurement data to determine the best antenna pairing. This merging approach maintains reliable antenna selection while reducing air interface overheads and memory overheads from O(N*M) to constant magnitude.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna pairing method and an apparatus are provided. A first communication apparatus may send a measurement frame. After receiving the measurement frame, a second communication apparatus obtains, based on the measurement frame, channel information of an antenna combination corresponding to the measurement frame. Therefore, the second communication apparatus may send a feedback frame based on the channel information. After receiving the feedback frame, the first communication apparatus may learn of an antenna pairing result based on the feedback frame, and perform communication based on the antenna pairing result. This effectively reduces an increase in system overheads.