# US 2019/0379435 A1 · Assisted Multi-User Multi-Input Multi-Output (MU-MIMO) Communication System

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- Number: US 2019/0379435 A1
- Document ID: US20190379435A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/003,986
- Filed: 2018-06-08
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-08
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Raghuram C. Kamath; Diego C. Hernandez; Harneet Singh Oberoi; Indranil S. Sen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379435A1

## CPC

- H04B 7/0452: Multi-user MIMO systems
- H04B 7/0619: {using feedback from receiving side (feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001)}
- H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
- H04W 40/04: based on wireless node resources
- H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals}
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for grouping client devices based on sensor data in an assisted wireless communication system are provided. Sensor data may include device mobility, device type, and device application data usage, among other characteristics. An assisted wireless communication system may include client devices sending data to an access point. The clients may send conventional protocol data over a channel and, concurrently, send sensor data over an alternative channel. In some cases, client devices may exchange their protocol data, modify their own protocol data based on the exchanged data, and send the modified protocol data to the access point. This may allow the clients to adjust their grouping.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device comprising:
a network interface;
a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and
a memory comprising computer-readable instructions to form a set of groups of a wireless communication system, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the electronic device to:
send, using the network interface, a sounding frame via a first channel of the wireless communication system to a first client of the wireless communication system;
receive, using the network interface, protocol data via the first channel from the first client, wherein the protocol data is based at least in part on the sounding frame;
receive, using the network interface, complementary data via a second channel from the first client; and
form, in the processor, a first group of the set of groups based on the protocol data and the complementary data, wherein the first group comprises the first client and the first group is associated with a first beamformed data link.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the protocol data is configured to indicate RF characteristics of the first client with respect to the electronic device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the complementary data comprises mobility characteristic of the first client, application data usage of the first client, a type of the first client, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the electronic device to receive second protocol data from a second electronic device, and wherein the complementary data from the first client and the second protocol data from the second electronic device are received concurrently.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the second electronic device comprises a third party device not configured to connect to the second channel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first channel comprises an IEEE 802.11 compliant channel or a Wi-Fi channel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second channel comprises a wireless direct link, an Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL), a Bluetooth link, or an AirDrop link, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a router or an access point.

### Claim 9

A method to form a set of groups of a network, comprising:
broadcasting, from an access point of the network, sounding packets to a plurality of client devices of the network via a first channel of the network;
receiving, in the access point, a respective protocol packets from each respective client device of the plurality of client devices via the first channel of the network, wherein each respective protocol packet is sent by the respective client device in response to a respective sounding packet received by the respective client device;
receiving, via a second channel of the network, complementary packets from a portion of first party devices of the plurality of client devices; and
grouping the plurality of client devices into the set of groups by placing each client device of the plurality of client devices into a respective group of the set of groups based at least on received protocol packet and received complementary packet, wherein each respective group is associated with a respective beamformed data link.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein each sounding packet is configured to obtain RF characteristics of each of the plurality of client devices.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein grouping the plurality of client devices comprise placing a first client device of the portion of first party devices in a first group and placing a second client device of the portion of first party devices in a second group distinct from the first group, and wherein the first client device provides a first respective protocol packet to the second client device via the second channel of the network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the first channel comprises an IEEE 802.11 compliant channel or a Wi-Fi channel, and wherein the second channel comprises a wireless direct link, an Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL), a Bluetooth link, or an AirDrop link, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein grouping the plurality of client devices into the set of groups comprises creating a radio frequency map configured to indicate grouping and channel usage of each client device of the plurality of client devices.

### Claim 14

A non-transient, computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device cause the processor to:
receive, using a network interface coupled to the processor, a sounding frame from an access point of a wireless communication system, wherein the sounding frame is received via a first channel of the wireless communication system;
send, using the network interface, a protocol data packet to the access point via the first channel, wherein the protocol data packet is based on the sounding frame; and
send, using the network interface, a complementary data packet to the access point via a second channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the complementary data packet comprises sensor data.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein sending complementary data packet to the access point comprises verifying if the access point comprise a first party access point based at least on the sounding frame.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein sensor data comprises mobility of the electronic device, application data usage of the electronic device, electronic device type, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to verify if the access point comprises a known access point.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein sending the protocol data packet via the first channel and sending the complementary data packet via the second channel are concurrent.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the electronic device to send a second protocol data packet to a second electronic device of the wireless communication system.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the electronic device comprises a notebook computer, hand-held device, desktop computer, wearable electronic device, media center device, or intelligent home assistant, or any combination thereof.