WLAN Capability Signaling for Multi-Modulation Packet Padding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless local area network technologies lack a solution for indicating a nominal packet padding value when multiple modulation schemes are supported, which affects the receiver's processing time for physical layer protocol data units.

Innovation Solution

A capability indication method and apparatus are developed to determine and indicate a nominal packet padding value for receivers supporting at least two modulation schemes, ensuring sufficient processing time by using capability information that includes nominal packet padding values for various resource unit and spatial stream configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the transmitter uses multiple modulation schemes to improve data transmission efficiency, then the receiver's processing complexity increases and sufficient processing time cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidreceiver processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver determines capability information in advance and sends it to the transmitter before data transmission. This preliminary action allows the transmitter to know the receiver's processing capabilities and adjust the modulation scheme accordingly, ensuring that the receiver can process the data within its capability while maintaining high transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the modulation scheme based on the receiver's capability information. The transmitter can switch between different modulation schemes (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM) depending on the receiver's processing capacity, resource unit allocation, and spatial stream configuration, optimizing both transmission efficiency and processing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the transmitter uses higher-order modulation schemes to increase data rate, then the processing time required by the receiver increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidreceiver processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the modulation scheme parameter based on the receiver's capability information. When the receiver has strong processing capability, higher-order modulation schemes (64-QAM, 256-QAM) are used to achieve high data rates. When the receiver has limited processing capability, lower-order schemes (BPSK, QPSK) are used to reduce processing time requirements, thus balancing data rate and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the receiver indicates a nominal packet padding value for single modulation scheme to simplify the protocol, then the solution becomes inapplicable when multiple modulation schemes are supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol complexityVSAvoidmodulation scheme adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The capability information serves multiple functions: it indicates the receiver's processing capability, determines the applicable modulation schemes, and guides the transmitter's data transmission strategy. This multi-functional design allows the system to support multiple modulation schemes while maintaining protocol simplicity through a unified capability indication mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If the transmitter sends data using default modulation scheme to reduce overhead, then the receiver cannot guarantee sufficient processing time for high-order modulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol overheadVSAvoidprocessing time guarantee
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver provides feedback in the form of capability information to the transmitter. This feedback mechanism allows the transmitter to adjust its transmission strategy (modulation scheme selection) based on the receiver's actual processing capability, ensuring that the receiver can always process the transmitted data within sufficient time while minimizing control overhead through efficient capability indication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4668625A1Capability indication method and apparatus, and capability determination method and apparatus in wireless local area network
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4668625A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4668625A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4668625A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application discloses a capability indication method and a capability determining method in a wireless local area network, and an apparatus. The capability indication method includes: A first device determines capability information, and sends the capability information to a second device. The capability information includes a nominal packet padding subfield, and the nominal packet padding subfield indicates a corresponding nominal packet padding value used when the second device sends a physical layer data packet to the first device. The nominal packet padding value is for all NSSs and all RU allocations that the first device supports, and for at least two modulation schemes used by the second device on a configured frequency domain resource or a configured spatial stream. When the second device sends the PPDU to the first device by using the at least two modulation schemes, according to the method, the nominal packet padding value determined by the second device enables the first device to have enough time to process the PPDU received from the second device.