Wi-Fi Base Station Beam Training for Faster High-Rate Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
The IEEE 802.11 standard does not allow a base station device to initiate beamforming training from the BRP protocol, which is faster than SLS, when connecting with a wireless terminal device for high-rate communication, necessitating a method to exclude low-rate connections and reduce training time.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a base station device with a frame generator for omnidirectional beam transmission and a wireless terminal device with directional beam reception to facilitate beamforming training, using the lowest MCS rate defined in IEEE 802.11, and determining response frames to set appropriate beam properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base station device uses the SLS protocol for beamforming training to ensure compatibility with low-rate communication terminals, then connection compatibility is improved, but the time required for beamforming training increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beamforming training protocol selectable rather than fixed. The base station device dynamically chooses between SLS and BRP protocols based on the communication rate requirements. For high-rate communication, it selects BRP to reduce training time, while for low-rate communication, it uses SLS to ensure compatibility. This dynamic selection resolves the contradiction between connection compatibility and beamforming training time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of protocol selection (SLS vs. BRP) based on communication rate requirements. By modifying this parameter, the system can optimize beamforming training time for high-rate communication while maintaining compatibility for low-rate communication terminals. The base station device transmits a parameter indicating high-rate communication requirement, which triggers the use of BRP protocol instead of the standard SLS protocol.
2Loss of time
If the base station device starts beamforming training from receive beam training instead of transmit beam training to reduce training time, then beamforming training time is reduced, but compatibility with IEEE 802.11 standard for low-rate communication is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the beam training sequence dynamic and conditional. Normally, beamforming training follows the standard sequence starting with transmit beam training. However, when high-rate communication is required, the system dynamically reverses the sequence to start with receive beam training. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to reduce training time while maintaining standard compliance for low-rate communication scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional beamforming training sequence. Instead of following the standard order (transmit beam training first, then receive beam training), the system inverts the sequence for high-rate communication by starting with receive beam training. This inversion eliminates unnecessary feedback steps and reduces training time, while the inversion is only applied when high-rate communication is required, thus maintaining standard compliance for other cases.
3Reliability
If the base station device transmits beamforming training frames at the lowest MCS rate to ensure reception by all terminals, then reception reliability is improved, but communication efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting a parameter indicating high-rate communication requirement before actual data transmission. This preliminary indication allows the terminal to prepare for high-rate communication by adjusting its reception settings and beamforming configuration in advance. The beamforming training frames are transmitted at the lowest MCS rate to ensure reliable reception of this preliminary parameter, while subsequent data transmission can proceed at higher rates, thus balancing reception reliability with communication efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A base station device includes a frame generator that generates a first training frame used for receive beam training among frames used for beamforming training, a beam controller that sets a beam used to transmit the first training frame to an omnidirectional beam, a transmitter that transmits the first training frame at the lowest MCS rate defined in IEEE 802.11, a receiver that receives a first response frame and a second response frame from a wireless terminal device that has received the first training frame after a determined period since transmission of the first training frame, and a frame determiner that determines whether the received first response frame is a response to the receive beam training. In a case where the received first response frame is a response to the receive beam training, the beam controller sets a beam received by the receiver to a directional beam, and the receiver receives the second response frame by using the directional beam.