WLAN Preamble Puncturing for 6 GHz Single-User Transmissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of finding contiguous 80 MHz or 160 MHz idle channels for operation in the 6 GHz band due to the presence of incumbent technologies, which limits the flexibility of preamble puncturing in wireless local area networks (WLANs) and restricts its application to only downlink multi-user (DL) Physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs, not supporting single-user (SU) transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Techniques for preamble puncturing in SU transmissions, including identifying bandwidth regions associated with incumbent technologies and broadcasting a preamble puncture pattern in management frames, as well as using a multi-user (MU) PPDU format to indicate SU preamble puncture transmission, allowing for flexible and efficient SU preamble puncturing across various frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If preamble puncturing is used to avoid interference with incumbent technologies in the 6 GHz band, then interference avoidance is improved, but the flexibility of preamble puncturing is reduced because it is restricted to only downlink multi-user PPDUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends preamble puncturing functionality from only downlink multi-user PPDUs to include single-user PPDUs and uplink transmissions. By making the puncturing mechanism universal across different transmission types and directions, the system maintains interference avoidance capabilities while significantly improving flexibility and adaptability in the 6 GHz band operation.
2Quantity of substance
If contiguous 80 MHz or 160 MHz idle channels are required for operation, then channel availability is improved, but the adaptability to different bandwidth regions is reduced due to the presence of incumbent technologies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bandwidth into smaller 20 MHz channels and enables selective puncturing of specific segments based on incumbent technology presence. Instead of requiring contiguous large channels, the system can transmit using non-contiguous 20 MHz channels within the 80 MHz or 160 MHz bandwidth, maintaining adaptability to various bandwidth regions while avoiding interference with incumbent technologies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If preamble puncturing is extended to single-user transmissions and uplink, then adaptability is improved, but the complexity of signaling and control is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the puncturing indication mechanisms for downlink multi-user, single-user, and uplink transmissions into a unified control framework. By combining the signaling approaches and using common control elements across different transmission types, the system achieves extended adaptability while minimizing the increase in signaling and control complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides techniques for preamble puncturing in wireless local area networks (WLANs). In one implementation, an access point (AP) can identify, within a channel width, one or more bandwidth regions associated with incumbent technologies. The AP can broadcast or advertise, to a basic service set (BSS) initiated or started by the AP, a preamble puncture pattern in one or more management frames, the preamble puncture pattern being based on the bandwidth regions associated with incumbent technologies. In another implementation, an AP can identify a single user (SU) preamble puncture transmission, and can signal in a common portion of a SIG-B field of a multi-user (MU) PPDU format that a resource unit (RU) size is assigned to a same user to indicate the SU preamble puncture transmission. Although these techniques may be used in any frequency band, typical frequency bands may include, but are not limited to, a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHz band, and/or a 6 GHz band.