阅读说明：本技术 无线通信方法和装置 (Wireless communication method and device ) 是由 胡昇泉 刘剑函 皮尔二世汤姆士艾德华 于 2021-05-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种关于极高吞吐量(extreme high-throughput,简称EHT)系统中多用户多输入多输出(MU-MIMO)分配的用户字段的空间配置子字段设计的方法,涉及根据查找表(LUT)中的6比特空间配置子字段确定空间流配置。所述方法还涉及使用基于空间流配置分配的一个或多个空间流来执行传输。(A method for spatial configuration subfield design for user fields for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) allocation in very high throughput (EHT) systems involves determining spatial stream configurations from 6-bit spatial configuration subfields in a look-up table (LUT). The method also involves performing a transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on the spatial stream configuration.)

1. A method of wireless communication comprising

Determining the spatial stream configuration according to the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in the lookup table; and

performing transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on the spatial stream configuration.

2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicates a respective number of spatial streams allocated to each of a plurality of stations in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output allocation.

3. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in a case where the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 2, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

4. The method of wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein the values of four of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield include:

000000 corresponding to the first site being allocated one spatial stream, the second site being allocated one spatial stream, a total of two spatial streams being allocated,

000001, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, one spatial stream is allocated to the second station, and a total of three spatial streams are allocated,

000010 corresponding to the first site being allocated three spatial streams, the second site being allocated one spatial stream, a total of four spatial streams being allocated, and

000011, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, one spatial stream is allocated to the second station, and a total of five spatial streams are allocated.

5. The method of wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein values of three of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield include:

000100 corresponding to a first site being allocated two spatial streams, a second site being allocated two spatial streams, for a total of four spatial streams,

000101 corresponding to the first station being allocated three spatial streams, the second station being allocated two spatial streams, a total of five spatial streams being allocated, an

000110, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, two spatial streams are allocated to the second station, and a total of six spatial streams are allocated.

6. The method of wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein values of two of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield include:

000111 corresponding to a first site being allocated three spatial streams, a second site being allocated three spatial streams, a total of six spatial streams being allocated, an

001000, the second STA is allocated three spatial streams corresponding to the first station being allocated four spatial streams, for a total of seven spatial streams.

7. The method of wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein a value of one of ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield comprises:

001001 corresponding to the first station being allocated four spatial streams and the second station being allocated four spatial streams, a total of eight spatial streams are allocated.

8. The method of wireless communication according to claim 3, wherein in case the number of the peer stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 3 or more, the first ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in another portion of the lookup table are the same as the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield for multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation when the number of the peer stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 2.

9. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in case the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 3, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 20 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in case the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 4, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 35 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

11. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in case the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 5, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 49 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

12. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in the case that the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 6, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 54 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

13. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in case the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 7, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 50 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

14. The wireless communication method of claim 2, wherein in case the number of the plurality of stations configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 8, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes 41 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

15. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the lookup table supports a maximum of 8 users, wherein a maximum of 16 spatial streams are assigned and a maximum of 4 streams are assigned to each user.

16. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein determining the spatial stream configuration comprises:

receiving downlink multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) allocation signaling; and

determining the spatial stream configuration according to a value of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicated in the signaling.

17. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver; and

a processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to perform a plurality of operations, including:

determining the spatial stream configuration according to the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in the lookup table; and

performing transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on the spatial stream configuration.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicates a respective number of spatial streams allocated to each of a plurality of stations in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output allocation, and wherein:

where the number of sites configured by the multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 2, the corresponding portion of the lookup table includes ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield, an

In a case that the number of the isosites configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 3 or more, the first ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in another portion of the lookup table are the same as the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield for multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation when the number of the isosites configured by the multiuser multiple-input multiple-output allocation is 2.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 18, wherein values for four of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield comprise:

000000 corresponding to the first site being allocated one spatial stream, the second site being allocated one spatial stream, a total of two spatial streams being allocated,

000001, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, one spatial stream is allocated to the second station, and a total of three spatial streams are allocated,

000010 corresponding to the first site being allocated three spatial streams, the second site being allocated one spatial stream, a total of four spatial streams being allocated, and

000011, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, one spatial stream is allocated to the second station, and a total of five spatial streams are allocated,

the values of three of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield include:

000100 corresponding to a first site being allocated two spatial streams, a second site being allocated two spatial streams, for a total of four spatial streams,

000101 corresponding to the first station being allocated three spatial streams, the second station being allocated two spatial streams, a total of five spatial streams being allocated, an

000110, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first station, two spatial streams are allocated to the second station, and a total of six spatial streams are allocated,

the values of two of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield include:

000111 corresponding to a first site being allocated three spatial streams, a second site being allocated three spatial streams, a total of six spatial streams being allocated, an

001000 corresponding to the first station being allocated four spatial streams, the second STA being allocated three spatial streams, seven spatial streams in total,

wherein a value of one of ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield includes:

001001 corresponding to the first station being allocated four spatial streams and the second station being allocated four spatial streams, a total of eight spatial streams are allocated.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 17, the lookup table supports a maximum of 8 users, wherein a maximum of 16 spatial streams are assigned, a maximum of 4 streams are assigned to each user, and in determining the spatial stream configuration, the processor is configured to perform a plurality of operations comprising:

receiving downlink multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) allocation signaling; and

determining the spatial stream configuration according to a value of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicated in the signaling.

Technical Field

The present application relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly, to spatial configuration subfield design of user fields for multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) allocation in an extreme high-throughput (EHT) system.

Background

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims set forth below and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

In wireless communications such as Wi-Fi according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11ax standard, the spatial configuration of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation is transmitted in 4 bits and is based on a lookup table (LUT). In next generation EHT systems (e.g., Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems) conforming to the upcoming IEEE 802.11be standard, the total number of spatial streams is increased to 16 at most, and the total number of MU-MIMO users is increased to 8 at most, which is the same as IEEE 802.11 ax. In addition, the total number of spatial streams per user is at most 4 streams, which is the same as IEEE 802.11 ax. Therefore, there is a need for a solution for spatial configuration of user field format for MU-MIMO allocation in wireless communications based on IEEE 802.11bx and future technologies.

Disclosure of Invention

The following summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. That is, the following summary is provided to introduce concepts, points, benefits and advantages of the novel and non-obvious techniques described herein. Selected implementations are further described in the detailed description below. Thus, the following summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide schemes, concepts, designs, techniques, methods and devices related to spatial configuration subfield design of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation in EHT systems. Under various proposed schemes according to the present disclosure, either of two proposed design options for spatial configuration of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation may be utilized. Under a first option, a self-contained Spatial Stream (SS) allocation subfield pattern is utilized, as specified in IEEE 802.11ax for Uplink (UL) Based Trigger frames in a Trigger-Based (TB) PPDU. Under a second option, a new design of spatial configuration subfield coding tables, look-up table (LUT) patterns, are used for Downlink (DL) MU-MIMO allocation transmission. Furthermore, under various proposed schemes, 6 bits are used for spatially configured transmission.

In an aspect, a method may include determining a spatial stream configuration from a 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in a LUT. The method may also include performing a transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on the spatial stream configuration.

In another aspect, an apparatus may include a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor may determine the spatial stream configuration from the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in the LUT. The processor may also perform, via the transceiver, transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on the spatial stream configuration.

It is noted that although the description provided herein may be in the context of particular radio access technologies, networks and network topologies (e.g., Wi-Fi), the concepts, schemes and any variant (s)/derivative(s) presented may be implemented in and by other types of radio access technologies, networks and network topologies, such as, but not limited to, bluetooth, ZigBee, 5th Generation (5G/New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (Long-Term Evolution), LTE advanced Pro, Internet of Things (IoT)), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the examples described herein.

Drawings

The following drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In order to clearly illustrate the concepts of the present disclosure, some elements may not be shown to scale compared to the dimensions in an actual implementation, and the illustrations are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Fig. 1 illustrates a diagram of an example network environment in which various solutions and schemes according to this disclosure may be implemented.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram of an example design under a first proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 5 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 shows a diagram of an example design under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary communication system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 shows a flowchart of an example process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Detailed examples and implementations of the presently claimed subject matter are described below. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments and implementations are merely illustrative of the claimed subject matter, which can be embodied in various forms. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments and implementations set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments and implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the following description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments and implementations.

SUMMARY

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to various techniques, methods, schemes, and/or solutions related to spatial configuration subfield design of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation in EHT systems. A number of possible solutions may be implemented separately or in combination in accordance with the present disclosure. That is, although the possible solutions may be described separately below, two or more of the possible solutions may be implemented in one or another combination.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example network environment 100 in which various solutions and aspects consistent with the present disclosure may be implemented. Fig. 2-8 illustrate examples of implementations of various proposed schemes in a network environment 100 according to the present disclosure. With reference to fig. 1-8, a description of various proposed schemes is provided below.

As shown in fig. 1, network environment 100 may include at least one Station (STA) 110 in wireless communication with STAs 120. Each of STA110 and STA120 may be a non-access point (non-AP) STA, or any of STA110 or STA120 may act as an AP. In some cases, STA110 and STA120 may be associated with a Basic Service Set (BSS) according to one or more IEEE 802.11 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11be and future developed standards). Each of STA110 and STA120 may be configured to communicate with each other by utilizing the spatial configuration subfield new design of the user field for MU-MIMO allocation in the EHT system according to various aspects described below. That is, either or both STA110 and STA120 may be used as "users" in the schemes and examples presented below.

Fig. 2 shows an example design 200 under a first proposed approach according to the present disclosure. Under the first proposed scheme, the spatial configuration subfield design may be similar to the "Spatial Stream (SS) allocation subfield pattern" in the trigger frame defined in IEEE 802.11ax, and 6 bits in the spatial configuration subfield are used for transmission of the spatial configuration (e.g., to indicate the number of starting streams and spatial streams of a user or STA in the MU-MIMO allocation). Referring to fig. 2, of the 6 bits for spatial configuration transmission, 4 bits are used to indicate a spatial start index of each user and 2 bits are used to indicate the number of streams allocated to each user. Under the proposed scheme, a maximum of 8 users are supported, with a total of 16 spatial streams and a maximum of 4 streams per user.

FIG. 3Fig. 8 illustrates example designs 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 under a second proposed approach according to the present disclosure. Under the second proposed scheme, a lookup table (LUT) is used to indicate the spatial configuration of each user or STA in the MU-MIMO allocation transmission. Refer to FIG. 3Each of fig. 8, 6 bits or B5B4B3B2B1B0 (in fig. 3)Shown as "B5 … B0" in fig. 8) is used in the spatial configuration subfield for transmission of the spatial configuration of all entries (e.g., indicating the number of spatial streams for users in the MU-MIMO allocation). In example 300, number of MU-MIMO users (N)_user) Which may be 2 or 3, with a total of 10 entries or 20 entries, respectively. In example 400, N_userThere may be 4 for a total of 35 entries. In example 500, N_userThere may be 5, for a total of 49 entries. In example 600, N_userThere may be 6, for a total of 54 entries. In example 700, N_userWhich may be 7 for a total of 50 entries. In example 800, N_userMay be 8 for a total of 41 entries. In each of examples 300 through 800, the allocation pattern specified in IEEE 802.11ax is used to fill each line (row) of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield of "B5 … B0" for spatial configuration transmission. In addition, based on an STA Identifier (ID) in signaling received from the AP (e.g., in the DL preamble),each user or STA may determine its location or order (e.g., whether the STA is the first user or the nth user). In an allocation/assignment (allocation) configuration of spatial streams with respect to one or more Resource Units (RUs).

In each of examples 300 to 800, for a given number of users, the spatial streams (N) for each of two to up to eight users_sts) The number of (indicated in the headings "Nsts (1)", "Nsts (2)", "Nsts (3)", "Nsts (4)", "Nsts (5)", "Nsts (6)", "Nsts (7)" and "Nsts (8)") of possible arrangements, and corresponding different total number of spatial streams (N) are present_{sts_tot}). For example, for N in example 300_userThe 2, 6 bit space configuration subfield may be 000000-_stsRanging from 1 to 4 (indicated in the heading of "Nsts (1)"), the second user being assigned N_stsIs 1 (indicated in the "Nsts (2)" header), and N_{sts_tot}In the range between 2 and 5. Here, the option number is 4 (since the first user may have one spatial stream, two spatial streams, three spatial streams or four spatial streams), corresponding to four entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration sub-field, as shown below: 000000 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 1 and Nsts (2) ═ 1, 000001 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 2 and Nsts (2) ═ 1, denotes Nsts (1) ═ 1 and Nsts (2) ═ 1, 000010 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 3 and Nsts (2) ═ 1, 000011 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 4 and Nsts (2) ═ 1.

Similarly, for N in example 300_userThe 2, 6-bit space configuration subfield may be 000100 and 000110 to indicate that the first user is assigned N_stsIn the range of 2 to 4, N assigned by the second user_stsIs 2, and N_{sts_tot}Is in the range of 4 to 6. Here, the option number is 3 (since the first user may have one spatial stream, two spatial streams or three spatial streams), corresponding to the following three entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration sub-field: 000100 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 2 and Nsts (2) ═ 2, 000101 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 3 and Nsts (2) ═ 2, and 000110 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 4 and Nsts (2) ═ 2.

Also, for N in example 300_userThe 2, 6-bit space configuration subfield may be 000111-_stsIn the range of 3 to 4, N assigned by the second user_stsIs 3, and N_{sts_tot}Is in the range of 6 to 7. Here, the option number is 2 (since the first user may have one spatial stream or two spatial streams), and two entries corresponding to the 6-bit spatial configuration sub-field are as follows: 000111 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 3 and Nsts (2) ═ 3, and 001000 denotes Nsts (1) ═ 4 and Nsts (2) ═ 3.

Further, for N in example 300_userThe 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may be 001001 to indicate N_{sts_tot}Is 8. Here, the option number is 1 (because the first user and the second user each have four spatial streams), which corresponds to one entry of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield, as follows: 001001 denotes that Nsts (1) ═ 4 and Nsts (2) ═ 4,

thus, for N in example 300_userThe total number of entries is 10, which is the sum of the number of options of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield or the sum of the number of entries (4 +3+2+ 1).

It is noted that under the proposed scheme, the number of spatial streams allocated to a first user is greater than or equal to the number of spatial streams allocated to a second user (and any other users). For example, in the example 300, the number of spatial streams allocated to the first user is greater than or equal to the number of spatial streams allocated to the second user. Similarly, in each of examples 400 to 800, the number of spatial streams allocated to the first user is greater than or equal to the number of spatial streams allocated to the second user and each additional user. Further, in the examplesIn, N_{sts_tot}Can be as low as 2, and can be as high as 16, N_{sts_tot}Assigned for transmission on a given RU or aggregated multiple RUs (multiple-RU, MRU for short). Also noteworthy is that for N_userTen entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield of 2 mayIs reused as N_user＝3，N_user＝4，N_user＝5，N_user＝6，N_user7 and N_userThe first ten entries in the corresponding portion of the LUT of 8. Similarly for N_userThe 20 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield of 3 can be reused as N_user＝4，N_user＝5，N_user＝6，N_user7 and N_userThe first 20 entries in the corresponding portion of the LUT of 8.

Illustrative embodiments

Fig. 9 illustrates an example system 900 having at least an example apparatus 910 and an example apparatus 920 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Each of the devices 910 and 920 may perform various functions to implement the schemes, techniques, processes, and methods described herein relating to spatial configuration subfield design of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation in EHT systems, including the various schemes described with respect to the various proposed designs, concepts, schemes, systems, and methods described above and the processes described below. For example, apparatus 910 may be implemented in STA110 and apparatus 920 may be implemented in STA120, or vice versa.

Each of the apparatus 910 and the apparatus 920 may be part of an electronic device, which may be a STA or an AP, such as a portable or mobile device, a wearable device, a wireless communication device, or a computing device. When implemented in a STA, each of the apparatus 910 and the apparatus 920 may be implemented in a smartphone, a smart watch, a personal digital assistant, a digital camera, or a computing device such as a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a notebook computer. Each of the devices 910 and 920 may also be part of a machine-type device, which may be an IoT device such as a stationary or fixed device, a home device, a wired communication device, or a computing device. For example, each of the device 910 and the device 920 may be implemented in a smart thermostat, a smart refrigerator, a smart door lock, a wireless speaker, or a home control center. When implemented in or as a network device, apparatus 910 and/or apparatus 920 may be implemented in a network node, such as an AP in a WLAN.

In some embodiments, each of the devices 910 and 920 may be implemented in the form of one or more integrated-circuit (IC) chips, such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more reduced-instruction-set computing (RISC) processors, or one or more complex-instruction-set computing (CISC) processors. In the various aspects described above, each of the apparatus 910 and the apparatus 920 may be implemented as a non-AP STA or an AP STA. Each of apparatus 910 and apparatus 920 may include at least some of those components shown in fig. 9, such as a processor 912 and a processor 922, respectively, for example. Each of the apparatus 910 and the apparatus 920 may further include one or more other components (e.g., an internal power supply, a display device, and/or a user interface device) unrelated to the aspects presented in the present disclosure, and thus, such components in both the apparatus 910 and the apparatus 920 are not shown in fig. 9, nor are they described below for the sake of simplicity and brevity.

In an aspect, each of the processors 912 and 922 may be implemented in the form of one or more single-core processors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more RISC processors, or one or more CISC processors. That is, even though the singular term "processor" is used herein to refer to both the processor 912 and the processor 922, each of the processor 912 and the processor 922 may include multiple processors in some embodiments and a single processor in other embodiments, in accordance with the present invention. In another aspect, each of the processor 912 and the processor 922 may be implemented in hardware (and optionally firmware) with electronic components including, for example and without limitation, one or more transistors, one or more diodes, one or more capacitors, one or more resistors, one or more inductors, one or more memristors, and/or one or more varactors configured and arranged to achieve certain objectives according to this disclosure. In other words, in at least some embodiments, each of processor 912 and processor 922 is a dedicated machine specifically designed, arranged, and configured to perform specific tasks including tasks designed in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure and spatial configuration sub-fields of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation in EHT systems.

In some implementations, the apparatus 910 can also include a transceiver 916 coupled to the processor 912. The transceiver 916 can include a transmitter capable of wireless transmission and a receiver capable of wireless reception of data. In some implementations, the apparatus 920 may also include a transceiver 926 coupled to the processor 922. Transceiver 926 may include a transmitter capable of wireless transmission and a receiver capable of wireless reception of data. It is worthy to note that although transceiver 916 and transceiver 926 are illustrated as being external to and separate from processor 912 and processor 922, respectively, in some implementations, transceiver 916 may be a component of processor 912 of a system on chip (SoC) and/or transceiver 926 may be a component of processor 922 of the SoC.

In some embodiments, the apparatus 910 may further include a memory 914 coupled to the processor 912 and capable of being accessed by the processor 912 and storing data therein. In some embodiments, the apparatus 920 may further include a memory 924 coupled to the processor 922 and accessible by the processor 922 and storing data therein. Each of memory 914 and memory 924 may include a random-access memory (RAM), such as Dynamic RAM (DRAM), Static RAM (SRAM), thyristor RAM (T-RAM), and/or zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM). Alternatively or additionally, each of memory 914 and memory 924 may include a type of read-only memory (ROM), such as mask ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), and/or Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM). Alternatively or additionally, each of memory 914 and memory 924 may include a non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), such as flash memory, solid-state memory, ferroelectric RAM (feram), Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), and/or phase-change memory.

Each of the devices 910 and 920 may be communication entities capable of communicating with each other using various proposed schemes according to the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes, and not by way of limitation, the following provides a description of the capabilities of device 910 (as STA110) and device 920 (as STA 120). It is worthy to note that although a detailed description of the capabilities, functionality, and/or technical features of the apparatus 910 is provided below, it may be equally applied to the apparatus 920, although a detailed description thereof is not provided for the sake of brevity. It is also noteworthy that although the example implementations described below are provided in the context of a WLAN, the same implementations may be implemented in other types of networks as well.

In a scenario according to the present disclosure involving spatial configuration subfield design of a user field for MU-MIMO allocation in an EHT system according to the present disclosure, in network environment 100, device 910 is implemented in or as STA110, device 920 is implemented in or as STA120, and processor 912 of device 910 may determine a spatial stream configuration according to the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in the LUT. Additionally, processor 912 can perform transmission via transceiver 916 using one or more spatial streams assigned based on the spatial stream configuration.

In some embodiments, the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may indicate a respective number of spatial streams allocated to each of the plurality of STAs in the MU-MIMO allocation.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is two, the respective portion of the LUT may include ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, the values of four of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (a)000000, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and two spatial streams in total are allocated corresponding to the second STA, (b)000001, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA, (c)000010, three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, and one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and five spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA.

In some implementations, the values of three of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield can include: (e)000100, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated to the second STA, and four spatial streams are allocated in total, (f)000101, three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated to the second STA, and five spatial streams are allocated in total, and (g)000110, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA, and six spatial streams are allocated in total.

In some embodiments, the values of two of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (h)000111 corresponding to the first STA being allocated three spatial streams, the second STA being allocated three spatial streams, for a total of six spatial streams, and (i)001000 corresponding to the first STA being allocated four spatial streams, the second STA being allocated three spatial streams, for a total of seven spatial streams.

In some embodiments, the value of one of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (j)001001, the second STA is allocated four spatial streams corresponding to the first STA, and a total of eight spatial streams are allocated.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 3 or more (and at most 8), the first ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in the other portion of the LUT may be the same as the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield for the MU-MIMO allocation when the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 2.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 3, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 20 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 4, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 35 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 5, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 49 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 6, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 54 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 7, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 50 entries of the six-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 8, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 41 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, the LUT may support up to eight users/STAs, up to 16 spatial streams for a total allocation, and up to 4 streams per user/STA.

In some implementations, the processor 912 may perform certain operations in determining the spatial stream configuration. For example, processor 912 may receive DL MU-MIMO allocation signaling via transceiver 916. In addition, the processor 912 may determine the spatial stream configuration according to the value of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicated in the signaling.

Illustrative Process

Fig. 10 illustrates an example process 1000 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Process 1000 may represent one aspect of a design, concept, scheme, system, and method that implements the various proposals described above. More specifically, process 1000 may represent an aspect of the proposed concepts and schemes related to spatial configuration subfield design of user fields for MU-MIMO allocation in EHT systems according to the present disclosure. Process 1000 may include one or more operations, actions, or functions illustrated by one or more of blocks 1010 and 1020. Although shown as discrete blocks, the various blocks of process 1000 may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. Further, the blocks/sub-blocks of process 1000 may be performed in the order shown in fig. 10, in other orders. Further, one or more blocks/sub-blocks of process 1000 may be performed repeatedly or iteratively. Process 1000 may be implemented by or within apparatus 910 and apparatus 920, or any variation thereof. For illustrative purposes only and without limiting scope, process 1000 is described in the context of apparatus 910 in or implemented as STA110 and apparatus 920 in or implemented as STA120 in a wireless network (e.g., a WLAN) of network environment 100 according to one or more IEEE 802.11 standards. Process 1000 begins at block 1010.

At 1010, process 1000 may involve processor 912 of apparatus 910 (e.g., STA110) determining a spatial stream configuration from a 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in a LUT. Process 1000 may proceed from 1010 to 1020.

At 1020, process 1000 may involve processor 912 performing a transmission using one or more spatial streams allocated based on a spatial stream configuration.

In some embodiments, the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may indicate a respective number of spatial streams allocated to each of the plurality of STAs in the MU-MIMO allocation.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is two, the respective portion of the LUT may include ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, the values of four of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (a)000000, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and two spatial streams in total are allocated corresponding to the second STA, (b)000001, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA, (c)000010, three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, and one spatial stream is allocated corresponding to the second STA, and five spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA.

In some embodiments, the values of three of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (e)000100, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated to the second STA, and four spatial streams are allocated in total, (f)000101, three spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated to the second STA, and five spatial streams are allocated in total, and (g)000110, four spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the first STA, two spatial streams are allocated corresponding to the second STA, and six spatial streams are allocated in total.

In some embodiments, the values of two of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (h)000111 corresponding to the first STA being allocated three spatial streams, the second STA being allocated three spatial streams, for a total of six spatial streams, and (i)001000 corresponding to the first STA being allocated four spatial streams, the second STA being allocated three spatial streams, for a total of seven spatial streams.

In some embodiments, the value of one of the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield may include: (j)001001, the second STA is allocated four spatial streams corresponding to the first STA, and a total of eight spatial streams are allocated.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is three or more (and eight at most), the first ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield in another portion of the LUT may be the same as the ten entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield for the MU-MIMO allocation when the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is two.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 3, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 20 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 4, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 35 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 5, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 49 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 6, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 54 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 7, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 50 entries of the six-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, where the number of STAs configured by the MU-MIMO allocation is 8, the corresponding portion of the LUT may include 41 entries of the 6-bit spatial configuration subfield.

In some embodiments, the LUT may support up to eight users/STAs, up to 16 spatial streams for a total allocation, and up to 4 streams per user/STA.

In some implementations, the process 1000 also involves the processor 912 performing certain operations in determining the spatial stream configuration. For example, process 1000 involves processor 912 receiving DL MU-MIMO allocation signaling via transceiver 916. In addition, process 1000 involves processor 912 determining the spatial stream configuration based on a value of a 6-bit spatial configuration subfield indicated in the signaling.

Additional description

The subject matter described herein sometimes represents different components that are included in or connected to other different components. It will be appreciated that the architectures depicted are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality, and that conceptually any arrangement of components which achieve the same functionality is "associated" in order to achieve the desired functionality. Hence, any two components combined to achieve a particular functionality, regardless of structure or intermediate components, are considered to be "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved. Likewise, any two associated components are considered to be "operably connected," or "operably coupled," to each other to achieve the specified functionality. Any two components capable of being associated with each other are also considered to be "operably coupled" to each other to achieve a particular functionality. Any two components capable of being associated with each other are also considered to be "operably coupled" to each other to achieve a particular functionality. Specific examples of operably linked include, but are not limited to, physically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.

Furthermore, with respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. Various singular/plural permutations are expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

Furthermore, those of skill in the art will understand that, in general, terms used in the present disclosure, and especially in the claims, as the subject matter of the claims, are generally employed as "open" terms, e.g., "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," "having" should be interpreted as "at least," "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," and the like. It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific amount of claim material is intended, it will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such material, it will not be displayed. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following claims may contain usage of the phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of these phrases should not be construed to imply that the use of "a" or "an" is the introduction to the claims but rather is to be limited to any specific patent application. Even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one," indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" should be construed to mean at least one or more, as well as the use of a definite recitation of the claims. Furthermore, even if a specific number of an introduced context is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such context should be interpreted as indicating the recited number, e.g., "two references" without other modifications, meaning at least two references, or two or more references. Further, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B and C" is used, the convention is generally such that those skilled in the art will understand the convention, e.g., "a system includes at least one of A, B and C" would include but not be limited to a system having a alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having a and B, a system having a and C, a system having B and C, and/or a system having A, B and C, etc. It will be further understood by those within the art that any isolated word and/or phrase represented by two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, the claims, or the drawings, should be understood to include one of those terms, or both terms as possible. For example, "a or B" is to be understood as the possibility of "a", or "B", or "a and B".

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not to be taken in a limiting sense, with the true scope being indicated by the following claims.