WO2010134737A2

WO2010134737A2 - Apparatus and method for multilink adaptation

Info

Publication number: WO2010134737A2
Application number: PCT/KR2010/003120
Authority: WO
Inventors: 석용호
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2009-05-22
Filing date: 2010-05-18
Publication date: 2010-11-25
Also published as: WO2010134737A3

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and a method for multilink adaptation. A transmitter searches a main link and a sub-link through a beam-training procedure, and transmits link change information to a receiver during data transmission performed through either the main link or the sub-link in a transmission opportunity. The transmitter receives an acknowledgement (ACK) message for the link change information, and changes the main link or the sub-link in accordance with the link change information.

Description

Multi-link adaptation device and method

The present invention relates to a wireless local area network (WLAN), and more particularly, to a technique for performing a link adaptation procedure and transmitting data in a wireless LAN system.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, various wireless communication technologies have been developed. Wireless LAN (WLAN) is based on radio frequency technology, using a portable terminal such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a portable multimedia player (PMP), etc. It is a technology that allows wireless access to the Internet in a specific service area.

Since the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802, the standardization body for WLAN technology, was established in February 1980, a number of standardization tasks have been performed.

Early WLAN technology used 2.4 GHz frequency through IEEE 802.11 to support speeds of 1 to 2 Mbps for frequency hopping, spread spectrum, infrared communication, etc. Recently, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) has been applied to up to 54 Mbps. Can support speed. In addition, IEEE 802.11 improves Quality for Service (QoS), access point protocol compatibility, security enhancement, radio resource measurement, and wireless access vehicular environment. Standards of various technologies such as, fast roaming, mesh network, interworking with external network, and wireless network management are being put into practice.

Among IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.11b supports communication speeds up to 11Mbs while using frequencies in the 2.4GHz band. IEEE 802.11a, which was commercialized after IEEE 802.11b, reduces the influence of interference compared to the frequency of the congested 2.4 GHz band by using the frequency of the 5 GHz band instead of the 2.4 GHz band, and maximizes the communication speed by using OFDM technology. Up to 54Mbps. However, IEEE 802.11a has a shorter communication distance than IEEE 802.11b. And IEEE 802.11g, like IEEE 802.11b, uses a frequency of 2.4 GHz band to realize a communication speed of up to 54 Mbps and satisfies backward compatibility, thus receiving considerable attention. It is superior to

In order to overcome the limitation of communication speed, which has been pointed out as a weak point in WLAN, IEEE 802.11n is a relatively recent technical standard. IEEE 802.11n aims to increase the speed and reliability of networks and to extend the operating range of wireless networks. More specifically, IEEE 802.11n supports High Throughput (HT) with data throughput of up to 540 Mbps and also uses multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to minimize transmission errors and optimize data rates. It is based on Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs (MIMO) technology. In addition, the standard not only uses a coding scheme for transmitting multiple duplicate copies to increase data reliability, but may also use orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) to increase the speed.

Background of the Invention As the spread of WLAN and applications diversifying using it have recently emerged, there is a need for a new WLAN system to support higher throughput than the data throughput supported by IEEE 802.11n. Very High Throughput (VHT) WLAN system is one of the recently proposed IEEE 802.11 WLAN system to support the data processing speed of 1Gbps or more. The name of the VHT WLAN system is arbitrary, and feasibility tests are currently being conducted on systems using 4X4 MIMO and 80 MHz or more channel bandwidth to provide throughput of 1 Gbps or more.

In VHT WLAN, two methods using a band of 6 GHz or less and a 60 GHz band are currently being discussed as a method for achieving throughput of 1 Gbps or more. Currently, a method of using a channel of 60 GHz band is receiving more attention. This is due to the disadvantage that the available radio resources are limited because the channel of the 6GHz or less band is also used in other wireless communication systems, and this disadvantage can be overcome when the channel of the 60GHz band is used. However, the 60 GHz band has a disadvantage in that the service coverage is narrower than that of the 6 GHz band or less due to the nature of the high frequency band. Therefore, there is a need to solve a problem of narrow service coverage in an ultra high throughput WLAN system using a 60 GHz band.

On the other hand, link adaptation is a technique for adjusting and adapting transmission parameters according to changes in radio channel conditions, and aims to increase transmission speed, system capacity, and frequency efficiency. The link adaptation process is a process for increasing data throughput using the highest possible data rate using a specific modulation and coding scheme at a given link quality.

Representative implementation techniques for link adaptation include power control, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), adaptive modulation and coding (AMC), etc. Among these, AMC is a predefined modulation and modulation scheme according to the change of channel environment. Coding Selection) is a link adaptation technique that determines the most suitable transmission scheme. Modulation and coding format is changed according to the channel environment.

One problem to be solved by the present invention is a multi-link adaptation method and apparatus that can not only extend service coverage but also secure data transmission to provide a data transmission service efficiently in a wireless LAN system. To provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for identifying a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure; Transmitting link change information to a receiver during data transmission on either link of the primary link and the secondary link within one transmission opportunity; Receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) for the link change information; And changing a link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method including: finding a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure; Transmitting a multi-link adaptation request message including link change information to a receiver through one of the primary link and the secondary link; Receiving a multilink adaptation response message from the receiver; And changing the link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of finding a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure; Transmitting a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) header including link change information to a receiver through any one of a primary link and a secondary link; Among the primary link and the secondary link, there is provided a multi-link adaptation method comprising the step of transmitting data corresponding to the PLCP header over a link according to the link change information.

By setting up and using a plurality of links, an appropriate link can be selected and used according to channel conditions. The efficiency of radio resource utilization can be improved. Overhead can be avoided by minimizing the number of transmitted frames.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a WLAN system to which an embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

2 is a diagram illustrating a beam training procedure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a primary link and a secondary link used in an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a beam training process for finding a primary link and a secondary link used in an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a method of performing a multi-link adaptation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a PPDU including a PLCP header transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

7 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a QoS Control field transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

9 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation request message transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a multilink adaptation response message transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

12 illustrates a wireless communication device for performing a multi-link adaptation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention may be usefully applied to a multicast procedure in a Very High Throughput (VHT) WLAN system operating in a 60 GHz band, but is not limited thereto. For example, embodiments of the present invention described below may be equally applicable to a VHT WLAN system operating in a 6 GHz or less band.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a WLAN system to which an embodiment of the present invention may be applied. The WLAN system according to the example shown in FIG. 1 is a VHT (Very High Throughput) WLAN system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a WLAN system such as a VHT WLAN system includes one or more basic service sets (BSSs). The BSS is a set of stations (STAs) that can successfully synchronize and communicate with each other, and is not a concept indicating a specific area. Like a WLAN system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied, a BSS supporting ultra-high speed data processing of 1 GHz or more is called a VHT (Very High Throughput) BSS.

The VHT BSS can also be classified into an infrastructure BSS and an independent BSS. The infrastructure BSS is illustrated in FIG. 1. Infrastructure BSS (BSS1, BSS2) is an access point (AP 1 (STA 2), AP that is a station that provides one or more non-AP STAs (STA 1, STA 3, STA 4), Distribution Service) 2 (STA 5)), and a Distribution System (DS) that connects multiple access points (AP 1, AP 2). In the infrastructure BSS, the AP STA manages the Non-AP STAs of the BSS.

Independent BSSs, on the other hand, are BSSs operating in ad-hoc mode. Since the IBSS does not include the AP VHT STA, there is no centralized management entity. That is, in the IBSS, Non-AP STAs are managed in a distributed manner. In the IBSS, all STAs may be configured as mobile stations, and access to the DS is not allowed, thereby forming a self-contained network.

A STA is any functional medium that includes a medium access control (MAC) compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard and a physical layer interface to a wireless medium. Broadly speaking, an AP and a non-AP station (Non- AP Station). In addition, a STA that supports ultra-high speed data processing of 1 GHz or more in a multi-channel environment as described below is called a VHT STA. In the VHT WLAN system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied, all of the STAs included in the BSS may be VHT STAs, or both VHT STAs and legacy STAs (eg, HT STAs according to IEEE 802.11n) may coexist.

The STA for wireless communication includes a processor and a transceiver, and includes a user interface and a display means. The processor is a functional unit designed to generate a frame to be transmitted through a wireless network or to process a frame received through the wireless network, and performs various functions for controlling an STA. The transceiver is a unit that is functionally connected to the processor and is designed to transmit and receive frames over a wireless network for a station.

Among the STAs, portable terminals operated by a user are non-AP STAs (STA1, STA3, STA4, and STA5). A non-AP STA is a terminal, a wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal, or a mobile subscriber. It may also be called another name such as a mobile subscriber unit. In addition, a non-AP STA supporting ultra-fast data processing of 1 GHz or more in a multi-channel environment as described below is referred to as a non-AP VHT STA or simply a VHT STA.

The APs AP1 and AP2 are functional entities that provide access to the DS via a wireless medium for an associated station (STA) associated therewith. In an infrastructure BSS including an AP, communication between non-AP STAs is performed via an AP. However, when a direct link is established, direct communication between non-AP STAs is possible. The AP may be called a centralized controller, a base station (BS), a node-B, a base transceiver system (BTS), or a site controller in addition to the access point. In addition, an AP that supports ultra-high speed data processing of 1 GHz or more in a multi-channel environment as described below is called a VHT AP.

The plurality of infrastructure BSSs may be interconnected through a distribution system (DS). A plurality of BSSs connected through a DS is called an extended service set (ESS). STAs included in the ESS may communicate with each other, and a non-AP STA may move from one BSS to another BSS while seamlessly communicating within the same ESS.

The DS is a mechanism for one AP to communicate with another AP, which means that an AP transmits a frame for STAs coupled to a BSS managed by the AP or when one STA moves to another BSS. Frames can be delivered with external networks, such as wired networks. This DS does not necessarily need to be a network, and there is no limitation on its form as long as it can provide certain distribution services defined in IEEE 802.11. For example, the DS may be a wireless network such as a mesh network or a physical structure that connects APs to each other.

As described above, in the case of a VHT system operating at 60 GHz, a directional antenna may be used to increase service coverage. The problem is that the use of a directional antenna can increase service coverage, while a hidden node can occur as the radio waves are concentrated in a specific direction. This problem becomes more serious because the service coverage is narrow when the VHT WLAN system operates in this 60 GHz band, but the same problem may occur when operating in a band below 6 GHz.

For reference, the VHT system operating at 60 GHz supports three types of antennas. 1) Single antenna: fixed antenna, without any steering capability, 2) Sector antenna: release power in the direction of a predefined number 3) Phased array antenna: A phased array radar can electronically adjust the phase instead of a conventional mechanical antenna that rotates and tilts the antenna to adjust the radar beam formation and direction of propagation. It is a new concept radar system that detects and tracks objects by combining multiple antenna arrays to adjust the propagation beam without a mechanical drive for 360 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees high angle. It has several components that are electrically controllable to point in the desired direction at a particular phase or possible amplitude.

A terminal supporting a single antenna corresponds to a non-steerable STA, and a terminal supporting a sector antenna and a phased array antenna corresponds to a steerable STA. Only a Steerable STA may perform directed transmission.

In the case of a VHT system operating at 60 GHz, a central point (CP) such as an AP is used to solve a hidden node problem. Alternatively, a directed RTS frame and an omni-directed CTS frame may be used. That is, the steerable STA transmits a directed RTS frame to the AP through beam-forming. In response, the AP responds with an omni-directed CTS frame. All stations belonging to the BSS listen to the CTS frame, and based on this, they may set their own Network Allocation Vector (NAV) value to solve the problem of hidden nodes. For reference, this method is called 'CP-initiated channel access mechanism'.

2 is a diagram illustrating a beam training procedure.

As mentioned above, in a VHT WLAN system using a 60 GHz band, it is considered to use a directional antenna to compensate for the disadvantage of narrow service coverage. A directional antenna, as opposed to an omni-directional antenna, refers to the transmission of a signal only in a specific direction using beam forming technology.

In order to use the beamforming technique, it is necessary to perform a beamforming process using a beam training sequence in advance. The beam training sequence will be described with reference to FIG. 2. There is no limitation on the specific implementation method of the beamforming technology, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the beamforming technology.

When using a directional antenna to transmit the signal only in the predetermined direction in which the receiver is located, the signal can be transmitted successfully over a longer distance. As described above, a beamforming process using a beam training sequence is first performed between devices to communicate with each other using a directional antenna.

The beam training procedure described with reference to FIG. 2 is largely completed through a transmission sector sweep (Transmission (TX) Sector Sweep) step (S210) and a link refinement iteration step (S220). In the transmit sector sweep step S210, the transmitter performs a sector sweep, and the receiver operates in quasi-omni RX mode.

Here, the receiver may mean a receiving STA, which is a station for receiving a data frame, and the transmitter may mean a transmitting STA, a station for transmitting a data frame. The receiving station and the transmitting station, or the receiver and the transmitter are relative concepts and can be changed at any time according to the transmission direction of the data frame. This also applies to the following.

Sector sweep refers to checking TX diversity gain by transmitting a management frame while switching a beam direction or a beam sector. . At this point, the receiver switches close to the omni-directional mode to assist in the transmitter's transmit diversity gain check.

After the sector sweep, the transmission station checks the RX diversity gain in the link refinement iteration step S220. The receiver receives a management frame while switching the beam direction or the beam sector with respect to the optimal transmission beam direction (TX beamdirection) set in the transmission sector sweep process. Through this process, the receiver can set the optimal RX beam-direction.

Having set the optimal receive beam direction, the receiver then causes the transmitter to perform transmission training again. While repeating the above procedure, the receiver and the transmitter may transmit the TX beam-direction and the receive beam direction (TX diversity gain) to maximize the TX diversity gain and RX diversity gain. RX beamdirection can be set.

If the beamforming process is performed using the beam training sequence for the entire direction without any prior information on the position of the moving station, it can be expected that the overhead due to the beamforming will be significantly increased. In addition, the overhead of this beamforming process is further increased when the beam-width is narrowed to further extend service coverage.

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of a primary link 310 and a secondary link 320 used in an embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that one or more links may exist between stations while undergoing a beamforming process. There is one or more beamforming vectors between stations. Arrows of various directions are shown in the AP, the station 1 (STA 1) and the station 2 (STA 2), which means a plurality of beamforming vectors. As can be seen from the beam training process described with reference to FIG. 2, in the link refinement iteration process, the same link refinement process is repeated for several beamforming vectors in order to find a better beamforming vector. One beamforming vector is formed for each link refinement process. Each beamforming vector may be regarded as one link having different channel characteristics.

However, in view of the fact that the use of one or more links rather than finding the best one can provide a better service in consideration of the status of each link, in the present invention, the primary link 310 and the secondary link 320 Use it. Thus, the link adaptation process for these links may be referred to as a multi-link adaptation procedure. Of course, to do this, the WLAN system must be able to support two or more links.

Here, the two or more links do not mean only a link formed of two or more beamforming vectors, and each station is regarded as one link when transmitting and receiving by using an omnidirectional antenna and when transmitting and receiving by using a directional antenna. This can be regarded as 2 links. In this case, transmission and reception using the omnidirectional antenna may be used as the primary link, and transmission and reception using the directional antenna may be used as the secondary link, and vice versa. That is, switching between transmission and reception using an omnidirectional antenna and transmission and reception using a directional antenna may be regarded as switching between two links, which may be an example of a multi-link adaptation method proposed by the present invention, which will be described later.

In order to improve the performance of the method of performing a link adaptation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a lower channel correlation between the primary link 310 and the secondary link 320 may be better. If the channel correlation between the two links is high, it is because diversity gain is reduced in performing replacement or change between the two links.

Therefore, in order to consider the channel correlation between the two links, as described below with reference to FIG. 4, the beam training procedure for each link will be separately performed. That is, the beam training procedure may be additionally performed except for the beamforming vector used for the primary link 310, in order to find the secondary link 320.

The transmission sector sweep (S410) step is to check the transmission diversity gain (TX diversity gain), which is the same as the transmission sector sweep (S210) step of FIG. Here too, the transmitter performs a sector sweep, and the receiver operates in quasi-omni RX mode, where the receiver is a receiving STA, which is a station that receives data frames, and the transmitter is a data receiver. A transmitting station (transmitting STA) that is a station for transmitting a frame. In addition, the receiving station and the transmitting station, or the receiver and the transmitter are relative concepts, and can be changed at any time according to the transmission direction of the data frame.

After the transmission sector sweep S410, two link refinement repeat steps are performed. One is a link refinement repeating step S420 for finding the main link. After this, after finding the primary link, a link refinement repeating step for finding the secondary link is performed (S430).

When performing the beam training procedure again to find the secondary link, the transmit beam direction (TX beam-direction) and the receive beam direction (RX beam-direction) used for the primary link are excluded from the selectable beam direction. However, when the beam training procedure is performed again, there is a problem that the overhead becomes large. As another method to solve this problem, in the sector sweep process (S410), two or more optimal beamforming vectors having low correlation are selected to perform link refinement iteration process for each beamforming vector. You may. In this case, the link refinement repeating process for one beamforming vector corresponds to S420, and the link refinement repeating process for another beamforming vector corresponds to S430.

Here, the TX beam-direction or beamforming vector having a low correlation corresponds to a case where an AOD (Angle of Departure) is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference value between two transmission beam directions or beamforming vectors. The reference value for evaluating whether the correlation is large or small according to the AOD value may be preset or determined by the AP or the corresponding station in consideration of a communication environment.

When data transmission is not smooth according to a wireless communication environment, conventionally, there has been a method of lowering a data rate by retransmitting data or decreasing a corresponding modulation and coding scheme (MCS) value. However, in case of retransmission, there is a problem of increasing overhead, and in case of lowering the data rate, there is a problem in that it may adversely affect other services or data transmission.

Therefore, the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 uses a method of transmitting data separately from a header while using multilink. That is, the transmitter first transmits a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) header to the receiver through the primary link (S510). If the state of the primary link is not good, the data is transmitted through the secondary link without notifying a separate message or negotiating (S520). In this case, before transmitting data through the secondary link, a preamble may be transmitted to the secondary link for channel estimation. According to this embodiment, even if the primary link is unstable or of poor quality, data can be transmitted reliably, saving time and preventing overhead.

In this case, the PLCP header contains information indicating that data is to be separated and transmitted through another link (sub link). Accordingly, the receiver confirms that data is transmitted through another link, and changes the beamforming vector so that the receiver can normally receive data transmitted through the secondary link. Information included in the PLCP header will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a PPDU including a PLCP header transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The PLCP protocol data unit (PPDU) includes a PLCP preamble 610, a PLCP header 620, and an MPDU 630. The PLCP header 620, along with other fields, includes a multi-link adaptation field. 680 is included.

The embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 corresponds to a per-frame multi-link adaptation procedure. When a transmitter transmits a frame to a receiver, it selects and switches a primary link and a secondary link on a frame-by-frame basis.

When the transmitter sends a frame to the receiver, the PLCP preamble 610 and the PLCP header 620 of the frame are transmitted over the primary link. The data MPDU 630 is separated and transmitted, and is referred to as a data field 630 to distinguish the data from a PLCP preamble 610 or a PLCP header 620. Do it. Here, the PLCP header includes information on a link to which a data field (i.e., PHY Protocol Data Unit) 630 is transmitted, or link change information. If the receiver acquires information on which link the data field 630 is to be transmitted or link change information from the PLCP header 620, and according to the information, the data field 630 is transmitted to the secondary link, The receiver receiving the PLCP header 620 changes the beamforming vector to the secondary link.

In this case, the information on the link to which the data field 630 is transmitted is included in the multi-link adaptation field 625 of the PLCP header 620. For example, if the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 625 of the PLCP header is 0, the data field 630 transmitted subsequent to the PLCP header 620 is transmitted over the primary link. And if the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 625 is 1, the data field is transmitted using the secondary link.

In addition to the multilink adaptation field 625, the PLCP header 620 includes a scrambler initialization field, an MCS field, a length field, a GI length field, an additional PPDU field, and a packet type ( Packet type) field, a training length field, a reserved field, and an HCS field may be included. These fields are for the general function of the PLCP header, and will be omitted by those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art. In addition, some of the fields listed above may be omitted in some embodiments.

7 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation method according to another embodiment of the present invention. The multi-link adaptation method described with reference to FIG. 7 corresponds to a per-txop multi-link adaptation procedure in units of transmission opportunities.

The multi-link adaptation procedure refers to a method in which a transmitter acquires a transmission opportunity (TXOP) to transmit a plurality of frames to a receiver, and selects and modifies and uses a primary link and a secondary link in units of TXOP.

When the transmitter transmits a plurality of frames to the receiver, the transmitter and receiver first exchange a request to send (RTS) frame and a clear to send (CTS) frame with each other. At this time, the transmitter transmits the RTS frame to the receiver through the primary link (S710), and the receiver also responds by transmitting the CTS frame to the transmitter through the primary link (S720). Here, the RTS signal transmitted by sending the RTS frame is a signal transmitted to know whether the area is clean. When the receiver receives the RTS signal, the response is transmitted by transmitting a clear to send (CTS) signal to the transmitter. Of course, the CTS signal is included in the CTS frame.

When the transmitter normally receives the CTS frame from the receiver through the primary link, the transmitter transmits data to the primary link (S730). Data may be transmitted over a plurality of frames. However, information for determining which link to transmit data may be included in an RTS frame and / or a CTS frame. For example, if the transmitter wants to transmit data frames on the sublink, the receiver receives the RTS frame and responds with the CTS frame, changing the beamforming vector to match the sublink.

Switching a link from the primary link to the secondary link is only valid within the current TXOP at that time, and after that TXOP is over, the primary link is again used by default. Of course, it is assumed that the use of the main link is set as the default. Therefore, in this case, transmission of the RTS frame and the CTS frame to obtain the next TXOP is performed through the main link.

If a link switch is made between the primary link and the secondary link before one TXOP ends, that is, during the TXOP Duration remaining in the middle of the TXOP, the QoS Data frame and QoS null frame. (QoS Nulll frame) can be used. Here, a transmitter exemplifies a case of sending a QoS null frame to a receiver.

The sender sends a QoS null frame to the receiver, thereby linking from the primary link to the secondary link or from the secondary link to the primary link through the multilink adaptation field of the QoS control field of the QoS null frame. It may be informed that is switched (S740). A QoS null frame is literally an empty frame with no actual data, and data is transmitted following the QoS null frame.

The same is true when the transmitter transmits a QoS Data frame to the receiver. In this case, it is possible to inform that the link is changed from the primary link to the secondary link or the secondary link to the primary link through the multi-link adaptation field of the QoS control field of the QoS data frame.

Receiving a QoS null frame including information on the link change, the receiver transmits an ACK (acknowledgment response) thereto, and the link change is successfully performed (S750). Thereafter, the transmitter transmits data to the receiver through the secondary link (S760).

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a QoS Control field transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The QoS control field may be included in a QoS data frame or a QoS null frame, an RTS frame, a CTS frame, etc. according to the 802.11 MAC protocol and determines a link to be used during TXOP.

QoS control fields include a traffic identifier (TID) field 810, a multi-link adaptation field 820, an acknowledgment (ACK) policy field (830), a reserved field (840), and the like. Other fields may be further included according to which frame the QoS control field is included, and the contents of the QoS control field may be slightly different. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the QoS control field includes a multi-link adaptation field in common in which frame. This is because the multilink adaptation field includes content related to a multilink adaptation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the multi-link adaptation field carries information on a link to be used in the corresponding TXOP in which the multi-link adaptation field is transmitted or information on link selection and change. For example, if the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 820 is zero, the transmitter causes subsequent data frames to be transmitted using the primary link. On the other hand, when the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 820 is 1, the transmitter may be configured to transmit the data frame using the sub-link.

In the case of performing a multi-link adaptation procedure using a QoS data frame or a QoS null frame, the ACK policy field 830 of the QoS control field should always use a normal ACK policy. If a non-ACK policy is used, the receiver does not receive confirmation such as ACK for transmission of the QoS control field from the receiver and cannot change the link.

9 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Per-connection multi-link adaptation is a multi-link adaptation procedure that can continuously change the primary and secondary links established between the transmitter and the receiver as long as the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is maintained. it means.

To this end, the transmitter transmits a multi-link adaptation request message to the receiver (S910). The receiver confirms the link change by transmitting a multi-link adaptation response message in response to the transmitter (S920). If a link change is made between the primary and secondary links through a multilink adaptation request message and a multilink adaptation response message, the connection remains valid while the connection between the transmitter and the receiver is continued and no other link change is performed again. Become.

Therefore, the transmitter transmits the RTS frame through the secondary link as determined through the multi-link adaptation request message and the multi-link adaptation response message (S930), and the receiver also transmits the CTS frame to the transmitter through the secondary link (S940). When the RTS frame and the CTS frame are exchanged through the secondary link, the transmitter may transmit data to the receiver through the secondary link (S950).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a multi-link adaptation request message transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a multilink adaptation response message transmitted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

The multi-link adaptation request message may use a multi-link switch request management frame shown in FIG. 10. In addition, the multi-link adaptation response message may use a multi-link switch response management frame shown in FIG. 11. That is, when the transmitter transmits the multi link change request management frame to the receiver, the receiver determines whether to accept the link change request of the transmitter and transmits the multi link change response management frame.

The multi-link change request management frame illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a category field 1010, an action field 1020, a destination MAC address field 1030, and a source MAC address. ) Field 1040, and multi-link adaptation field 1050. The multi-link change request management frame illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a category field 1110, an action field 1120, a destination MAC address field 1130, and a source MAC address. An address field 1140 and a status code field 1150.

The category fields 1010 and 1110 and the

action fields

1020 and 1120 of the multi-link change request management frame and the multi-link change response management frame indicate categories and operation contents of the corresponding frames. In addition, the

destination address fields

1030 and 1130 of the multi-link change request management frame and the multi-link change response management frame indicate a MAC address of a station which is to receive a corresponding frame, or a MAC address of a receiver. The

source address fields

1040 and 1140 indicate the MAC address of the station which is the source for transmitting the corresponding field, or the MAC address of the transmitter.

The multi-link adaptation field 1050 of the multi-link change request management frame includes information on whether to request a link change and / or to which link. For example, when transmitting by setting the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 1050 to 0, the transmitter may inform the receiver that it will use the primary link. In addition, when transmitting by setting the field value of the multi-link adaptation field 1050 to 1, the transmitter may inform the receiver that the secondary link will be used.

The status code field 1150 of the multi-link change response management frame transmitted by the receiver corresponding to the multi-link change request management frame is a field indicating whether or not to accept a link change. For example, the receiver may indicate whether to accept a link change by setting a field value of the status code field 1150 of the multi-link change response management frame to 0 or 1.

12 illustrates a wireless communication device for performing a multi-link adaptation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a processor 1210, an RF unit 1220, and a memory 1230. That is, the wireless communication device illustrated in FIG. 12 may support a multi-link and perform a beam training procedure for a multi-link, and according to an embodiment of the present invention, a link change between multi-links, a multi-link adaptation procedure, and / or a multi-link adaptation The method can be performed.

The wireless communication device includes a processor 1210 and a radio frequency (RF) unit 1220. The memory 1230 is connected to the processor 1210 and stores various information for driving the processor 1210. The processor 1210 may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), another chipset, a logic circuit, and / or a data processing device. The memory 1230 may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, memory card, storage medium, and / or other storage device. In addition, the wireless communication device may further include a display unit or a user interface, but is not illustrated in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The processor 1210 includes a request for link change in a PLCP header, an RTS frame or a QoS null frame or a QoS data frame, a multilink adaptation request message, and the like. The processor 1210 of the receiver that receives the PLCP header, the RTS frame or the QoS null frame or the QoS data frame, the multi-link adaptation request message, etc. including the link change request or the information on the change link, performs a link change or the like. Confirm the link change in response. Of course, these messages or control signals may be transmitted and received through the RF unit 1220 and may be temporarily or permanently stored in the memory 1230.

The processor 1210 of the transmitter receiving the response to the link change or transmitting the PLCP header from the receiver changes the link and transmits data through the RF unit 1220 to the changed link.

All the above-described methods may be performed by a processor such as a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like according to software or program code coded to perform the method, or a processor of a terminal shown in FIG. 3. have. The design, development and implementation of the code will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the description of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. I can understand. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention will include all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

Finding a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure;

Transmitting link change information to a receiver during data transmission on either link of the primary link and the secondary link within one transmission opportunity;

Receiving an acknowledgment (ACK) for the link change information; And

Changing a link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.
The method of claim 1,

And transmitting remaining data over the changed link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.
The method of claim 1,

The link change information is transmitted in a manner of being included in a quality of service (QoS) null frame.
The method of claim 1,

The link change information is included in the QoS data frame (QoS DATA frame), characterized in that transmitted in the multi-link adaptation method.
The method of claim 1,

Prior to transmitting the link change information, further determining the one link to be used before transmitting the link at the transmission opportunity while transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame and receiving a clear to send (CTS) frame. Multi-link adaptation method that includes.
The method of claim 1,

And the primary link and the secondary link have low channel correlation with each other.
Finding a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure;

Transmitting a multi-link adaptation request message including link change information to a receiver through one of the primary link and the secondary link;

Receiving a multilink adaptation response message from the receiver; And

And changing the link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.
The method of claim 7, wherein

Transmitting an RTS frame over the changed link; And

Receiving a CTS frame through the link changed in accordance with the link change information of the primary link and the secondary link, further comprising the step of
The method of claim 7, wherein

And transmitting data over the changed link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.
The method of claim 7, wherein

And the primary link and the secondary link have low channel correlation with each other.
Finding a primary link and a secondary link through a beam training procedure;

Transmitting a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) header including link change information to a receiver through any one of a primary link and a secondary link;

Transmitting data corresponding to the PLCP header through the link according to the link change information among the primary link and the secondary link.
The method of claim 11,

The PLCP header further includes information that data corresponding to the PLCP header will be transmitted through another link.