WLAN MIMO Packet Signaling for Mixed LDPC and BCC Receivers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Next-generation WLAN systems require a method to efficiently transmit and receive MIMO packets, considering different encoding schemes for multiple user-MIMO transmission, where each station may have unique capabilities and encoding schemes, to support higher throughput and compatibility across various devices.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the generation and transmission of MIMO packets with control information indicating whether the transmission is for single-user or multi-user MIMO, along with specific modulation and coding schemes, using LDPC and BCC encoding, and including a training sequence for channel estimation, to ensure correct decoding by receivers with varying capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If MU-MIMO transmission is used to transmit packets to multiple STAs simultaneously, then network throughput is improved, but the complexity of signaling encoding schemes to multiple STAs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidsignaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the MCS field into multiple subfields, with each subfield corresponding to a specific STA. This allows the AP to indicate different encoding schemes for each STA independently within a single signaling message, resolving the contradiction by enabling multi-STA transmission while maintaining manageable signaling complexity through structured field division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The MCS field is designed to serve multiple functions: it can indicate encoding schemes for multiple different STAs simultaneously, and each subfield within the MCS field can be independently interpreted based on the STA's identity. This multi-functionality allows a single signaling mechanism to handle diverse encoding requirements across multiple STAs, improving throughput without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If different encoding schemes are applied to different spatial stream sets for different STAs, then adaptability to various STA capabilities is improved, but the complexity of packet structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to STA capabilitiesVSAvoidpacket structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different encoding schemes to different spatial stream sets based on the specific capabilities of each STA. The MCS field is divided into subfields where each subfield's encoding scheme is locally optimized for the corresponding STA's capabilities. This allows the system to adapt to varying STA capabilities while maintaining a unified packet structure that doesn't become overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3236592B1Method and apparatus for transceiving a MIMO packet in a wireless LAN system
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3236592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236592B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3236592B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of transmitting a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) packet by a transmitter in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system is provided. The method includes: generating a MIMO packet including at least one spatial stream set transmitted respectively to at least one receiver, wherein each spatial stream set is encoded on the basis of one of two encoding schemes; transmitting first control information including a MIMO indicator and a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) field, wherein the MIMO indicator indicates whether the MIMO packet is for single user (SU)-MIMO or multi user (MU)-MIMO, and the first MCS field indicates an MCS used for the MIMO packet if the MIMO packet is for SU-MIMO transmission, and indicates an encoding scheme applied for each of the spatial stream sets if the MIMO packet is for MU-MIMO transmission; and transmitting the MIMO packet to at least one receiver. The two encoding schemes are low-density parity check (LDPC) encoding scheme and binary convolution coding (BCC) encoding.