Multi-User 60 GHz WLANs: from Standards to User Selection Policies

Abstract

Multi-user transmission at 60 GHz promises to scale the throughput of next generation WLANs via simultaneous transmission of multiple independent data streams. This feature is identified as one of the main design elements of IEEE 802.11ay, next generation of Wi-Fi standards that promises 100-Gbps communications. In this talk, I will describe the motivation and rationale behind multi-user 60 GHz transmissions as well as the technical challenges, including beam steering and user selection. Specifically, I will experimentally show how the choice of users and analog beams are tied together using a programmable wideband testbed with phased antenna arrays. Instead of the joint selection of users and analog beams, I will describe the design of a low-complexity decoupled structure in which beam training precedes user selection. Finally, I will discuss user selection policies in multi-user 60 GHz systems that are possible due to millimeter-wave radio propagation characteristics.