Patent ID: 12191998

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present specification, “A or B” may mean “only A”, “only B” or “both A and B”. In other words, in the present specification, “A or B” may be interpreted as “A and/or B”. For example, in the present specification, “A, B, or C” may mean “only A”, “only B”, “only C”, or “any combination of A, B, C”.

A slash (/) or comma used in the present specification may mean “and/or”. For example, “A/B” may mean “A and/or B”. Accordingly, “A/B” may mean “only A”, “only B”, or “both A and B”. For example, “A, B, C” may mean “A, B, or C”.

In the present specification, “at least one of A and B” may mean “only A”, “only B”, or “both A and B”. In addition, in the present specification, the expression “at least one of A or B” or “at least one of A and/or B” may be interpreted as “at least one of A and B”.

In addition, in the present specification, “at least one of A, B, and C” may mean “only A”, “only B”, “only C”, or “any combination of A, B, and C”. In addition, “at least one of A, B, or C” or “at least one of A, B, and/or C” may mean “at least one of A, B, and C”.

In addition, a parenthesis used in the present specification may mean “for example”. Specifically, when indicated as “control information (EHT-signal)”, it may mean that “EHT-signal” is proposed as an example of the “control information”. In other words, the “control information” of the present specification is not limited to “EHT-signal”, and “EHT-signal” may be proposed as an example of the “control information”. In addition, when indicated as “control information (i.e., EHT-signal)”, it may also mean that “EHT-signal” is proposed as an example of the “control information”.

Technical features described individually in one figure in the present specification may be individually implemented, or may be simultaneously implemented.

The following example of the present specification may be applied to various wireless communication systems. For example, the following example of the present specification may be applied to a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. For example, the present specification may be applied to the IEEE 802.11a/g/n/ac standard or the IEEE 802.11ax standard. In addition, the present specification may also be applied to the newly proposed EHT standard or IEEE 802.11be standard. In addition, the example of the present specification may also be applied to a new WLAN standard enhanced from the EHT standard or the IEEE 802.11be standard. In addition, the example of the present specification may be applied to a mobile communication system. For example, it may be applied to a mobile communication system based on long term evolution (LTE) depending on a 3rdgeneration partnership project (3GPP) standard and based on evolution of the LTE. In addition, the example of the present specification may be applied to a communication system of a 5G NR standard based on the 3GPP standard.

Hereinafter, in order to describe a technical feature of the present specification, a technical feature applicable to the present specification will be described.

FIG.1shows an example of a transmitting apparatus and/or receiving apparatus of the present specification.

In the example ofFIG.1, various technical features described below may be performed.FIG.1relates to at least one station (STA). For example, STAs110and120of the present specification may also be called in various terms such as a mobile terminal, a wireless device, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile subscriber unit, or simply a user. The STAs110and120of the present specification may also be called in various terms such as a network, a base station, a node-B, an access point (AP), a repeater, a router, a relay, or the like. The STAs110and120of the present specification may also be referred to as various names such as a receiving apparatus, a transmitting apparatus, a receiving STA, a transmitting STA, a receiving device, a transmitting device, or the like.

For example, the STAs110and120may serve as an AP or a non-AP. That is, the STAs110and120of the present specification may serve as the AP and/or the non-AP.

The STAs110and120of the present specification may support various communication standards together in addition to the IEEE 802.11 standard. For example, a communication standard (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, 5G NR standard) or the like based on the 3GPP standard may be supported. In addition, the STA of the present specification may be implemented as various devices such as a mobile phone, a vehicle, a personal computer, or the like. In addition, the STA of the present specification may support communication for various communication services such as voice calls, video calls, data communication, and self-driving (autonomous-driving), or the like.

The STAs110and120of the present specification may include a medium access control (MAC) conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard and a physical layer interface for a radio medium.

The STAs110and120will be described below with reference to a sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1.

The first STA110may include a processor111, a memory112, and a transceiver113. The illustrated process, memory, and transceiver may be implemented individually as separate chips, or at least two blocks/functions may be implemented through a single chip.

The transceiver113of the first STA performs a signal transmission/reception operation. Specifically, an IEEE 802.11 packet (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, etc.) may be transmitted/received.

For example, the first STA110may perform an operation intended by an AP. For example, the processor111of the AP may receive a signal through the transceiver113, process a reception (RX) signal, generate a transmission (TX) signal, and provide control for signal transmission. The memory112of the AP may store a signal (e.g., RX signal) received through the transceiver113, and may store a signal (e.g., TX signal) to be transmitted through the transceiver.

For example, the second STA120may perform an operation intended by a non-AP STA. For example, a transceiver123of a non-AP performs a signal transmission/reception operation. Specifically, an IEEE 802.11 packet (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be packet, etc.) may be transmitted/received.

For example, a processor121of the non-AP STA may receive a signal through the transceiver123, process an RX signal, generate a TX signal, and provide control for signal transmission. A memory122of the non-AP STA may store a signal (e.g., RX signal) received through the transceiver123, and may store a signal (e.g., TX signal) to be transmitted through the transceiver.

For example, an operation of a device indicated as an AP in the specification described below may be performed in the first STA110or the second STA120. For example, if the first STA110is the AP, the operation of the device indicated as the AP may be controlled by the processor111of the first STA110, and a related signal may be transmitted or received through the transceiver113controlled by the processor111of the first STA110. In addition, control information related to the operation of the AP or a TX/RX signal of the AP may be stored in the memory112of the first STA110. In addition, if the second STA120is the AP, the operation of the device indicated as the AP may be controlled by the processor121of the second STA120, and a related signal may be transmitted or received through the transceiver123controlled by the processor121of the second STA120. In addition, control information related to the operation of the AP or a TX/RX signal of the AP may be stored in the memory122of the second STA120.

For example, in the specification described below, an operation of a device indicated as a non-AP (or user-STA) may be performed in the first STA110or the second STA120. For example, if the second STA120is the non-AP, the operation of the device indicated as the non-AP may be controlled by the processor121of the second STA120, and a related signal may be transmitted or received through the transceiver123controlled by the processor121of the second STA120. In addition, control information related to the operation of the non-AP or a TX/RX signal of the non-AP may be stored in the memory122of the second STA120. For example, if the first STA110is the non-AP, the operation of the device indicated as the non-AP may be controlled by the processor111of the first STA110, and a related signal may be transmitted or received through the transceiver113controlled by the processor111of the first STA110. In addition, control information related to the operation of the non-AP or a TX/RX signal of the non-AP may be stored in the memory112of the first STA110.

In the specification described below, a device called a (transmitting/receiving) STA, a first STA, a second STA, a STA1, a STA2, an AP, a first AP, a second AP, an AP1, an AP2, a (transmitting/receiving) terminal, a (transmitting/receiving) device, a (transmitting/receiving) apparatus, a network, or the like may imply the STAs110and120ofFIG.1. For example, a device indicated as, without a specific reference numeral, the (transmitting/receiving) STA, the first STA, the second STA, the STA1, the STA2, the AP, the first AP, the second AP, the AP1, the AP2, the (transmitting/receiving) terminal, the (transmitting/receiving) device, the (transmitting/receiving) apparatus, the network, or the like may imply the STAs110and120ofFIG.1. For example, in the following example, an operation in which various STAs transmit/receive a signal (e.g., a PPDU) may be performed in the transceivers113and123ofFIG.1. In addition, in the following example, an operation in which various STAs generate a TX/RX signal or perform data processing and computation in advance for the TX/RX signal may be performed in the processors111and121ofFIG.1. For example, an example of an operation for generating the TX/RX signal or performing the data processing and computation in advance may include: 1) an operation of determining/obtaining/configuring/computing/decoding/encoding bit information of a sub-field (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) included in a PPDU; 2) an operation of determining/configuring/obtaining a time resource or frequency resource (e.g., a subcarrier resource) or the like used for the sub-field (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) included the PPDU; 3) an operation of determining/configuring/obtaining a specific sequence (e.g., a pilot sequence, an STF/LTF sequence, an extra sequence applied to SIG) or the like used for the sub-field (SIG, STF, LTF, Data) field included in the PPDU; 4) a power control operation and/or power saving operation applied for the STA; and 5) an operation related to determining/obtaining/configuring/decoding/encoding or the like of an ACK signal. In addition, in the following example, a variety of information used by various STAs for determining/obtaining/configuring/computing/decoding/decoding a TX/RX signal (e.g., information related to a field/subfield/control field/parameter/power or the like) may be stored in the memories112and122ofFIG.1.

The aforementioned device/STA of the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1may be modified as shown in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1. Hereinafter, the STAs110and120of the present specification will be described based on the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1.

For example, the transceivers113and123illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1may perform the same function as the aforementioned transceiver illustrated in the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1. For example, processing chips114and124illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1may include the processors111and121and the memories112and122. The processors111and121and memories112and122illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1may perform the same function as the aforementioned processors111and121and memories112and122illustrated in the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1.

A mobile terminal, a wireless device, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), a mobile subscriber unit, a user, a user STA, a network, a base station, a Node-B, an access point (AP), a repeater, a router, a relay, a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, a receiving STA, a transmitting STA, a receiving device, a transmitting device, a receiving apparatus, and/or a transmitting apparatus, which are described below, may imply the STAs110and120illustrated in the sub-figure (a)/(b) ofFIG.1, or may imply the processing chips114and124illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1. That is, a technical feature of the present specification may be performed in the STAs110and120illustrated in the sub-figure (a)/(b) ofFIG.1, or may be performed only in the processing chips114and124illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1. For example, a technical feature in which the transmitting STA transmits a control signal may be understood as a technical feature in which a control signal generated in the processors111and121illustrated in the sub-figure (a)/(b) ofFIG.1is transmitted through the transceivers113and123illustrated in the sub-figure (a)/(b) ofFIG.1. Alternatively, the technical feature in which the transmitting STA transmits the control signal may be understood as a technical feature in which the control signal to be transferred to the transceivers113and123is generated in the processing chips114and124illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1.

For example, a technical feature in which the receiving STA receives the control signal may be understood as a technical feature in which the control signal is received by means of the transceivers113and123illustrated in the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1. Alternatively, the technical feature in which the receiving STA receives the control signal may be understood as the technical feature in which the control signal received in the transceivers113and123illustrated in the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1is obtained by the processors111and121illustrated in the sub-figure (a) ofFIG.1. Alternatively, the technical feature in which the receiving STA receives the control signal may be understood as the technical feature in which the control signal received in the transceivers113and123illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1is obtained by the processing chips114and124illustrated in the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1.

Referring to the sub-figure (b) ofFIG.1, software codes115and125may be included in the memories112and122. The software codes115and126may include instructions for controlling an operation of the processors111and121. The software codes115and125may be included as various programming languages.

The processors111and121or processing chips114and124ofFIG.1may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other chipsets, a logic circuit and/or a data processing device. The processor may be an application processor (AP). For example, the processors111and121or processing chips114and124ofFIG.1may include at least one of a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a modulator and demodulator (modem). For example, the processors111and121or processing chips114and124ofFIG.1may be SNAPDRAGON™ series of processors made by Qualcomm®, EXYNOS™ series of processors made by Samsung®, A series of processors made by Apple®, HELIO™ series of processors made by MediaTek®, ATOM™ series of processors made by Intel® or processors enhanced from these processors.

In the present specification, an uplink may imply a link for communication from a non-AP STA to an SP STA, and an uplink PPDU/packet/signal or the like may be transmitted through the uplink. In addition, in the present specification, a downlink may imply a link for communication from the AP STA to the non-AP STA, and a downlink PPDU/packet/signal or the like may be transmitted through the downlink.

FIG.2is a conceptual view illustrating the structure of a wireless local area network (WLAN).

An upper part ofFIG.2illustrates the structure of an infrastructure basic service set (BSS) of institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE) 802.11.

Referring the upper part ofFIG.2, the wireless LAN system may include one or more infrastructure BSSs200and205(hereinafter, referred to as BSS). The BSSs200and205as a set of an AP and a STA such as an access point (AP)225and a station (STA1)200-1which are successfully synchronized to communicate with each other are not concepts indicating a specific region. The BSS205may include one or more STAs205-1and205-2which may be joined to one AP230.

The BSS may include at least one STA, APs providing a distribution service, and a distribution system (DS)210connecting multiple APs.

The distribution system210may implement an extended service set (ESS)240extended by connecting the multiple BSSs200and205. The ESS240may be used as a term indicating one network configured by connecting one or more APs225or230through the distribution system210. The AP included in one ESS240may have the same service set identification (SSID).

A portal220may serve as a bridge which connects the wireless LAN network (IEEE 802.11) and another network (e.g., 802.X).

In the BSS illustrated in the upper part ofFIG.2, a network between the APs225and230and a network between the APs225and230and the STAs200-1,205-1, and205-2may be implemented. However, the network is configured even between the STAs without the APs225and230to perform communication. A network in which the communication is performed by configuring the network even between the STAs without the APs225and230is defined as an Ad-Hoc network or an independent basic service set (IBSS).

A lower part ofFIG.2illustrates a conceptual view illustrating the IBSS.

Referring to the lower part ofFIG.2, the IBSS is a BSS that operates in an Ad-Hoc mode. Since the IBSS does not include the access point (AP), a centralized management entity that performs a management function at the center does not exist. That is, in the IBSS, STAs250-1,250-2,250-3,255-4, and255-5are managed by a distributed manner. In the IBSS, all STAs250-1,250-2,250-3,255-4, and255-5may be constituted by movable STAs and are not permitted to access the DS to constitute a self-contained network.

FIG.3illustrates a general link setup process.

In S310, a STA may perform a network discovery operation. The network discovery operation may include a scanning operation of the STA. That is, to access a network, the STA needs to discover a participating network. The STA needs to identify a compatible network before participating in a wireless network, and a process of identifying a network present in a particular area is referred to as scanning. Scanning methods include active scanning and passive scanning.

FIG.3illustrates a network discovery operation including an active scanning process. In active scanning, a STA performing scanning transmits a probe request frame and waits for a response to the probe request frame in order to identify which AP is present around while moving to channels. A responder transmits a probe response frame as a response to the probe request frame to the STA having transmitted the probe request frame. Here, the responder may be a STA that transmits the last beacon frame in a BSS of a channel being scanned. In the BSS, since an AP transmits a beacon frame, the AP is the responder. In an IBSS, since STAs in the IBSS transmit a beacon frame in turns, the responder is not fixed. For example, when the STA transmits a probe request frame via channel 1 and receives a probe response frame via channel 1, the STA may store BSS-related information included in the received probe response frame, may move to the next channel (e.g., channel 2), and may perform scanning (e.g., transmits a probe request and receives a probe response via channel 2) by the same method.

Although not shown inFIG.3, scanning may be performed by a passive scanning method. In passive scanning, a STA performing scanning may wait for a beacon frame while moving to channels. A beacon frame is one of management frames in IEEE 802.11 and is periodically transmitted to indicate the presence of a wireless network and to enable the STA performing scanning to find the wireless network and to participate in the wireless network. In a BSS, an AP serves to periodically transmit a beacon frame. In an IBSS, STAs in the IBSS transmit a beacon frame in turns. Upon receiving the beacon frame, the STA performing scanning stores information related to a BSS included in the beacon frame and records beacon frame information in each channel while moving to another channel. The STA having received the beacon frame may store BSS-related information included in the received beacon frame, may move to the next channel, and may perform scanning in the next channel by the same method.

After discovering the network, the STA may perform an authentication process in S320. The authentication process may be referred to as a first authentication process to be clearly distinguished from the following security setup operation in S340. The authentication process in S320may include a process in which the STA transmits an authentication request frame to the AP and the AP transmits an authentication response frame to the STA in response. The authentication frames used for an authentication request/response are management frames.

The authentication frames may include information related to an authentication algorithm number, an authentication transaction sequence number, a status code, a challenge text, a robust security network (RSN), and a finite cyclic group.

The STA may transmit the authentication request frame to the AP. The AP may determine whether to allow the authentication of the STA based on the information included in the received authentication request frame. The AP may provide the authentication processing result to the STA via the authentication response frame.

When the STA is successfully authenticated, the STA may perform an association process in S330. The association process includes a process in which the STA transmits an association request frame to the AP and the AP transmits an association response frame to the STA in response. The association request frame may include, for example, information related to various capabilities, a beacon listen interval, a service set identifier (SSID), a supported rate, a supported channel, RSN, a mobility domain, a supported operating class, a traffic indication map (TIM) broadcast request, and an interworking service capability. The association response frame may include, for example, information related to various capabilities, a status code, an association ID (AID), a supported rate, an enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) parameter set, a received channel power indicator (RCPI), a received signal-to-noise indicator (RSNI), a mobility domain, a timeout interval (association comeback time), an overlapping BSS scanning parameter, a TIM broadcast response, and a QoS map.

In S340, the STA may perform a security setup process. The security setup process in S340may include a process of setting up a private key through four-way handshaking, for example, through an extensible authentication protocol over LAN (EAPOL) frame.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a PPDU used in an IEEE standard.

As illustrated, various types of PHY protocol data units (PPDUs) are used in IEEE a/g/n/ac standards. Specifically, an LTF and a STF include a training signal, a SIG-A and a SIG-B include control information for a receiving STA, and a data field includes user data corresponding to a PSDU (MAC PDU/aggregated MAC PDU).

FIG.4also includes an example of an HE PPDU according to IEEE 802.11ax. The HE PPDU according toFIG.4is an illustrative PPDU for multiple users. An HE-SIG-B may be included only in a PPDU for multiple users, and an HE-SIG-B may be omitted in a PPDU for a single user.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the HE-PPDU for multiple users (MUs) may include a legacy-short training field (L-STF), a legacy-long training field (L-LTF), a legacy-signal (L-SIG), a high efficiency-signal A (HE-SIG A), a high efficiency-signal-B (HE-SIG B), a high efficiency-short training field (HE-STF), a high efficiency-long training field (HE-LTF), a data field (alternatively, an MAC payload), and a packet extension (PE) field. The respective fields may be transmitted for illustrated time periods (i.e., 4 or 8 μs).

Hereinafter, a resource unit (RU) used for a PPDU is described. An RU may include a plurality of subcarriers (or tones). An RU may be used to transmit a signal to a plurality of STAs according to OFDMA. Further, an RU may also be defined to transmit a signal to one STA. An RU may be used for an STF, an LTF, a data field, or the like.

FIG.5illustrates a layout of resource units (RUs) used in a band of 20 MHz.

As illustrated inFIG.5, resource units (RUs) corresponding to different numbers of tones (i.e., subcarriers) may be used to form some fields of an HE-PPDU. For example, resources may be allocated in illustrated RUs for an HE-STF, an HE-LTF, and a data field.

As illustrated in the uppermost part ofFIG.5, a 26-unit (i.e., a unit corresponding to 26 tones) may be disposed. Six tones may be used for a guard band in the leftmost band of the 20 MHz band, and five tones may be used for a guard band in the rightmost band of the 20 MHz band. Further, seven DC tones may be inserted in a center band, that is, a DC band, and a 26-unit corresponding to 13 tones on each of the left and right sides of the DC band may be disposed. A 26-unit, a 52-unit, and a 106-unit may be allocated to other bands. Each unit may be allocated for a receiving STA, that is, a user.

The layout of the RUs inFIG.5may be used not only for a multiple users (MUs) but also for a single user (SU), in which case one 242-unit may be used and three DC tones may be inserted as illustrated in the lowermost part ofFIG.5.

AlthoughFIG.5proposes RUs having various sizes, that is, a 26-RU, a 52-RU, a 106-RU, and a 242-RU, specific sizes of RUs may be extended or increased. Therefore, the present embodiment is not limited to the specific size of each RU (i.e., the number of corresponding tones).

FIG.6illustrates a layout of RUs used in a band of 40 MHz.

Similarly toFIG.5in which RUs having various sizes are used, a 26-RU, a 52-RU, a 106-RU, a 242-RU, a 484-RU, and the like may be used in an example ofFIG.6. Further, five DC tones may be inserted in a center frequency, 12 tones may be used for a guard band in the leftmost band of the 40 MHz band, and 11 tones may be used for a guard band in the rightmost band of the 40 MHz band.

As illustrated inFIG.6, when the layout of the RUs is used for a single user, a 484-RU may be used. The specific number of RUs may be changed similarly toFIG.5.

FIG.7illustrates a layout of RUs used in a band of 80 MHz.

Similarly toFIG.5andFIG.6in which RUs having various sizes are used, a 26-RU, a 52-RU, a 106-RU, a 242-RU, a 484-RU, a 996-RU, and the like may be used in an example ofFIG.7. Further, seven DC tones may be inserted in the center frequency, 12 tones may be used for a guard band in the leftmost band of the 80 MHz band, and 11 tones may be used for a guard band in the rightmost band of the 80 MHz band. In addition, a 26-RU corresponding to 13 tones on each of the left and right sides of the DC band may be used.

As illustrated inFIG.7, when the layout of the RUs is used for a single user, a 996-RU may be used, in which case five DC tones may be inserted.

The RU described in the present specification may be used in uplink (UL) communication and downlink (DL) communication. For example, when UL-MU communication which is solicited by a trigger frame is performed, a transmitting STA (e.g., an AP) may allocate a first RU (e.g., 26/52/106/242-RU, etc.) to a first STA through the trigger frame, and may allocate a second RU (e.g., 26/52/106/242-RU, etc.) to a second STA. Thereafter, the first STA may transmit a first trigger-based PPDU based on the first RU, and the second STA may transmit a second trigger-based PPDU based on the second RU. The first/second trigger-based PPDU is transmitted to the AP at the same (or overlapped) time period.

For example, when a DL MU PPDU is configured, the transmitting STA (e.g., AP) may allocate the first RU (e.g., 26/52/106/242-RU. etc.) to the first STA, and may allocate the second RU (e.g., 26/52/106/242-RU, etc.) to the second STA. That is, the transmitting STA (e.g., AP) may transmit HE-STF, HE-LTF, and Data fields for the first STA through the first RU in one MU PPDU, and may transmit HE-STF, HE-LTF, and Data fields for the second STA through the second RU.

Information related to a layout of the RU may be signaled through HE-SIG-B.

FIG.8illustrates a structure of an HE-SIG-B field.

As illustrated, an HE-SIG-B field810includes a common field820and a user-specific field830. The common field820may include information commonly applied to all users (i.e., user STAs) which receive SIG-B. The user-specific field830may be called a user-specific control field. When the SIG-B is transferred to a plurality of users, the user-specific field830may be applied only any one of the plurality of users.

As illustrated inFIG.8, the common field820and the user-specific field830may be separately encoded.

The common field820may include RU allocation information of N*8 bits. For example, the RU allocation information may include information related to a location of an RU. For example, when a 20 MHz channel is used as shown inFIG.5, the RU allocation information may include information related to a specific frequency band to which a specific RU (26-RU/52-RU/106-RU) is arranged.

An example of a case in which the RU allocation information consists of 8 bits is as follows.

TABLE 18 bits indices(B7 B6 B5 B4NumberB3 B2 B1 B0)#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9of entries0000000026262626262626262610000000126262626262626521000000102626262626522626100000011262626262652521000001002626522626262626100000101262652262626521000001102626522652262610000011126265226525210000100052262626262626261

As shown the example ofFIG.5, up to nine 26-RUs may be allocated to the 20 MHz channel. When the RU allocation information of the common field820is set to “00000000” as shown in Table 1, the nine 26-RUs may be allocated to a corresponding channel (i.e., 20 MHz). In addition, when the RU allocation information of the common field820is set to “00000001” as shown in Table 1, seven 26-RUs and one 52-RU are arranged in a corresponding channel. That is, in the example ofFIG.5, the 52-RU may be allocated to the rightmost side, and the seven 26-RUs may be allocated to the left thereof.

The example of Table 1 shows only some of RU locations capable of displaying the RU allocation information.

For example, the RU allocation information may include an example of Table 2 below.

TABLE 28 bits indices(B7 B6 B5 B4NumberB3 B2 B1 B0)#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9of entries01000y2y1y01062626262626801001y2y1y0106262626528

“01000y2y1y0” relates to an example in which a 106-RU is allocated to the leftmost side of the 20 MHz channel, and five 26-RUs are allocated to the right side thereof. In this case, a plurality of STAs (e.g., user-STAs) may be allocated to the 106-RU, based on a MU-MIMO scheme. Specifically, up to 8 STAs (e.g., user-STAs) may be allocated to the 106-RU, and the number of STAs (e.g., user-STAs) allocated to the 106-RU is determined based on 3-bit information (y2y1y0). For example, when the 3-bit information (y2y1y0) is set to N, the number of STAs (e.g., user-STAs) allocated to the 106-RU based on the MU-MIMO scheme may be N+1.

In general, a plurality of STAs (e.g., user STAs) different from each other may be allocated to a plurality of RUs. However, the plurality of STAs (e.g., user STAs) may be allocated to one or more RUs having at least a specific size (e.g., 106 subcarriers), based on the MU-MIMO scheme.

As shown inFIG.8, the user-specific field830may include a plurality of user fields. As described above, the number of STAs (e.g., user STAs) allocated to a specific channel may be determined based on the RU allocation information of the common field820. For example, when the RU allocation information of the common field820is “00000000”, one user STA may be allocated to each of nine 26-RUs (e.g., nine user STAs may be allocated). That is, up to 9 user STAs may be allocated to a specific channel through an OFDMA scheme. In other words, up to 9 user STAs may be allocated to a specific channel through a non-MU-MIMO scheme.

For example, when RU allocation is set to “01000y2y1y0”, a plurality of STAs may be allocated to the 106-RU arranged at the leftmost side through the MU-MIMO scheme, and five user STAs may be allocated to five 26-RUs arranged to the right side thereof through the non-MU MIMO scheme. This case is specified through an example ofFIG.9.

FIG.9illustrates an example in which a plurality of user STAs are allocated to the same RU through a MU-MIMO scheme.

For example, when RU allocation is set to “01000010” as shown inFIG.9, a 106-RU may be allocated to the leftmost side of a specific channel, and five 26-RUs may be allocated to the right side thereof. In addition, three user STAs may be allocated to the 106-RU through the MU-MIMO scheme. As a result, since eight user STAs are allocated, the user-specific field830of HE-SIG-B may include eight user fields.

The eight user fields may be expressed in the order shown inFIG.9. In addition, as shown inFIG.8, two user fields may be implemented with one user block field.

The user fields shown inFIG.8andFIG.9may be configured based on two formats. That is, a user field related to a MU-MIMO scheme may be configured in a first format, and a user field related to a non-MIMO scheme may be configured in a second format. Referring to the example ofFIG.9, a user field 1 to a user field 3 may be based on the first format, and a user field 4 to a user field 8 may be based on the second format. The first format or the second format may include bit information of the same length (e.g., 21 bits).

Each user field may have the same size (e.g., 21 bits). For example, the user field of the first format (the first of the MU-MIMO scheme) may be configured as follows.

For example, a first bit (i.e., B0-B10) in the user field (i.e., 21 bits) may include identification information (e.g., STA-ID, partial AID, etc.) of a user STA to which a corresponding user field is allocated. In addition, a second bit (i.e., B11-B14) in the user field (i.e., 21 bits) may include information related to a spatial configuration. Specifically, an example of the second bit (i.e., B11-B14) may be as shown in Table 3 and Table 4 below.

TABLE 3NSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSTotalNumberNuserB3 . . . B0[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]NSTSof entries20000-00111-412-5100100-01102-424-60111-10003-436-7100144830000-00111-4113-6130100-01102-4215-70111-10003-4317-81001-10112-4226-81100332840000-00111-41114-7110100-01102-42116-80111331181000-10012-32217-8101022228

TABLE 4NSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSNSTSTotalNumberNuserB3 . . . B0[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]NSTSof entries50000-00111-411115-870100-01012-321117-8011022211860000-00101-3111116-840011221111870000-00011-21111117-82800001111111181

As shown in Table 3 and/or Table 4, the second bit (e.g., B11-B14) may include information related to the number of spatial streams allocated to the plurality of user STAs which are allocated based on the MU-MIMO scheme. For example, when three user STAs are allocated to the 106-RU based on the MU-MIMO scheme as shown inFIG.9, N_user is set to “3”. Therefore, values of N_STS[1], N_STS[2], and N_STS[3] may be determined as shown in Table 3. For example, when a value of the second bit (B11-B14) is “0011”, it may be set to N_STS[1]=4, N_STS [2]=1, N_STS[3]=1. That is, in the example ofFIG.9, four spatial streams may be allocated to the user field 1, one spatial stream may be allocated to the user field 1, and one spatial stream may be allocated to the user field 3.

As shown in the example of Table 3 and/or Table 4, information (i.e., the second bit, B11-B14) related to the number of spatial streams for the user STA may consist of 4 bits. In addition, the information (i.e., the second bit, B11-B14) on the number of spatial streams for the user STA may support up to eight spatial streams. In addition, the information (i.e., the second bit, B11-B14) on the number of spatial streams for the user STA may support up to four spatial streams for one user STA.

In addition, a third bit (i.e., B15-18) in the user field (i.e., 21 bits) may include modulation and coding scheme (MCS) information. The MCS information may be applied to a data field in a PPDU including corresponding SIG-B.

An MCS, MCS information, an MCS index, an MCS field, or the like used in the present specification may be indicated by an index value. For example, the MCS information may be indicated by an index 0 to an index 11. The MCS information may include information related to a constellation modulation type (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, 1024-QAM, etc.) and information related to a coding rate (e.g., 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6e, etc.). Information related to a channel coding type (e.g., LCC or LDPC) may be excluded in the MCS information.

In addition, a fourth bit (i.e., B19) in the user field (i.e., 21 bits) may be a reserved field.

In addition, a fifth bit (i.e., B20) in the user field (i.e., 21 bits) may include information related to a coding type (e.g., BCC or LDPC). That is, the fifth bit (i.e., B20) may include information related to a type (e.g., BCC or LDPC) of channel coding applied to the data field in the PPDU including the corresponding SIG-B.

The aforementioned example relates to the user field of the first format (the format of the MU-MIMO scheme). An example of the user field of the second format (the format of the non-MU-MIMO scheme) is as follows.

A first bit (e.g., B0-B10) in the user field of the second format may include identification information of a user STA. In addition, a second bit (e.g., B11-B13) in the user field of the second format may include information related to the number of spatial streams applied to a corresponding RU. In addition, a third bit (e.g., B14) in the user field of the second format may include information related to whether a beamforming steering matrix is applied. A fourth bit (e.g., B15-B18) in the user field of the second format may include modulation and coding scheme (MCS) information. In addition, a fifth bit (e.g., B19) in the user field of the second format may include information related to whether dual carrier modulation (DCM) is applied. In addition, a sixth bit (i.e., B20) in the user field of the second format may include information related to a coding type (e.g., BCC or LDPC).

FIG.10illustrates an operation based on UL-MU. As illustrated, a transmitting STA (e.g., an AP) may perform channel access through contending (e.g., a backoff operation), and may transmit a trigger frame1030. That is, the transmitting STA may transmit a PPDU including the trigger frame1030. Upon receiving the PPDU including the trigger frame, a trigger-based (TB) PPDU is transmitted after a delay corresponding to SIFS.

TB PPDUs1041and1042may be transmitted at the same time period, and may be transmitted from a plurality of STAs (e.g., user STAs) having AIDs indicated in the trigger frame1030. An ACK frame1050for the TB PPDU may be implemented in various forms.

A specific feature of the trigger frame is described with reference toFIG.11toFIG.13. Even if UL-MU communication is used, an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme or a MU MIMO scheme may be used, and the OFDMA and MU-MIMO schemes may be simultaneously used.

FIG.11illustrates an example of a trigger frame. The trigger frame ofFIG.11allocates a resource for uplink multiple-user (MU) transmission, and may be transmitted, for example, from an AP. The trigger frame may be configured of a MAC frame, and may be included in a PPDU.

Each field shown inFIG.11may be partially omitted, and another field may be added. In addition, a length of each field may be changed to be different from that shown in the figure.

A frame control field1110ofFIG.11may include information related to a MAC protocol version and extra additional control information. A duration field1120may include time information for NAV configuration or information related to an identifier (e.g., AID) of a STA.

In addition, an RA field1130may include address information of a receiving STA of a corresponding trigger frame, and may be optionally omitted. A TA field1140may include address information of a STA (e.g., an AP) which transmits the corresponding trigger frame. A common information field1150includes common control information applied to the receiving STA which receives the corresponding trigger frame. For example, a field indicating a length of an L-SIG field of an uplink PPDU transmitted in response to the corresponding trigger frame or information for controlling content of a SIG-A field (i.e., HE-SIG-A field) of the uplink PPDU transmitted in response to the corresponding trigger frame may be included. In addition, as common control information, information related to a length of a CP of the uplink PPDU transmitted in response to the corresponding trigger frame or information related to a length of an LTF field may be included.

In addition, per user information fields1160#1to1160#N corresponding to the number of receiving STAs which receive the trigger frame ofFIG.11are preferably included. The per user information field may also be called an “allocation field”.

In addition, the trigger frame ofFIG.11may include a padding field1170and a frame check sequence field1180.

Each of the per user information fields1160#1to1160#N shown inFIG.11may include a plurality of subfields.

FIG.12illustrates an example of a common information field of a trigger frame. A subfield ofFIG.12may be partially omitted, and an extra subfield may be added. In addition, a length of each subfield illustrated may be changed.

A length field1210illustrated has the same value as a length field of an L-SIG field of an uplink PPDU transmitted in response to a corresponding trigger frame, and a length field of the L-SIG field of the uplink PPDU indicates a length of the uplink PPDU. As a result, the length field1210of the trigger frame may be used to indicate the length of the corresponding uplink PPDU.

In addition, a cascade identifier field1220indicates whether a cascade operation is performed. The cascade operation implies that downlink MU transmission and uplink MU transmission are performed together in the same TXOP. That is, it implies that downlink MU transmission is performed and thereafter uplink MU transmission is performed after a pre-set time (e.g., SIFS). During the cascade operation, only one transmitting device (e.g., AP) may perform downlink communication, and a plurality of transmitting devices (e.g., non-APs) may perform uplink communication.

A CS request field1230indicates whether a wireless medium state or a NAV or the like is necessarily considered in a situation where a receiving device which has received a corresponding trigger frame transmits a corresponding uplink PPDU.

An HE-SIG-A information field1240may include information for controlling content of a SIG-A field (i.e., HE-SIG-A field) of the uplink PPDU in response to the corresponding trigger frame.

A CP and LTF type field1250may include information related to a CP length and LTF length of the uplink PPDU transmitted in response to the corresponding trigger frame. A trigger type field1260may indicate a purpose of using the corresponding trigger frame, for example, typical triggering, triggering for beamforming, a request for block ACK/NACK, or the like.

It may be assumed that the trigger type field1260of the trigger frame in the present specification indicates a trigger frame of a basic type for typical triggering. For example, the trigger frame of the basic type may be referred to as a basic trigger frame.

FIG.13illustrates an example of a subfield included in a per user information field. A user information field1300ofFIG.13may be understood as any one of the per user information fields1160#1to1160#N mentioned above with reference toFIG.11. A subfield included in the user information field1300ofFIG.13may be partially omitted, and an extra subfield may be added. In addition, a length of each subfield illustrated may be changed.

A user identifier field1310ofFIG.13indicates an identifier of a STA (i.e., receiving STA) corresponding to per user information. An example of the identifier may be the entirety or part of an association identifier (AID) value of the receiving STA.

In addition, an RU allocation field1320may be included. That is, when the receiving STA identified through the user identifier field1310transmits a TB PPDU in response to the trigger frame, the TB PPDU is transmitted through an RU indicated by the RU allocation field1320. In this case, the RU indicated by the RU allocation field1320may be an RU shown inFIG.5,FIG.6, andFIG.7.

The subfield ofFIG.13may include a coding type field1330. The coding type field1330may indicate a coding type of the TB PPDU. For example, when BCC coding is applied to the TB PPDU, the coding type field1330may be set to ‘1’, and when LDPC coding is applied, the coding type field1330may be set to ‘0’.

In addition, the subfield ofFIG.13may include an MCS field1340. The MCS field1340may indicate an MCS scheme applied to the TB PPDU. For example, when BCC coding is applied to the TB PPDU, the coding type field1330may be set to ‘1’, and when LDPC coding is applied, the coding type field1330may be set to ‘0’.

Hereinafter, a UL OFDMA-based random access (UORA) scheme will be described.

FIG.14describes a technical feature of the UORA scheme.

A transmitting STA (e.g., an AP) may allocate six RU resources through a trigger frame as shown inFIG.14. Specifically, the AP may allocate a 1st RU resource (AID 0, RU 1), a 2nd RU resource (AID 0, RU 2), a 3rd RU resource (AID 0, RU 3), a 4th RU resource (AID 2045, RU 4), a 5th RU resource (AID 2045, RU 5), and a 6th RU resource (AID 3, RU 6). Information related to the AID 0, AID 3, or AID 2045 may be included, for example, in the user identifier field1310ofFIG.13. Information related to the RU 1 to RU 6 may be included, for example, in the RU allocation field1320ofFIG.13. AID=0 may imply a UORA resource for an associated STA, and AID=2045 may imply a UORA resource for an un-associated STA. Accordingly, the 1st to 3rd RU resources ofFIG.14may be used as a UORA resource for the associated STA, the 4th and 5th RU resources ofFIG.14may be used as a UORA resource for the un-associated STA, and the 6th RU resource ofFIG.14may be used as a typical resource for UL MU.

In the example ofFIG.14, an OFDMA random access backoff (OBO) of a STA1 is decreased to 0, and the STA1 randomly selects the 2nd RU resource (AID 0, RU 2). In addition, since an OBO counter of a STA2/3 is greater than 0, an uplink resource is not allocated to the STA2/3. In addition, regarding a STA4 inFIG.14, since an AID (e.g., AID=3) of the STA4 is included in a trigger frame, a resource of the RU 6 is allocated without backoff.

Specifically, since the STA1 ofFIG.14is an associated STA, the total number of eligible RA RUs for the STA1 is 3 (RU 1, RU 2, and RU 3), and thus the STA1 decreases an OBO counter by 3 so that the OBO counter becomes 0. In addition, since the STA2 ofFIG.14is an associated STA, the total number of eligible RA RUs for the STA2 is 3 (RU 1, RU 2, and RU 3), and thus the STA2 decreases the OBO counter by 3 but the OBO counter is greater than 0. In addition, since the STA3 ofFIG.14is an un-associated STA, the total number of eligible RA RUs for the STA3 is 2 (RU 4, RU 5), and thus the STA3 decreases the OBO counter by 2 but the OBO counter is greater than 0.

FIG.15illustrates an example of a channel used/supported/defined within a 2.4 GHz band.

The 2.4 GHz band may be called in other terms such as a first band. In addition, the 2.4 GHz band may imply a frequency domain in which channels of which a center frequency is close to 2.4 GHz (e.g., channels of which a center frequency is located within 2.4 to 2.5 GHz) are used/supported/defined.

A plurality of 20 MHz channels may be included in the 2.4 GHz band. 20 MHz within the 2.4 GHz may have a plurality of channel indices (e.g., an index 1 to an index 14). For example, a center frequency of a 20 MHz channel to which a channel index 1 is allocated may be 2.412 GHz, a center frequency of a 20 MHz channel to which a channel index 2 is allocated may be 2.417 GHz, and a center frequency of a 20 MHz channel to which a channel index N is allocated may be (2.407+0.005*N) GHz. The channel index may be called in various terms such as a channel number or the like. Specific numerical values of the channel index and center frequency may be changed.

FIG.15exemplifies 4 channels within a 2.4 GHz band. Each of 1st to 4th frequency domains1510to1540shown herein may include one channel. For example, the 1st frequency domain1510may include a channel 1 (a 20 MHz channel having an index 1). In this case, a center frequency of the channel 1 may be set to 2412 MHz. The 2nd frequency domain1520may include a channel 6. In this case, a center frequency of the channel 6 may be set to 2437 MHz. The 3rd frequency domain1530may include a channel 11. In this case, a center frequency of the channel 11 may be set to 2462 MHz. The 4th frequency domain1540may include a channel 14. In this case, a center frequency of the channel 14 may be set to 2484 MHz.

FIG.16illustrates an example of a channel used/supported/defined within a 5 GHz band.

The 5 GHz band may be called in other terms such as a second band or the like. The 5 GHz band may imply a frequency domain in which channels of which a center frequency is greater than or equal to 5 GHz and less than 6 GHz (or less than 5.9 GHz) are used/supported/defined. Alternatively, the 5 GHz band may include a plurality of channels between 4.5 GHz and 5.5 GHz. A specific numerical value shown inFIG.16may be changed.

A plurality of channels within the 5 GHz band include an unlicensed national information infrastructure (UNII)-1, a UNII-2, a UNII-3, and an ISM. The UNII-1 may be called UNII Low. The UNII-2 may include a frequency domain called UNII Mid and UNII-2Extended. The UNII-3 may be called UNII-Upper.

A plurality of channels may be configured within the 5 GHz band, and a bandwidth of each channel may be variously set to, for example, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz, or the like. For example, 5170 MHz to 5330 MHz frequency domains/ranges within the UNII-1 and UNII-2 may be divided into eight 20 MHz channels. The 5170 MHz to 5330 MHz frequency domains/ranges may be divided into four channels through a 40 MHz frequency domain. The 5170 MHz to 5330 MHz frequency domains/ranges may be divided into two channels through an 80 MHz frequency domain. Alternatively, the 5170 MHz to 5330 MHz frequency domains/ranges may be divided into one channel through a 160 MHz frequency domain.

FIG.17illustrates an example of a channel used/supported/defined within a 6 GHz band.

The 6 GHz band may be called in other terms such as a third band or the like. The 6 GHz band may imply a frequency domain in which channels of which a center frequency is greater than or equal to 5.9 GHz are used/supported/defined. A specific numerical value shown inFIG.17may be changed.

For example, the 20 MHz channel ofFIG.17may be defined starting from 5.940 GHz. Specifically, among 20 MHz channels ofFIG.17, the leftmost channel may have an index 1 (or a channel index, a channel number, etc.), and 5.945 GHz may be assigned as a center frequency. That is, a center frequency of a channel of an index N may be determined as (5.940+0.005*N) GHz.

Accordingly, an index (or channel number) of the 2 MHz channel ofFIG.17may be 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 93, 97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121, 125, 129, 133, 137, 141, 145, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165, 169, 173, 177, 181, 185, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 229, 233. In addition, according to the aforementioned (5.940+0.005*N) GHz rule, an index of the 40 MHz channel ofFIG.17may be 3, 11, 19, 27, 35, 43, 51, 59, 67, 75, 83, 91, 99, 107, 115, 123, 131, 139, 147, 155, 163, 171, 179, 187, 195, 203, 211, 219, 227.

Although 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channels are illustrated in the example ofFIG.17, a 240 MHz channel or a 320 MHz channel may be additionally added.

Hereinafter, a PPDU transmitted/received in a STA of the present specification will be described.

FIG.18illustrates an example of a PPDU used in the present specification.

The PPDU ofFIG.18may be called in various terms such as an EHT PPDU, a TX PPDU, an RX PPDU, a first type or N-th type PPDU, or the like. For example, in the present specification, the PPDU or the EHT PPDU may be called in various terms such as a TX PPDU, a RX PPDU, a first type or N-th type PPDU, or the like. In addition, the EHT PPDU may be used in an EHT system and/or a new WLAN system enhanced from the EHT system.

The PPDU ofFIG.18may represent some or all of the PPDU types used in the EHT system. For example, the example ofFIG.18may be used for both a single-user (SU) mode and a multi-user (MU) mode, or may be used only for the SU mode, or may be used only for the MU mode. For example, a trigger-based (TB) PPDU on the EHT system may be separately defined or configured based on the example ofFIG.18. The trigger frame described through at least one ofFIGS.10to14and the UL-MU operation initiated by the trigger frame (for example, the transmission operation of the TB PPDU) may be directly applied to the EHT system.

InFIG.18, an L-STF to an EHT-LTF may be called a preamble or a physical preamble, and may be generated/transmitted/received/obtained/decoded in a physical layer.

A subcarrier spacing of the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and EHT-SIG fields ofFIG.18may be determined as 312.5 kHz, and a subcarrier spacing of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and Data fields may be determined as 78.125 kHz. That is, a tone index (or subcarrier index) of the L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, and EHT-SIG fields may be expressed in unit of 312.5 kHz, and a tone index (or subcarrier index) of the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and Data fields may be expressed in unit of 78.125 kHz.

In the PPDU ofFIG.18, the L-LTE and the L-STF may be the same as those in the conventional fields.

The L-SIG field ofFIG.18may include, for example, bit information of 24 bits. For example, the 24-bit information may include a rate field of 4 bits, a reserved bit of 1 bit, a length field of 12 bits, a parity bit of 1 bit, and a tail bit of 6 bits. For example, the length field of 12 bits may include information related to a length or time duration of a PPDU. For example, the length field of 12 bits may be determined based on a type of the PPDU. For example, when the PPDU is a non-HT, HT, VHT PPDU or an EHT PPDU, a value of the length field may be determined as a multiple of 3. For example, when the PPDU is an HE PPDU, the value of the length field may be determined as “a multiple of 3”+1 or “a multiple of 3”+2. In other words, for the non-HT, HT, VHT PPDI or the EHT PPDU, the value of the length field may be determined as a multiple of 3, and for the HE PPDU, the value of the length field may be determined as “a multiple of 3”+1 or “a multiple of 3”+2.

For example, the transmitting STA may apply BCC encoding based on a 1/2 coding rate to the 24-bit information of the L-SIG field. Thereafter, the transmitting STA may obtain a BCC coding bit of 48 bits. BPSK modulation may be applied to the 48-bit coding bit, thereby generating 48 BPSK symbols. The transmitting STA may map the 48 BPSK symbols to positions except for a pilot subcarrier{subcarrier index −21, −7, +7, +21} and a DC subcarrier {subcarrier index 0}. As a result, the 48 BPSK symbols may be mapped to subcarrier indices −26 to −22, −20 to −8, −6 to −1, +1 to +6, +8 to +20, and +22 to +26. The transmitting STA may additionally map a signal of {−1, −1, −1, 1} to a subcarrier index{−28, −27, +27, +28}. The aforementioned signal may be used for channel estimation on a frequency domain corresponding to {−28, −27, +27, +28}.

The transmitting STA may generate an RL-SIG generated in the same manner as the L-SIG. BPSK modulation may be applied to the RL-SIG. The receiving STA may know that the RX PPDU is the HE PPDU or the EHT PPDU, based on the presence of the RL-SIG.

A universal SIG (U-SIG) may be inserted after the RL-SIG ofFIG.18. The U-SIB may be called in various terms such as a first SIG field, a first SIG, a first type SIG, a control signal, a control signal field, a first (type) control signal, or the like.

The U-SIG may include information of N bits, and may include information for identifying a type of the EHT PPDU. For example, the U-SIG may be configured based on two symbols (e.g., two contiguous OFDM symbols). Each symbol (e.g., OFDM symbol) for the U-SIG may have a duration of 4 us. Each symbol of the U-SIG may be used to transmit the 26-bit information. For example, each symbol of the U-SIG may be transmitted/received based on 52 data tomes and 4 pilot tones.

Through the U-SIG (or U-SIG field), for example, A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bits) may be transmitted. A first symbol of the U-SIG may transmit first X-bit information (e.g., 26 un-coded bits) of the A-bit information, and a second symbol of the U-SIB may transmit the remaining Y-bit information (e.g. 26 un-coded bits) of the A-bit information. For example, the transmitting STA may obtain 26 un-coded bits included in each U-SIG symbol. The transmitting STA may perform convolutional encoding (i.e., BCC encoding) based on a rate of R=1/2 to generate 52-coded bits, and may perform interleaving on the 52-coded bits. The transmitting STA may perform BPSK modulation on the interleaved 52-coded bits to generate 52 BPSK symbols to be allocated to each U-SIG symbol. One U-SIG symbol may be transmitted based on 65 tones (subcarriers) from a subcarrier index −28 to a subcarrier index +28, except for a DC index 0. The 52 BPSK symbols generated by the transmitting STA may be transmitted based on the remaining tones (subcarriers) except for pilot tones, i.e., tones −21, −7, +7, +21.

For example, the A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bits) generated by the U-SIG may include a CRC field (e.g., a field having a length of 4 bits) and a tail field (e.g., a field having a length of 6 bits). The CRC field and the tail field may be transmitted through the second symbol of the U-SIG. The CRC field may be generated based on 26 bits allocated to the first symbol of the U-SIG and the remaining 16 bits except for the CRC/tail fields in the second symbol, and may be generated based on the conventional CRC calculation algorithm. In addition, the tail field may be used to terminate trellis of a convolutional decoder, and may be set to, for example, “000000”.

The A-bit information (e.g., 52 un-coded bits) transmitted by the U-SIG (or U-SIG field) may be divided into version-independent bits and version-dependent bits. For example, the version-independent bits may have a fixed or variable size. For example, the version-independent bits may be allocated only to the first symbol of the U-SIG, or the version-independent bits may be allocated to both of the first and second symbols of the U-SIG. For example, the version-independent bits and the version-dependent bits may be called in various terms such as a first control bit, a second control bit, or the like.

For example, the version-independent bits of the U-SIG may include a PHY version identifier of 3 bits. For example, the PHY version identifier of 3 bits may include information related to a PHY version of a TX/RX PPDU. For example, a first value of the PHY version identifier of 3 bits may indicate that the TX/RX PPDU is an EHT PPDU. In other words, when the transmitting STA transmits the EHT PPDU, the PHY version identifier of 3 bits may be set to a first value. In other words, the receiving STA may determine that the RX PPDU is the EHT PPDU, based on the PHY version identifier having the first value.

For example, the version-independent bits of the U-SIG may include a UL/DL flag field of 1 bit. A first value of the UL/DL flag field of 1 bit relates to UL communication, and a second value of the UL/DL flag field relates to DL communication.

For example, the version-independent bits of the U-SIG may include information related to a TXOP length and information related to a BSS color ID.

For example, when the EHT PPDU is divided into various types (e.g., various types such as an EHT PPDU related to an SU mode, an EHT PPDU related to a MU mode, an EHT PPDU related to a TB mode, an EHT PPDU related to extended range transmission, or the like), information related to the type of the EHT PPDU may be included in the version-dependent bits of the U-SIG.

For example, the U-SIG may include: 1) a bandwidth field including information related to a bandwidth; 2) a field including information related to an MCS scheme applied to EHT-SIG; 3) an indication field including information regarding whether a dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) scheme is applied to EHT-SIG; 4) a field including information related to the number of symbol used for EHT-SIG; 5) a field including information regarding whether the EHT-SIG is generated across a full band; 6) a field including information related to a type of EHT-LTF/STF; and 7) information related to a field indicating an EHT-LTF length and a CP length.

Preamble puncturing may be applied to the PPDU ofFIG.18. The preamble puncturing implies that puncturing is applied to part (e.g., a secondary 20 MHz band) of the full band. For example, when an 80 MHz PPDU is transmitted, an STA may apply puncturing to the secondary 20 MHz band out of the 80 MHz band, and may transmit a PPDU only through a primary 20 MHz band and a secondary 40 MHz band.

For example, a pattern of the preamble puncturing may be configured in advance. For example, when a first puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing may be applied only to the secondary 20 MHz band within the 80 MHz band. For example, when a second puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing may be applied to only any one of two secondary 20 MHz bands included in the secondary 40 MHz band within the 80 MHz band. For example, when a third puncturing pattern is applied, puncturing may be applied to only the secondary 20 MHz band included in the primary 80 MHz band within the 160 MHz band (or 80+80 MHz band). For example, when a fourth puncturing is applied, puncturing may be applied to at least one 20 MHz channel not belonging to a primary 40 MHz band in the presence of the primary 40 MHz band included in the 80 MHz band within the 160 MHz band (or 80+80 MHz band).

Information related to the preamble puncturing applied to the PPDU may be included in U-SIG and/or EHT-SIG. For example, a first field of the U-SIG may include information related to a contiguous bandwidth, and second field of the U-SIG may include information related to the preamble puncturing applied to the PPDU.

For example, the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG may include the information related to the preamble puncturing, based on the following method. When a bandwidth of the PPDU exceeds 80 MHz, the U-SIG may be configured individually in unit of 80 MHz. For example, when the bandwidth of the PPDU is 160 MHz, the PPDU may include a first U-SIG for a first 80 MHz band and a second U-SIG for a second 80 MHz band. In this case, a first field of the first U-SIG may include information related to a 160 MHz bandwidth, and a second field of the first U-SIG may include information related to a preamble puncturing (i.e., information related to a preamble puncturing pattern) applied to the first 80 MHz band. In addition, a first field of the second U-SIG may include information related to a 160 MHz bandwidth, and a second field of the second U-SIG may include information related to a preamble puncturing (i.e., information related to a preamble puncturing pattern) applied to the second 80 MHz band. Meanwhile, an EHT-SIG contiguous to the first U-SIG may include information related to a preamble puncturing applied to the second 80 MHz band (i.e., information related to a preamble puncturing pattern), and an EHT-SIG contiguous to the second U-SIG may include information related to a preamble puncturing (i.e., information related to a preamble puncturing pattern) applied to the first 80 MHz band.

Additionally or alternatively, the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG may include the information related to the preamble puncturing, based on the following method. The U-SIG may include information related to a preamble puncturing (i.e., information related to a preamble puncturing pattern) for all bands. That is, the EHT-SIG may not include the information related to the preamble puncturing, and only the U-SIG may include the information related to the preamble puncturing (i.e., the information related to the preamble puncturing pattern).

The U-SIG may be configured in unit of 20 MHz. For example, when an 80 MHz PPDU is configured, the U-SIG may be duplicated. That is, four identical U-SIGs may be included in the 80 MHz PPDU. PPDUs exceeding an 80 MHz bandwidth may include different U-SIGs.

The EHT-SIG ofFIG.18may include the technical features of the HE-SIG-B shown in the examples ofFIGS.8to9. The EHT-SIG may be referred to by various names such as a second SIG field, a second SIG, a second type SIG, a control signal, a control signal field, and a second (type) control signal.

The EHT-SIG may include N-bit information (for example, 1-bit information) regarding whether the EHT-PPDU supports the SU mode or the MU mode.

The EHT-SIG may be configured based on various MCS scheme. As described above, information related to the MCS scheme applied to the EHT-SIG may be included in the U-SIG. The EHT-SIG may be configured based on the DCM scheme. For example, among the N data tones (for example, 52 data tones) allocated for the EHT-SIG, a first modulation scheme may be applied to a contiguous half tone, and a second modulation scheme may be applied to the remaining contiguous half tones. That is, the transmitting STA may modulate specific control information to the first symbol based on the first modulation scheme and allocate it to contiguous half tones, and may modulate the same control information to the second symbol based on the second modulation scheme and allocate it to the remaining contiguous half tones. As described above, information (for example, 1-bit field) related to whether the DCM scheme is applied to the EHT-SIG may be included in the U-SIG. The EHT-STF ofFIG.18may be used to improve automatic gain control estimation in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) environment or an OFDMA environment. The EHT-LTF ofFIG.18may be used to estimate a channel in a MIMO environment or an OFDMA environment. An HE-STF ofFIG.18may be used for improving automatic gain control estimation in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) environment or an OFDMA environment. An HE-LTF ofFIG.18may be used for estimating a channel in the MIMO environment or the OFDMA environment.

The EHT-STF ofFIG.18may be set in various types. For example, a first type of STF (e.g., 1×STF) may be generated based on a first type STF sequence in which a non-zero coefficient is arranged with an interval of 16 subcarriers. An STF signal generated based on the first type STF sequence may have a period of 0.8 μs, and a periodicity signal of 0.8 μs may be repeated 5 times to become a first type STF having a length of 4 μs. For example, a second type of STF (e.g., 2×STF) may be generated based on a second type STF sequence in which a non-zero coefficient is arranged with an interval of 8 subcarriers. An STF signal generated based on the second type STF sequence may have a period of 1.6 μs, and a periodicity signal of 1.6 μs may be repeated 5 times to become a second type STF having a length of 8 μs. Hereinafter, an example of a sequence for configuring an EHT-STF (i.e., an EHT-STF sequence) is proposed. The following sequence may be modified in various ways.

The EHT-STF may be configured based on the following sequence M.
M={−1,−1,−1,1,1,1,−1,1,1,1,−1,1,1,−1,1}  <Equation 1>

The EHT-STF for the 20 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation. The following example may be a first type (i.e., 1×STF) sequence. For example, the first type sequence may be included in not a trigger-based (TB) PPDU but an EHT-PPDU. In the following equation, (a:b:c) may imply a duration defined as b tone intervals (i.e., a subcarrier interval) from a tone index (i.e., subcarrier index) ‘a’ to a tone index ‘c’. For example, the equation 2 below may represent a sequence defined as 16 tone intervals from a tone index −112 to a tone index 112. Since a subcarrier spacing of 78.125 kHz is applied to the EHT-STR, the 16 tone intervals may imply that an EHT-STF coefficient (or element) is arranged with an interval of 78.125*16=1250 kHz. In addition, * implies multiplication, and sqrt( ) implies a square root. In addition, j implies an imaginary number.
EHT-STF(−112:16:112)={M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)
EHT-STF(0)=0  <Equation 2>

The EHT-STF for the 40 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation. The following example may be the first type (i.e., 1×STF) sequence.
EHT-STF(−240:16:240)={M,0,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 3>

The EHT-STF for the 80 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation. The following example may be the first type (i.e., 1×STF) sequence.
EHT-STF(−496:16:496)={M,1,−M,0,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 4>

The EHT-STF for the 160 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation. The following example may be the first type (i.e., 1×STF) sequence.
EHT-STF(−1008:16:1008)={M,1,−M,0,−M,1,−M,0,−M,−1,M,0,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 5>

In the EHT-STF for the 80+80 MHz PPDU, a sequence for lower 80 MHz may be identical to Equation 4. In the EHT-STF for the 80+80 MHz PPDU, a sequence for upper 80 MHz may be configured based on the following equation.
EHT-STF(−496:16:496)={−M,−1,M,0,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 6>

Equation 7 to Equation 11 below relate to an example of a second type (i.e., 2×STF) sequence.
EHT-STF(−120:8:120)={M,0,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 7>

The EHT-STF for the 40 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation.
EHT-STF(−248:8:248)={M,−1,−M,0,M,−1,M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)
EHT-STF(−248)=0
EHT-STF(248)=0  <Equation 8>

The EHT-STF for the 80 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation.
EHT-STF(−504:8:504)={M,−1,M,−1,−M,−1,M,0,−M,1,M,1,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)  <Equation 9>

The EHT-STF for the 160 MHz PPDU may be configured based on the following equation.
EHT-STF(−1016:16:1016)={M,−1,M,−1,−M,−1,M,0,−M,1,M,1,−M,1,−M,0,−M,1,−M,1,M,1,−M,0,−M,1,M,1,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)
EHT-STF(−8)=0,EHT-STF(8)=0,
EHT-STF(−1016)=0,EHT-STF(1016)=0  <Equation 10>

In the EHT-STF for the 80+80 MHz PPDU, a sequence for lower 80 MHz may be identical to Equation 9. In the EHT-STF for the 80+80 MHz PPDU, a sequence for upper 80 MHz may be configured based on the following equation.
EHT-STF(−504:8:504)={−M,1,−M,1,M,1,−M,0,−M,1,M,1,−M,1,−M}*(1+j)/sqrt(2)
EHT-STF(−504)=0,
EHT-STF(504)=0  <Equation 11>

The EHT-LTF may have first, second, and third types (i.e., 1×, 2×, 4×LTF). For example, the first/second/third type LTF may be generated based on an LTF sequence in which a non-zero coefficient is arranged with an interval of 4/2/1 subcarriers. The first/second/third type LTF may have a time length of 3.2/6.4/12.8 μs. In addition, a GI (e.g., 0.8/1/6/3.2p) having various lengths may be applied to the first/second/third type LTF.

Information related to a type of STF and/or LTF (information related to a GI applied to LTF is also included) may be included in a SIG-A field and/or SIG-B field or the like ofFIG.18.

A PPDU (e.g., EHT-PPDU) ofFIG.18may be configured based on the example ofFIG.5andFIG.6.

For example, an EHT PPDU transmitted on a 20 MHz band, i.e., a 20 MHz EHT PPDU, may be configured based on the RU ofFIG.5. That is, a location of an RU of EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data fields included in the EHT PPDU may be determined as shown inFIG.5.

An EHT PPDU transmitted on a 40 MHz band, i.e., a 40 MHz EHT PPDU, may be configured based on the RU ofFIG.6. That is, a location of an RU of EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data fields included in the EHT PPDU may be determined as shown inFIG.6.

Since the RU location ofFIG.6corresponds to 40 MHz, a tone-plan for 80 MHz may be determined when the pattern ofFIG.6is repeated twice. That is, an 80 MHz EHT PPDU may be transmitted based on a new tone-plan in which not the RU ofFIG.7but the RU ofFIG.6is repeated twice.

When the pattern ofFIG.6is repeated twice, 23 tones (i.e., 11 guard tones+12 guard tones) may be configured in a DC region. That is, a tone-plan for an 80 MHz EHT PPDU allocated based on OFDMA may have 23 DC tones. Unlike this, an 80 MHz EHT PPDU allocated based on non-OFDMA (i.e., a non-OFDMA full bandwidth 80 MHz PPDU) may be configured based on a 996-RU, and may include 5 DC tones, 12 left guard tones, and 11 right guard tones.

A tone-plan for 160/240/320 MHz may be configured in such a manner that the pattern ofFIG.6is repeated several times.

The PPDU ofFIG.18may be determined (or identified) as an EHT PPDU based on the following method.

A receiving STA may determine a type of an RX PPDU as the EHT PPDU, based on the following aspect. For example, the RX PPDU may be determined as the EHT PPDU: 1) when a first symbol after an L-LTF signal of the RX PPDU is a BPSK symbol; 2) when RL-SIG in which the L-SIG of the RX PPDU is repeated is detected; and 3) when a result of applying “modulo 3” to a value of a length field of the L-SIG of the RX PPDU is detected as “0”. When the RX PPDU is determined as the EHT PPDU, the receiving STA may detect a type of the EHT PPDU (e.g., an SU/MU/Trigger-based/Extended Range type), based on bit information included in a symbol after the RL-SIG ofFIG.18. In other words, the receiving STA may determine the RX PPDU as the EHT PPDU, based on: 1) a first symbol after an L-LTF signal, which is a BPSK symbol; 2) RL-SIG contiguous to the L-SIG field and identical to L-SIG; 3) L-SIG including a length field in which a result of applying “modulo 3” is set to “0”; and 4) a 3-bit PHY version identifier of the aforementioned U-SIG (e.g., a PHY version identifier having a first value).

For example, the receiving STA may determine the type of the RX PPDU as the EHT PPDU, based on the following aspect. For example, the RX PPDU may be determined as the HE PPDU: 1) when a first symbol after an L-LTF signal is a BPSK symbol; 2) when RL-SIG in which the L-SIG is repeated is detected; and 3) when a result of applying “modulo 3” to a value of a length field of the L-SIG is detected as “1” or “2”.

For example, the receiving STA may determine the type of the RX PPDU as a non-HT, HT, and VHT PPDU, based on the following aspect. For example, the RX PPDU may be determined as the non-HT, HT, and VHT PPDU: 1) when a first symbol after an L-LTF signal is a BPSK symbol; and 2) when RL-SIG in which L-SIG is repeated is not detected. In addition, even if the receiving STA detects that the RL-SIG is repeated, when a result of applying “modulo 3” to the length value of the L-SIG is detected as “0”, the RX PPDU may be determined as the non-HT, HT, and VHT PPDU.

In the following example, a signal represented as a (TX/RX/UL/DL) signal, a (TX/RX/UL/DL) frame, a (TX/RX/UL/DL) packet, a (TX/RX/UL/DL) data unit, (TX/RX/UL/DL) data, or the like may be a signal transmitted/received based on the PPDU ofFIG.18. The PPDU ofFIG.18may be used to transmit/receive frames of various types. For example, the PPDU ofFIG.18may be used for a control frame. An example of the control frame may include a request to send (RTS), a clear to send (CTS), a power save-poll (PS-poll), BlockACKReq, BlockAck, a null data packet (NDP) announcement, and a trigger frame. For example, the PPDU ofFIG.18may be used for a management frame. An example of the management frame may include a beacon frame, a (re-)association request frame, a (re-)association response frame, a probe request frame, and a probe response frame. For example, the PPDU ofFIG.18may be used for a data frame. For example, the PPDU ofFIG.18may be used to simultaneously transmit at least two or more of the control frame, the management frame, and the data frame.

FIG.19illustrates an example of a modified transmission device and/or receiving device of the present specification.

Each device/STA of the sub-figure (a)/(b) ofFIG.1may be modified as shown inFIG.19. A transceiver630ofFIG.19may be identical to the transceivers113and123ofFIG.1. The transceiver630ofFIG.19may include a receiver and a transmitter.

A processor610ofFIG.19may be identical to the processors111and121ofFIG.1. Alternatively, the processor610ofFIG.19may be identical to the processing chips114and124ofFIG.1.

A memory620ofFIG.19may be identical to the memories112and122ofFIG.1. Alternatively, the memory620ofFIG.19may be a separate external memory different from the memories112and122ofFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.19, a power management module611manages power for the processor610and/or the transceiver630. A battery612supplies power to the power management module611. A display613outputs a result processed by the processor610. A keypad614receives inputs to be used by the processor610. The keypad614may be displayed on the display613. A SIM card615may be an integrated circuit which is used to securely store an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices such as mobile phones and computers.

Referring toFIG.19, a speaker640may output a result related to a sound processed by the processor610. A microphone641may receive an input related to a sound to be used by the processor610.

In the following specification, an EHT standard or a PPDU in compliance with the EHT standard may be described.

In order to provide a higher data rate than the 802.11ax standard, the EHT standard may be proposed. The EHT standard may support a wide bandwidth (e.g., a bandwidth of 320 MHz or more), 16 streams, and/or multi-link (or multi-band) operation. Accordingly, to support a transmission method based on the EHT standard, a new frame format may be used. When transmitting a signal through the 2.4/5/6 GHz band using the new frame format, conventional Wi-Fi receivers/STAs (e.g., receivers of 802.11n/ac/ax standards) as well as receivers supported by the EHT standard may also receive the EHT signal transmitted through the 2.4/5/6 GHz band.

Hereinafter, while supporting backward compatibility with the conventional Wi-Fi (e.g., 802.11n/ac/ax standard), technical features for an EHT PPDU (e.g., a common control field) indicating a PPDU (or packet) of the 802.11be standard may be proposed.

The preamble of the PPDU based on the EHT standard may be set in various ways. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a preamble of a PPDU based on the EHT standard is configured may be described. Hereinafter, a PPDU based on the EHT standard may be described as an EHT PPDU. However, the EHT PPDU is not limited to the EHT standard. The EHT PPDU may be configured based new standard that is an improvement/evolution/extension of the 802.11be standard as well as the 802.11be standard (i.e., the EHT standard).

According to an embodiment, the EHT PPDU may be configured to include an L-part and an EHT-part based on the frame format of the 802.11ax standard. An example of the configuration of the EHT PPDU may be described inFIG.20.

FIG.20shows an example of an EHT PPDU.

Referring toFIG.20, the EHT PPDU2000may be configured by using a frame of a PPDU defined based on the 802.11ax standard. The EHT PPDU2000may include an L-part2010and an EHT-part2020.

The EHT PPDU2000may be configured in a structure in which the L-part2010is first transmitted before the EHT-part2020for coexistence with the legacy STA (e.g., STAs according to the 802.11n/ac/ax standard).

According to an embodiment, same as the frame format of the 802.11ax standard, the EHT part2020may include the RL-SIG, EHT control field (e.g., U-SIG (not shown) and/or EHT-SIG), EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and EHT-data field According to an embodiment, the RL-SIG may be omitted/skipped in the EHT part2020. That is, the EHT part2020may include the EHT control field (e.g., U-SIG (not shown) and/or EHT-SIG), EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and EHT-data field.

According to an embodiment, when a signal is transmitted through the EHT PPDU2000shown inFIG.20, in order to reduce the packet false detection for a third party device (e.g., STAs of 802.11n/11ac/11ax standard) and to support the packet indication for the PPDU, then EHT control field (or EHT signal field) may be variously proposed/configured.

For example, the EHT signal field may be configured as three separate fields. As an example, the EHT signal field may include EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2 and/or EHT-SIG3. In other words, the EHT signal field may be composed of the EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2, and EHT-SIG3.

For example, among the EHT signal fields, the EHT-SIG1 and/or EHT-SIG2 may include common control information and/or information related to a future generation Wi-Fi standard. For example, the EHT-SIG3 may include user specific information.

For example, the EHT-SIG3 may be included in the EHT-SU/MU PPDU when transmitting an EHT PPDU (or EHT signal) for multiple users. Alternatively, the EHT-SIG3 may be included in the EHT-SU/MU PPDU to transmit the EHT PPDU (or EHT signal) to which preamble puncturing is applied.

According to an embodiment, the above-described SIG fields (e.g., the EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2, and EHT-SIG3) may be separately/individually encoded, and thus each of the SIG fields may include CRC bit(s) and tail bit(s).

For example, the EHT-SIG1 and EHT-SIG2 may be configured by applying MCSO (i.e., BCC 1/2 and BPSK). For another example, the EHT-SIG3 may be configured by applying various MCSs. The indication information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may be transmitted through the EHT-SIG1 or EHT-SIG2. In other words, the EHT-SIG1 or EHT-SIG2 may include information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3.

Unlike the above-described embodiment, most common information and information related to power saving may be transmitted through EHT-SIG1. Accordingly, the EHT-SIG2 may be transmitted by applying various MCSs, not robust MCS (e.g., MCSO). Indication information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG2 may be transmitted through the EHT-SIG1. In other words, the EHT-SIG1 may include information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG2.

FIG.21shows an example of an EHT signal field.

Referring toFIG.21, the EHT signal field may include EHT-SIG12110and EHT-SIG22120. Although not shown, the EHT signal field may further include EHT-SIG3. For example, the EHT-SIG12110and the EHT-SIG22120may each consist of 1 or 2 symbols. As an example, the EHT-SIG12110may consist of 2 symbols. In addition, the EHT-SIG22120may consist of 1 or 2 symbols.

Hereinafter, information included in the EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2, and EHT-SIG3 included in EHT-SIG may be described. The EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2, and EHT-SIG3 included in the above-described EHT-SIG are exemplary and may be named variously. For example, the EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2 and EHT-SIG3 may be named Pre-SIG (or U-SIG), EHT-SIGA and EHT-SIGB, respectively.

1. EHT-SIG1 Configuration

A. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG1 may be positioned after the RL-SIG. The EHT-SIG1 may include information related to the next version, future version, or future Wi-Fi.

B. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG1 may include various types of information. Hereinafter, examples of the various information that may be included in the EHT-SIG1 may be described. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG1 may include information required to interpret the EHT PPDU. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG1 may include at least some or all of information fields included in HE-SIGA of 802.11ax.

B-i) Information related to Packet indication (or PHY identifier)

Information related to the packet indication (or PHY identifier) may be configured as 3-bit information. Information related to the Packet indication (or PHY identifier) may be used for an indication (indication) regarding the 802.11be standard (i.e., EHT standard) and a future version. In other words, the information related to the Packet indication (or PHY identifier) may include information related to the 802.11be standard (i.e., EHT standard) and a future version.

B-ii) Information related to Frame format indication

Information related to the frame format indication may has a length of 2 or 3 bits. Information related to the frame format indication may be used for an indication of the PPDU format. In other words, the information related to the frame format indication may include information related to the format of the PPDU.

B-ii)-1. Unlike the 802.11ax standard, a value of the length field of the EHT PPDU (e.g., L-SIG of the EHT PPDU) may be divided by three. In other words, when a value of the length field of the EHT PPDU is divided by 3, the remainder may be zero ‘0’. In other words, the result of the ‘modulo 3 (mod 3)’ operation to a value of the length field of the EHT PPDU may be set to zero (0). Therefore, since early indication for the format using the length field of the EHT PPDU cannot be performed, the format indication bit(s) may be included in the EHT-SIG1 to indicate the format.

B-ii)-2. Information indicated based on the size of the format indication bit(s) may be set differently.

B-ii)-2-a. For example, the format indication bit(s) may be set to 2 bits. Format indication bit(s) may be used for four format indications.

For example, when the Format indication bit(s) is set to ‘00’, the format indication bit(s) may indicate the SU PPDU. Alternatively, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘00’, the EHT PPDU may be set to the SU PPDU.

As an example, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘01’, the format indication bit(s) may indicate an extended range (ER)-SU PPDU. Alternatively, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘01’, the EHT PPDU may be set to the ER-SU PPDU.

For example, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘10’, the format indication bit(s) may indicate a Trigger based (TB) PPDU. Alternatively, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘10’, the EHT PPDU may be set to a TB PPDU.

For example, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘11’, the format indication bit(s) may indicate the MU PPDU. Alternatively, when the format indication bit(s) is set to ‘11’, the EHT PPDU may be set to the MU PPDU.

B-ii)-2-b. For example, the Format indication bit(s) may be set to 3 bits. Format indication bit(s) may be used for an indication for a newly defined format in the four format indication (format indication) and future version.

B-ii)-2-c. According to an embodiment, one unified PPDU format may be used for SU or MU. In this case, the Format indication bit(s) may include information (or indication information) regarding the configuration of EHT-SIG2 or EHT-SIG3 transmitted/received after EHT-SIG1. For example, if the Format indication bit(s) is set to indicate SU, the SIG3 contiguous to the SIG1 may be configured not to include a user specific field.

B-iii) Information related to bandwidth (BW)

B-iii)-1. Information related to a bandwidth (BW) may be used to indicate a bandwidth of 20 MHz to 320 MHz. In other words, information related to the bandwidth (BW) may include information for indicating a bandwidth of 20 MHz to 320 MHz. Information related to the bandwidth (BW) may also indicate a bandwidth to which preamble puncturing is considered/applied. In other words, information related to the bandwidth (BW) may include information for indicating a bandwidth to which preamble puncturing is considered/applied.

B-iii)-2. In consideration of a bandwidth to which preamble puncturing is applied (or to which preamble puncturing is applied), information related to the bandwidth (BW) may has a size of one of 4 to 6 bits.

B-iii)-3. Unlike the above-described embodiment, the bandwidth may be indicated in the EHT-SIG1 and EHT-SIG2/3, respectively. In other words, the bandwidth-related information may be included in the EHT-SIG1 and EHT-SIG2/3.

For example, the EHT-SIG1 may indicate whether the EHT PPDU is transmitted over a wide bandwidth. In other words, the EHT-SIG1 may include information related to whether the EHT PPDU is transmitted over a wide bandwidth. As an example, the EHT-SIG1 may include information related to whether a bandwidth of the EHT PPDU is 160 MHz or more (or 240, 320 MHz or more). In addition, information related to a specific bandwidth may be included in the EHT-SIG2 or EHT-SIG3.

For example, the first information related to the bandwidth included in the EHT-SIG1 may indicate whether the EHT PPDU is transmitted over a wide bandwidth (wide bandwidth). Information related to the bandwidth included in the EHT-SIG1 may consist of 1 or 2 bits. The second information related to the bandwidth included in the EHT-SIG2 or EHT-SIG3 may be configured with 4 or 5 bits in consideration of multiple RUs and preamble puncturing.

B-iv) Information related to Functionality/Mode indication

Information related to the functionality/mode indication may be configured as 1 or 2 bits. Specifically, the information related to the functionality/mode indication may include information related to the functionality/mode used for transmission of the EHT PPDU. Information related to the functionality/mode indication may be used to indicate HARQ, multilink, and/or multi-AP transmission.

B-v) Tail bits

Tail bits may consist of 6 bits.

B-vi) CRC bits

CRC bits may consist of 4 bits.

B-vii) Information related to MCS of EHT-SIG3

B-vii)-1. When the same format is used for SU/MU transmission, or when an MU PPDU (i.e., a PPDU in which EHT-SIG1 is transmitted followed by EHT-SIG3) is transmitted, information related to the MCS of EHT-SIG3 may be included in the U-SIG (or EHT-SIG1).

B-vii)-2. Information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may be used to indicate various MCSs applied to the EHT-SIG3. In other words, information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may include information related to various MCSs applied to the EHT-SIG3. For example, information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may be configured/defined with 2 to 3 bits. As an example, the available MCS may be set to MCSO to MCSS.

B-viii) Information related to Dual Carrier Modulation (DCM) of EHT-SIG3

The information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may indicate whether the DCM is used/applied to the EHT-SIG3. In other words, the information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may include information related to whether DCM is used/applied to the EHT-SIG3.

B-ix) Remaining bits other than the above-described information in the EHT-SIG1 may be composed of at least some or all of information fields defined in HE-SIGA of the conventional 802.11ax standard.

B-ix)-1. 11ax HE-SIGA field in SU case

For SU case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include various information (fields). For example, in the SU case, 11ax HE-SIGA field may include information related to: beam change; MCS; DCM; spatial reuse; GI+LTF; NSTS and MP; Coding; LDPC Extra symbol; STBC; Beamformed; Pre-FEC padding; PE Disambiguity and/or doppler.

B-ix)-2. 11ax HE-SIGA field in MU case

For MU case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include various information (fields). For example, in MU case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include information related to: SIGB-MCS; SIGB-DCM; SR; Number of SIGB symbols or MU-MIMO users; SIB compression; GI+LTF; Doppler; number of LTF symbols and MP; LDPC Extra symbol; STBC; Pre-FEC padding; and/or PE Disambiguity.

B-ix)-3. 11ax HE-SIGA field in ER-SU case

For ER-SU case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include various information (fields). For example, in the ER-SU case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include information related to: beam change; MCS; DCM; spatial reuse; GI+LTF; NSTS and MP; Coding; LDPC Extra symbol; STBC; Beamformed; Pre-FEC padding; PE Disambiguity; and/or doppler.

B-ix)-4. 11ax HE-SIGA field in TB case

For TB case, the 11ax HE-SIGA field may include information related to SR1, SR2, SR3, and/or SR4.

2. EHT-SIG2 Configuration

A. The EHT-SIG2 may be configured based on a combination of information (fields) included in the HE-SIGA of 802.11ax standard. For example, the combination of information (fields) included in HE-SIGA of the 802.11ax standard may consist of information not included in the EHT-SIG1.

B. EHT-SIG2 may include CRC bits (4 bits) and tail bits (6 bits).

C. EHT-SIG2 may include allocation information for allocating resources for multiple RUs, multiple BWs and/or preamble puncturing for a single user (SU).

C-i) The allocation information may be configured as 8 bits (or 8-bit table). The configuration of the allocation information in the 8-bit table is exemplary and may be configured in various ways. For example, in consideration of signaling overhead, the allocation information may be configured with 4 or 6 bits (or 4 or 6 bit tables).

C-ii) Considering that different NSSs are used, information related to NSS may be further included in the EHT-SIG2.

D. Unlike the above-described “C”, the EHT-SIG2 may include RU allocation information for OFDMA transmission. In this case, the EHT-SIG2 may consist of 1 or 2 symbols.

D-i) Information included in the common field of the HE-SIGB of the 802.11 standard (e.g., information related to NSTS and RU allocation) may be included in the EHT-SIG2 and may be transmitted through the EHT-SIG2.

E. Common control information (e.g., version dependent information) not included in the EHT-SIG1 and information related to a STA (e.g., common field information) may be included in the EHT-SIG2. In other words, common control information overflowed from the EHT-SIG1 may be included in the EHT-SIG2. The common control information may include information related to transmission of the EHT PPDU. In addition, the EHT-SIG2 may include information related to the STA. Among the information related to the STA, common field information may include (RU) allocation information.

F. The format indication bit included in the EHT-SIG1 may be transmitted through the EHT-SIG2.

G. The EHT-SIG2 may include an indication bit for transmission granularity of the EHT-SIG3 including user information. In other words, the EHT-SIG2 may include information related to the transmission granularity of the EHT-SIG3 including User information.

G-i) For example, the granularity of the EHT-SIG3 may be set based on two granularities. In this case, the EHT-SIG3 channel may be configured in units of 20 MHz or 40 MHz.

G-ii) The 40 MHz granularity may be used when transmitting a large bandwidth (e.g., 240 MHz or 320 MHz).

H. The EHT-SIG2 may be transmitted based on MCSO or various MCS (various MCS).

3. EHT-SIG3 Configuration

A. The EHT-SIG3 may be configured to include the same information as the HE-SIGB described below. That is, the EHT-SIG3 may include a common field and a user specific field. The user specific field may be configured based on at least a part of information of the user field described below.

A-i) flax HE-SIGB field for OFDMA

The EHT-SIG3 may include at least some or all of information (fields) included in the 11ax HE-SIGB field for OFDMA. For example, the EHT-SIG3 may include information related to STA-ID, NSTS, beamformed, MCS, DCM and/or Coding.

A-ii) flax HE-SIGB field for MU-MIMO

The EHT-SIG3 may include at least some or all of information (fields) included in the 11ax HE-SIGB field for MU-MIMO. For example, the EHT-SIG3 may include information related to STA-ID, Spatial Configuration, MCS, and/or Coding.

A-iii) The EHT-SIG3 may be configured to include information related to multiple RU allocation in addition to the above information.

B. The EHT-SIG3 may be included in an EHT PPDU (or EHT frame) when transmitting a signal to multiple STAs. In addition, the EHT-SIG3 may be included in MU PPDU transmission to configure a PPDU (i.e., EHT PPDU).

C. Unlike the above example, the SU/MU PPDU may be formed/configured in a unified PPDU format. In this case, the EHT-SIG3 may be transmitted while being included in a PPDU (i.e., EHT PPDU) even during SU transmission.

C-i) For SU transmission, the EHT-SIG3 may be configured only with a common field, unlike the MU transmission.

C-ii) The common field may be configured as version dependent information and common information bits. Also, the common field may be encoded including one CRC field and one tail bit field. For example, the version dependent information may be configured as common control information not included in the EHT-SIG1 (e.g., U-SIG).

C-iii) Even for SU transmission, various MCSs (various MCSs) may be applied to the EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG3). Indication related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may be performed in the EHT-SIG1. In other words, information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG3 may be included in the EHT-SIG1.

C-iv) Also, size information for the EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG3) may be indicated through the EHT-SIG1. For example, the number of OFDM symbols used for the EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG3) may be indicated through the EHT-SIG1. In other words, size information for the EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG3) may be included in the EHT-SIG1. For example, information related to the number of OFDM symbols used in the EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG3) may be included in the EHT-SIG1.

D. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG may include the EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2 and EHT-SIG3. When the EHT-SIG2 includes allocation information included in the common field, EHT-SIG3 may be configured with the remaining information except for the allocation information.

D-i) For example, the EHT-SIG3 may be configured only with user specific information excluding the common field of the HE-SIGB.

E. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG3 may include a common field and a user specific field. The common field and the user specific field may include CRC bit(s) and tail bit(s), respectively, and may be separately/individually encoded.

F. According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG3 may be configured to include information (e.g., version dependent information) of the EHT-SIG2. In other words, the EHT-SIG3 may include at least a part or all of information (fields) included in the EHT-SIG2.

For example, information included in the EHT-SIG2 may be included in a common field of the EHT-SIG3. In addition, in order to reduce signaling overhead, one CRC field and one tail bit field may be applied (and jointly encoded) to information of EHT-SIG2 and information of the common field, thereby configuring the common field. In other words, in addition to the common field, information included in the EHT-SIG2 may be further included. The common field may be jointly encoded with one CRC field and one tail bit field.

According to an embodiment, the EHT PPDU may include a first signal field and a second signal field. For example, the first signal field may include U-SIG. The U-SIG may include the above-described EHT-SIG1.

For example, the second signal field may include EHT-SIG. The EHT-SIG may include the common field and the user specific field. The common field may be called by various names. The common field may be referred to as a transmission information field.

As an example, the EHT-SIG may include the above-described EHT-SIG2 and EHT-SIG3. The common field may include the EHT-SIG2. The user specific field may include the EHT-SIG3.

As another example, when the EHT-SIG3 includes all of the above-described information (fields) of the EHT-SIG2, the EHT-SIG may include the EHT-SIG3. The EHT-SIG3 may be configured as the common field and the user specific field.

Configuration of EHT PPDU

The above-described EHT-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2, EHT-SIG3) may be applied to configure an EHT PPDU. The EHT PPDU may be configured in various formats. For example, the EHT PPDU may be configured in an SU PPDU format, an MU PPDU format, an ER SU PPDU format, and/or a TB PPDU format. Hereinafter, the configuration of the SU PPDU format, the MU PPDU format, the ER SU PPDU format, and the TB PPDU format may be sequentially described.

Configuration of SU PPDU Format

A. The SU PPDU may be a format of a PPDU transmitted to a single user. For example, the SU PPDU may be configured as shown inFIG.22.

FIG.22shows an example of the configuration of an SU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.22, the SU PPDU2200may include EHT-SIG12210and EHT-SIG22220. For example, the same MCS may be applied to the EHT-SIG12210and the EHT-SIG22220for transmission of the SU PPDU2200. As another example, various MCSs may be applied to the EHT-SIG22220for transmission of the SU PPDU2200.

B. UnlikeFIG.22, the SU PPDU may include EHT-SIG3 for MU transmission in order to support multiple RU aggregation and preamble puncturing transmission. That is, SU transmission may be performed using the MU PPDU. In this case, a single PPDU for SU/MU transmission may be configured. An example of a PPDU for SU/MU transmission may be described with reference toFIG.23.

FIG.23shows another example of the configuration of an SU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.23, the SU PPDU2300may be used not only for transmission for a single user (SU), but also for transmission for a multi user (MU). The SU PPDU2300may include EHT-SIG12310and EHT-SIG32330.

B-i) The EHT-SIG32330may consist of a common field and a user field. The user field may be configured to include the same STA ID for multiple RU aggregation. When transmitting through preamble puncturing, the EHT-SIG32330may be configured to include only one user field. That is, even when the EHT PPDU is transmitted to a single user, the user field may be included in the EHT-PPDU for transmission.

B-ii) In an embodiment different from B-i), the EHT-SIG32330may be configured to include only a common field. For example, the common field may include version dependent information, information related to Nsts, and/or information related to RU allocation.

B-ii)-1. The information related to the RU allocation may include allocation information for multiple RUs and/or preamble puncturing.

B-ii)-2. The common field may be encoded including one CRC field and one tail bit field.

B-iii) When one PPDU format is used to support both SU and MU, whether SU/MU is supported may be indicated through the PPDU format indication transmitted through the EHT-SIG1. In other words, information related to whether SU/MU is supported may be included in the PPDU format indication of the EHT-SIG1. In other words, the receiving STA may check whether the received EHT PPDU is a PPDU for SU or MU based on the PPDU format indication of the EHT-SIG1.

B-iv) In addition, the receiving STA may confirm/check that EHT-SIG3 is configured differently through the PPDU format indication. In other words, the receiving STA may confirm/check whether SU transmission and MU transmission are applied based on the PPDU format indication, and the receiving STA may confirm/check that the EHT-SIG3 is configured differently based on the PPDU format indication.

B-v) According to an embodiment, the transmission method of the EHT-SIG3 may be set differently according to SU/MU transmission. For example, in SU transmission, when the EHT-SIG3 is transmitted through a bandwidth of 20 MHz or more, it may be transmitted by being duplicated in units of 20 MHz (or 40 MHz). In MU transmission, the EHT-SIG3 may be separately/individually configured with two 20 MHz, and then duplicated in units of 40 MHz for transmission. Accordingly, the PPDU format indication bit may indicate SU/MU classification, EHT-SIG3 configuration of the PPDU, and transmission method of the EHT-SIG3. In other words, the PPDU format indication bit may include information for SU/MU classification, information related to the EHT-SIG3 configuration of the PPDU, and information related to the transmission method of the EHT-SIG3.

Configuration of MU PPDU Format

A. The MU PPDU may be a format of a PPDU transmitted to multiple users. For example, the MU PPDU may be configured as shown inFIG.24.

FIG.24shows an example of the configuration of an MU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.24, the MU PPDU2400may include EHT-SIG12410, EHT-SIG22420, and EHT-SIG32430.

A-i) The EHT-SIG22420and EHT-SIG32430may be transmitted by applying various MCSs. Information related to the MCS(s) of EHT-SIG22420and EHT-SIG32430may be indicated through bits of the EHT-SIG12410and EHT-SIG22420, respectively. In other words, information related to the MCSs of EHT-SIG22420and EHT-SIG32430may be included in the EHT-SIG12410and EHT-SIG22420, respectively. For example, information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG22420may be included in the EHT-SIG12410. Information related to the MCS of the EHT-SIG32430may be included in the EHT-SIG22420.

A-ii) Unlike the above-described example (A-i), the EHT-SIG12410and EHT-SIG22420may be commonly modulated based on ‘MCSO’. In other words, the EHT-SIG12410and EHT-SIG22420may each be modulated based on the MCSO.

B. UnlikeFIG.24described above, the MU PPDU may be configured to include the EHT-SIG1 and EHT-SIG3. That is, unlikeFIG.24, the EHT-SIG2 may be omitted from the MU PPDU. An example in which the EHT-SIG2 is omitted in the MU PPDU may be described with reference toFIG.25.

FIG.25shows another example of the configuration of an MU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.25, the MU PPDU2500may include EHT-SIG12510and EHT-SIG32530. The EHT-SIG32530may include a common field2531and a user specific field2533. For example, the EHT-SIG32530may include information (e.g., version dependent bits) included in the EHT-SIG2 described above. The information included in the above-described the EHT-SIG2 may be included in the common field2531of the EHT-SIG32530for transmission.

B-i) For example, one CRC field and one tail bit field may be applied to configure the common field2531. That is, the common field2531may include version dependent bits, common bits, CRC and tail (or tail bits).

As another example, the common field2531may be configured by applying each of the CRC field and tail field to version dependent information (or version dependent bits) and common bits in the common field2531. That is, the common field2531may include version dependent bits, CRC for the version dependent bits, tail for the version dependent bits, common bits, CRC for the common bits, and tail for the common bits.

Configuration of TB PPDU Format

The TB PPDU may be a format of a PPDU transmitted in response to a trigger frame. For example, the TB PPDU may be configured as shown inFIG.26orFIG.27.

FIG.26shows an example of the configuration of a TB PPDU.

A. Referring toFIG.26, TB PPDU2600may be configured in the same format as the SU PPDU2200illustrated inFIG.22. For example, the TB PPDU2600may include EHT-SIG12610and EHT-SIG22620. The TB PPDU2600may include information related to the SR included in the HE-SIGA of the 802.11ax standard.

FIG.27shows another example of the configuration of a TB PPDU.

B. Referring toFIG.27, unlikeFIG.26, TB PPDU2700may include only EHT-SIG12710among the above-described EHT-SIGs (e.g., EHT-SIG1, EHT-SIG2 and EHT-SIG3).

The EHT-SIG12710may include information related to a PHY identifier, format indication, BW and/or DL/UL, etc. as defined above. In addition, the EHT-SIG12710may further include at least some or all of information (fields) included in the HE-SIGA of the TB PPDU of the 802.11ax standard.

According to an embodiment, the EHT-SIG12710may consist of 2 symbols. In this case, the EHT-SIG12710may not be enough to include new information (or new contents). For example, the new information may include information other than information included in the HE-SIGA of the TB PPDU of the 802.11ax standard.

Accordingly, in order to secure bits for new information, some information (or some contents) included in HE-SIGA may be excluded to configure EHT-SIG12710. For example, the EHT-SIG12710may not include SR information (or information bits) among information included in HE-SIGA of the TB PPDU of the 802.11ax standard.

Configuration of ER SU PPDU Format

A. The ER SU PPDU may be a format of a PPDU used for range extension. In this case, the SIG field may be repeatedly transmitted to improve reliability of the SIG field. In addition, during ER-SU transmission, an L-STF and an L-LTF may be transmitted with 3 dB boosting. The ER SU PPDU may include the U-SIG.

B. In order to speed up the confirmation/recognition of the frame type, the U-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG1) included in the ER SU PPDU may consist of one symbol, and the U-SIG may be repeatedly transmitted.

B-i) For example, the U-SIG may consist of 1 symbol. The U-SIG may be configured based on of a combination of the following information (fields).

B-i)-1. Information related to the PHY version identifier

Information related to the PHY version identifier may consist of 3 bits.

B-i)-2. Information related to frame format

Information related to the frame format may be used to indicate the PPDU format. The frame format may include a format of SU/MU/TB/ER (ER SU). In addition, the information related to the frame format may be set to 2 or 3 bits in consideration of the future PPDU type.

B-i)-3. Information related to BSS color

For example, information related to the BSS color may be configured as 6 bits similar to 802.11ax. For another example, the information related to the BSS color may be set to a size larger than 6 bits in order to clarify the identification of the BSS. For example, 7/8/9/10 bits, etc. may be used for the information related to the BSS color.

B-i)-4. Information related to TXOP

B-i)-5. Tail (or Tail bits)

The tail bits may be set to 6 bits.

B-i)-6. CRC

The CRC (or CRC bits) may be set to 4 bits.

B-ii) As in the above-described embodiment, the U-SIG may consist of one symbol. Accordingly, for SU transmission, among subfields included in the U-SIG, a subfield not included in one symbol U-SIG may be transmitted though the EHT-SIGA (e.g., EHT-SIG2). In this case, the EHT-SIGA may consist of 1 or 2 symbols.

B-ii)-a. For example, the EHT-SIGA consisting of 2 symbols may be transmitted as follows for repetition. Hereinafter, notation of “[ ]” may mean one symbol.

B-ii)-a-i) [EHT-SIGA1 and EHT-SIG2] [EHT-SIGA1 and EHT-SIG2]

The EHT-SIGA repeated in “B-ii)-a-i)” can be formed/configured by bypassing an interleaver.

B-ii)-a-ii) [EHT-SIGA1 and EHT-SIG1] [EHT-SIGA2 and EHT-SIG2]

C. An example of an ER SU PPDU including a SIG field according to the above-described embodiment may be described with reference toFIG.28.

FIG.28shows an example of the configuration of an ER SU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.28, ER SU PPDU2800may include L-STF2801, L-LTF2802, L-SIG2803, RL-SIG2804, U-SIG2805, RU-SIG2806, EHT-SIGA2807, REHT-SIGA2808, EHT-STF2809, EHT-LTF2810, and DATA2811. For example, the U-SIG2805may consist of 1 symbol. The EHT-SIGA2807may consist of 2 symbols. As an example, the RU-SIG2806may be configured by repeating the U-SIG2805. For example, the REHT-SIGA2808may be configured by repeating the EHT-SIGA2807.

D. Unlike the above-described embodiment, the U-SIG (e.g., EHT-SIG1) may consist of 2 symbols. The U-SIG configured as the two symbols may be repeated in various ways. An example in which the U-SIG composed of the two symbols is repeated may be described below.

D-i) For example, since the U-SIG is composed of two symbols, U-SIG may be composed of U-SIG1 and U-SIG2. The U-SIG1 may be transmitted by including information related to the PHY identification and frame format indicator. The U-SIG1 can be configured by bypassing an interleaver in order to quickly acquire information related to the PHY identify and frame format indicator. And, the U-SIG2 can be configured by applying an interleaver.

D-ii) Configuration of U-SIG for ER SU PPDU

D-ii)-1. For example, the U-SIG may be configured in the order of the U-SIG1 (first symbol), repeated U-SIG1, U-SIG2 (second symbol), and repeated U-SIG2.

D-ii)-2. For example, the U-SIG may be configured in the order of the U-SIG1, U-SIG2, repeated U-SIG1, and repeated U-SIG2.

The repeated U-SIG1 or repeated U-SIG2 in D-ii)-1 and D-ii)-2 can be configured by bypassing an interleaver.

E. The ER SU PPDU according to the above-described embodiment may be configured as shown inFIG.29orFIG.30.

FIG.29shows another example of the configuration of an ER SU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.29, ER SU PPDU2900may include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, RU-SIG, EHT-SIG, REHT-SIG, EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and DATA. The U-SIG may consist of 2 symbols. The RU-SIG may be configured by repeating the U-SIG. The REHT-SIG may be configured by repeating the EHT-SIG.

FIG.30shows another example of the configuration of an ER SU PPDU.

Referring toFIG.30, ER SU PPDU3000may include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, U-SIG, RU-SIG, A-SIG, RA-SIG, EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and DATA. For example, the A-SIG may consist of 1 symbol. The A-SIG may include at least a portion of the EHT-SIG ofFIG.29. In addition, the A-SIG may further include additional information for the extended range. The RA-SIG may be configured by repeating the A-SIG.

FIG.31is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a transmitting STA.

Referring toFIG.31, in step S3110, the transmitting STA may generate a PPDU. For example, the PPDU may include an EHT PPDU.

According to an embodiment, the PPDU may include a first signal field and a second signal field.

For example, the first signal field and the second signal field may be respectively encoded. As an example, in the first signal field, two symbols may be jointly encoded. In addition, the first signal field and the second signal field may be modulated, respectively.

For example, the first signal field may include the U-SIG. For example, the second signal field may include the EHT-SIG.

According to an embodiment, the PPDU may further include an L-SIG field and a RL-SIG field. For example, the RL-SIG field may be contiguous to the L-SIG field. For example, the first signal field may be contiguous to the RL-SIG field. For example, the second signal field may be contiguous to the first signal field.

For example, the transmitting STA may set a value of a length field of the L-SIG field based on a transmission time of the PPDU. As an example, a result of ‘modulo 3’ operation for the value of the length field of the L-SIG field may be set to zero (0).

For example, the RL-SIG field may be configured such that the L-SIG field is repeated. For example, the RL-SIG field includes the same information field as the L-SIG field, and may be modulated in the same manner. The L-SIG field and the RL-SIG field may be modulated through BPSK, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may include first information related to a version of the PPDU. The first information may be determined based on whether the PPDU is an EHT PPDU.

For example, the first information related to a Physical Layer (PHY) version of the PPDU may be configured as 3-bit information. The first information may include information indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU (i.e., an EHT PPDU) based on the EHT standard. In addition, the first information may include information for classifying a PPDU according to a new standard defined after the 802.11be standard (i.e., the EHT standard). In other words, the first information may include information for classifying a PPDU based on an EHT standard and a PPDU based on a standard determined/generated/established after the EHT standard. That is, the first information may include information indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU in compliance with an EHT standard or a PPDU in compliance with the EHT standard.

According to an embodiment, the type of the PPDU and the version of the PPDU may be used separately. The type of PPDU may be used to classify the PPDU according to the EHT standard and the standard before the EHT standard (e.g., 802.11n/ac/ax). On the other hand, the version of the PPDU may be used to distinguish the PPDU according to the EHT standard and the standard after the EHT standard. For example, the version of the PPDU may be called variously. For example, the version of the PPDU may be referred to as a PHY version, a Packet version, a Packet identifier, and a Wi-Fi version.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may further include information related to a basic service set (BSS) color and information related to a transmission opportunity (TXOP). For example, the information related to the BSS color may be set as various bit information. As an example, the information related to the BSS color may be set as 6-bit information. For example, the information related to the TXOP may be set to various bit information. As an example, information related to TXOP may be set as 7-bit information.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may include at least one of: information related to whether Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) is applied to the PPDU; information related to whether multi-link transmission is applied to the PPDU; and information related to whether multi-access point (multi-AP) transmission is applied to the PPDU.

According to an embodiment, the second signal field may include second information which is related to transmission of the PPDU which is configured based on the first information. The second information may be referred to by various names. For example, the second information may be referred to as version dependent information.

For example, the second information may include transmission information dependent on a version of the PPDU. In other words, the configuration of information included in the second information may be set differently based on the version of the PPDU. For example, when the version of the PPDU corresponds to the EHT standard (i.e., when the PPDU is an EHT PPDU), the second information may include at least one of: information related to a size of a long training field (LTF); information related to a number of symbols of the LTF; information related to a Low Density Parity Check Code (LDPC) extra symbol; information related to a pre-forward error correction (FEC) padding factor; and information related to a packet extension (PE).

For example, the second information may include overflow information overflowed from the first signal field. For example, the first signal field may include information independent of the version of the PPDU and information dependent on the version of the PPDU. Information dependent on the version of the PPDU may be included in the second signal field by being overflowed from the first signal field.

According to an embodiment, the second signal field may include a common field and a user specific field. The common field may be called by various names. The common field may be referred to as a transmission information field. For example, the second information may be included in the common field. The common field may further include common information related to the user (e.g., information related to RU allocation). In other words, the common field may include information (e.g., second information) related to transmission of the PPDU. In addition, the common field may further include common information related to the user (e.g., information related to RU allocation) in addition to information related to PPDU transmission (e.g., second information).

For example, the second signal field may be configured for multiple users. The user specific field may include information related to multiple users. As an example, the user specific field may include information necessary for each multi-user. When the multi-user includes the first user and the second user, the user specific field may include a subfield for the first user and a subfield for the second user.

For another example, the second signal field may be configured for a single user. For example, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be configured for a single user. As an example, the second signal field may be configured to be duplicated in units of 20 MHz. In other words, the second signal field may be configured by being duplicated in units of 20 MHz within the bandwidth of the PPDU. That is, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be repeatedly configured in units of 20 MHz. In other words, based on the PPDU being configured/transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be repeatedly configured/transmitted in units of 20 MHz.

For example, even when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may include a common field and a user specific field. However, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, detailed field values of the common field and the user specific field may be changed.

As an example, the user specific field may be configured to include the same STA-ID. As another example, the user specific field may include only a subfield for a single user. As another example, the common field of the second signal field may include information indicating that the second signal field is configured for a single user.

For example, each of a common field and a user-specific field may be separately/individually encoded. As an example, the common field may include first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits and first tail bits for the common field. As an example, the user-specific field may include second CRC bits and second tail bits related to the user-specific field.

For example, the user specific field may be configured based on whether Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) or Multi User-Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) is applied. For example, when the OFDMA is applied, the user specific field may include information related to STA-ID (identifier), information related to number of space-time streams (NSTS), information related to whether beamforming is performed, information related to MCS, information related to whether Dual Carrier Modulation (DCM) is applied, and information related to coding. As another example, when the MU-MIMO is applied, the user specific field may include information related to STA-ID (identifier), information related to Spatial Configuration, information related to MCS, and information related to coding.

In step S3120, the transmitting STA may transmit a PPDU. According to an embodiment, each field included in the PPDU may be transmitted through a symbol. For example, the L-SIG field may be transmitted through the first symbol. The RL-SIG field may be transmitted through a second symbol contiguous to the first symbol. The first signal field may be transmitted through a third symbol contiguous to the second symbol. The second signal field may be transmitted through a fourth symbol contiguous to the third symbol.

As an example, the first symbol may consist of one symbol. The second symbol may consist of one symbol. The third symbol may consist of two symbols. Accordingly, the first signal field may be transmitted through two symbols. For example, the fourth symbol may consist of at least one or more symbols. Accordingly, the second signal field may be transmitted through at least one or more symbols contiguous to the two symbols through which the first signal field is transmitted.

FIG.32is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a receiving STA.

Referring toFIG.32, in step S3210, a receiving STA may receive a PPDU.

According to an embodiment, the PPDU may include a first signal field and a second signal field.

For example, the first signal field and the second signal field may be respectively encoded. As an example, in the first signal field, two symbols may be jointly encoded. In addition, the first signal field and the second signal field may be modulated, respectively.

For example, the first signal field may include the U-SIG. For example, the second signal field may include the EHT-SIG.

According to an embodiment, the PPDU may further include an L-SIG field and a RL-SIG field. For example, the RL-SIG field may be contiguous to the L-SIG field. For example, the first signal field may be contiguous to the RL-SIG field. For example, the second signal field may be contiguous to the first signal field.

According to an embodiment, each field included in the PPDU may be received through a symbol. For example, the L-SIG field may be received through the first symbol. The RL-SIG field may be received through a second symbol contiguous to the first symbol. The first signal field may be received through a third symbol contiguous to the second symbol. The second signal field may be received through a fourth symbol contiguous to the third symbol.

As an example, the first symbol may consist of one symbol. The second symbol may consist of one symbol. The third symbol may consist of two symbols. Accordingly, the first signal field may be received through two symbols. For example, the fourth symbol may consist of at least one or more symbols. Accordingly, the second signal field may be received through at least one or more symbols contiguous to the two symbols through which the first signal field is received.

For example, the transmitting STA may set a value of a length field of the L-SIG field based on a transmission time of the PPDU. As an example, a result of ‘modulo 3’ operation for the value of the length field of the L-SIG field may be set to zero (0).

For example, the RL-SIG field may be configured such that the L-SIG field is repeated. For example, the RL-SIG field includes the same information field as the L-SIG field, and may be modulated in the same manner. The L-SIG field and the RL-SIG field may be modulated through BPSK, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may include first information related to a version of the PPDU. The first information may be determined based on whether the PPDU is an EHT PPDU. The first information may include information related to whether the PPDU is an EHT PPDU. Accordingly, the receiving STA may confirm/check that the PPDU is an EHT PPDU based on the first information.

For example, the first information related to a Physical Layer (PHY) version of the PPDU may be configured as 3-bit information. The first information may include information indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU (i.e., an EHT PPDU) based on the EHT standard. In addition, the first information may include information for classifying a PPDU according to a new standard defined after the 802.11be standard (i.e., the EHT standard). In other words, the first information may include information for classifying a PPDU based on an EHT standard and a PPDU based on a standard determined/generated/established after the EHT standard. That is, the first information may include information indicating that the PPDU is a PPDU in compliance with an EHT standard or a PPDU in compliance with the EHT standard.

According to an embodiment, the type of the PPDU and the version of the PPDU may be used separately. The type of PPDU may be used to classify the PPDU according to the EHT standard and the standard before the EHT standard (e.g., 802.11n/ac/ax). On the other hand, the version of the PPDU may be used to distinguish the PPDU according to the EHT standard and the standard after the EHT standard. For example, the version of the PPDU may be called variously. For example, the version of the PPDU may be referred to as a PHY version, a Packet version, a Packet identifier, and a Wi-Fi version.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may further include information related to a basic service set (BSS) color and information related to a transmission opportunity (TXOP). For example, the information related to the BSS color may be set as various bit information. As an example, the information related to the BSS color may be set as 6-bit information. For example, the information related to the TXOP may be set to various bit information. As an example, information related to TXOP may be set as 7-bit information.

According to an embodiment, the first signal field may include at least one of: information related to whether Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) is applied to the PPDU; information related to whether multi-link transmission is applied to the PPDU; and information related to whether multi-access point (multi-AP) transmission is applied to the PPDU.

According to an embodiment, the second signal field may include second information which is related to transmission of the PPDU which is configured based on the first information. The second information may be referred to by various names. For example, the second information may be referred to as version dependent information.

For example, the second information may include transmission information dependent on a version of the PPDU. In other words, the configuration of information included in the second information may be set differently based on the version of the PPDU. For example, when the version of the PPDU corresponds to the EHT standard (i.e., when the PPDU is an EHT PPDU), the second information may include at least one of: information related to a size of a long training field (LTF); information related to a number of symbols of the LTF; information related to a Low Density Parity Check Code (LDPC) extra symbol; information related to a pre-forward error correction (FEC) padding factor; and information related to a packet extension (PE).

For example, the second information may include overflow information overflowed from the first signal field. For example, the first signal field may include information independent of the version of the PPDU and information dependent on the version of the PPDU. Information dependent on the version of the PPDU may be included in the second signal field by being overflowed from the first signal field.

According to an embodiment, the second signal field may include a common field and a user specific field. The common field may be called by various names. The common field may be referred to as a transmission information field. For example, the second information may be included in the common field. The common field may further include common information related to the user (e.g., information related to RU allocation). In other words, the common field may include information (e.g., second information) related to transmission of the PPDU. In addition, the common field may further include common information related to the user (e.g., information related to RU allocation) in addition to information related to PPDU transmission (e.g., second information).

For example, the second signal field may be configured for multiple users. The user specific field may include information related to multiple users. As an example, the user specific field may include information necessary for each multi-user. When the multi-user includes the first user and the second user, the user specific field may include a subfield for the first user and a subfield for the second user.

For another example, the second signal field may be configured for a single user. For example, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be configured for a single user. As an example, the second signal field may be configured to be duplicated in units of 20 MHz. In other words, the second signal field may be configured by being duplicated in units of 20 MHz within the bandwidth of the PPDU. That is, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be repeatedly configured in units of 20 MHz. In other words, based on the PPDU being configured/transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may be repeatedly configured/transmitted in units of 20 MHz.

For example, even when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, the second signal field may include a common field and a user specific field. However, when the PPDU is transmitted for a single user, detailed field values of the common field and the user specific field may be changed.

As an example, the user specific field may be configured to include the same STA-ID. As another example, the user specific field may include only a subfield for a single user. As another example, the common field of the second signal field may include information indicating that the second signal field is configured for a single user.

For example, each of a common field and a user-specific field may be separately/individually encoded. As an example, the common field may include first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits and first tail bits for the common field. As an example, the user-specific field may include second CRC bits and second tail bits related to the user-specific field.

For example, the user specific field may be configured based on whether Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) or Multi User-Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) is applied. For example, when the OFDMA is applied, the user specific field may include information related to STA-ID (identifier), information related to number of space-time streams (NSTS), information related to whether beamforming is performed, information related to MCS, information related to whether Dual Carrier Modulation (DCM) is applied, and information related to coding. As another example, when the MU-MIMO is applied, the user specific field may include information related to STA-ID (identifier), information related to Spatial Configuration, information related to MCS, and information related to coding.

In step S3220, the receiving STA may decode the PPDU. According to an embodiment, the receiving STA may decode PPDUs based on the first signal field and the second signal field. In addition, the receiving STA may decode the first signal field and the second signal field, respectively.

The technical features of the present specification described above may be applied to various devices and methods. For example, the above-described technical features of the present specification may be performed/supported through the apparatus ofFIGS.1and/or19. For example, the technical features of the present specification described above may be applied only to a part ofFIGS.1and/or19. For example, the technical features of the present specification described above are implemented based on the processing chip(s)114and/or124ofFIG.1, or implemented based on the processor(s)111and/or121and the memory(s)112and/or122ofFIG.1, or may be implemented based on the processor610and the memory620ofFIG.19. For example, an apparatus of the present specification may comprise a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to: receive a Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU includes a first signal field and a second signal field, wherein the first signal field is transmitted through two symbols, wherein the first signal field includes first information related to a Physical layer (PHY) version of the PPDU, wherein the first information is determined based on whether the PPDU is an extremely high throughput (EHT) PPDU, wherein the second signal field includes second information which is related to transmission of the PPDU configured based on the first information; and decode the PPDU based on the first signal field and the second signal field.

The technical features of the present specification may be implemented based on a CRM (computer readable medium). For example, the CRM proposed by this specification stores instructions that perform operations comprising: receiving a Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU includes a first signal field and a second signal field, wherein the first signal field is transmitted through two symbols, wherein the first signal field includes first information related to a Physical layer (PHY) version of the PPDU, wherein the first information is determined based on whether the PPDU is an extremely high throughput (EHT) PPDU, wherein the second signal field includes second information which is related to transmission of the PPDU configured based on the first information; and decoding the PPDU based on the first signal field and the second signal field. At least one processor related to the CRM in the present specification may be the processor(s)111and/or121, or the processing chip(s)114and/or124ofFIG.1, or the processor610ofFIG.19. Meanwhile, the CRM of the present specification may be the memory(s)112and/or122ofFIG.1, the memory620ofFIG.19, or a separate external memory/storage medium/disk.

The foregoing technical features of the present specification are applicable to various applications or business models. For example, the foregoing technical features may be applied for wireless communication of a device supporting artificial intelligence (AI).

Artificial intelligence refers to a field of study on artificial intelligence or methodologies for creating artificial intelligence, and machine learning refers to a field of study on methodologies for defining and solving various issues in the area of artificial intelligence. Machine learning is also defined as an algorithm for improving the performance of an operation through steady experiences of the operation.

An artificial neural network (ANN) is a model used in machine learning and may refer to an overall problem-solving model that includes artificial neurons (nodes) forming a network by combining synapses. The artificial neural network may be defined by a pattern of connection between neurons of different layers, a learning process of updating a model parameter, and an activation function generating an output value.

The artificial neural network may include an input layer, an output layer, and optionally one or more hidden layers. Each layer includes one or more neurons, and the artificial neural network may include synapses that connect neurons. In the artificial neural network, each neuron may output a function value of an activation function of input signals input through a synapse, weights, and deviations.

A model parameter refers to a parameter determined through learning and includes a weight of synapse connection and a deviation of a neuron. A hyper-parameter refers to a parameter to be set before learning in a machine learning algorithm and includes a learning rate, the number of iterations, a mini-batch size, and an initialization function.

Learning an artificial neural network may be intended to determine a model parameter for minimizing a loss function. The loss function may be used as an index for determining an optimal model parameter in a process of learning the artificial neural network.

Machine learning may be classified into supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

Supervised learning refers to a method of training an artificial neural network with a label given for training data, wherein the label may indicate a correct answer (or result value) that the artificial neural network needs to infer when the training data is input to the artificial neural network. Unsupervised learning may refer to a method of training an artificial neural network without a label given for training data. Reinforcement learning may refer to a training method for training an agent defined in an environment to choose an action or a sequence of actions to maximize a cumulative reward in each state.

Machine learning implemented with a deep neural network (DNN) including a plurality of hidden layers among artificial neural networks is referred to as deep learning, and deep learning is part of machine learning. Hereinafter, machine learning is construed as including deep learning.

The foregoing technical features may be applied to wireless communication of a robot.

Robots may refer to machinery that automatically process or operate a given task with own ability thereof. In particular, a robot having a function of recognizing an environment and autonomously making a judgment to perform an operation may be referred to as an intelligent robot.

Robots may be classified into industrial, medical, household, military robots and the like according uses or fields. A robot may include an actuator or a driver including a motor to perform various physical operations, such as moving a robot joint. In addition, a movable robot may include a wheel, a brake, a propeller, and the like in a driver to run on the ground or fly in the air through the driver.

The foregoing technical features may be applied to a device supporting extended reality.

Extended reality collectively refers to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). VR technology is a computer graphic technology of providing a real-world object and background only in a CG image, AR technology is a computer graphic technology of providing a virtual CG image on a real object image, and MR technology is a computer graphic technology of providing virtual objects mixed and combined with the real world.

MR technology is similar to AR technology in that a real object and a virtual object are displayed together. However, a virtual object is used as a supplement to a real object in AR technology, whereas a virtual object and a real object are used as equal statuses in MR technology.

XR technology may be applied to a head-mount display (HMD), a head-up display (HUD), a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a TV, digital signage, and the like. A device to which XR technology is applied may be referred to as an XR device.

The claims recited in the present specification may be combined in a variety of ways. For example, the technical features of the method claims of the present specification may be combined to be implemented as a device, and the technical features of the device claims of the present specification may be combined to be implemented by a method. In addition, the technical characteristics of the method claim of the present specification and the technical characteristics of the device claim may be combined to be implemented as a device, and the technical characteristics of the method claim of the present specification and the technical characteristics of the device claim may be combined to be implemented by a method.