IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,726,243
Granted Patent B2
US 12,726,243 · App. 18/571,336 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Enhanced channel sounding protocols for WLAN systems

Inventors: Zinan Lin (Basking Ridge, NJ); Mahmoud Saad (Montreal, CA); Hanqing Lou (Syosset, NY); Rui Yang (Greenlawn, NY); Xiaofei Wang (North Caldwell, NJ)
Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
H04B7/0617H04B7/0634H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,243
App. No.
18/571,336
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for Multi-AP channel sounding for Wireless Area Networks (WLAN) are disclosed. A method performed by a beamformee may compromise: receiving, from a beamformer, a null data packed (NDP) announcement frame (NDPA); receiving, from the beamformer, an NDP frame; receiving, from the beamformer, an enhanced beamforming request poll (BFRP) trigger frame including an indication of a feedback format; and transmitting, to the beamformer based on the NDP and NDPA, using a format indicated by the feedback format of the BFRP trigger frame, a feedback frame including a feedback report. The trigger frame may be an enhanced beamforming report poll (BFRP) trigger frame. The feedback report may be a beamforming report or a vector index (VI) feedback report. The beamformer may be an access point (AP) and the beamformee may be a station (STA).

Claims (38)

1 . A method for use in a beamformee, the method comprising:

receiving, from a beamformer, a null data packed (NDP) announcement frame (NDPA);

receiving, from the beamformer, based on the NDPA, an NDP frame;

receiving, from the beamformer, an enhanced beamforming request poll (BFRP) trigger frame including an indication of a feedback format; and

transmitting, to the beamformer based on the NDP, using a format indicated by the feedback format of the BFRP trigger frame, a feedback frame including a feedback report.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger frame is an enhanced beamforming report poll (BFRP) trigger frame.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback report is a beamforming report.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback report is a vector index (VI) feedback report.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beamformer is an access point (AP).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beamformee is a station (STA).

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback frame is further based on the NDPA.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the BFRP includes a trigger dependent user info subfield.

9 . A beamformee comprising:

a processor

a receiver; and

a transmitter;

the processor and the receiver configured to:

receive, from a beamformer, a null data packed (NDP) announcement frame (NDPA);

receive, from the beamformer, based on the NDPA, an NDP frame;

receive, from the beamformer, an enhanced beamforming request poll (BFRP) trigger frame including an indication of a feedback format; and

the processor and transmitter configured to transmit, to the beamformer based on the NDP, using a format indicated by the feedback format of the BFRP trigger frame, a feedback frame including a feedback report.

10 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the trigger frame is an enhanced beamforming report poll (BFRP) trigger frame.

11 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the feedback report is a beamforming report.

12 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the feedback report is a vector index (VI) feedback report.

13 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the beamformer is an access point (AP).

14 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the beamformee is a station (STA).

15 . The beamformee of claim 9 , wherein the feedback frame is further based on the NDPA.

16 . The beamformee of claim 10 , wherein the BFRP includes a trigger dependent user info subfield.

17 . A method performed by a beamformer, the method comprising:

transmitting a null data packed (NDP) announcement frame (NDPA);

transmitting a NDP frame;

transmitting a first enhanced beamforming request poll (BFRP) trigger frame including an indication of a feedback format;

receiving, from a first set of beamformees, one or more beamforming reports based on the indication of the feedback format;

transmitting a second enhanced beamforming request poll (BFRP) trigger frame including an indication of a feedback format; and

receiving, from a second set of beamformees, one or more feedback reports based on the indication of the feedback format.

18 . The beamformer of claim 17 , wherein the feedback report is a vector index (VI) feedback report.

19 . The beamformer of claim 17 , wherein the beamformer is an access point (AP).

20 . The beamformer of claim 17 , wherein the beamformee is a station (STA).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2023
From: LIN, ZINAN; SAAD, MAHMOUD; LOU, HANQING; YANG, RUI; WANG, XIAOFEI
To: INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 065941/0368 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63212329 · Jun 18, 2021
Provisional Application 63252854 · Oct 6, 2021
Related Publication 20240275445A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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