WLAN MCS Level Expansion for Finer SNR-Based Rate Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE 802.11be standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs) has significant gaps in sensitivity SNR and spectral efficiency between adjacent modulation and coding scheme (MCS) levels, necessitating the introduction of new MCS levels to enhance link adaptation performance and improve throughput at different signal-to-noise ratios.
Innovation Solution
Propose new MCS levels based on existing modulations and coding rates, filling the gaps between existing MCS levels to reduce sensitivity SNR and spectral efficiency gaps, enabling finer and more accurate rate adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing MCS levels from IEEE 802.11be specification are used, then the system maintains compatibility with the standard, but large sensitivity SNR gaps and spectral efficiency gaps exist between adjacent MCS levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MCS level spectrum by introducing intermediate MCS levels between existing standard levels. New MCS levels (e.g., MCS 7.5, MCS 10.5, MCS 12.5) are inserted to divide the large gaps into smaller steps, enabling finer granularity in rate adaptation while maintaining overall system structure compatibility with IEEE 802.11be
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter set by defining new MCS levels with specific modulation and coding rate combinations that were not originally specified. These new levels use existing modulations (BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM, 1024QAM, 4096QAM) and coding rates (R=1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8) in novel combinations to fill spectral efficiency gaps
2Productivity
If new MCS levels are introduced to fill spectral efficiency gaps, then throughput is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by using existing modulation schemes and coding rates across multiple MCS levels. The same set of modulations (BPSK through 4096QAM) and coding rates (R=1/2 through R=7/8) are reused in different combinations for new MCS levels, allowing devices to implement multiple MCS levels without requiring entirely new signal processing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic rate adaptation by providing a denser set of MCS levels that can be selected based on real-time channel conditions. The finer granularity allows the system to dynamically switch between adjacent MCS levels with smaller SNR step sizes, optimizing throughput for varying signal quality while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic level definition
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques pertaining to new modulation and coding scheme (MCS) levels for next-generation wireless local area networks (WLANs) are described. An apparatus generates a signal using an MCS level not defined in an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11be specification. The apparatus then performs a wireless communication using the signal. Each of a sensitivity signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gap and a spectral efficiency gap between two adjacent MCS levels from a combination of the plurality of MCS levels and a plurality of existing MCS levels defined in the IEEE 802.11be specification is less than that between two adjacent MCS levels from the plurality of existing MCS levels.