Towards Ultra-Low-Latency mmWave Wi-Fi for Multi-User Interactive Virtual Reality

TL;DR

This paper explores using IEEE 802.11ad hardware to create low-latency, multi-user wireless VR systems, demonstrating that such setups can support multiple 4K streams with sub-millisecond latency.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical and simulation-based analysis showing IEEE 802.11ad can enable cost-effective, high-performance wireless VR for multiple users with ultra-low latency.

Findings

Supports at least 8 headsets with 4K VR streams

Achieves transmission latency under 1 millisecond

Validates theoretical framework with ns-3 simulations

Abstract

The need for cables with high-fidelity Virtual Reality (VR) headsets remains a stumbling block on the path towards interactive multi-user VR. Due to strict latency constraints, designing fully wireless headsets is challenging, with the few commercially available solutions being expensive. These solutions use proprietary millimeter wave (mmWave) communications technologies, as extremely high frequencies are needed to meet the throughput and latency requirements of VR applications. In this work, we investigate whether such a system could be built using specification-compliant IEEE 802.11ad hardware, which would significantly reduce the cost of wireless mmWave VR solutions. We present a theoretical framework to calculate attainable live VR video bitrates for different IEEE 802.11ad channel access methods, using 1 or more head-mounted displays connected to a single Access Point (AP). Using the ns-3 simulator, we validate our theoretical framework, and demonstrate that a properly configured IEEE 802.11ad AP can support at least 8 headsets receiving a 4K video stream for each eye, with transmission latency under 1 millisecond.