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Resource Unit

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Resource Unit (RU) is a unit in OFDMA terminology used in 802.11ax WLAN to denote a group of subcarriers (tones) used in both DownLink (DL) and UpLink (UL) transmissions. With OFDMA, different transmit powers may be applied to different RUs. There are maximum of 9 RUs for 20 MHz, 18 in case of 40 MHz and more in case of 80 or 160 MHz.[1] The RUs enables an Access Point station to allow multi-users to access it simultaneously and efficiently.

Description

Subcarriers

802.11ax WLAN is the first WLAN standard to use OFDMA to enable transmissions with multiple users simultaneously (it is called High Efficiency Multi Users [HE-MU] Access). In OFDMA, a symbol is constructed of subcarriers where the total number defines a Physical Layer PDU bandwidth. Each user is assigned different subsets of subcarriers to achieve simultaneous data transmission in MU (Multi-Users) environment. The more subcarriers are used, the longer their symbol rate is, which means that the overall rate of information remains the same.

There are three subcarrier types used in OFDMA WLAN:

  1. Data subcarrier; used for actual data transmission
  2. Pilot subcarrier; used for phase information and parameter tracking
  3. Unused subcarrier which is neither data nor pilot subcarrier. This includes DC, Guard band and null subcarriers.


There are a few RUs currently defined: 26-tone RU, 52-tone RU, 106-tone RU, 242-tone RU, 484-tone RU, 996-tone RU and 2x996-tone RU. For example, for basic 20 MHz bandwidth, nine 26-tone RUs can be used, but only four with 52-tone RUs.[1]

RU locations in 40 MHz HE PPDU
RU locations in 40 MHz HE PPDU

For example, when an AP supports 52-tone RUs for its 20-MHz bandwidth, four users can transmit and/or receive simultaneously to the AP (each uses 52-tones, but the total bandwidth for all users must be less than or equal the whole 20-MHz full allocated bandwidth). This scheme increases efficiency, compared to older method (802.11ac and older) where only a single user can transmit/receive at a time (it uses the whole allocated 20 MHz bandwidth), while the rest must wait their turn. When there is only one user in the network, it can uses the whole 20-MHz bandwidth by operating at 242-tone RU.

A 52-Tone RU consists of 48 data subcarriers and 4 pilot subcarriers. 106-tone RU consists of 102 data subcarriers and 4 pilot subcarriers, while A 242-tone RU consists of 234 data subcarriers and 8 pilot subcarriers. A 484-tone RU consists of 468 data subcarriers and 16 pilot subcarriers, A 996-tone RU consists of 980 data subcarriers and 16 pilot subcarriers and A 2996-tone RU consists of two 996-tone RUs, each located at each half of the PPDU bandwidth for 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz HE PPDU formats.[1]

Maximum number of RUs for each Channel Bandwidth (CBW)[1]
RU Type CBW20 CBW40 CBW80 CBW80+80 and CMW160
26-Tone RU 9 18 37 74
52-Tone RU 4 8 16 32
106-Tone RU 2 4 8 16
242-Tone RU 1 2 4 8
484-Tone RU N/A 1 2 4
996-Tone RU N/A N/A 1 2
2x996 Tone RU N/A N/A N/A 1


RU Data Subcarriers Pilot Subcarriers
26-Tone RU 24 2
52-Tone RU 48 4
106-Tone RU 102 4
242-Tone RU 234 8
484-Tone RU 468 16
996-Tone RU 980 16
2x996 Tone RU 1960 0


Resource Units allocation is also used in MIMO transmission to enable multiple users to use MIMO at the same time.


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d 802.11 Working Group, IEEE (October 2017). IEEE P802.11ax™/D2.0 Draft Standard for Information technology— Telecommunications and information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements: Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications; Amendment 6: Enhancements for High Efficiency WLAN. New York, New York 10016-5997, USA: IEEE. pp. 357–360. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)