Wireless Sensing Measurement and Reporting via PHY/MAC Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensing technologies lack an efficient and effective method for wireless sensing measurement and reporting, particularly in environments with rich multipath scattering, such as indoors or metropolitan areas, due to incomplete standardization in technical standards like IEEE 802.11bf.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for wireless sensing measurement and reporting involving a transmitter and receiver that perform a time series of wireless sounding signals based on a wireless protocol, enabling wireless sensing measurements and reporting through the PHY and MAC layers, with higher layers performing sensing-based tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless sensing measurement and reporting is implemented in rich multipath scattering environments, then sensing capability is improved, but standardization completeness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless sensing function into distinct layers: PHY layer for signal transmission, MAC layer for measurement coordination, and higher layers for sensing tasks. This segmentation allows each layer to handle specific responsibilities, making the system more manageable and easier to standardize while maintaining robust sensing capability in complex environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal measurement and reporting mechanism that can serve multiple sensing applications (motion detection, localization, vital signs monitoring) through a common framework. The PHY and MAC layers provide universal signal transmission and measurement functions that can be applied across different sensing scenarios, reducing the need for application-specific standardization.
2Productivity
If PHY and MAC layers perform wireless sensing measurements, then measurement efficiency is improved, but layer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary measurement and reporting mechanisms at the PHY and MAC layers that prepare and structure measurement data before higher layers need it. The PHY layer performs preliminary signal transmission and reception, while the MAC layer performs preliminary measurement coordination and reporting preparation. This preliminary action reduces the processing burden on higher layers and improves overall measurement efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces measurement reporting mechanisms as intermediaries between the PHY layer and higher layers. The MAC layer acts as an intermediary that receives raw measurements from the PHY layer, processes them into meaningful measurement results, and reports them to higher layers. This intermediary mechanism improves measurement efficiency by centralizing processing while adding structured complexity at the MAC layer.
3Measurement precision
If wireless sounding signals are transmitted as time series, then sensing measurement accuracy is improved, but signal transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of wireless sounding signals as time series at the PHY layer. By using periodic action, the system can achieve accurate measurements through multiple samples while maintaining efficient transmission through regular intervals. The periodic structure allows for statistical processing and averaging, improving measurement accuracy without requiring continuous transmission, thus reducing overall time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining ongoing time series measurement and reporting at the MAC layer. Rather than stopping measurements between transmissions, the system continuously processes and reports measurements, allowing overlapping transmission and processing operations. This continuity improves measurement accuracy through sustained observation while minimizing idle time and reducing overall transmission time through efficient resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and systems for wireless sensing are described. In one example, a described system in a wireless data communication network comprises: a transmitter configured to transmit a time series of at least one wireless sounding signal (WSS) based on a standard wireless network protocol associated with the wireless data communication network, and a receiver. The wireless data communication network comprises a physical (PHY) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, and at least one higher layer. The receiver is configured to: receive the time series of at least one WSS (TSWSS) based on the standard wireless network protocol through a wireless channel of a venue, and perform a plurality of wireless sensing measurements based on the received TSWSS to obtain sensing measurement results based on the standard wireless network protocol. The PHY layer or the MAC layer of the receiver provides the sensing measurement results locally to the at least one higher layer of the receiver based on the standard wireless network protocol. The sensing measurement results are available to the at least one higher layer of the receiver for performing a sensing-based task based on the sensing measurement results.