JP2021533588A - How to coordinate multiple access point scheduling and transmission, systems, and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Multiple access points and methods and equipment for coordinating transmissions are disclosed. An exemplary device is a connection analysis unit, which performs signal measurement at the first station based on the signal from the second station, and when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold value, the first station is referred to the second station. A connection analysis unit that groups together with stations, and an interface that sends grouping instructions to the access point and server in order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping. ,including.

Description

The present disclosure relates to Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) connections in general, and in particular to methods and devices for coordinating multiple access point scheduling and transmission.

Many locations offer Wi-Fi to connect Wi-Fi capable devices to networks such as the Internet. Wi-Fi compatible devices include personal computers, video game terminals, mobile phones and devices, digital cameras, tablets, smart TVs, digital audio players, and the like. Wi-Fi enables Wi-Fi compatible devices to wirelessly access the Internet via a WLAN (wireless local area network). To provide a Wi-Fi connection to the device, the Wi-Fi access point sends a radio frequency Wi-Fi signal to a Wi-Fi capable device that is within the access point (eg, hotspot) signal range. Wi-Fi is implemented using a set of MAC (media access control) and PHY (physical layer) specifications (eg, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocol).

It is an exemplary wireless communication environment for scheduling communication between Wi-Fi devices. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary server, an exemplary access point protocol execution unit, and an exemplary station feedback generator of FIG. It is a flowchart showing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that can be executed to implement the exemplary server of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be executed to implement the exemplary access point protocol execution unit of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary machine-readable instruction that can be executed to implement the exemplary station feedback generator of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. It is a flowchart showing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that can be executed to implement the exemplary server of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be executed to implement the exemplary access point protocol execution unit of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be executed to implement the exemplary access point protocol execution unit and exemplary station feedback generator of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be executed to implement the exemplary access point protocol execution unit and exemplary station feedback generator of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. An exemplary timing protocol diagram and an exemplary coordinated beamform null data packet declaration that can be sent by the server to the access point of FIG. 1 are shown. An exemplary timing protocol diagram and an exemplary joint transmission null data packet declaration that can be transmitted by the server to the access point of FIG. 1 are shown. It is a block diagram of a wireless architecture by some examples. Illustrative front-end module circuits for use in the wireless architecture of FIG. 12 are shown by some examples. Illustrative wireless IC circuits for use in the wireless architecture of FIG. 12 are shown by some examples. An exemplary baseband processing circuit for use in the wireless architecture of FIG. 12 is shown by some examples. Exemplary machine-readable instructions of FIGS. 3-9 to implement any one or any combination of the server, access point protocol execution unit, and / or station feedback generator of FIGS. 1 and / or 2. It is a block diagram of a processor platform constructed to execute.

The figure is not on scale. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used through the drawings and the attachments that refer to the drawings or parts thereof.

Various locations (eg homes, workplaces, coffee shops, restaurants, parks, airports, etc.) have Wi-Fi to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to the Internet or any other network with minimal difficulty. Wi-Fi may be provided to the corresponding device (eg, station (STA)). These locations provide one or more Wi-Fi access points (APs) to output Wi-Fi signals to Wi-Fi capable devices within the range of Wi-Fi signals (eg, hotspots). It's okay. The Wi-Fi AP is configured to wirelessly connect a Wi-Fi capable device to the Internet via a WLAN (wireless local area network) using a Wi-Fi protocol (eg, like 802.11). The Wi-Fi protocol provides access to the Internet by allowing the AP to communicate with the STA, causing the STA to send uplink (UL) transmissions to the Internet and receive downlink (DL) transmissions from the Internet. It is a protocol to do. Some APs communicate using beamforming technology. Beamforming wireless network systems use concentrated electromagnetic signals that propagate substantially in one direction to transfer data from a source station (eg, a router, etc.) to a destination station (eg, a computing device, mobile device, etc.). Send wirelessly.

Some examples disclosed herein relate to high density Wi-Fi networks where some STAs require network connectivity. Thus, the plurality of APs may be deployed within different frequency channels and / or within the same frequency channel (eg, coordinated beamforming). Coordinated beamforming allows simultaneous transmission from multiple APs within the AP's network on the same frequency channel without co-processing. Such a scheme largely depends on the directivity of the AP's beam (eg, scheduling spatially separated simultaneous transmissions). However, coordinated beamforming requires channel sounding and beamform (BF) feedback reporting from all active STAs in the network to all active APs. Therefore, coordinated beamforming increases network overhead and delay.

Some of the examples disclosed herein provide a less complex and less overhead coordinated scheme, with multi-user / multi-AP scheduling where all STAs in the network do not require channel sounding and BF feedback reporting from the network connection. Enables. Such examples disclosed herein provide a less complex, neighborhood-based grouping technique (eg, based on signal strength between STAs) that selects AP-STA pairs for simultaneous transmission. In this method, such an example disclosed herein does not schedule STAs in the same group for simultaneous transmission.

Other examples disclosed herein relate to Wi-Fi communication with very low packet loss probability requirements that require ultra-reliable links between APs and STAs. For example, industrial process automation and control, robotic assistance in healthcare, remote surgery in healthcare, etc. may have stringent requirements to ensure a reduced probability of packet loss. Conventional techniques that meet these probability reduction requirements seek to improve the functionality of MIMO (multi-input multiple output) in a single AP. However, such conventional techniques limit diversity, BF, gain, and transmit power, increase interference, reduce quality of service, and jeopardize cell-end users. The example disclosed herein provides a single Associated Press protocol by providing multiple Associated Press protocols, reserving redundant physical paths to ensure more reliable communication and end-user quality of service. Alleviate problems related to. Such an example disclosed herein provides non-coherent coherent transmission in Wi-Fi. In non-coherent coherent transmission, the signal is transmitted in an open loop fashion by multiple coordinated APs without co-precoding across multiple APs. Thereby, multiple copies of the same signal are provided to the STA to improve reliability through diversity and array beamforming gain, or allow spatial multiplexing to improve throughput to the STA.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary wireless communication environment 100 for scheduling communication between Wi-Fi devices. An exemplary wireless communication environment 100 includes an exemplary server 102 and an exemplary AP network 104 including exemplary APs 106a-c having exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c. The environment 100 of FIG. 1 also includes exemplary STAs 110a-c, exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c, exemplary STA groups 114, and exemplary networks 116. The illustrated example of FIG. 1 includes three APs 106a-c and three STA110a-c and one network 116, while the exemplary environment 100 includes any number of APs, STAs, and / or networks. It's fine.

The exemplary server 102 of FIG. 1 communicates with exemplary APs 106a-c in an exemplary AP network 104 (eg, by wired or wireless communication) to achieve scheduling of exemplary STA110a-c. It is a device. In some examples, the server 102 may be software running on one of the exemplary APs 106a-c or another AP. In such an example, the AP that implements the exemplary server 102 may be the master AP. In some examples, the server 102 initiates a grouping protocol to determine which STA (eg, corresponding to exemplary group 114) is within the threshold distance of another STA. The server 102 initiates the grouping protocol to cause interference with the STAs 110a-c to which AP106a-c are connected (eg, not grouped with other STAs) in any one of the radio devices. Unless otherwise ensured to be scheduled at the same time / frequency. Further, the exemplary server 102 initiates a grouping protocol to ensure that the exemplary AP106a-c do not schedule STAs grouped at the same time and / or frequency (eg, it is significant to do so). Because it causes a lot of interference). As will be further described later in connection with FIG. 2, the exemplary server 102 initiates a grouping protocol with minimal communication between the exemplary AP106a-c and the exemplary STA110a-c. This optimizes the efficiency of the grouping protocol. For example, instead of each STA performing a signal measurement for all STAs, each STA sends the result of each measurement. Disclosure grouping protocols include STAs that perform measurements only on the same or higher rank STAs in order to reduce repeated measurements. Further, the exemplary STA 110a-c need only return the measured value to the server 102 when the measured value is higher than the threshold value. This eliminates the transmission of ungrouped STA measurement data.

In some examples, the server 102 in FIG. 1 initiates the exemplary AP106a-c non-coherent co-transmission scheduling. Communication between one or more of the exemplary AP106a-c and one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c meets high reliability requirements (eg, Internet of Things communication for mission-critical things). , Gigabit connection, robotics assistance, etc.), the exemplary server 102 initiates non-coherent co-transmission scheduling to send redundant data to the same STA in two or more of the exemplary AP networks 104. AP can be scheduled. As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary AP2 102b and the exemplary AP3 102c may transmit the same data to the exemplary STA3 110c. This is because AP106a to c in the AP network 104 have the same service set identifier (SSID), belong to the controlled Wi-Fi network, and can transmit data to two or more AP106a to c at the same time. Because it is. This reduces the probability of packet loss. The server 102 sends an instruction to give feedback reports (eg, CQI (channel quality indicator) feedback reports) to one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c to the exemplary AP106a-c based on channel estimation. You may tell them to instruct you to send. Thus, the exemplary server 102 is exemplified by selecting MIMO (multiple input multiple output) modes (eg, spatial diversity and / or spatial multiplexing (SM) gain) based on feedback reports. Non-coherent co-transmission can be scheduled to one or more of the STA110a-c. In some examples, when the exemplary AP106a-c include a BF antenna, the exemplary server 102 may further initiate continuous channel sounding. As a result, one or more of the STAs 110a-c can measure the channel and provide a BF report to the corresponding AP106a-c. This BF report is forwarded to an exemplary server 102. Thus, the server 102 can use the BF reports from each AP 106a-c to schedule non-coherent co-transmissions to one or more STAs 110a-c. The exemplary server 102 will be further described below in connection with FIG.

Exemplary AP106a-c in FIG. 1 are devices that allow exemplary STA110a-c to wirelessly access the exemplary network 116. Exemplary AP106a-c may be routers, modem routers, and / or any other device that provides a wireless connection to the network. The router provides a wireless communication link to the STA. The router accesses the network through a wired connection via a modem. A modem router combines the functions of a modem and a router. Exemplary AP106a-c include one or more antennas or one or more types and may execute one or more communication protocols (eg, BF, single user BF, multi-user BF, MIMO, etc.). ). Exemplary AP106a-c include a radio architecture (eg, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of FIG. 12), which can transmit data wirelessly. Further, exemplary AP106a-c includes exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c and relevant information (eg, for example) for scheduling exemplary STA110a-c based on instructions from the exemplary server 102. Acquisition of RSSI measurement value, SNR measurement value, CQI feedback report, BF feedback report, etc.) is realized.

The exemplary protocol execution units 108a-c of FIG. 1 realize the acquisition of information for scheduling the exemplary STA110a, based on instructions from the exemplary server 102. For example, if the exemplary STA execution unit 108a of the first exemplary AP 106a receives an instruction to execute the grouping protocol from the exemplary server 102, the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108a is connected. A request for reporting (eg, beacon reporting) may be transmitted from the STA (eg, exemplary STA110a). The request may correspond to one or more channels that the STA 110a should listen to (eg, detect). Thus, the exemplary STA110a, when a beacon is detected (eg, heard), is based on the beacon, with information (eg, signal to noise ratio (SNR)), received signal strength (received). signal strength indicator (RSSI)) value, etc.) can be reported. In such an example, the STA protocol execution unit 108a uses the reported information as an exemplary server 102 for grouping purposes (eg, to generate exemplary groups 114 of exemplary STAs 110a-b). Transfer to.

In another example, the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108b of the second exemplary AP 106b is instructed by the exemplary server 102 to perform a non-coherent co-transmission for the third exemplary STA 110c. Upon receipt, the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108a transmits a training field (eg, LTF (long training field)) to the STA110c. As a result, the STA 110c can perform channel estimation. In joint transmission, each AP 106a-c transmits a training field for channel estimation at the same time and in coordination with other APs. For example, the server 102 may include data in its instructions to AP106a-c (eg, by including timing information / protocol in the instruction) to ensure that AP106a-c cooperate. good. In some examples, the STA protocol execution units 108a-c provide training for their associated stream by applying a P-matrix using the P-matrix code transmitted from the server 102. You can do it. In such an example, if each of the exemplary AP106a-c is multiplexing two data streams, then AP106a-c is a P- of size 6 (eg, 3 APs x 2 data streams). Orthogonal training fields are simultaneously transmitted to exemplary STAs 110a-c using Matrix. Thus, one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c (eg, STA110c in this example) estimates the mixed channel between AP106a-c and STA110c, and the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108a-. Feedback (CQI feedback) can be provided to one or more of c. In some examples, the STA protocol execution units 108a-c may use the multi-user BF or cooperative BF to transmit data to one or more of the exemplary STA 110a-c. In such an example, the STA protocol execution units 108a-c may receive instructions from the exemplary server 102 to perform non-coherent coherent transmission with the BF and / or with the BF on a different frequency channel. .. Thus, exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c connect to one or more exemplary STA110a-c one by one (eg, time division multiple access (time)) in order to obtain a response that includes a BF feedback report. -The request may be sent (by division multiple access (TDMA)) method. Exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c illustrate received (eg, acquired) BF feedback reports to schedule non-coherent co-transmissions with BF (eg, within the same or different subbands). It is transmitted to a typical server 102. An example of one of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c will be further described later in connection with FIG.

Exemplary STA110a-c in FIG. 1 are Wi-Fi compatible computing devices. Exemplary STA110a-c include, for example, computing devices, portable devices, mobile devices, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, game systems, digital cameras, digital video recorders, televisions, set-top boxes, e-book readers, and / Alternatively, it may be any other Wi-Fi compatible device. Exemplary STAs 110a-c include exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c to connect to and communicate with Wi-Fi APs (eg, exemplary AP106a-c) for grouping protocols for scheduling purposes. And / or perform measurements that can be used for non-coherent co-transmission.

The exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c of FIG. 1 receive instructions from the exemplary AP106a-c to execute a signal measurement request (eg, an RSSI request or an SNR measurement request). Upon receipt, exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c process the request and perform the corresponding measurement. For example, the request may correspond to a channel to be listened to by the STA feedback generators 112a-c and / or a channel to be transmitted by the STA feedback generators 112a-c. In this way, each STA may transmit data on one channel and measure signals transmitted by other STAs on the other channel. In some examples, the request may correspond to a sequence number. In such an example, the STA measures the signal strength and / or the signal-to-noise ratio on the channel corresponding to the STA associated with the same or higher order AP and is associated with the same or lower order AP. You may refrain from measuring the signal characteristics on the channel corresponding to the STA. In some examples, the STA only needs to measure the signal strength and / or the signal-to-noise ratio on the channel corresponding to the STA associated with the AP in the same or lower order. Thus, there is no repetitive measurement for any combination of STAs (eg, if the first STA measures the signal corresponding to the second STA, the measurements will be the same, so the second STA will be the signal corresponding to the first STA. No need to measure). The exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c measure the signal characteristics corresponding to the interference (eg, RSSI, SNR, etc.) based on the instructions. Further, the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c compare the signal characteristics with the threshold and check whether RSSI, SNR, etc. exceed the maximum threshold. If the measured RSSI, SNR, etc. exceed the maximum threshold, the STA corresponding to the measurement is located near the STA on which the characteristic was measured. In order to eliminate unnecessary communication, the STA feedback generators 112a-c may only transmit the measurement information when the measurement information exceeds the maximum threshold in some examples. Thereby, the overall efficiency is improved.

In some examples, if one of the exemplary STAs 110a-c has difficulty detecting data from another STA (eg, the target STA), the corresponding STA STA feedback generator , May send a short frame to the target STA requesting a response. For example, if the exemplary STA110a has difficulty detecting the STA110b on a particular channel, the exemplary STA110a sends data to the exemplary STA110b, which depends on the response. In this way, the corresponding STA feedback generator can measure the signal characteristics (SNR, RSSI, etc.) based on the response from the target STA. In some examples, the STA feedback generators 112a-c may receive instructions to perform one or more channel estimates. In such an example, the STA feedback generators 112a-c estimate the channel based on the instruction. In some examples, the STA feedback generators 112a-c may receive instructions to generate a BF feedback report. In such an example, the STA feedback generators 112a-c provide the desired BF feedback report by measuring the channel, calculating the BF feedback report vector, quantizing the weights, and transmitting the quantized report. Generate and send the feedback report to the requesting AP.

The exemplary network 116 of FIG. 1 is a system of interconnected systems that exchange data. The exemplary network 116 may be implemented using any type of public or private network, such as, but not limited to, the Internet, telephone networks, LANs (local area networks), cable networks, and / or wireless networks. .. To enable communication over network 116, exemplary Wi-Fi AP106a-c can be Ethernet, digital subscriber line (DSL), telephone line, coaxial cable, or any wireless connection. Includes a communication interface that allows connections to, etc. In some examples, the server 102 and the exemplary APs 106a-c are connected via the exemplary network 116.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 1, one of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c, and one of the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c. The exemplary server 102 includes an exemplary interface 200, an exemplary ordering unit 202, an exemplary communication scheduler 204, an exemplary network characteristic unit 206, and an exemplary protocol selection unit 208. One of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c includes an exemplary interface 210, an exemplary instruction processor 212, and an exemplary packet generator 214. One of the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c includes an exemplary interface 220, an exemplary connection analysis unit 222, and an exemplary packet generator 224.

The exemplary interface 200 of the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 2 is directed to the exemplary AP 106a-c of the AP network 104 to initiate a grouping protocol or co-transmission protocol for scheduling the exemplary STA 110a-c. Send the command. Further, the exemplary interface 200 receives information (eg, reporting) from the exemplary AP106a-b based on the protocol initiated. Since some of the protocols are time dependent (eg, BF feedback reporting needs to be performed one by one for each AP, signal measurements may need to be performed simultaneously across the AP network 104. Etc.), the exemplary interface 200 may include timing information corresponding to such a time-dependent protocol in an instruction, and / or the exemplary interface 200 goes to each PA according to a desired timing schedule. An instruction may be transmitted (eg, the first AP is instructed to execute the trigger BF feedback report in the first hour, and the second AP is instructed to execute the trigger BF feedback report in the second hour. ,etc).

The exemplary ordering unit 202 of FIG. 2 produces an exemplary AP 106a-c sequence within the exemplary AP network 104. Thus, when exemplary STAs 110a-c are performing connection signal measurements (eg, SNR, RSSI, etc.), STA110a-c are for STAs connected to APs of the same or higher order. It only makes such measurements. The exemplary ordering unit 202 may order the exemplary APs randomly or based on network characteristics. For example, if the exemplary server 102 knows that the STA connected to a particular AP has more power and / or resources, the exemplary ordering unit 202 will more to that particular AP. The lower order may be given. As a result, other STAs connected to other APs perform less measurements. The exemplary ordering unit 202 may acquire knowledge of STA110a-c (eg, based on initial communication) through exemplary AP106a-c.

The exemplary communication scheduler 204 schedules communication between the exemplary APs 106a-c and the exemplary STA110a-c based on the feedback received according to the grouping protocol and / or the co-transmission protocol. For example, during a grouping protocol, the exemplary communication scheduler 204 may transfer communication between the exemplary APs 106a-c and the exemplary STA110a-c to a grouped STA (eg, of the exemplary group 114). Unless the exemplary STA110a-c) is scheduled for simultaneous transmission, it is scheduled in any way. In such an example, the communication scheduler 204 corresponds to the grouped STAs 110a-b to ensure that the STAs are scheduled at different times and / or different frequency slots (eg channels). Instructions to ~ c may be generated. In another example, during the joint transmission protocol, the exemplary communication scheduler 204 schedules joint communication between two or more AP106a-c to one or more STA110c, thereby ensuring redundant transmission. Improves signal reliability. For example, the communication scheduler 204 may generate instructions to be transmitted to a second exemplary AP 106b and a third exemplary AP 106c to co-transmit information to a third exemplary STA110c. An exemplary communication scheduler performs such joint transmissions with the characteristics of the device network (eg, determined by the network characteristics unit 206) and the selected protocol (eg, determined by the exemplary protocol selection unit 208). Schedule based on.

The exemplary network characteristics section 206 of FIG. 2 corresponds network characteristics to exemplary AP106a-c, exemplary STA110a-c, and / or communication characteristics between AP106a-c and STA110a-c. , Determined based on the information received from the AP network 104. For example, the network characteristics unit 206 may be capable of exemplary AP106a-c within an exemplary AP network 104 (eg, antenna types used by AP106a-c, viable protocols of AP106a-c, etc.). And / or frequency subbands available for scheduling are determined based on communication with exemplary AP106a-c. In addition, the exemplary network characteristics section 206 processes reports received from the exemplary STAs 110a-c (eg, BF feedback reports and / or CQI reports). As a result, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 can select a protocol based on the report.

The exemplary protocol selection unit 208 of FIG. 2 selects a protocol to be executed by two or more of the exemplary APs 106a-c for joint transmission. For example, the protocol selection unit 208 may select a MIMO protocol, a MIMO protocol protocol having a BF, and / or a MIMO protocol having a BF in a different subband. The exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects a protocol based on the processed data from the network characteristics unit 206 (eg, the antenna capabilities of the exemplary AP106a-c, the feedback report from the exemplary STA110a-c). .. For example, the protocol selection unit 208 selects a protocol based on the SINR of the channel, the rank of the channel, the use case of the connection, the sensitivity of the connection, the decision making, and the like. The selected protocol is transmitted across the AP network 104 via the exemplary interface 200.

An exemplary interface 210 of the STA protocol execution units 108a-c of FIG. 2 receives instructions from the exemplary server 102 and reports from one or more of the exemplary STA 110a-c. .. For example, the exemplary interface 210 interfaces with a radio architecture (eg, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of FIG. 12) to capture data packets transmitted to the AP. Further, the exemplary interface 210 is among the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c for eliciting feedback reports for information (eg, data packets via the exemplary wireless architecture 1200 in FIG. 12). Send to one or more and / or to an exemplary server to send the received feedback report and / or to send other data (eg, AP capability data).

The exemplary instruction processor 212 of FIG. 1 processes instructions from the exemplary server 102. For example, the exemplary instruction processor 212 processes instructions from the exemplary server 102 to determine the type of scheduling currently set (eg, grouping or co-transmission). If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the instruction corresponds to co-transmission scheduling, the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines what kind of co-transmission scheduling is being performed (eg, MIMO, BF). MIMO and / or MIMO with BF in different subbands). In this way, the exemplary packet generator 214 can determine what type of data packet should be transmitted to one or more exemplary STAs 110a-c based on the scheduling that is currently occurring.

The exemplary packet generation unit 214 of FIG. 2 generates a data packet according to an instruction from the exemplary server 102. For example, if the instructions from the exemplary server 102 correspond to a grouping protocol, the exemplary packet generator 214 derives a report corresponding to the channel measurement from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c. Generates a data packet (eg, collaborative beam forming (CBF), null-data packet (NDP)). In such an example, the packet generator 214 should be transmitted by the channels on which each STA 110a-c should listen and make measurements (eg, SNR, RSSI, etc.), as well as the exemplary STA 110a-c (eg, SNR, RSSI, etc.). As a result, other STAs may generate packets containing information related to the channel (where measurements can be made). In another example, when the instruction from the exemplary server 102 corresponds to the joint transmission protocol, the exemplary packet generator 214 reports corresponding to channel estimation from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c. Generate a data packet (eg, a training field) to retrieve (eg, a CQI report). In some examples, the training field includes P-Matrix for channel estimation. In another example, when the instruction from the exemplary server 102 corresponds to a joint transmission protocol using beamforming, the exemplary packet generator 214 receives BF feedback from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c. To elicit reports, data packets to one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c (eg, jointly transmitted null data packets) may be generated. The exemplary interface 210 transmits a data packet generated by the exemplary packet generator 214 via the exemplary wireless architecture 1200 of FIG.

The exemplary interface 220 of one of the STA feedback generators 112a-c of FIG. 2 receives data packets from one or more of the exemplary APs 106a-c. For example, the exemplary interface 220 interfaces with a radio architecture (eg, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of FIG. 12) to capture data packets transmitted to the STA. Further, the exemplary interface 220 is exemplary for data packets containing feedback reports (eg, signal strength, CQI, and / or BF reports) (eg, via the exemplary radio architecture 1200 in FIG. 12). It is transmitted to one or more of AP106a to c.

The exemplary connection analysis unit 222 of FIG. 2 analyzes connections on one or more frequency channels based on instructions from the exemplary AP106a-c in connection with other components of STA110a-c. For example, the connection analysis unit 222 may detect packets on one or more frequency channels and determine the SNR and / or RSSI of the received data packet. In some examples, the connection analysis unit 222 compares the measured values of RSSI, SNR, etc. from other STAs with one or more maximum thresholds so that the STA is one or more of the other STAs. Decide if it should be grouped. For example, if the first STA measures a high RSSI value (eg, higher than the maximum threshold) of the signal from the second STA, the first STA groups the first device with the second device and groups them to the AP for scheduling. To send. In some examples, the connection analysis unit 222 may discard measurements below the threshold, thereby reducing the amount of data transmitted and improving overall efficiency. Further, the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 may estimate one or more channels based on the received training field with P-Matrix. In some examples, the connection analysis unit 222 receives a channel from the coordinated AP to each AP 106a-c in a coordinated set (eg, a set of APs that can communicate with the STA) from the corresponding STA. Based on the null data packet, it is measured one by one so that BF feedback data can be generated. Alternatively, the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 may perform BF training independently of each AP.

An exemplary connection analysis unit 222 generates a packet containing a report to be sent to the connected AP. For example, packet generator 224 may generate a data packet containing grouped STAs (eg, based on measured SNR and / or RSSI values), CQI corresponding to channel estimation, and / or BF feedback reports. .. Thus, relevant information may be transferred to the exemplary server 102 to schedule communication between the exemplary AP106a-c and the exemplary STA110a-c.

An exemplary method for implementing an exemplary server 102, exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c, and exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. One or more of the elements, processes, and / or devices may be combined, divided, rearranged, omitted, deleted and / or implemented in any other way. Further, an exemplary interface 200 of FIG. 2, an exemplary ordering unit 202, an exemplary scheduler 204, an exemplary network characteristic unit 206, an exemplary protocol selection unit 208, an exemplary interface 210, an exemplary instruction. A processor 212, an exemplary packet generator 214, an exemplary interface 220, an exemplary connection analysis unit 222, an exemplary packet generator 224, more generally an exemplary server 102, an exemplary STA protocol. Execution units 108a-c and / or exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c may be implemented by any combination of hardware, software, firmware, and / or hardware, software, and / or firmware. Thus, for example, an exemplary interface 200, an exemplary ordering unit 202, an exemplary communication scheduler 204, an exemplary network characteristic unit 206, an exemplary protocol selection unit 208, an exemplary interface 210, an exemplary instruction. A processor 212, an exemplary packet generator 214, an exemplary interface 220, an exemplary connection analysis unit 222, an exemplary packet generator 224, more generally an exemplary server 102 in FIG. 2, exemplary. The STA protocol execution units 108a to 108a and / or the exemplary STA feedback generation units 112a to c are one or more analog or digital circuits, logic circuits, programmable processors, programmable controls, graphic processing processors (GPUs), It can be implemented by a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic element (PLD), and / or a field programmable logic element (FPLD). When reading any of the claims of the equipment or system of this patent to cover purely software and / or firmware implementation, an exemplary interface 200, an exemplary ordering unit 2020, an exemplary communication scheduler 204. , An exemplary network characteristics section 206, an exemplary protocol selection section 208, an exemplary interface 210, an exemplary instruction processor 212, an exemplary packet generation section 214, an exemplary interface 220, an exemplary connection analysis section. 222, an exemplary packet generator 224, more generally the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 2, exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c, and / or exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c. , It is defined to include non-temporary computer-readable storage devices, including software and / or firmware, or storage disks such as memory, digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs), Blu-ray discs, and the like. .. Furthermore, the exemplary link aggregator 104 of FIG. 1 may include one or more elements, processes, and / or devices in addition to or in place of those shown in FIG. 2 and / or illustration. It may include any or all of more than one of the elements, processes, and devices that have been created. As used herein, the phrase "in communication" and its variants include direct communication and / or indirect communication through one or more intermediate components, direct physical (eg, wired) communication and / or. It does not require constant communication, but rather further includes periodic intervals, scheduled intervals, aperiodic intervals, and / or sporadic selective communication.

3-9 show exemplary hardware for implementing the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 1, exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c, and / or exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c. A flowchart representing a logic or machine-readable instruction is shown. Machine-readable instructions may be a program or part of a program for execution by a processor such as processor 1612 shown within an exemplary processor platform 1600 described below in connection with FIG. The program may be embodied in software stored on a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, floppy disk, hard drive, DVD, Blu-ray disk, or memory associated with processor 1612. The entire program and / or parts thereof may, as an alternative, be executed by a device other than the processor 1612 and / or be embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, exemplary programs, which are described with reference to the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 3-9, are exemplary servers 102, exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c, and / or exemplary STA feedback. Many other methods of implementing generators 112a-c may be used as alternatives. For example, the execution order of the blocks may be changed, and some of the described blocks may be changed, deleted, or combined. As an addition or alternative, any or all blocks may have one or more hardware circuits (eg, individual and / or integrated analog and / or) configured to perform the corresponding operation without running software or firmware. It may be implemented by a digital circuit, FPGA, ASIC, comparator, operational amplifier (op-amp), logic circuit, etc.).

As mentioned above, the exemplary processing of FIGS. 3-9 includes hard disk drives, flash memory, read-only memory, compact disks, digital versatile disks, caches, random access memory, and / or for any period of time (eg, eg). Non-temporary computers such as any other storage device or storage disk where information is stored (permanently during extended time periods, short moments, temporary buffering, and / or information caching). And / or may be implemented using executable instructions stored in machine-readable media (eg, computer and / or machine-readable instructions). As used herein, the term "non-transient computer-readable medium" includes any kind of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk, excluding propagating signals, and excluding transmission media. Explicitly defined.

"Including" and "comprising" (and all their forms and tenses) are used herein as broad terms. Therefore, when a claim uses any form of "includes" or "has" as a preamble or in the description of any kind of claim (eg, complements, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.). It should be understood at any time that additional elements, terms, etc. may exist without departing from the corresponding claim or description. When used herein, when the phrase "at least" is used, for example, as a term of variation in a claim preamble, it is as broad as the terms "have" and "include". The term "and / or", when used in a form such as A, B, and / or C, is any combination or subset of A, B, C, such as (1) A only, ( 2) B only, (3) C only, (4) A and B, (5) A and C, and (6) B and C.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary flowchart 300 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 1 to initiate a scheduling grouping protocol. Although the flowchart 300 of FIG. 3 is described in connection with the exemplary server 102 of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. 1, the instructions may be executed by any server in any type of wireless environment.

At block 302, the exemplary interface 200 receives a STA-AP connection from the AP's network 104. An exemplary STA-AP connection is which STA is currently connected to which AP and / or which possible STA-AP connection can occur (eg, all within the transmission range of each AP106a-c). It may correspond to STA). At block 304, the exemplary ordering unit 202 orders APs. As mentioned above in connection with FIG. 2, the exemplary ordering unit 202 may randomly order AP106a-c and / or based on the known properties of the exemplary STA110a-c. The exemplary ordering unit 202 orders the exemplary APs to reduce the total number of measurements that need to be made by the exemplary STAs 110a-c. For example, if unordered, each STA performs SNR and / or RSSI measurements for all other STAs. However, when ordering, the STA only performs SNR and / or RSSI measurements on STAs connected to APs of the same or higher order, thereby eliminating repeated measurements for all STAs.

At block 306, the exemplary interface 200 sends instructions to the AP's network 104 to initiate the STA grouping protocol. After performing the measurements in which exemplary AP106a-c and exemplary STA110a-c have been initiated in block 308, the exemplary interface 200 is exemplary, as further described below in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. It is determined whether or not an exemplary group of STA110a-c has been received from AP106a-c. Groups can only be transmitted if the STAs are close to each other (eg, the position is determined based on RSSI, SNR, etc.), so if the STAs are not close to each other, the group will not be received.

If the exemplary interface 200 determines that the group will not be received (blocks 308, NO), processing continues to block 312. If the exemplary interface 200 determines that one or more groups have been received (block 308, YES), the exemplary communication scheduler 204 corresponds to a grouped STA (eg, exemplary group 114). Communication to STAa-b) is scheduled at different time / frequency slots (block 310) to reduce / eliminate the effects of interference between grouped STA110a-c. At block 312, the exemplary communication scheduler 204 schedules the ungrouped STA to the same time / frequency slot and / or any desired time / frequency slot. At block 314, the exemplary interface 200 sends a schedule to exemplary APs 106a-c within the exemplary AP network 104.

FIG. 4 is performed by one or more of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c of FIG. 2 to derive measurements from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c for the grouping protocol. Shown is an exemplary flowchart 400 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be. Although the flowchart 400 of FIG. 4 is described in connection with one or more exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. 1, the instructions are given in any STA 110a in any wireless communication environment. ~ C May be executed by the protocol execution unit.

At block 402, the exemplary interface 210 receives instructions from the exemplary server 102. At block 404, the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines if the instruction corresponds to a grouping protocol. For example, the instruction processor 212 processes the received instruction and how the instruction becomes one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c to perform measurements (eg, SNR measurement, RSSI measurement, etc.). / It may be determined whether or not to correspond to the CBF NDP containing the corresponding information when instructing. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the instruction does not correspond to a grouping protocol (block 404, NO), processing ends (eg, another protocol may be executed). If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the instruction corresponds to a grouping protocol (block 404, YES), the exemplary packet generator 214 generates a measurement request element (eg, a data packet) (block). 406). The measurement request element is the channel on which the connected STA should be listened (eg, the measurement should be performed) and / or the STA should be transmitted (eg, as a result, the other receiving STA corresponds to the transmitting STA). Corresponds to the instruction corresponding to the channel (where the measurement can be performed). At block 408, the exemplary interface 200 sends a measurement request element to the connected STA. In some examples, the packet generator 214 may include in the measurement request a timing instruction corresponding to when to detect and when to transmit on a particular channel.

At block 410, the exemplary interface 210 determines if the STA group was received from the connected STA. If the exemplary interface 210 determines that the STA group is not received (block 410, NO), processing continues to block 414. If the exemplary interface 210 determines that the STA group has been received (block 410, YES), the exemplary interface 210 sends the STA measurement to the exemplary server 102 (block 412). At block 414, the exemplary interface 200 receives scheduling information from the exemplary server 102. In block 416, exemplary AP106a-c operate according to the scheduling information received. For example, interface 210 may send scheduling information to another processor (eg, application processor 1210 in FIG. 12) to ensure that communication to the connected STA follows the received scheduling information. Scheduling information ensures that the grouped APs (eg, exemplary group 114) are not scheduled by one or more APs at the same time and / or frequency.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by one or more of the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c of FIG. 2 to respond to a measurement request from the AP. The flowchart 500 is shown. Although the flowchart 500 of FIG. 5 is described in connection with one or more of the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. 1, the instructions are given in a wireless environment at any time. It may be executed by any STA feedback generator.

At block 502, the exemplary interface 200 receives a measurement request element from the connected STA. For example, the exemplary STA feedback generator 112a may receive the measurement element from the exemplary AP106a. At block 504, the exemplary interface 220 may instruct the STA radio architecture (eg, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of FIG. 12) to send data packets over the channel corresponding to the instruction of the measurement element. .. At block 506, the connection analysis unit 222 measures RSSI and / or SNR from the devices in higher order based on the measurement requirement element. For example, the connection analysis unit 222 only needs to process the measurement request, determine the order of the APs, and perform the measurement based on the channel corresponding to the STA connected to the APs in the same or higher order. The order of AP and / or STA-AP connections may already be known or may be included in the measurement request element.

At block 508, the exemplary connectivity analyzer 222 has any difficulty in detecting data frames for RSSI and / or SNR measurements from any STA on any channel (eg, based on measurement request elements). Determine if there is. If the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines that there is no difficulty (block 506, NO), processing continues to block 514. If the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines that there is a difficulty (block 506, YES), the exemplary interface 220 is a STA that responds to the difficulty (eg, by sending a data packet over the wireless architecture). Draw a response from (block 510). At block 512, the exemplary channel measurement unit 22 measures RSSI and / or SNR based on the response from the corresponding STA.

At block 514, the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines if any measurement (eg, RSSI, SNR, etc.) exceeds a threshold. If the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines that none of the measurements exceed the threshold (block 514, NO), the measurement is discarded and processing ends (eg, STA refrains from sending a response). .. If the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines that one or more of the measurements exceeds the threshold (block 514, YES), the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 will self-determine based on the measurement exceeding the maximum threshold. Group the corresponding STAs (block 516). At block 518, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates STA measurement elements based on grouping. The STA measuring elements correspond to grouped STAs located close to each other. At block 520, the exemplary interface 200 transmits the STA measurement element to the corresponding AP. As mentioned above, the STA measurement element is sent to the exemplary server 102 to ensure that the two devices within the threshold distance of each other are grouped together so that they are at the same time and / or. It is also scheduled by frequency.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart 600 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 1 to initiate a co-transmission protocol for co-transmission scheduling of one or more STAs. Is shown. Although the flowchart 600 of FIG. 6 is described in connection with the exemplary server 102 of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. 1, the instructions may be executed by any server in any type of wireless environment.

At block 602, the exemplary interface 200 determines if joint transmission is desirable. For example, the interface 200 may determine that joint transmission is desirable based on instructions received from a processor (eg, the exemplary application processor 1210 in FIG. 12). In some examples, co-transmission corresponds to a particular or multiple STAs. For example, in FIG. 1, the application processor 1210 of FIG. 12 may send an instruction to perform joint transmission only to the exemplary STA110c of FIG. If the exemplary interface 200 determines that joint transmission is not desirable (block 602, NO), processing ends. If the exemplary interface 200 determines that joint transmission is desirable (block 602, YES), the exemplary interface 200 receives AP network data from AP106a-c from the AP network (block 604). For example, the interface 200 sends a command to each AP to return data corresponding to which STA is connected to each AP and / or which STA is within the transmission range of each AP. You can do it. Further, the exemplary interface 200 may receive characteristic data including the capabilities and / or characteristics of the AP and / or STA from the exemplary AP 106a-c.

At block 606, the exemplary network characteristic unit 206 determines AP network characteristics based on the received AP network data. For example, the network characteristics unit processes the received data to determine whether AP106a-c is capable of BF, availability of frequency band / subband for communication, and / or execution of BF in different subbands. You may decide. At block 608, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects a protocol based on AP network characteristics. For example, if the joint transmission protocol corresponds to the STA110c and the STA110c is within the transmission range of the exemplary AP106a-c, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 sets the protocol based on the AP characteristics of the exemplary AP106a-c. You may choose. In another example, if the co-transmission protocol corresponds to all of STA110a-c, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may select the protocol based on the AP characteristics of the exemplary AP106a-c.

If the exemplary AP106a-c are currently unable to perform BF, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may select a non-coherent joint transmission (NC-JT) MIMO protocol. If the exemplary AP106a-c are beamforming capable, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may select NC-JT MIMO with beamforming. If the exemplary AP106a-c are beamforming capable, different subbands capable of beamforming, and different subbands are available, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 will perform beamforming within the different subbands. MC-JR MIMO having the above may be selected.

If the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects the NC-JT MIMO protocol (block 610, NC-JT MIMO), the exemplary interface 200 initiates NC-JT MIMO on the AP network 104 (block 612). For example, the interface 200 may send an NC-JT NDP declaration (Announcement) to each of the corresponding AP106a-c. The NC-JT NDP Declaration initiates the collection of relevant information necessary for the exemplary server 102 to schedule one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c for joint transmission using NC-JT MIMO. Contains information for.

If the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects NC-JT MIMO and BF protocols (block 610, NC-JT MIMO and BF), the exemplary interface 200 initiates NC-JT MIMO and BF on the AP network 104. (Block 614). For example, the interface 200 may send an NC-JT NDP declaration (Announcement) to each of the corresponding AP106a-c. The NC-JT NDP Declaration collects relevant information necessary for the exemplary server 102 to schedule one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c for joint transmission using NC-JT MIMO and BF. Contains information to get you started.

If exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects NC-JT MIMO and BF protocol in different subbands (block 610, NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands), exemplary interface 200 is the AP network. At 104, NC-JT MIMO and BF within different subbands are initiated (block 616). For example, the interface 200 may send an NC-JT NDP declaration (Announcement) to each of the corresponding AP106a-c. The NC-JT NDP Declaration is required for the exemplary server 102 to schedule one or more of the exemplary STA110a-c for joint transmission using NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands. Contains information to start collecting relevant information.

At block 618, the exemplary interface 200 receives feedback from the AP corresponding to the initiated protocol. At block 620, exemplary protocol selection unit 208 processes the feedback received to determine whether co-transmission should operate with spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing based on the feedback report. The exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may select spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing based on the CQI report. For example, if the CQI report shows a high signal-to-noise ratio and a complete rank matrix, protocol selection unit 208 may choose spatial multiplexing. Further, the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may have other criteria for overwriting the CQI report (eg, the CQI reporting allows spatial multiplexing, while the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 may be a particular service. Diversity may be applied to ensure quality (eg reliability). When the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects diversity (block 620, spatial), the exemplary communication scheduler 204 schedules joint transmission using spatial diversity (block 622). If the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects spatial multiplexing (block 620, multiplexing), the exemplary communication scheduler 204 schedules joint transmission using spatial multiplexing (block 624).

In block 626, if the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 selects NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands (block 626, YES), the exemplary communication scheduler 204 is to accommodate the different subbands. , The exemplary AP106b-c corresponding to the exemplary STA110c co-transmission (block 628). In block 626, if the exemplary protocol selection unit 208 does not select NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands (block 626, NO), processing continues to block 630. At block 630, the exemplary interface 200 sends a schedule to the corresponding APs (exemplary AP106a-c).

FIG. 7 is by one or more of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c of FIG. 2 to derive measurements from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c for the joint transmission scheduling protocol. Shown is an exemplary flowchart 700 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed. The flowchart 700 of FIG. 7 is described in connection with one or more exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. 1, but the instructions are any STA110a in any wireless communication environment. ~ C May be executed by the protocol execution unit.

At block 700, the exemplary interface 210 sends an AP-STA connection to the server 102. Additionally, the exemplary interface may transmit a prospective AP-STA connection (eg, corresponding to an STA within the transmission range of the AP). For example, in FIG. 1, the exemplary AP106b is connected to the exemplary STA110b and may be within its transmission range, but not to the exemplary STA110c. Therefore, the exemplary AP106b may transmit data corresponding to the exemplary STA110b connection and prospective connection to the exemplary STA110c.

At block 702, the exemplary interface 210 sends an AP-STA connection to the exemplary server 102. At block 704, the exemplary interface 210 receives the joint transmission protocol initiation (eg, NC-JT NDP Declaration) from the exemplary server 102. As mentioned above, the exemplary joint transmission protocol initiation triggers an exemplary STA protocol execution unit (eg, exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108b) to schedule joint transmission to one or more STA 110a-c. To request information from one or more STAs 110a-c. The co-transmission protocol may be NC-JT MIMO, NC-JT MIMO and BF, and / or NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands.

At block 706, the exemplary instruction processor 212 processes the received joint transmission protocol start to determine whether the received joint transmission start corresponds to NC-JT MIMO. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the joint transmission initiation received does not correspond to NC-JT MIMO, the exemplary instruction processor 212 will have the joint transmission beam (eg, in the same or different subbands). Decide to support the forming protocol. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission start corresponds to NC-JT MIMO (block 706, YES), processing continues to block 710. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission initiation does not correspond to NC-JT MIMO (block 706, NO), the STA protocol execution unit (eg, the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108b) A beamforming feedback reporting protocol with a corresponding STA (eg, an exemplary STA110c) is performed (block 708), as described further in connection with FIG.

At block 710, the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines whether the received joint transmission protocol initiation corresponds to NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission protocol initiation does not correspond to NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands (block 710, NO), the STA protocol execution unit (eg, exemplary). The STA protocol execution unit 108b) executes a channel estimation protocol with the corresponding STA (eg, exemplary STA110c), as will be further described later in connection with FIG. 9 (block 712). The channel estimation protocol is simultaneously performed by the exemplary AP106a-c. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission protocol initiation corresponds to NC-JT MIMO and BF in different subbands (block 712, YES), the STA protocol execution unit (eg, exemplary STA). Protocol execution unit 108b) executes a subchannel-specific channel estimation protocol with the corresponding STA (eg, exemplary STA110c) (block 714). The subchannel-specific channel estimation protocol is the channel estimation protocol of Part 712, except that the designated STA is instructed to estimate frequency interleaved channels from exemplary AP106a-c.

At block 716, the exemplary interface 210 sends feedback from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c (eg, channel estimation feedback, beamform feedback, etc.) to the exemplary server 102. Thus, the exemplary server 102 can schedule joint transmissions based on feedback. At block 718, the exemplary interface 210 receives the joint transmission scheduling from the exemplary server 102. At block 720, the exemplary interface 210 instructs the application processor (eg, the exemplary application processor 1210 in FIG. 12) to operate according to the received joint transmission scheduling.

FIG. 8 is of FIG. 2 to derive a beamform feedback report from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c for a joint transmission scheduling protocol, as described above in connection with block 708 of FIG. Shown is an exemplary flowchart 708 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by one or more of the exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c. Further, FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by exemplary STA feedback generators 112a, 112b, 112c to generate a BF feedback report in response to a request from the AP. A typical flowchart 810 is shown. The flowcharts 708, 810 of FIG. 8 are described in relation to one or more exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c and / or one or more STA feedback generation units 112a-c of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. However, the instructions may be executed by any AP or STA feedback generator in any wireless communication environment.

As described above, each of the exemplary APs 106a to c transmits NDP one by one in a TDMA manner. As a result, each STA corresponding to the joint transmission (eg, exemplary STA110c) sends BF feedback reports one by one to exemplary AP106a-c. Therefore, in block 800, the exemplary packet generator 214 generates the NDP corresponding to the beamform feedback reporting request. In block 802, the exemplary interface 210 of the exemplary STA110b is, for example, a timing protocol for starting a joint transmission protocol (eg, NC-to ensure that each AP sends one NDP at a time). Based on the JT NDP Declaration), a null data packet is transmitted to an exemplary STA110c. After the exemplary STA110c produces the BF feedback report, the exemplary interface 220 receives the BF feedback report from one or more STAs (eg, the exemplary STA110c) corresponding to the joint transmission, as will be further described later. (Block 804). At block 804, processing returns to block 710 of FIG.

At block 812, after the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108b of the exemplary AP 106b transmits the NDP, the exemplary interface 220 of the exemplary STA feedback generator 112b (eg, the exemplary radio of FIG. 12). Receive NDP from the exemplary AP106b (via the architecture). At block 814, the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 determines the BF feedback data based on the NDP. For example, the connection analysis unit 222 may measure the channel, calculate the BF vector, and quantize the calculated vector. At block 816, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates a BF feedback report based on the BF feedback data. At block 818, the exemplary interface 220 sends a BF feedback report to the exemplary AP106b.

FIG. 9 is an example of FIG. 2 to derive channel estimation feedback from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-c for a joint transmission scheduling protocol, as described above in connection with block 712 of FIG. Shown is an exemplary flowchart 712 representing an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by one or more of the STA protocol execution units 108a-c. Further, FIG. 9 represents an exemplary machine-readable instruction that may be executed by exemplary STA feedback generators 112a, 112b, 112c to generate a channel estimation feedback report in response to a request from the AP. An exemplary flowchart 910 is shown. The flowcharts 712, 910 of FIG. 8 are described in relation to one or more exemplary STA protocol execution units 108a-c and / or one or more STA feedback generation units 112a-c of the exemplary environment 100 of FIG. However, the instructions may be executed by any AP or STA feedback generator in any wireless communication environment.

As mentioned above, each AP provides training to its own connected STA or STA that is likely to be connected by applying P-Matrix. To determine channelization, each of the exemplary APs 106a-c sends training fields for channelization simultaneously (eg, based on the timing protocol) and in coordination with other APs within the AP network 104. do. As mentioned above, the exemplary server 102 provides a P-Matrix code across the AP network 104 to coordinate the network of the AP 104. Therefore, in block 900, the exemplary packet generator 214 generates a training field with a P-Matrix code for channel estimation. At block 902, the exemplary interface 210 transmits the training field to the connected STA and / or the prospective STA corresponding to the joint transmission (eg, STA110c). After the exemplary STA 110c produces a CQI feedback report corresponding to the channel estimation, the exemplary interface 220 receives the feedback report from the exemplary 110c, as described further below (block 904). At block 904, processing returns to block 714 of FIG.

At block 912, after the exemplary STA protocol execution unit 108b of the exemplary AP 106b transmits the training field, the exemplary interface 220 of the exemplary STA feedback generator 112b receives the training field. At block 914, the exemplary connection analysis unit 222 estimates channels based on training fields (eg and P-Matrix). At block 916, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates a feedback (eg, CQI feedback) report based on channel estimation. At block 918, the exemplary interface 220 sends a feedback report to the requesting AP.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary timing protocol diagram for initiating acquisition of data corresponding to the grouping protocol, and an exemplary coordinated beamform null data packet declaration that can be transmitted by the server 102 to the AP network 104 of FIG. Shows 1002. Illustrative Timing Protocol As shown in FIG. 1000, the exemplary server 102 sends a CBF NDP declaration 1002 to the AP network 104. In the exemplary timing protocol 1000, the first exemplary AP106a sends an NDP to the first exemplary STA110a to elicit a response (eg, a channel sequence indicator (CSI)). do. In the example of FIG. 10, the exemplary AP sends a trigger frame to tell the STA 110 to perform the measurement. Alternatively, timing information may be included in the NDP. Processing continues for each AP. The exemplary null data packet declaration 1002 of FIG. 10 includes frame control, receiver address (RA), transmitter address (TA), sound sequencing information, and feedback reporting type. Includes multiple frames corresponding to (eg, RSSI, SNR, BF, CQI, etc.) and information corresponding to each AP and / or STA. An exemplary CBF NDP Declaration 1002 is illustrated with specific fields in a specific order, but frames may be added, removed, or rearranged.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary timing protocol for initiating acquisition of data corresponding to the grouping protocol, and an exemplary joint transmission null data packet declaration that may be transmitted by the server 102 to the AP network 104 of FIG. 1102 is shown. Illustrative Timing Protocol As shown in FIG. 1100, the exemplary server 102 sends a JT NDP declaration 1002 to the AP network 104. In the exemplary timing protocol 1100, the first exemplary AP106a sends an NDP to the first exemplary STA110a to elicit a response (eg, a channel sequence indicator (CSI)). do. In the example of FIG. 11, the exemplary AP sends a trigger frame to tell the STA 110 to perform the measurement. Alternatively, timing information may be included in the NDP. Processing continues for each AP. The exemplary null data packet declaration 1102 of FIG. 11 includes frame control, receiver address (RA), transmitter address (TA), sound sequencing information, and feedback reporting type. Includes multiple frames corresponding to (eg, RSSI, SNR, BF, CQI, etc.) and information corresponding to each AP and / or STA. An exemplary JT NDP Declaration 1102 is illustrated with specific fields in a specific order, but frames may be added, removed, or rearranged.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a radio architecture 1200 according to some embodiments that may be implemented in any one of the exemplary AP126a-c and / or exemplary STA130a-c of FIG. The radio architecture 1200 may include radio front-end module (FEM) circuits 1204a-b, radio IC circuits 1206a-b, and baseband processing circuits 1208a-b. The radio architecture 1200 as shown includes, but is not limited to, both a wireless local area network (WLAN) function and a Bluetooth (BT) function. In this disclosure, "WLAN" and "Wi-Fi" are used interchangeably.

The FEM circuits 1204a-b may include a WLAN or Wi-Fi FEM circuit 1204a and a Bluetooth (BT) FEM circuit 1204b. The WLAN FEM circuit 1204a may include a received signal path that includes the circuit. The circuit operates on a WLAN RF signal received from one or more antennas 1201, amplifies the received signal, and for further processing, an amplified version of the received signal is used in the WLAN wireless IC circuit 1206a. It is configured to provide to. The BT FEM circuit 1204b may include a received signal path that may include the circuit. The circuit operates on a BT RF signal received from one or more antennas 1201, amplifies the received signal, and for further processing, an amplified version of the received signal is a BT radio IC circuit 1206b. It is configured to provide to. The FEM circuit 1204a may also include a transmit signal path that may include the circuit. The circuit is configured to amplify the WLAN signal provided by the wireless IC circuit 1206a for wireless transmission by one or more of the antennas 1201. Further, the FEM circuit 1204b may also include a transmit signal path that may include the circuit. The circuit is configured to amplify the BT signal provided by the wireless IC circuit 1206b for wireless transmission by one or more antennas. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, FEM1204a and FEM1204b are shown as separate from each other, but embodiments are not so limited and their scope includes transmission paths for both WLAN and BT signals. / Or the use of an FEM (not shown) that includes a receive path, or the use of one or more FEM circuits in which at least some of the FEM circuits share both transmit and / or receive signal paths for WLAN and BT signals. include.

The wireless IC circuits 1206a to 1b as shown may include a WLAN wireless IC circuit 1206a and a BT wireless IC circuit 1206b. The WLAN wireless IC circuit 1206a may include a received signal path. The received signal path may include a circuit that downconverts the WLAN RF signal received from the FEM circuit 1204a and provides the baseband signal to the WLAN baseband processing circuit 1208a. On the other hand, the BT wireless IC circuit 1206b may include a received signal path. The received signal path may include a circuit that downconverts the BT RF signal received from the FEM circuit 1204b and provides the baseband signal to the BT baseband processing circuit 1208b. The WLAN wireless IC circuit 1206a may also include a transmit signal path. The transmit signal path upconverts the WLAN baseband signal provided by the WLAN baseband processing circuit 1208a and provides the WLAN RF output signal to the FEM circuit 1204a for subsequent wireless transmission by one or more antennas 1201. .. The BT radio IC circuit 1206b may also include a transmit signal path. The transmit signal path upconverts the BT baseband signal provided by the BT baseband processing circuit 1208b and provides the BT RF output signal to the FEM circuit 1204b for subsequent radio transmission by one or more antennas 1201. .. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the wireless IC circuits 1206a and 1206b are shown as separate from each other, but the embodiments are not so limited and their scope is for both WLAN and BT signals. Use of a wireless IC circuit (not shown) that includes a transmit signal path and / or a receive signal path, or at least some of the wireless IC circuits share both transmit and / or receive signal paths for WLAN and BT signals 1 Includes the use of one or more wireless IC circuits.

The baseband processing circuits 1208a to 1b may include a WLAN baseband processing circuit 1208a and a BT baseband processing circuit 1208b. The WLAN baseband processing circuit 1208a may include, for example, a memory such as a set of RAM arrays in a fast Fourier transform or inverse fast Fourier transform block (not shown) of the WLAN baseband processing circuit 1208a. Each of the WLAN baseband circuits 1208a and the BT baseband circuit 1208b further comprises one or more processors and control logic to process signals received from the corresponding WLAN or BT received signal path of the wireless IC circuits 1206a-b. And further, the corresponding WLAN or BT receive signal path baseband signal may be generated for the transmit signal path of the wireless IC circuits 1206a-b. Each of the baseband processing circuits 1208a and 1208b may further include a physical layer (PHY) and a medium access control layer (MAC) circuit for the generation and processing of the baseband signal. And in order to control the operation of the wireless IC circuits 1206a-b, it may be further interfaced with the link aggregator 124.

Further referring to FIG. 12, according to the illustrated embodiment, the WLAN-BT coexistence circuit 1213 includes logic that provides an interface between the WLAN baseband circuit 1208a and the BT baseband circuit 1208b, and the coexistence of WLAN and BT. May enable use cases that require. Further, a switch 1203 may be provided between the WLAN FEM circuit 1204a and the BT FEM circuit 1204b to allow switching between the WLAN and the BT radio as needed by the application. Further, the antenna 1201 is shown to be connected to the WLAN FEM circuit 1204a and the BT FEM circuit 1204b, respectively, but embodiments are in their range of one or more antennas, such as between WLAN FEM and BE FEM. Includes more than one offer shared or connected to each of FEM 1204a or 1204b.

In some embodiments, the front-end module circuits 1204a-b, wireless IC circuits 1206a-b, and baseband processing circuits 1208a-b are provided on a single wireless card, such as the wireless wireless card 1202. good. In some other embodiments, the one or more antennas 1201, FEM circuits 1204A-B, and radio IC circuits 1206a-b may be provided on a single radio card. In some other embodiments, the radio IC circuits 1206a-b and the baseband processing circuits 1208a-b may be provided on a single chip or on an integrated circuit (IC) such as the IC 1212.

In some embodiments, the wireless radio card 1202 may include a WLAN radio card and may be configured for Wi-Fi communication, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard. In some of these embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 multiplies the orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication signals. It may be configured to receive and transmit over the carrier communication channel. The OFDM or OFDMA signal may include a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.

In some of these multi-carrier embodiments, the wireless architecture 1200 is a Wi-Fi communication, such as a wireless access point (AP), a base station, or a mobile device including a Wi-Fi device. It may be part of stations (station (STA) s). In some of these embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 is an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11n-2009, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11-2016, 802.11n-2009, 802. Specific communication standards and / or protocols, such as the IEEE standards, including the .11ac, 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, and / or 802.11ax standards, and / the specifications proposed for mass aaWLAN. Although it may be configured to transmit and receive signals in accordance with this, the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard. The radio architecture 1200 may also be suitable for transmitting and / or receiving communications in accordance with other techniques and standards.

In some embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 may be configured for high-efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW) communication according to the IEEE 802.11ax standard. In these embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 may be configured to communicate according to OFDMA technology, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard.

In some other embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 provides coarse spectrum modulation (eg, direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA)) and / or frequency hopping code division multiple access (DS-CDMA). One or more such as frequency hopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA)), time-division multiplexing (TDM) modulation, and / or frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) modulation. It may be configured to transmit and receive signals transmitted using other modulation techniques.

In some embodiments, as further shown in FIG. 12, the BT baseband circuit 1208a is a Bluetooth (BT) connection standard such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth 14.0 or Bluetooth 12.0, or any other iteration of the Bluetooth standard. You may follow. In embodiments that include BT functionality as shown in the example of FIG. 12, the radio architecture 1200 is a BT synchronous connection oriented (SCO) link and / or a BT low energy (BT LE) link. May be configured to establish. In some of the embodiments that include functionality, the radio architecture 1200 may be configured to establish an extended SCO (extended SCO (eSCO)) link for BT communication, but the scope of the embodiments is limited in this regard. Not done. In some of these embodiments, including BT functionality, the radio architecture may be configured to engage in BT asynchronous connection-less (ACL) communication, but the scope of the embodiment is in this regard. Not limited. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the functions of the BT radio card and the WLAN radio card may be combined on a single wireless radio card such as the single wireless radio card 1202. The embodiments are not so limited and their scope includes individual WLANs and BT radio cards.

In some embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 may include other radio cards such as cellular radio cards configured for cellular (eg, 5GPP, LTE-Advanced, or 7G communications such as LTE). ..

In some IEEE 802.11 embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 has a bandwidth with a center frequency of about 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and a bandwidth of about 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 5 MHz, 5.5 MHz, 6 MHz, 8 MHz, 10 MHz. It may be configured for communication over various channel bandwidths, including 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz (having adjacent bandwidth), or 80 + 80 MHz (160 MHz) (having non-adjacent bandwidth). In some embodiments, 920 MHz channel bandwidth may be used. However, the scope of the embodiments is not limited with respect to the center frequency described above.

FIG. 13 shows a WLAN FEM circuit 1204a according to some embodiments. The example of FIG. 13 is described in connection with the WLAN FEM circuit 1204a and the example of FIG. 13 is described in connection with the exemplary BT FEM circuit 1204b (FIG. 12), but other circuit configurations are also appropriate. It may be there.

In some embodiments, the FEM circuit 1204a may include a TX / RX switch 1302 that switches between transmit mode and receive mode operations. The FEM circuit 1204a may include a received signal path and a transmitted signal path. The received signal path of the FEM circuit 1204a may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 1306. The LNA1306 amplifies the received RF signal 1303 and provides the amplified received signal 1307 as an output (for example, to the wireless IC circuits 1206a to 1b (FIG. 12)). The transmit signal path of circuit 1204a is via an exemplary duplexer 1314 (eg, an antenna) with a power amplifier (PA) that amplifies the input RF signal 1309 (eg, provided by wireless IC circuits 1206a-b). A band-pass filter (BPF), a low-pass filter (LPF), which produces an RF signal 1315 for transmission after 1201 (due to one or more of FIG. 12). ) Or one or more filters such as other types of filters 1312.

In some dual-mode embodiments of Wi-Fi communication, the FEM circuit 1204a may be configured to operate in either the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum or the 12 GHz frequency spectrum. In these embodiments, the received signal path of the FEM circuit 1204a may include a received signal path duplexer 1304 that separates the signal from each spectrum, and may be provided with a separate LNA 1306 for each spectrum as shown. In these embodiments, the transmit signal path of the FEM circuit 1204a is also a power amplifier 1310 and one or more of one or more antennas 1201 (FIG. 12), such as a BPF, LPF, or other type of filter. The signal transmission path may include a per-frequency filter 1312, which provides a signal of one of the different spectra for subsequent transmission. In some embodiments, the BT communication may utilize a 2.4 GHz signal path and may utilize the same FEM circuit 1204a as that used for WLAN communication.

FIG. 14 shows a wireless IC circuit 1206a according to some embodiments. The wireless IC circuit 1206a is an example of a circuit that can be used as a WLAN or BT wireless IC circuit 1206a / 1206b (FIG. 12), but other circuit configurations may also be suitable. Alternatively, the example of FIG. 14 may be described in connection with an exemplary BT radio IC circuit 1206b.

In some embodiments, the wireless IC circuit 1206a may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The received signal path of the wireless IC circuit 1206a may include, for example, a down conversion mixer circuit, an amplifier circuit 1406, and at least a mixer circuit 1402 such as a filter circuit 1408. The transmission signal path of the wireless IC circuit 1206a may include at least a filter circuit 1412 and a mixer circuit 1414 such as, for example, an up-conversion mixer circuit. The wireless IC circuit 1206a may also include a synthesis circuit 1404 that synthesizes a frequency 1405 for use by the mixer circuit 1402 and the mixer circuit 1414. The mixer circuits 1402 and / or 1414 may each be configured to provide a direct return function, according to some embodiments. The latter type of circuit presents a much simpler architecture compared to standard superhetellodyne mixer circuits, and any flicker noise caused by the same can be mitigated, for example, through the use of OFDM modulation. FIG. 14 shows only a simplified version of a wireless IC circuit, not shown, but may include embodiments in which each of the illustrated circuits may include more than one component. For example, the mixer circuit 1414 may each include one or more mixers, and the filter circuits 1408 and / or 1412 may each include one or more filters such as one or more BPFs and / or LPFs as needed for application. May include. For example, a mixer circuit may contain two or more mixers, respectively, when it is a direct conversion type.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 may be configured to downconvert the RF signals 1307 received from the FEM circuits 1204a-b (FIG. 12) based on the combined frequency 1405 provided by the combined circuit 1404. The amplifier circuit 1406 may be configured to amplify the down-converted signal, and the filter circuit 1408 may be configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signal to generate an output baseband signal 1407. LPF may be included. The output baseband signal 1407 may be provided to baseband processing circuits 1208a-b (FIG. 12) for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signal 1407 may be a zero frequency baseband signal, but this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 may include a passive mixer, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1414 upconverts the input baseband signal 1411 to generate an RF output signal 1309 for the FEM circuits 1204a-b based on the combined frequency 1405 provided by the combined circuit 1404. It may be configured to do so. The baseband signal 1411 may be provided more to the baseband processing circuits 1208a-b and may be filtered by the filter circuit 1412. The filter circuit 1412 may include an LPF or a BPF, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 and the mixer circuit 1414 may each include two or more mixers and may be configured for orthogonal down-conversion and / or up-conversion, respectively, with the help of synthesizer 1494. .. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 and the mixer circuit 1414 may each include two or more mixers configured for image rejection (eg, Hartley image rejection), respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 and the mixer circuit 1414 may be configured for direct down-conversion and / or direct up-conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuit 1402 and the mixer circuit 1414 may be configured for superhetellodyne operation, but this is not a requirement.

The mixer circuit 1402 may include, according to one embodiment, a quadrature passive mixer (eg, for common mode (I) and quadrature (Q) paths). In such an embodiment, the RF input signal 1307 from FIG. 14 may be down-converted to provide the I and Q baseband output signals to be transmitted to the baseband processor.

The quadrature passive mixer is provided by a 0-90 degree orthogonal circuit that may be configured to receive the LO frequency (fLO) from a local transmitter such as the LO frequency 1405 of the synthesizer 1404 (FIG. 14) or the synthesizer. It may be driven by a time change LO switching signal. In some embodiments, the LO frequency may be a carrier frequency, in other embodiments the LO frequency is a portion of the carrier frequency (eg, a half carrier frequency, a third carrier frequency). May be. In some embodiments, the 0-90 degree time change switching signal may be generated by the synthesizer, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard.

In some embodiments, the LO signal may differ in duty cycle (percentage of one cycle in which the LO signal is High) and / or offset (difference between cycle start points). In some embodiments, it may have a right wing of LO sing, an 85% duty cycle and an 80% offset. In some embodiments, each branch of the mixer circuit (eg, in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) paths) may operate at 80% duty cycle, which results in a significant reduction in power consumption. obtain.

The input signal 1307 (FIG. 13) may include a balanced signal, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard. The I and Q baseband output signals may be provided to a low noise amplifier such as amplifier circuit 1406 (FIG. 14) or to filter circuit 1408 (FIG. 14).

In some embodiments, the output baseband signal 1407 and the input baseband signal 1411 may be analog baseband signals, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard. In some alternative embodiments, the output baseband signal 1407 and the input baseband signal 1411 may be digital baseband signals. In these alternative embodiments, the wireless IC circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit.

In some dual-mode embodiments, separate radio IC circuits may be provided to process the signal per spectrum or for other spectra not mentioned herein, but the scope of the embodiment is in this regard. Not limited.

In some embodiments, the synthesis circuit 1404 may be a fractional N synthesis or a fractional N / N + 1 synthesizer, but the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this regard and other types of frequency synthesizers are suitable. good. For example, the synthesis circuit 1404 may be a synthesis section including a delta-sigma synthesis section, a frequency multiplexer, or a phase lock loop having a frequency divider. According to some embodiments, the compositing circuit 1404 may include a digital compositing circuit. The advantages of digital compositing circuits still include some analog components, but their area can be much smaller than the area of analog compositing circuits. In some embodiments, the frequency input to the synthesis circuit 1404 is provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), but this is not a requirement. The divider control input may be further provided by the baseband processing circuits 1208a-b (FIG. 12) depending on the desired output frequency 1405. In some embodiments, the divider control input (eg, N) looks (in a Wi-Fi card) based on the channel number and channel center frequency determined or indicated by the exemplary application processor 1210. It may be determined from the uptable. The application processor 1210 is one of the exemplary AP protocol execution units 108a-c (eg, depending on which device the exemplary radio architecture is implemented in) and / or the exemplary STA feedback generation. It may be included or connected to one of parts 112a-c.

In some embodiments, the synthesis circuit 1404 may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as an output frequency 1405, and in other embodiments the output frequency 1405 is a portion (eg, half) of the carrier frequency. Carrier frequency) may be one-third carrier frequency. In some embodiments, the output frequency 1405 may be LO frequency (fLO).

FIG. 15 shows a partial block diagram of the baseband processing circuit 1208a according to some embodiments. The baseband processing circuit 1208a is an example of a circuit that can be used as a baseband processing circuit 1208 (FIG. 12), but other circuit configurations may also be suitable. Alternatively, the example of FIG. 15 may be used to implement the exemplary BT baseband processing circuit 1208b of FIG. 12, the T baseband processing circuit 1208b provided by the wireless IC circuits 1206a-b (FIG. 12). Receive baseband processor (RX BBP) 1502 that processes the received baseband processing signal 1409 to be generated, and transmit baseband processor (TX BBP) 1504 that generates the transmit baseband signal 1411 for the wireless IC circuits 1206a-b. May include. The baseband processing circuit 1208a may also include a control logic 1506 that adjusts the operation of the baseband processing circuit 1208a.

In some embodiments (eg, when an analog baseband signal is exchanged between the baseband processing circuits 1208a-b and the radio IC circuits 1206a-b), the baseband processing circuit 1208a is a radio IC circuit 1206a-b. May include an ADC 1510 that converts the analog baseband signal 1509 received from from into a digital baseband signal for processing by the RX BBP 1502. In these embodiments, the baseband processing circuit 1208a may also include a DAC 1512 that converts a digital baseband signal from the TX BBP1504 into an analog baseband signal 1511.

In some embodiments communicating an OFDM or OFDMA signal, for example through a baseband processor 1208a, the transmit baseband processor 1504 performs an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). It may be configured to generate an appropriate OFDM or OFDMA signal for transmission. The receive baseband processor 1502 may be configured to process a received OFDM signal or an OFDMA signal by executing an FFT. In some embodiments, the receive baseband processor 1502 detects the presence of an OFDM or OFDM signal by performing autocorrelation, detects a preamble such as a short preamble, and performs cross-correlation. It may be configured to detect long preambles. The preamble may be part of a predetermined frame structure for Wi-Fi communication.

Returning to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the antenna 1201 (FIG. 12) is, for example, a dipole antenna, a monopole antenna, a patch antenna, a loop antenna, a microstrip antenna, or another suitable for transmitting RF signals, respectively. It may include one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including a type of antenna. In some MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) embodiments, the antennas may be efficiently separated utilizing spatial diversity and the resulting different channel characteristics. Antennas 1201 may each include a setteo of phase array antennas, but embodiments are not so limited.

The wireless architecture 1200 has been illustrated as having several separate functional elements, but one or more of the functional elements may be coupled and a software configuration such as a processing element including a digital signal processor (DSP). It may be implemented by combining elements and / or by other hardware elements. For example, some elements include one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), and at least the features described herein. It may include a combination of various hardware and logic circuits to perform. In some embodiments, the yesterday element may represent one or more operations performed on one or more processing elements.

FIG. 16 is for implementing any one or combination of the exemplary server 102 of FIG. 3, the exemplary AP protocol execution units 108a-c, and / or the exemplary STA feedback generators 112a-c. It is a block diagram of an exemplary processor platform 1600 configured to execute the instructions of FIGS. 3-9. The processor platform 1600 includes, for example, servers, personal computers, workstations, self-learning machines (eg, neural networks), mobile devices (eg, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets such as iPad®), personal digital assistants (eg, personal digital assistants (eg, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets such as iPad®). With PDAs), internet devices, DVD players, CD players, digital video recorders, Blu-ray players, game terminals, personal video recorders, set-top boxes, headsets, or other wearable devices, or any other type of computing device. could be.

The processor platform 1600 in the illustrated example includes a processor 1612. The processor 1612 in the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the processor 1612 can be implemented by one or more integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors, GPUs, DSPs, or controls from any desired family or manufacturer. The hardware processor may be a semiconductor-based (silicon-based) device. In this example, the exemplary processor 1612 is an exemplary interface 200, an exemplary ordering unit 202, an exemplary communication scheduler 204, an exemplary proposed network characteristic unit 206, an exemplary protocol selection unit 208, an exemplary protocol selection unit 208. Any one of an interface 210, an exemplary instruction processor 212, an exemplary packet generator 214, an exemplary interface 220, an exemplary connection analysis unit 222, and / or an exemplary packet generator 224. Or it may be used to implement a combination.

The processor 1612 in the illustrated example includes local memory 1613 (eg, cache). The processor 1612 in the illustrated example communicates with the main memory including the volatile memory 1614 and the non-volatile memory 1616 via the bus 1618. The volatile memory 1614 includes a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), RAMBUS (registered trademark), and a dynamic random access memory (RDRAM (registered)). It may be implemented by (trademark))) and / or any other type of random access memory element. The non-volatile memory 1616 may be implemented with flash memory and / or any other desired type of memory element. Access to the main memories 1614 and 1616 is controlled by the memory control unit.

The processor platform 1600 in the illustrated example also includes an interface circuit 1620. The interface circuit 1620 is an interface of any kind, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a Bluetooth® interface, a near field communication (NFC) interface, and / or a PCI Express interface. It may be implemented according to the standard.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1622 are connected to the interface circuit 1620. The input device 1622 allows the user to input data and / or commands to the processor 1612. Input devices can be implemented, for example, by keyboards, buttons, mice, touch screens, trackpads, trackballs, and / or isopoints.

One or more output devices 1624 are also connected to the interface circuit 1620 in the illustrated example. The output device 1624 is, for example, a display device (for example, a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode line tube display (CRT), an IPS (in-place switching) display, a touch screen, etc. Etc.), tactile output device, printer, and / or can be mounted by speaker. The interface circuit 1620 in the illustrated example therefore typically includes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip, and / or a graphics driver processor.

The interface circuit 1620 in the illustrated example is a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, modem, home gateway, to enable data exchange with an external device (eg, any type of computing device) over the network 1626. Also includes communication devices such as wireless access points and / or network interfaces. Communication is possible, for example, by Ethernet connection, digital subscriber line (DSL) connection, telephone line connection, coaxial cable system, satellite system, high / low line wireless system, cellular telephone system, and the like.

The illustrated example processor platform 1600 also includes one or more mass storage devices 1628 for storing software and / or data. Examples of such mass storage devices 1628 include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAID (redundant array of independent disks) systems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.

The machine executable instructions 1632 of FIGS. 3-9 are in the mass storage 1628, in the volatile memory 1614, in the non-volatile memory 1616, and / or on a removable non-temporary computer-readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD. May be stored in.

Example 1 is a device that executes a grouping protocol.
It ’s a connection analysis department.
In the first station, the signal measurement is executed based on the signal from the second station,
A connection analysis unit that groups the first station together with the second station when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold.
An interface for transmitting the grouping instruction to the access point and the server in order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping.
Including equipment including.

Example 2 includes the device according to Example 1, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement or a signal-to-noise ratio measurement.

Example 3 includes the device of Example 1, wherein the connection analysis unit discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold.

Example 4 includes the device according to Example 1, wherein the grouping corresponds to the presence of the first station and the second station within a threshold distance from each other.

In Example 5, the communication is a first communication, the server schedules the first communication for the first station at least at different times or different frequencies, and for the second station. Includes the device according to Example 1, which schedules a second communication.

Example 6 includes the device of Example 1, wherein the access point sends the instructions for grouping to the server.

Example 7 includes the device of Example 1, wherein the connection analysis unit performs the signal measurement on the first channel while the interface is transmitting information on the second channel.

Example 8 is a tangible computer readable storage medium with instructions that, when executed, tell the processor at least.
In the first station, the signal measurement is executed based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold, the first station is grouped together with the second station.
In order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping, the grouping instruction is transmitted to the access point and the server.
Includes computer-readable storage media.

Example 9 includes the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement or a signal-to-noise ratio measurement.

Example 10 includes the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, wherein the instruction discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold.

Example 11 includes the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, wherein the grouping corresponds to the presence of the first station and the second station within a threshold distance from each other.

In Example 12, the communication is a first communication, the instruction causes the processor to schedule the first communication for the first station at least at different times or different frequencies, said first. Includes the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, which schedules a second communication for two stations.

Example 13 includes the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, wherein the instruction causes the processor to send the instructions for grouping to the server.

Example 14 is the computer-readable storage medium of Example 8, wherein the instruction causes the processor to perform the signal measurement on the first channel while the interface is transmitting information on the second channel. include.

Example 15 is a method of executing a grouping protocol, wherein the method is:
In the first station, the step of executing signal measurement based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold value, the step of grouping the first station together with the second station and
A step of transmitting the grouping instruction to the access point and the server in order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping.
Including methods, including.

Example 16 includes the method of Example 15, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement or a signal-to-noise ratio measurement.

Example 17 includes the method of Example 15, wherein the connection analysis unit discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold.

Example 18 includes the method of Example 15, wherein the grouping corresponds to the presence of the first station and the second station within a threshold distance from each other.

In Example 19, the communication is a first communication, the server schedules the first communication for the first station at least at different times or different frequencies, and for the second station. 25 includes the method of Example 15, which schedules a second communication.

Example 20 includes the method of Example 15, further comprising sending the grouping instructions to the server.

Example 21 includes the method of Example 15, further comprising the step of performing the signal measurement on the first channel while the interface is transmitting information on the second channel. ..

Example 22 is a system for scheduling wireless communication, wherein the system is
A server that initiates the grouping protocol by sending information to the first access point,
The first access point instructing the first station to perform signal measurement based on the received information in response to receiving the information.
The first station mentioned above
Perform the signal measurement based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold
The first station was grouped together with the second station.
The first station, which sends the grouping instruction to the first access point, and the server schedules communication between the first access point and the first station based on the grouping.
Includes systems that include.

Example 23 includes the system of Example 22, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement or a signal-to-noise ratio measurement.

Example 24 includes the system of Example 22, wherein the connection analysis unit discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold.

25 is a system according to Example 22, further comprising a second access point instructing the second station to perform a second signal measurement based on the received information in response to receiving the information. including.

Example 26 includes the system of Example 25, wherein the server sequences the first and second access points.

Example 27 includes the system of Example 26, wherein the second station refrains from performing the signal measurement on a channel corresponding to at least one access point in higher order or lower order. ..

Example 28 is the system of Example 22, wherein the communication is a first communication, and the server schedules a second communication between the second access point and the second station based on the grouping. including.

Example 29 includes the system of Example 28, wherein the server schedules the first and second communications at at least one of different times or frequencies.

Example 30 includes the system of Example 22, wherein the access point sends the instructions for grouping to the server.

Example 31 is the system of Example 22, wherein the server is implemented by at least one of the first access point and the second access point.

Example 32 includes the system of Example 22, wherein the first station performs signal measurements on the first channel and transmits data packets on the second channel.

Example 33 is a third station that performs the second signal measurement on the second channel.
When the second signal measurement exceeds the threshold value, the first station is grouped together with the third station, and the second instruction of the second group is transmitted to the third access point.
Includes the system of Example 22, further comprising a third station, which discards the second signal measurement if the second signal measurement does not exceed the threshold.

Example 34 is a device that executes a joint transmission protocol.
An interface that initiates a joint transmission protocol for joint transmission to a station using two or more access points in the access point's network, wherein the initiation is the two or more access points. Interfaces, including requesting feedback from,
A protocol selection unit that selects a spatial diversity protocol or a spatial multiplexing protocol for the joint transmission based on the feedback from the two or more access points.
A communication scheduler that schedules the joint transmission of the two or more access points to the station for the joint transmission based on the spatial diversity or spatial multiplexing protocol.
Including equipment including.

Example 35 includes the device of Example 34, wherein the co-transmission protocol corresponds to MIMO (multiple input multiple output) protocol, MIMO and beamforming protocol, or MIMO and beamforming protocol within different subbands.

Example 36, wherein the two or more access points transmit the same data to the station in different subbands when the co-transmission protocol corresponds to the MIMO and the beamforming protocol in different subbands. Includes the listed equipment.

Example 37 includes the device of Example 34, wherein the protocol selection unit selects the joint transmission protocol based on the characteristics of the two or more access points.

Example 38 includes the device of Example 36, further comprising a network characteristic unit that determines the characteristics based on information received from the network of the access point.

In Example 39, the protocol selection unit selects the spatial diversity protocol or the spatial multiplexing protocol based on beamform reports received from each station communicating with one or more access points in the network of access points. , Example 34.

Example 40 includes the device of Example 34, wherein the interface transmits the joint transmission protocol to the two or more access points.

Example 41 includes the device of Example 34, wherein the joint transmission corresponds to transmitting redundant data to the station using the two or more access points.

Example 42 includes the device of Example 40, wherein the joint transmission corresponds to at least one of time diversity or frequency diversity.

In Example 43, the device of Example 34, wherein the feedback corresponds to a beamform report generated by the station, the beamform report corresponds to the signal strength of the two or more access points with respect to the station. ..

Specific exemplary methods, devices, and products have been described herein, but the scope of this patent is not limited thereto. Conversely, this patent covers all methods, devices, and products that are fairly within the claims of this patent.

Claims (26)

A device that executes a grouping protocol, said device.
It ’s a connection analysis department.
In the first station, the signal measurement is executed based on the signal from the second station,
A connection analysis unit that groups the first station together with the second station when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold.
An interface for transmitting the grouping instruction to the access point and the server in order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping.
Equipment including. The device according to claim 1, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement value and a signal-to-noise ratio measurement value. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection analysis unit discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold value. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the grouping corresponds to the presence of the first station and the second station within a threshold distance from each other. The communication is a first communication and the server schedules the first communication for the first station and a second communication for the second station at least at different times or frequencies. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is scheduled. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the access point transmits the instruction of the grouping to the server. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connection analysis unit performs the signal measurement on the first channel while the interface transmits information on the second channel. It ’s a computer program, and it ’s on the device, at least.
In the first station, the signal measurement is executed based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold, the first station is grouped together with the second station.
In order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping, the grouping instruction is transmitted to the access point and the server.
Computer program. The computer program according to claim 8, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement value and a signal-to-noise ratio measurement value. The computer program of claim 8 or 9, wherein the device causes the device to discard the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold. The computer program according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the grouping corresponds to the presence of the first station and the second station within a threshold distance from each other. The communication is a first communication, and the computer program causes the device to schedule the first communication for the first station at least at different times or different frequencies of the second station. The computer program according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a second communication is scheduled for the purpose. The computer program according to any one of claims 8 to 12, which causes the apparatus to transmit the instruction of the grouping to the server. The computer program of any one of claims 8-13, wherein the device causes the device to perform the signal measurement on the first channel while the interface is transmitting information on the second channel. A computer-readable storage medium that stores the computer program according to any one of claims 8 to 14. A device that executes a grouping protocol, said device.
In the first station, a means for performing signal measurement based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold value, the means for grouping the first station together with the second station and
A means for transmitting the grouping instruction to the access point and the server in order to schedule communication between the access point and the first station based on the grouping.
How to include. A system for scheduling wireless communication.
A server that initiates the grouping protocol by sending information to the first access point,
The first access point instructing the first station to perform signal measurement based on the received information in response to receiving the information.
The first station mentioned above
Perform the signal measurement based on the signal from the second station,
When the signal measurement exceeds the threshold
The first station was grouped together with the second station.
The first station, which sends the grouping instruction to the first access point, and the server schedules communication between the first access point and the first station based on the grouping.
System including. 17. The system of claim 17, wherein the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength measurement or a signal-to-noise ratio measurement. 17. The system of claim 17 or 18, wherein the first station discards the measurement when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold. One of claims 17-19, further comprising a second access point instructing the second station to perform a second signal measurement based on the received information in response to receiving the information. The system described in. 20. The system of claim 20, wherein the server orders the first and second access points. 21. The system of claim 21, wherein the second station refrains from performing the signal measurement on a channel corresponding to at least one access point in higher order or lower order. The communication is the first communication, and any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the server schedules the second communication between the second access point and the second station based on the grouping. The system described in. 23. The system of claim 23, wherein the server schedules the first and second communications at different times or at least one of different frequencies. The system according to any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein the first station transmits the instruction of the grouping to the server. The system according to any one of claims 17 to 25, wherein the server is implemented by at least one of the first access point and the second access point.

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