WLAN Data Transmission via Flexible Bandwidth Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WLAN data transmission methods face limitations in channel utilization and throughput due to the inability to flexibly configure bandwidth modes, particularly when some secondary channels are unavailable, leading to decreased performance and the need for preamble puncturing mechanisms that not all devices support.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow a WLAN station to set a bandwidth mode indicating the complete bandwidth of a communication channel, enabling data transmission on the primary channel and idle secondary channels without preamble puncturing, even if some secondary channels are unavailable, thereby increasing channel utilization and throughput without requiring support for preamble puncturing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the station decreases the bandwidth of the communication channel when some secondary channels are busy, then the CCA requirement is met, but the channel utilization and throughput are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channel into primary channel and secondary channels, allowing independent assessment and transmission decisions for each segment. This enables the station to transmit on available secondary channels without requiring the entire channel to be idle, thus improving channel utilization while maintaining CCA compliance on the primary channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows partial channel utilization by transmitting data on the primary channel and any available secondary channels simultaneously, rather than requiring complete channel idle status. This partial action approach enables throughput maintenance even when some secondary channels are occupied, resolving the contradiction between CCA compliance and channel utilization.
2Productivity
If the station uses preamble puncturing to transmit on only idle secondary channels, then channel utilization improves, but device compatibility deteriorates due to limited support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal transmission method that works with both puncturing-capable and non-puncturing devices. By using a unified bandwidth indication mechanism that specifies which channels are in use, the solution achieves multi-functionality - it enables puncturing-based transmission when receivers support it, while maintaining compatibility with legacy receivers that cannot process punctured preambles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter indication in the preamble to reflect the actual set of channels being used (primary channel plus available secondary channels). This parameter change allows receivers to understand which channels contain valid data, enabling flexible channel utilization without requiring complex puncturing mechanisms, thus improving compatibility while maintaining productivity.
3Productivity
If the station combines all three idle 20 MHz channels into a 60 MHz bandwidth channel, then throughput could increase, but this is not allowed by current bandwidth configuration rules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth configuration where the channel bandwidth is not fixed to standard values (20, 40, 80, 160 MHz) but can adapt to the actual number of available channels. The bandwidth indication mechanism dynamically reflects the current channel availability, allowing flexible aggregation of any number of idle channels (e.g., 3×20 MHz = 60 MHz) based on real-time conditions, thus improving throughput while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application relates to the field of communications technologies, and provides a wireless local area network data transmission method and an apparatus, so that a bandwidth mode can be flexibly configured, and idle channel utilization and a throughput can be increased. The method includes: sending, by a first station (STA), respective preambles and data on a primary channel and at least one secondary channel of a communication channel to a second STA, where the at least one secondary channel is some secondary channels of the communication channel, and a bandwidth (BW) sub-field in the preamble is set to a value that indicates a complete bandwidth of the communication channel and that indicates skipping preamble puncturing.