Wi-Fi Sensing MAC Protocols for Lower Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Wi-Fi sensing systems impose significant overheads and impact performance due to inefficient solicitation of remote device transmissions, lack of flexibility in control, and non-universal consistency across vendor implementations, and suboptimal antenna beamforming for sensing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for configuring Wi-Fi systems to perform Wi-Fi sensing by optimizing the solicitation of remote device transmissions, incorporating flexible MAC layer protocols, and enhancing antenna beamforming to minimize overheads and maintain performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Wi-Fi sensing systems solicit remote device transmissions using existing protocols, then sensing functionality is achieved, but overheads increase and system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sensing solicitation with existing Wi-Fi MAC layer protocols by integrating sensing configuration messages into standard Wi-Fi frame structures. This merging approach allows sensing functionality to be achieved without adding separate dedicated signaling channels, thereby reducing overheads and energy consumption while maintaining reliable sensing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables Wi-Fi frames to serve dual purposes: traditional data communication and sensing solicitation/response. By making the Wi-Fi MAC layer universal for both communication and sensing functions, the system avoids the overhead of separate sensing-specific protocols while ensuring reliable sensing functionality through the robustness of existing Wi-Fi infrastructure.
2Reliability
If Wi-Fi sensing systems use existing solicitation methods, then basic sensing is achieved, but flexibility in control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration capabilities where sensing parameters such as transmission timing, resource allocation, and beamforming settings can be adjusted in real-time through MAC layer messaging. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt sensing control flexibility while maintaining reliable operation through the structured protocol framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables flexible control by allowing dynamic modification of sensing parameters including measurement intervals, transmission power, resource unit allocation, and beamforming configurations. These parameter changes are communicated through standardized Wi-Fi management frames, providing adaptability without compromising the reliability of sensing operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If vendor-specific implementations are used for Wi-Fi sensing, then implementation simplicity is achieved, but universal consistency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes universal consistency by implementing sensing functionality through standardized Wi-Fi MAC layer protocols that are vendor-agnostic. By leveraging existing IEEE 802.11 standards for framing, authentication, and resource allocation, the system achieves cross-vendor compatibility while maintaining implementation simplicity through reuse of proven protocol mechanisms.
4Power
If traditional antenna beamforming is used for Wi-Fi sensing, then communication performance is maintained, but sensing performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing beamforming specifically for sensing requirements rather than using generic communication-oriented beamforming. The system configures antenna patterns and beamwidths locally at sensing resource elements to maximize measurement precision, while maintaining communication performance through separate resource allocation for data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes in beamforming configurations to optimize for sensing precision. By adjusting beamforming weights, antenna phase shifts, and beam patterns specifically for sensing measurements, the system achieves superior measurement precision while maintaining communication performance through independent parameter optimization for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for Wi-Fi sensing are provided. Wi-Fi sensing systems include sensing devices and remote devices configured to communicate through radio-frequency signals. Sensing devices and remote devices are configured to communicate with one another to establish sensing transmission configurations through established protocols. Sensing devices described herein are configured to provide Wi-Fi sensing measurements based on the reception of messages transmitted from remote devices according to established configurations.