U.S. patent application number 17/396738 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-17 for sounding schemes using distributed tones in wireless communications.
The applicant listed for this patent is MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shengquan Hu, Jianhan Liu, Kai Ying Lu, Thomas Edward Pare, JR., Yongho Seok.
Application Number | 20220052809 17/396738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005811905 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220052809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Jianhan ; et
al. |
February 17, 2022 |
Sounding Schemes Using Distributed Tones In Wireless
Communications
Abstract
Various examples pertaining to sounding schemes using
distributed tones in wireless communications are described. A
stations (STA) receives a sounding signal with an
extremely-high-throughput (EHT) null data packet (NDP). The STA
then transmits a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
distributed-tone resource unit (DT-RU).
Inventors: |
Liu; Jianhan; (San Jose,
CA) ; Hu; Shengquan; (San Jose, CA) ; Seok;
Yongho; (San Jose, CA) ; Lu; Kai Ying; (San
Jose, CA) ; Pare, JR.; Thomas Edward; (San Jose,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore |
|
SG |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005811905 |
Appl. No.: |
17/396738 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63064437 |
Aug 12, 2020 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 5/0048 20130101;
H04L 69/22 20130101; H04W 72/0453 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 5/00 20060101
H04L005/00; H04L 29/06 20060101 H04L029/06; H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving a sounding signal with an
extremely-high-throughput (EHT) null data packet (NDP); and
transmitting a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
distributed-tone resource unit (DT-RU).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the EHT NDP contains a legacy
preamble, a Universal Signal field (U-SIG) and an EHT Signal field
(EHT-SIG) duplicated for each of four 20 MHz sub-channels of a 80
MHz frequency segment.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving of the sounding
signal comprises performing 80 MHz packet detection and maximum
ratio combining (MRC) over the four 20 MHz sub-channels on the
U-SIG and the EHT-SIG.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the U-SIG indicates a
physical-layer protocol data unit (PPDU) format as either EHT or
EHT distributed-tone (EHT DT).
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the EHT NDP further contains a
distributed-tone short training field (DT-STF) and a
distributed-tone long training field (DT-LTF) for the 80 MHz
frequency segment.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
contains respective one or more DT-RUs for one or more target
stations (STAs) of the sounding signal with each of the respective
one or more DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of the one or
more target STAs.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
contains a predetermined set of distributed tones for each
bandwidth, and wherein each distributed tone in the predetermined
set of distributed tones has non-zero energy while other tones are
null tones with zero energy.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting of the feedback
comprises transmitting a compressed beamforming feedback on one or
more distributed tones in the predetermined set of distributed
tones.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones do not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to one or more target stations (STAs) of
the sounding signal.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein every two adjacent distributed
tones in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones are
separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the EHT NDP comprises a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the different frequency
segments comprises at least a first 80 MHz frequency segment a
second 80 MHz frequency segment, wherein the first 80 MHz frequency
segment uses a first EHT long training field (EHT-LTF) with the
continuous tones, and wherein the second 80 MHz frequency segment
uses a second EHT-LTF with the distributed tones.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a type
of the EHT NDP based on an EHT NDP Announcement frame or based on a
Universal Signal field (U-SIG) in the EHT NDP; and receiving a
feedback trigger which triggers the transmitting of the
feedback.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein, responsive to determining the
type of the EHT NDP based on the EHT NDP Announcement frame, a
first frequency segment or a first RU using continuous tones and a
second frequency segment or a second RU using distributed tones are
indicated by the EHT NDP Announcement frame.
15. A method, comprising: transmitting a sounding signal with an
extremely-high-throughput (EHT) null data packet (NDP); and
receiving a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
distributed-tone resource unit (DT-RU).
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the EHT NDP contains a legacy
preamble, a Universal Signal field (U-SIG) and an EHT Signal field
(EHT-SIG) duplicated for each of four 20 MHz sub-channels of a 80
MHz frequency segment, wherein the U-SIG indicates a physical-layer
protocol data unit (PPDU) format as either EHT or EHT
distributed-tone (EHT DT), wherein the EHT NDP further contains a
distributed-tone short training field (DT-STF) and a
distributed-tone long training field (DT-LTF) for the 80 MHz
frequency segment.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the DT-STF and the
DT-LTF contains either: respective one or more DT-RUs for one or
more target stations (STAs) of the sounding signal with each of the
respective one or more DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of
the one or more target STAs; or a predetermined set of distributed
tones for each bandwidth with each distributed tone in the
predetermined set of distributed tones having non-zero energy and
with other tones having zero energy, wherein distributed tones in
the predetermined set of distributed tones do not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to the one or more target STAs of the
sounding signal, and wherein every two adjacent distributed tones
in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones are
separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the EHT NDP comprises a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments, wherein the
different frequency segments comprises at least a first 80 MHz
frequency segment a second 80 MHz frequency segment, wherein the
first 80 MHz frequency segment uses a first EHT long training field
(EHT-LTF) with the continuous tones, and wherein the second 80 MHz
frequency segment uses a second EHT-LTF with the distributed
tones.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: transmitting an EHT
NDP Announcement frame that indicates a type of the EHT NDP; and
transmitting a feedback trigger which causes the receiving of the
feedback, wherein a first frequency segment or a first RU using
continuous tones and a second frequency segment or a second RU
using distributed tones are indicated by the EHT NDP Announcement
frame.
20. An apparatus, comprising: a transceiver configured to
communicate wirelessly; and a processor coupled to the transceiver
and configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, via the
transceiver, a sounding signal with an extremely-high-throughput
(EHT) null data packet (NDP); and transmitting, via the
transceiver, a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
distributed-tone resource unit (DT-RU), wherein: the EHT NDP
contains a legacy preamble, a Universal Signal field (U-SIG) and an
EHT Signal field (EHT-SIG) duplicated for each of four 20 MHz
sub-channels of a 80 MHz frequency segment, the receiving of the
sounding signal comprises performing 80 MHz packet detection and
maximum ratio combining (MRC) over the four 20 MHz sub-channels on
the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG, the U-SIG indicates a physical-layer
protocol data unit (PPDU) format as either EHT or EHT
distributed-tone (EHT DT), and the EHT NDP further contains a
distributed-tone short training field (DT-STF) and a
distributed-tone long training field (DT-LTF) for the 80 MHz
frequency segment.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] The present disclosure is part of a non-provisional patent
application claiming the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 63/064,437, filed 12 Aug. 2020, the content
of which being incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to wireless
communications and, more particularly, to sounding schemes using
distributed tones in wireless communications.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Unless otherwise indicated herein, approaches described in
this section are not prior art to the claims listed below and are
not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section.
[0004] In next-generation wireless communications such as those
implemented in wireless local area networks (WLANs) based on the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11be
standards, there are certain Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) rules on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. For the 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHZ bands, the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)
of a power spectral density (PSD) limit is capped at 20 dBm for a
20 MHz transmission, and the transmit (Tx) power limit is capped at
30 dBm. With a reasonable Tx power assumption, the FCC requirement
does not limit Tx power for narrow-bandwidth transmissions. For 6
GHz low-power indoor (LPI) applications, however, the FCC
requirement on PSD limit is far more stringent than that for the
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Specifically, EIRP is limited to 5 dBm/MHz
for an access point (AP in 6 GHZ LPI as opposed to an EIRP limit at
17 dBm/MHz for an AP in 5 GHz. Similarly, EIRP is limited to -1
dBm/MHz for an AP in 6 GHZ LPI as opposed to an EIRP limit at 11
dBm/MHz for an AP in 5 GHz. Moreover, for a beacon transmitted in 6
GHz using a 20 MHz physical-layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the
range is half of that of a 5 GHz beacon. If a downlink (DL) trigger
frame uses 20 MHz bandwidth and a station (STA) intends to utilize
a similar range by using a small-size resource unit (RU), then
there would be an issue given the limit on PSD. Therefore, there is
a need for a solution to avoid the PSD limit.
SUMMARY
[0005] The following summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be limiting in any way. That is, the following summary
is provided to introduce concepts, highlights, benefits and
advantages of the novel and non-obvious techniques described
herein. Select implementations are further described below in the
detailed description. Thus, the following summary is not intended
to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor
is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0006] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide
schemes, concepts, designs, techniques, methods and apparatuses
pertaining to sounding schemes using distributed tones in wireless
communications. Under various proposed schemes in accordance with
the present disclosure, it is believed that issue(s) described
herein may be addressed.
[0007] In one aspect, a method may involve receiving a sounding
signal with an EHT null data packet (NDP). The method may also
involve transmitting a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
distributed-tone resource unit (DT-RU).
[0008] In one aspect, a method may involve transmitting a sounding
signal with an EHT NDP. The method may also involve receiving a
feedback regarding the sounding signal on a DT-RU.
[0009] In yet another aspect, an apparatus may include a
transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The
transceiver may be configured to communicate wirelessly. The
processor may receive, via the transceiver, a sounding signal with
an EHT NDP. The processor may transmit, via the transceiver, a
feedback regarding the sounding signal on a DT-RU.
[0010] It is noteworthy that, although description provided herein
may be in the context of certain radio access technologies,
networks and network topologies such as, Wi-Fi, the proposed
concepts, schemes and any variation(s)/derivative(s) thereof may be
implemented in, for and by other types of radio access
technologies, networks and network topologies such as, for example
and without limitation, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 5th Generation (5G)/New
Radio (NR), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, LTE-Advanced
Pro, Internet-of-Things (IoT), Industrial IoT (IIoT) and narrowband
IoT (NB-IoT). Thus, the scope of the present disclosure is not
limited to the examples described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the present disclosure. The drawings
illustrate implementations of the disclosure and, together with the
description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. It
is appreciable that the drawings are not necessarily in scale as
some components may be shown to be out of proportion than the size
in actual implementation to clearly illustrate the concept of the
present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example network environment in
which various solutions and schemes in accordance with the present
disclosure may be implemented.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example design in accordance with
an implementation of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance
with an implementation of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example scenario in accordance
with an implementation of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example communication system
in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example process in accordance
with an implementation of the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process in accordance
with an implementation of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Detailed embodiments and implementations of the claimed
subject matters are disclosed herein. However, it shall be
understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are
merely illustrative of the claimed subject matters which may be
embodied in various forms. The present disclosure may, however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as
limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth
herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are
provided so that description of the present disclosure is thorough
and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present
disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description below,
details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to
avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and
implementations.
Overview
[0020] Implementations in accordance with the present disclosure
relate to various techniques, methods, schemes and/or solutions
pertaining to sounding schemes using distributed tones in wireless
communications. According to the present disclosure, a number of
possible solutions may be implemented separately or jointly. That
is, although these possible solutions may be described below
separately, two or more of these possible solutions may be
implemented in one combination or another.
[0021] It is noteworthy that, although examples described herein
and illustrated in the figures may show a first RU of size A and a
second RU of size B, as in RU A+RU B, various proposed schemes in
accordance with the present disclosure may be implemented with RU
A+RU B, or vice versa (e.g., RU B+RU A). In other words, the scope
of the present disclosure is not limited to the examples presented
herein and, rather, also covers variations thereof. For instance,
for a multi-RU group (996+484), the order of RUs may be exchanged
in different implementations such as, for example, a first RU of
size 484 plus a second RU of size 996 in one implementation or,
alternatively, a first RU of size 996 plus a second RU of size 484
in another implementation. Moreover, in the present disclosure,
aggregated multiple RUs may be interchangeably referred to as
"multi-RU" and "MRU". Thus, in the aforementioned example, the
multi-RU group (996+484), which is an aggregation of two RUs
(namely a 996-tone RU and a 484-tone RU), may be referred to as a
multi-RU (996+484) or an MRU (996+484).
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates an example network environment 100 in
which various solutions and schemes in accordance with the present
disclosure may be implemented. FIG. 2-FIG. 7 illustrate examples of
implementation of various proposed schemes in network environment
100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The following
description of various proposed schemes is provided with reference
to FIG. 1-FIG. 7.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, network environment 100 may involve a
communication entity 110 and a communication entity 120
communicating wirelessly (e.g., in a WLAN in accordance with one or
more IEEE 802.11 standards). For instance, communication entity 110
may be a first STA and communication entity 120 may be a second
STA, with each of the first STA and second STA being an access
point (AP) or a non-AP STA. Under various proposed schemes in
accordance with the present disclosure, communication entity 110
and communication entity 120 may be configured to perform sounding
using distributed tones in wireless communications, as described
herein.
[0024] It is noteworthy that, in a long range (LR) PPDU, the
extremely-high-throughput (EHT) short training field (EHT-STF) and
the EHT long training field (EHT-LTF) can use DT-RUs. The DT-RUs
may be generated by applying a large-size tone distributor (DID) on
an assigned logical RU, and a local tone mapper may be bypassed in
the process. For instance, a 26-tone RU and a 52-tone RU may be
distributed on a 996-tone RU.
[0025] Under a proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure, a long range sounding NDP PPDU format may be utilized.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example design 200 of a proposed long range
sounding NDP PPDU format under the proposed scheme. Referring to
FIG. 2, in design 200, a 20 MHz legacy preamble, a Universal Signal
(U-SIG) field and an EHT Signal (EHT-SIG) field for a 20 MHz
sub-channel may be duplicated (e.g., four times for a 80 MHz
frequency segment). For LPI LR PPDU, the EHT-SIG may have a 1111
structure in each 80 MHz frequency segment. Design 200 may include
an EHT-STF with DT-RU (herein interchangeably denoted as
"distributed-tone STF" or "DT-STF") and an EHT-LTF with DT-RU
(herein interchangeably denoted as "distributed-tone LTF" or
"DT-LTF"). In the U-SIG, there may be an indication of PPDU format
to indicate at least two kinds of EHT PPDU formats, namely: EHT DT
or EHT. In design 200, EHT-STF corresponding to DT-RU and EHT-LTF
corresponding to DT-RU may be selective from wide-bandwidth EHT-STF
and EHT-LTF, respectively. Under the proposed scheme, a receiver
may perform 80 MHz packet detection and maximum ratio combining
(MRC) over four 20 MHz sub-channels on U-SIG and EHT-SIG.
[0026] Under one proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to orthogonal frequency-division multiple
access (OFDMA) EHT distributed tone (EHT-DT) NDP sounding, the
DT-STF and DT-LTF in an EHT-DT NDP may contain the DT-RUs (e.g.,
RU26, RU52, RU106 and so on) of one or more target sounded STAs.
Under the proposed scheme, a single-user (SU) format may be
utilized for high-efficiency (HE) NDP PPDUs, while a multi-user
(MU), or OFDMA, format may be utilized for EHT-DT NDP PPDUs.
Accordingly, different users may be on different distributed tones
of EHT-LTFs according to a DT-RU on which one or more long range
PPDUs are transmitted by a beamformer.
[0027] Under another proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to OFDMA EHT-DT NDP sounding, the DT-STF
and DT-LTF in an EHT-DT NDP may contain one predetermined set of
distributed (or discrete) tones for each bandwidth. The
predetermined set of distributed (or discrete) tones may not match
with DT-RUs. The predetermined set of distributed (or discrete)
tones may be separated by N-1 tones, where 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
For instance, for 20 MHz sounding with DT-RUs, distributed-tone NDP
sounding for 20 MHz may be [-122, -122+N, -122+2N, . . . ].
Similarly, for 80 MHz sounding with DT-RUs, distributed-tone NDP
sounding for 80 MHz may be [-500, -500+N, -500+2N, . . . ]. Under
the proposed scheme, only the predetermined set of distributed (or
discrete) tones may have non-zero energy on them, with other tones
having zero energy and thus may be treated as null tones. Under the
proposed scheme, a sounding receiver provides compressed
beamforming feedbacks on the predetermined set of distributed (or
discrete) tones. The beamformer may interpolate the predetermined
set of distributed (or discrete) tones to obtain the channels of
corresponding tones for DT-RUs and/or continuous-tone (regular) RUs
that may be used for data transmission. The beamformer may transmit
on DT-RUs using a beamforming matrix generated from the
interpolated channels.
[0028] Under one proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to mixed-format NDP sounding, a
mixed-format NDP may be used to sound STAs using normal RUs and/or
multi-RUs (MRUs) and to sound STAs using distributed tones (e.g.,
for long range STAs in 6 GHz LPI). The mixed-format NDP may contain
both continuous tones and predetermined distributed tones on
different frequency segments or RUs respectively. FIG. 3
illustrates an example scenario 300 under the proposed scheme.
Referring to part (A) of FIG. 3, for a 160 MHz mixed-format NDP, a
first 80 MHz frequency segment may utilize an EHT-LTF with
continuous tones while a second 80 MHz frequency segment may
utilize an EHT-LTF with distributed (or discrete) tones. Referring
to part (B) of FIG. 3, for a 320 MHz mixed-format NDP, a first 80
MHz frequency segment may utilize an EHT-LTF with continuous tones
while a fourth 80 MHz frequency segment may utilize an EHT-LTF with
distributed (or discrete) tones.
[0029] Under one proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to EHT NDP sounding protocol, a sounding
NDP type may be indicated in an EHT NDP Announcement frame or in
the U-SIG field of an EHT sounding NDP. The sounding NDP type may
be EHT NDP, EHT DT NDP or mixed-format EHT NDP. Under the proposed
scheme, the frequency segment or RU using continuous tones and
distributed (or discrete) tones may be indicated in the EHT NDP
Announcement frame. This may be indicated by a bitmap with each bit
representing continuous or distributed tone on a respective
frequency segment.
[0030] Under the proposed scheme, the compressed beamforming and/or
channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback may utilize grouping Ng=1
in case the sounding NDP is EHT DT type. The compressed
beamforming/CQI feedback may utilize grouping Ng=4 or 8 or 16 in
case the sounding NDP is EHT type. The compressed beamforming/CQI
feedback may also be triggered to be transmitted as feedback using
an uplink (UL) OFDMA DT PPDU. Multiple beamformees may be sounded
using an EHT DT NDP or a mixed-format EHT NDP. The beamformee(s)
receiving DT sounding may provide beamforming feedback using an UL
OFDMA format with DT-RUs. The beamformee(s) receiving
continuous-tone sounding may provide beamforming feedback using an
UL OFDMA format using normal RUs and/or MRUs. FIG. 4 illustrates an
example scenario 400 under the proposed scheme.
Illustrative Implementations
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an example system 500 having at least an
example apparatus 510 and an example apparatus 520 in accordance
with an implementation of the present disclosure. Each of apparatus
510 and apparatus 520 may perform various functions to implement
schemes, techniques, processes and methods described herein
pertaining to sounding schemes using distributed tones in wireless
communications, including the various schemes described above with
respect to various proposed designs, concepts, schemes, systems and
methods described above as well as processes described below. For
instance, apparatus 510 may be an example implementation of
communication entity 110, and apparatus 520 may be an example
implementation of communication entity 120.
[0032] Each of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 may be a part of an
electronic apparatus, which may be a STA or an AP, such as a
portable or mobile apparatus, a wearable apparatus, a wireless
communication apparatus or a computing apparatus. For instance,
each of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 may be implemented in a
smartphone, a smart watch, a personal digital assistant, a digital
camera, or a computing equipment such as a tablet computer, a
laptop computer or a notebook computer. Each of apparatus 510 and
apparatus 520 may also be a part of a machine type apparatus, which
may be an IoT apparatus such as an immobile or a stationary
apparatus, a home apparatus, a wire communication apparatus or a
computing apparatus. For instance, each of apparatus 510 and
apparatus 520 may be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart
fridge, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker or a home control
center. When implemented in or as a network apparatus, apparatus
510 and/or apparatus 520 may be implemented in a network node, such
as an AP in a WLAN.
[0033] In some implementations, each of apparatus 510 and apparatus
520 may be implemented in the form of one or more
integrated-circuit (IC) chips such as, for example and without
limitation, one or more single-core processors, one or more
multi-core processors, one or more reduced-instruction set
computing (RISC) processors, or one or more
complex-instruction-set-computing (CISC) processors. In the various
schemes described above, each of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520
may be implemented in or as a STA or an AP. Each of apparatus 510
and apparatus 520 may include at least some of those components
shown in FIG. 5 such as a processor 512 and a processor 522,
respectively, for example. Each of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520
may further include one or more other components not pertinent to
the proposed scheme of the present disclosure (e.g., internal power
supply, display device and/or user interface device), and, thus,
such component(s) of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 are neither
shown in FIG. 5 nor described below in the interest of simplicity
and brevity.
[0034] In one aspect, each of processor 512 and processor 522 may
be implemented in the form of one or more single-core processors,
one or more multi-core processors, one or more RISC processors or
one or more CISC processors. That is, even though a singular term
"a processor" is used herein to refer to processor 512 and
processor 522, each of processor 512 and processor 522 may include
multiple processors in some implementations and a single processor
in other implementations in accordance with the present disclosure.
In another aspect, each of processor 512 and processor 522 may be
implemented in the form of hardware (and, optionally, firmware)
with electronic components including, for example and without
limitation, one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or
more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one
or more memristors and/or one or more varactors that are configured
and arranged to achieve specific purposes in accordance with the
present disclosure. In other words, in at least some
implementations, each of processor 512 and processor 522 is a
special-purpose machine specifically designed, arranged and
configured to perform specific tasks including those pertaining to
sounding schemes using distributed tones in wireless communications
in accordance with various implementations of the present
disclosure. For instance, each of processor 512 and processor 522
may be configured with hardware components, or circuitry,
implementing one, some or all of the examples described and
illustrated herein.
[0035] In some implementations, apparatus 510 may also include a
transceiver 516 coupled to processor 512. Transceiver 516 may be
capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data. In some
implementations, apparatus 520 may also include a transceiver 526
coupled to processor 522. Transceiver 526 may include a transceiver
capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data.
[0036] In some implementations, apparatus 510 may further include a
memory 514 coupled to processor 512 and capable of being accessed
by processor 512 and storing data therein. In some implementations,
apparatus 520 may further include a memory 524 coupled to processor
522 and capable of being accessed by processor 522 and storing data
therein. Each of memory 514 and memory 524 may include a type of
random-access memory (RAM) such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM
(SRAM), thyristor RAM (T-RAM) and/or zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM).
Alternatively, or additionally, each of memory 514 and memory 524
may include a type of read-only memory (ROM) such as mask ROM,
programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) and/or
electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM). Alternatively, or
additionally, each of memory 514 and memory 524 may include a type
of non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) such as flash memory,
solid-state memory, ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM
(MRAM) and/or phase-change memory.
[0037] Each of apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 may be a
communication entity capable of communicating with each other using
various proposed schemes in accordance with the present disclosure.
For illustrative purposes and without limitation, a description of
capabilities of apparatus 510, as communication entity 110, and
apparatus 520, as communication entity 120, is provided below. It
is noteworthy that, although the example implementations described
below are provided in the context of WLAN, the same may be
implemented in other types of networks. Thus, although the
following description of example implementations pertains to a
scenario in which apparatus 510 functions as a transmitting device
and apparatus 520 functions as a receiving device, the same is also
applicable to another scenario in which apparatus 510 functions as
a receiving device and apparatus 520 functions as a transmitting
device.
[0038] Under a proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to sounding schemes using distributed tones
in wireless communications, processor 512 of apparatus 510,
implemented in or as communication entity 110, may receive, via
transceiver 516, a sounding signal with an EHT NDP from apparatus
520 implemented in or as communication entity 120. Additionally,
processor 512 may transmit, via transceiver 516, to apparatus 520 a
feedback regarding the sounding signal on a DT-RU.
[0039] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may contain a legacy
preamble, a U-SIG and an EHT-SIG duplicated for each of four 20 MHz
sub-channels of a 80 MHz frequency segment.
[0040] In some implementations, in receiving the sounding signal,
processor 512 may perform 80 MHz packet detection and MRC over the
four 20 MHz sub-channels on the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG.
[0041] In some implementations, the U-SIG may indicate a PPDU
format as either EHT or EHT DT.
[0042] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may further contain a
DT-STF and a DT-LTF for the 80 MHz frequency segment.
[0043] In some implementations, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
may contain respective one or more DT-RUs for one or more target
STAs of the sounding signal with each of the respective one or more
DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of the one or more target
STAs. Alternatively, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF may contain
a predetermined set of distributed tones for each bandwidth. In
such cases, each distributed tone in the predetermined set of
distributed tones may have non-zero energy while other tones may be
null tones with zero energy.
[0044] In some implementations, in transmitting the feedback,
processor 512 may transmit a compressed beamforming feedback on one
or more distributed tones in the predetermined set of distributed
tones.
[0045] In some implementations, distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones may not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to one or more target STAs of the
sounding signal.
[0046] In some implementations, every two adjacent distributed
tones in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones may
be separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
[0047] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may include a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments. In some
implementations, the different frequency segments may include at
least a first 80 MHz frequency segment a second 80 MHz frequency
segment. In such cases, the first 80 MHz frequency segment may
utilize a first EHT-LTF with the continuous tones, and the second
80 MHz frequency segment may utilize a second EHT-LTF with the
distributed tones.
[0048] In some implementations, processor 512 may perform
additional operations. For instance, processor 512 may determine a
type of the EHT NDP based on an EHT NDP Announcement frame or based
on the U-SIG in the EHT NDP. Moreover, processor 512 may receive,
via transceiver 516, a feedback trigger which triggers the
transmitting of the feedback.
[0049] In some implementations, responsive to determining the type
of the EHT NDP based on the EHT NDP Announcement frame, a first
frequency segment or a first RU using continuous tones and a second
frequency segment or a second RU using distributed tones may be
indicated by the EHT NDP Announcement frame.
[0050] Under another proposed scheme in accordance with the present
disclosure with respect to sounding schemes using distributed tones
in wireless communications, processor 522 of apparatus 520,
implemented in or as communication entity 120, may transmit, via
transceiver 526, a sounding signal with an EHT NDP to apparatus 510
implemented in or as communication entity 110. Moreover, processor
522 may receive, via transceiver 526, a feedback regarding the
sounding signal on a DT-RU.
[0051] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may contain a legacy
preamble, a U-SIG and an EHT-SIG duplicated for each of four 20 MHz
sub-channels of a 80 MHz frequency segment. Moreover, the U-SIG may
indicate a PPDU format as either EHT or EHT DT. Furthermore, the
EHT NDP may further contain a DT-STF and a DT-LTF for the 80 MHz
frequency segment.
[0052] In some implementations, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
may contain either: (a) respective one or more DT-RUs for one or
more target STAs of the sounding signal with each of the respective
one or more DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of the one or
more target STAs; or (b) a predetermined set of distributed tones
for each bandwidth with each distributed tone in the predetermined
set of distributed tones having non-zero energy and with other
tones having zero energy. In such cases, distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones may not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to the one or more target STAs of the
sounding signal. Additionally, every two adjacent distributed tones
in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones may be
separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
[0053] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may include a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments. In some
implementations, the different frequency segments may include at
least a first 80 MHz frequency segment a second 80 MHz frequency
segment. In such cases, the first 80 MHz frequency segment may
utilize a first EHT-LTF with the continuous tones, and the second
80 MHz frequency segment may utilize a second EHT-LTF with the
distributed tones.
[0054] In some implementations, processor 522 may perform
additional operations. For instance, processor 522 may transmit,
via transceiver 526, an EHT NDP Announcement frame that indicates a
type of the EHT NDP. Moreover, processor 522 may transmit, via
transceiver 526, a feedback trigger which causes the receiving of
the feedback. In such cases, a first frequency segment or a first
RU using continuous tones and a second frequency segment or a
second RU using distributed tones may be indicated by the EHT NDP
Announcement frame.
Illustrative Processes
[0055] FIG. 6 illustrates an example process 600 in accordance with
an implementation of the present disclosure. Process 600 may
represent an aspect of implementing various proposed designs,
concepts, schemes, systems and methods described above. More
specifically, process 600 may represent an aspect of the proposed
concepts and schemes pertaining to sounding schemes using
distributed tones in wireless communications in accordance with the
present disclosure. Process 600 may include one or more operations,
actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 610
and 620. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks of
process 600 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into
fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired
implementation. Moreover, the blocks/sub-blocks of process 600 may
be executed in the order shown in FIG. 6 or, alternatively in a
different order. Furthermore, one or more of the blocks/sub-blocks
of process 600 may be executed repeatedly or iteratively. Process
600 may be implemented by or in apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 as
well as any variations thereof. Solely for illustrative purposes
and without limiting the scope, process 600 is described below in
the context of apparatus 510 as communication entity 110 (e.g., a
transmitting device whether a STA or an AP) and apparatus 520 as
communication entity 120 (e.g., a receiving device whether a STA or
an AP) of a wireless network such as a WLAN in accordance with one
or more of IEEE 802.11 standards. Process 600 may begin at block
610.
[0056] At 610, process 600 may involve processor 512 of apparatus
510, implemented in or as communication entity 110, receiving, via
transceiver 516, a sounding signal with an EHT NDP from apparatus
520 implemented in or as communication entity 120. Process 600 may
proceed from 610 to 620.
[0057] At 620, process 600 may involve processor 512 transmitting,
via transceiver 516, to apparatus 520 a feedback regarding the
sounding signal on a DT-RU.
[0058] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may contain a legacy
preamble, a U-SIG and an EHT-SIG duplicated for each of four 20 MHz
sub-channels of a 80 MHz frequency segment.
[0059] In some implementations, in receiving the sounding signal,
process 600 may involve processor 512 performing 80 MHz packet
detection and MRC over the four 20 MHz sub-channels on the U-SIG
and the EHT-SIG.
[0060] In some implementations, the U-SIG may indicate a PPDU
format as either EHT or EHT DT.
[0061] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may further contain a
DT-STF and a DT-LTF for the 80 MHz frequency segment.
[0062] In some implementations, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
may contain respective one or more DT-RUs for one or more target
STAs of the sounding signal with each of the respective one or more
DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of the one or more target
STAs. Alternatively, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF may contain
a predetermined set of distributed tones for each bandwidth. In
such cases, each distributed tone in the predetermined set of
distributed tones may have non-zero energy while other tones may be
null tones with zero energy.
[0063] In some implementations, in transmitting the feedback,
process 600 may involve processor 512 transmitting a compressed
beamforming feedback on one or more distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones.
[0064] In some implementations, distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones may not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to one or more target STAs of the
sounding signal.
[0065] In some implementations, every two adjacent distributed
tones in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones may
be separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
[0066] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may include a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments. In some
implementations, the different frequency segments may include at
least a first 80 MHz frequency segment a second 80 MHz frequency
segment. In such cases, the first 80 MHz frequency segment may
utilize a first EHT-LTF with the continuous tones, and the second
80 MHz frequency segment may utilize a second EHT-LTF with the
distributed tones.
[0067] In some implementations, process 600 may involve processor
512 performing additional operations. For instance, process 600 may
involve processor 512 determining a type of the EHT NDP based on an
EHT NDP Announcement frame or based on the U-SIG in the EHT NDP.
Moreover, process 600 may involve processor 512 receiving, via
transceiver 516, a feedback trigger which triggers the transmitting
of the feedback.
[0068] In some implementations, responsive to determining the type
of the EHT NDP based on the EHT NDP Announcement frame, a first
frequency segment or a first RU using continuous tones and a second
frequency segment or a second RU using distributed tones may be
indicated by the EHT NDP Announcement frame.
[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates an example process 700 in accordance with
an implementation of the present disclosure. Process 700 may
represent an aspect of implementing various proposed designs,
concepts, schemes, systems and methods described above. More
specifically, process 700 may represent an aspect of the proposed
concepts and schemes pertaining to sounding schemes using
distributed tones in wireless communications in accordance with the
present disclosure. Process 700 may include one or more operations,
actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 710
and 720. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks of
process 700 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into
fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired
implementation. Moreover, the blocks/sub-blocks of process 700 may
be executed in the order shown in FIG. 7 or, alternatively in a
different order. Furthermore, one or more of the blocks/sub-blocks
of process 700 may be executed repeatedly or iteratively. Process
700 may be implemented by or in apparatus 510 and apparatus 520 as
well as any variations thereof. Solely for illustrative purposes
and without limiting the scope, process 700 is described below in
the context of apparatus 510 as communication entity 110 (e.g., a
transmitting device whether a STA or an AP) and apparatus 520 as
communication entity 120 (e.g., a receiving device whether a STA or
an AP) of a wireless network such as a WLAN in accordance with one
or more of IEEE 802.11 standards. Process 700 may begin at block
710.
[0070] At 710, process 700 may involve processor 522 of apparatus
520, implemented in or as communication entity 120, transmitting,
via transceiver 526, a sounding signal with an EHT NDP to apparatus
510 implemented in or as communication entity 110. Process 700 may
proceed from 710 to 720.
[0071] At 720, process 700 may involve processor 522 receiving, via
transceiver 526, a feedback regarding the sounding signal on a
DT-RU.
[0072] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may contain a legacy
preamble, a U-SIG and an EHT-SIG duplicated for each of four 20 MHz
sub-channels of a 80 MHz frequency segment. Moreover, the U-SIG may
indicate a PPDU format as either EHT or EHT DT. Furthermore, the
EHT NDP may further contain a DT-STF and a DT-LTF for the 80 MHz
frequency segment.
[0073] In some implementations, each of the DT-STF and the DT-LTF
may contain either: (a) respective one or more DT-RUs for one or
more target STAs of the sounding signal with each of the respective
one or more DT-RUs corresponding to a respective one of the one or
more target STAs; or (b) a predetermined set of distributed tones
for each bandwidth with each distributed tone in the predetermined
set of distributed tones having non-zero energy and with other
tones having zero energy. In such cases, distributed tones in the
predetermined set of distributed tones may not match with one or
more DT-RUs corresponding to the one or more target STAs of the
sounding signal. Additionally, every two adjacent distributed tones
in the respective predetermined set of distributed tones may be
separated by N-1 tones, 2.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.13.
[0074] In some implementations, the EHT NDP may include a
mixed-format NDP that contains continuous tones and predetermined
distributed tones on different frequency segments. In some
implementations, the different frequency segments may include at
least a first 80 MHz frequency segment a second 80 MHz frequency
segment. In such cases, the first 80 MHz frequency segment may
utilize a first EHT-LTF with the continuous tones, and the second
80 MHz frequency segment may utilize a second EHT-LTF with the
distributed tones.
[0075] In some implementations, process 700 may involve processor
522 performing additional operations. For instance, process 700 may
involve processor 522 transmitting, via transceiver 526, an EHT NDP
Announcement frame that indicates a type of the EHT NDP. Moreover,
process 700 may involve processor 522 transmitting, via transceiver
526, a feedback trigger which causes the receiving of the feedback.
In such cases, a first frequency segment or a first RU using
continuous tones and a second frequency segment or a second RU
using distributed tones may be indicated by the EHT NDP
Announcement frame.
Additional Notes
[0076] The herein-described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably
coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0077] Further, with respect to the use of substantially any plural
and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can
translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular
to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application.
The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth
herein for sake of clarity.
[0078] Moreover, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended
claims, e.g., bodies of the appended claims, are generally intended
as "open" terms, e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted
as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc. It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
implementations containing only one such recitation, even when the
same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at
least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an," e.g., "a"
and/or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or
more;" the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to
introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number
of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those
skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be
interpreted to mean at least the recited number, e.g., the bare
recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at
least two recitations, or two or more recitations. Furthermore, in
those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A,
B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended
in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the
convention, e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C"
would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B
alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C
together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc. In those instances
where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc."
is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense
one having skill in the art would understand the convention, e.g.,
"a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not
be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc. It will be further understood by those within the
art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting
two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims,
or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities
of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.
For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the
possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0079] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
implementations of the present disclosure have been described
herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications
may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the
present disclosure. Accordingly, the various implementations
disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true
scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
* * * * *