Patent Application
20220346171
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of wireless communications. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for enhanced multi-link operation in a wireless network.
Modern electronic devices typically send and receive data with other electronic devices wirelessly using Wi-Fi, and many of these electronic devices are “dual band” devices that include at least two wireless transceivers capable of operating in different frequency bands, e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. In most cases, a wireless device will communicate over only a single band at a time. For example, older and low-power devices, e.g., battery powered devices, often operate on the 2.4 GHz band. Newer devices and devices that require greater bandwidth often operate on the 5 GHz band. The availability of the 6 GHz band is a recent advancement and can provide higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates.
The use of a single band may not satisfy the bandwidth or latency needs of certain devices. Therefore, some developing approaches to wireless communication increase communication bandwidth by operating on multiple bands concurrently (technically called link aggregation or multi-link operation). Advantageously, multi-link operations can provide higher network throughput and improved network flexibility compared to traditional techniques for wireless communication.
A non-AP (STA) MLD may operate in the enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) mode on a specified set of the enabled links for improved performance. The set of the enabled links in which the EMLMR mode is applied can be referred to as EMLMR links. When the non-AP MLD associates with an AP MLD, the EMLMR mode for the non-AP MLD is enabled immediately after the association. The non-AP MLD can receive PPDUs with the number of spatial streams up to the value as indicated in the EMLMR Rx NSS subfield of the element on the link for which the initial frame exchange was made. The non-AP MLD can also transmit PPDUs with the number of space-time streams up to the value as indicated in the EMLMR Tx NSS subfield of the element on the link for which the initial frame exchange was made.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide improved multi-link operation over EMLMR links. A non-AP MLD indicating support for EMLMR operation announces the number of spatial streams supported for receiving after receiving the initial frame exchange during the EMLMR operation (e.g., MLD level capabilities). The MLD level capabilities for operating over the EMLMR links are defined so that the EMLMR capable devices can improve/optimize their performance based on their computing capabilities and RF design. For example, if one link with two spatial streams corresponding to per-link spatial stream capabilities of the EMLMR links has bandwidth of 320 MHz in a 6 GHz band, and another EMLMR link with two spatial streams corresponding to per-link spatial stream capabilities has bandwidth of 160 MHz in a 5 GHz band, two spatial streams may be used for bandwidth 320 MHz after the initial frame exchange on an EMLMR link in the 6 GHz band subject to the device processing/computing capabilities, and four spatial streams may be used for bandwidth 160 MHz (5 GHz) by combining two spatial streams of each EMLMR link in the 5 GHz band and 6 GHz band after the initial frame exchange in the 5 GHz band based on the device processing/computing capabilities.
According to one embodiment, a method of wireless data reception by a non-access point (non-AP) multi-link device (MLD) is disclosed. The method includes associating with an access point (AP) MLD, enabling an enhanced multi-link (EML) operation mode on a plurality of EML links, transmitting a frame to the AP MLD indicating a maximum number of supported spatial streams (NSS) corresponding to a specific modulation and coding scheme (MCS) in a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) using a specific supported bandwidth for receiving the PPDU using the EML operation, and receiving the PPDU from the AP MLD over a first EML link of the plurality of EML links using a number of spatial streams that is no greater than the maximum number of supported spatial streams indicated in the frame for a combination of MCS and NSS over the first EML link using the specific supported bandwidth in the EML operation mode.
According to some embodiments, the maximum number of supported spatial streams using the EML operation mode is equal to or less than a total number of supported spatial streams corresponding to per-link spatial stream capabilities over the plurality of the EML links.
According to some embodiments, the method includes performing an initial frame exchange with the AP MLD using per-link spatial stream capabilities over the first EML link of the plurality of EML links, and the receiving of the PPDU from the AP MLD over the first EML link is performed responsive to the performing an initial frame exchange.
According to some embodiments, the frame includes a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) value and a maximum number of spatial streams (NSS) field value including a combination of maximum numbers of supported spatial streams for different MCSs supported by the bandwidths.
According to some embodiments, the MCS and NSS includes a plurality of Rx EHT-MCS map subfields that map a maximum number of spatial streams to an MCS supported for a specific bandwidth corresponding to at least one of the EML links.
According to some embodiments, the plurality of EML links includes a second EML link and, and the first and second EML links use different plurality of Rx EHT-MCS map subfields for different bandwidths.
According to some embodiments, the non-AP MLD includes a plurality of radios operating over different frequencies for performing enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) operations.
According to another embodiment, a method of transmitting wireless data by a non-access point (non-AP) multi-link device (MLD) is disclosed. The method includes associating with an access point (AP) MLD, enabling an enhanced multi-link (EML) mode on a plurality of EML links, transmitting a frame to the AP MLD indicating a maximum number of supported spatial streams (NSS) corresponding to a specific modulation and coding schemes (MCS) value in a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) with a specific supported bandwidth for transmitting the PPDU using the EML operation, and transmitting the physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) to the AP MLD over a first EML link of the plurality of EML links with the number of spatial streams up to the value indicated in the frame as being supported by a combination of MCS and NSS in a bandwidth of the first EML link using the EML operation.
According to some embodiments, the maximum number of supported spatial streams using the EML operation mode is equal to or less than a total number of supported spatial streams corresponding to per-link capabilities over the plurality of the EML links.
According to some embodiments, the method includes performing an initial frame exchange with the AP MLD over the first EML link of the plurality of EML links using an MCS and an NSS indicated in the frame as being supported by a bandwidth of the first EML link using the EML operation, and the transmitting of the PPDU to the AP MLD over the first EML link is performed responsive to the performing an initial frame exchange.
According to some embodiments, the frame includes a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and a maximum number of spatial streams (NSS) including a mapping of maximum numbers of supported spatial streams for different MCSs supported by different bandwidths.
According to some embodiments, the MCS and NSS includes a plurality of Tx EHT-MCS map subfields that map a maximum number of spatial streams to an MCS supported for a specific bandwidth corresponding to at least one of the EML links.
According to some embodiments, the plurality of EML links includes a second EML link, and the first and second EML links use different Tx EHT-MCS map subfields for different bandwidths.
According to some embodiments, the non-AP MLD include a plurality of radios operating over different frequencies for performing enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) operations.
According to a different embodiment, an apparatus for communicating wirelessly over a plurality of enhanced multi-link (EML) links is disclosed. The apparatus includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and for storing data, and a plurality of radios operable to perform EML operations over the plurality of EML links. The processor is operable to associate with an access point (AP) MLD, enable an enhanced multi-link (EML) mode on a plurality of EML links, transmit a frame to the AP MLD indicating a maximum numbers of supported spatial streams (NSS) corresponding to a specific modulation and coding schemes (MCS) value in a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) with a specific supported bandwidth using the EML operations, receive a first PPDU from the AP MLD over a first EML link of the plurality of EML links with the number of spatial streams up to the value indicated in the frame as being supported by a combination of MCS and NSS in a bandwidth of the first EML link, and transmit a second PPDU to the AP MLD over a second EML link of the plurality of EML links with the number of spatial streams up to the value indicated in the frame as being supported by a combination of MCS and NSS in a bandwidth of the second EML link.
According to some embodiments, the processor is further operable to perform an initial frame exchange with the AP MLD using per-link spatial stream capabilities over the first EML link of the plurality of EML links, and the receiving the first PPDU from the AP MLD over the first EML link is performed responsive to the initial frame exchange.
According to some embodiments, the processor is further operable to transmit an initial frame to the AP MLD over the second EML link of the plurality of EML links using an MCS and an NSS indicated in the frame as being supported by a bandwidth of the second EML link using the EML operation, and the transmitting of the PPDU to the AP MLD over the second EML link is performed responsive to the initial frame exchange.
According to some embodiments, the transmit a frame to the AP MLD indicating maximum numbers of supported spatial streams (NSS) corresponding to a specific modulation and coding schemes (MCS) value in a PPDU with a specific supported bandwidth using EML operations over a plurality of supported bandwidths includes transmitting an extremely high throughput (EHT)-modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and maximum number of spatial streams (NSS) set field including a mapping of a maximum number of supported spatial streams for different MCSs supported by the bandwidths.
According to some embodiments, the EHT-MCS and NSS set field includes a plurality of Rx EHT-MCS map subfields and Tx EHT-MCS map subfields that map a maximum number of spatial streams to an MCS that are supported for a specific bandwidth corresponding to at least one of the EML links.
According to some embodiments, the frame further indicates at least one of: a maximum number of sounding dimensions for performing a sounding procedure over a specific EML link using the EML operation, a beamformee spatial stream indicating the maximum number of spatial streams that can be received in an extremely high throughput (EHT) sounding null data packet (NDP) over a specific EML link using the EML operation, and a maximum dimension of compressed beamforming over a specific EML link using the EML operation.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:
Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments. While the subject matter will be described in conjunction with the alternative embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to these embodiments. On the contrary, the claimed subject matter is intended to cover alternative, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter as defined by the appended claims.
Furthermore, in the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with equivalents thereof. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects and features of the subject matter.
Portions of the detailed description that follow are presented and discussed in terms of a method. Although steps and sequencing thereof are disclosed in a figure herein (e.g.,
Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer-executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout, discussions utilizing terms such as “accessing,” “configuring,” “coordinating,” “storing,” “transmitting,” “authenticating,” “identifying,” “requesting,” “reporting,” “determining,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.
Some embodiments may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved multi-link operation over EMLMR links. A non-AP MLD indicating support of EMLMR operation announces the combination of number of spatial streams and modulation and coding schemes (MCS) value supported for receiving or transmitting on one of the EMLMR link of a plurality of EMLMR links during EMLMR operation (e.g., MLD level capabilities). MLD level capabilities for the EMLMR operation over the EMLMR links are defined so that the EMLMR capable devices can improve/optimize their performance based on their computing capabilities and RF design.
EHT-MCS maps 105a-f depicted in
Based on the capabilities depicted in
When a non-AP MLD operating in EMLMR mode receives an initial frame from the AP MLD using its per-link spatial stream capabilities on one of the EMLMR links, after initial frame exchange on the EMLMR link, the non-AP MLD will support the following capabilities until the end of the frame exchange sequence initiated by the initial frame exchange:
A non-AP MLD that indicates support for EMLMR operation announces its EMLMR capabilities corresponding to one or more specific parameters, such as bandwidth, MCS, etc. For example, the EMLMR capabilities can include the capabilities shown in Table II below.
At step 305, a non-AP MLD associates with an AP MLD, where both devices are capable of EML operation.
At step 310, the non-AP MLD enables an enhanced multi-link multi-radio (EMLMR) mode on a plurality of links. The enabled links can be referred to as EMLMR links.
At step 315, the non-AP MLD transmits a frame to the AP MLD indicating numbers of supported spatial streams corresponding to different modulation and coding schemes for receiving data using EMLMR operation over a plurality of supported bandwidths. The frame can include an EHT-MCS and NSS set field having Rx EHT-MCS map subfields and Tx EHT-MCS map subfields that map a maximum number of spatial streams to an MCS supported for a specific bandwidth corresponding to at least one of the EMLMR links. The frame can also include capabilities (e.g., NSS and MCS) for bandwidths when EMLMR mode is not enabled according to some embodiments.
At step 320, the non-AP MLD receives a PPDU from the AP MLD over an EMLMR link using an MCS and an NSS indicated in the frame as being supported by a bandwidth of the EMLMR link, and/or transmits a PPDU from the AP MLD over the EMLRM link using an MCS and an NSS indicated in the frame as being supported by a bandwidth of the EMLMR link. The non-AP MLD can transmit and/or receive multiple PPDUs using multiple EMLMR links according to the capabilities indicated in the frame transmitted in step 315.
Wireless device 400 includes a processor 405 for running software applications and optionally an operating system. Memory 410 can include read-only memory and/or random access memory, for example, to store applications and data (e.g., tables of index values) for use by the processor 405 and data received or transmitted by radios 415 and 420. Radios 415 and 420 can communicate with other electronic devices over a wireless network (e.g., WLAN) using multiple spatial streams (e.g., multiple antennas) and typically operates according to IEEE standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11ay, IEEE 802.11be, etc.). Radios 415 and 420 can perform multi-link operations, such as multi-link EMLMR operations. Wireless device 400 can including more than two radios, according to embodiments. The radios (e.g., radios 415 and 420) can be configured to transmit and/or receive data using a number of different spatial streams based on device capabilities, for example.
Embodiments of the present invention are thus described. While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/177,466, Attorney Docket Number MUSI-21-0050PUS, with filing date Apr. 21, 2021, by Kai Ying Lu, et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63177466 | Apr 2021 | US |
