CN1894914A - High speed media access control with legacy system interoperability - Google Patents

Abstract

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that is backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect a first signal is transmitted according to a legacy transmission format to reserve a portion of a shared medium, and communication according to a second transmission format transpires during the reserved portion. In another aspect, a communication device may contend for access on a legacy system, and then communicate according to a new class communication protocol with one or more remote communication devices during the access period. In another aspect, a device may request access to a shared medium according to a legacy protocol, and, upon grant of access, the device may communicate with or facilitate communication between one or more remote stations according to a new protocol.

Description

With the high speed media access control with legacy system interoperability

It is claimed priority according to 35 U.S.C § 119

Patent application claims enjoy the priority of following U.S. Provisional Patent Application:

The provisional application No.60/511,750 on October 15th, 2003 " Method and Apparatus forProviding Interoperability and Backward Compatibility in WirelessCommunication Systems " submitting, entitled；

On October 15th, 2003 it is submitting, entitled " the provisional application No.60/511 of Method, Apparatus, and Systemfor Medium Access Control in a High Performance Wireless LANEnvironment ", 904；

The provisional application No.60/513,239 on October 21st, 2003 " Peer-to-Peer Connections inMIMO WLAN System " submitting, entitled；

On December 1st, 2003 it is submitting, entitled " the provisional application No.60/526 of Method, Apparatus, and Systemfor Sub-Network Protocol Stack for Very High Speed Wireless LAN ", 347；

On December 1st, 2003 it is submitting, entitled " Method; Apparatus; the provisional application No.60/526 of and Systemfor Multiplexing Protocol data Units in a High Performance WirelessLAN Environment ", 356；

The provisional application No.60/532,791 on December 23rd, 2003 " Wireless CommunicationsMedium Access Control (MAC) Enhancements " submitting, entitled；

The provisional application No.60/545,963 of on 2 18th, 2004 " Adaptive CoordinationFunction (ACF) " submitting, entitled；

The provisional application No.60/576,545 on June 2nd, 2004 " Method and Apparatus for RobustWireless Network " submitting, entitled；

The provisional application No.60/586,841 on July 8th, 2004 " Method and Apparatus forDistribution Communication Resources Among Multiple Users " submitting, entitled；And

On August 11st, 2004 it is submitting, entitled " the provisional application No.60/600 of Method, Apparatus, and Systemfor Wireless Communications ", 960；

Above-mentioned provisional application all transfers present assignee, therefore is clearly incorporated by reference herein.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to communication more particularly to media access controls.

Background technique

In order to provide the various communications of such as voice-and-data etc, widespread deployment wireless communication system.Typical radio data system or network provide the access to one or more shared resources for multiple users.A variety of access technologies, such as frequency division multiplexing (FDM), time division multiplexing (TDM), code division multiplexing (CDM) can be used in a kind of system.

Exemplary wireless network includes being based on cellular data system.Some such examples are as follows: (1) " TIA/EIA-95-B Mobile Station-Base Station CompatibilityStandard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System " (IS-95 standard)；(2) standard (W-CDMA standard) provided by entitled " 3rd Generation Partnership Project " (3GPP), it includes in one group of document 3G TS 25.211,3G TS25.212,3G TS 25.213 and 3G TS 25.214；(3) standard (IS-2000 standard) provided by entitled " 3rd GenerationPartnership Project 2 " (3GPP2), it includes in " TR-45.5 Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread SpectrumSystems "；(4) high data rate (HDR) system of TIA/EIA/IS-856 standard (IS-856 standard) is followed.

The other examples of wireless system include WLAN (WLAN), such as 802.11 standard of IEEE (i.e. 802.11 (a), (b) or (g)).Using multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) WLAN including orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation technique, the improvement to these networks may be implemented.In order to improve some disadvantages of 802.11 former standards, IEEE 802.11 (e) has been had been incorporated into.

With the development of wireless system design, it is already possible to provide higher data rate.Higher data rate is that advanced application creates possibility, such as voice, video, high speed data transfer and various other applications.But different applications has different requirements for its respective data transmission.Numerous types of data has delay and throughput demands, or certain service quality (QoS) is needed to guarantee.In the case where no resource management, the capacity of system may be reduced, also, system possibly can not efficiently work.

Media access control (MAC) agreement is commonly used in distributing the shared communication resource between a plurality of users.High level is usually joined together by MAC protocol with the physical layer for being used for sending and receiving data.In order to benefit in increasing from data rate, MAC protocol must be designed to efficiently utilize shared resource.Generally also wish to keep interoperability with the communication standard of replacement or traditional (legacy).Therefore, there is a need in the art for the MAC processing for efficiently utilizing high throughput systems.Also the needs and various types of legacy systems keep the MAC of backward compatibility to handle in this field.

Summary of the invention

Embodiment disclosed herein solves the demand to efficiently utilizing high throughput systems and the MAC of backward compatibility can be kept to handle with various legacy systems.In an aspect, first signal is sent according to conventional transmission format with a part of reserved shared media, and during reserved part, is communicated according to second of transformat.

In an aspect, communication equipment contention access can be communicated according to new a kind of communication protocol with one or more telecommunication equipments and then during access period on legacy system.In another aspect, equipment can request to access shared media according to legacy protocol, and when granting access, which can be communicated (or convenient for communication between two or more distant stations) with one or more distant stations according to new agreement.

In another aspect, one novel (new class) access point is assigned with uncontended periods and competing cycle, a part of uncontended periods is wherein distributed to by communication according to novel protocol, and the second part of uncontended periods is distributed into communication according to conventional communication protocols.The combination of one of two kinds of agreements or two kinds of agreements can be used in competing cycle.Give various other aspects.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 is a kind of exemplary embodiment of system comprising high speed WLAN；

Fig. 2 gives an exemplary embodiment of wireless telecom equipment, can be configured to access point or user terminal；

Fig. 3 gives 802.11 Inter Frame Space parameters；

Fig. 4 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line (segment), adds back off time (backoff) to be accessed using DIFS according to DCF for illustrating；

Fig. 5 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line, uses SIFS before ACK for illustrating, has and access higher priority than DIFS；

Fig. 6, which is shown, is divided into big small fragment (fragment), the associated SIFS of the latter；

Fig. 7 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line, for illustrating that every frame has the TXOP of confirmation；

Fig. 8 shows the TXOP with block confirmation；

Fig. 9 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line, for illustrating the poll TXOP using HCCA；

Figure 10 is an exemplary embodiment of TXOP comprising is continuously transmitted without the multiple of any gap；

Figure 11 is an exemplary embodiment of TXOP, reduces required preamble transmissions amount for illustrating；

Figure 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for being integrated with various aspects comprising merges lead code, deletes the gap of such as SIFS etc and be inserted into GIF as needed；

Figure 13 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line, for illustrating that combined wheel inquires about corresponding TXOP；

Figure 14 gives an illustrative methods for merging poll；

Figure 15 gives an illustrative mac frame；

Figure 16 gives an illustrative MAC PDU；

Figure 17 gives an illustrative point to point link；

Figure 18 shows the physical layer bursts (burst) of a prior art；

Figure 19 gives an illustrative physical layer bursts, can be used for point to point link；

Figure 20 gives an exemplary embodiment of mac frame comprising optional self-organizing (ad hoc) section；

Figure 21 gives an illustrative physical layer bursts；

Figure 22 shows an illustrative point-to-point data transmission method；

Figure 23 gives an illustrative point to point link method；

Figure 24 gives for providing an illustrative methods of Rate Feedback in point-to-point connects；

Figure 25 shows the managed point-to-point connection between two stations and an access point；

Figure 26 shows the point-to-point connection based on competition (or self-organizing)；

Figure 27 gives an illustrative mac frame, for illustrating the managed point to point link between station；

Figure 28, which is shown, supports tradition and novel station in the distribution of identical frequency；

Figure 29, which is shown, combines tradition and new media access control；

Figure 30 gives a kind of illustrative methods for getting transmission opportunity；

Figure 31 gives a kind of illustrative methods that single FA is shared with multiple BSS；

Figure 32 shows the overlapping BSS using single FA；

Figure 33 gives a kind of illustrative methods that high speed point to point link is executed while interoperating with traditional BSS；

Figure 34 shows the point to point link using MIMO technology, the contention access on traditional BSS；

Figure 35, which is shown, is encapsulated in one or more mac frames (or fragment) in an aggregate frame；

Figure 36 shows a traditional mac frame；

Figure 37 shows an illustrative decompressed frame；

Figure 38 gives an illustrative condensed frame；

Figure 39 gives another illustrative condensed frame；

Figure 40 gives an illustrative aggregation header；

Figure 41 gives an exemplary embodiment of the scheduled access period frame (SCAP) used in ACF；

Figure 42 illustrates how for SCAP and HCCA and EDCA to be used in combination with；

Figure 43 shows the interval beacon (Beacon), including multiple SCAP, has interted access period competition-based therebetween；

Figure 44 is shown to be operated using the low delay of a large amount of MIMO STA；

Figure 45 gives an illustrative SCHED message；

Figure 46 gives an illustrative power management field；

Figure 47 gives an illustrative MAP field；

Figure 48 gives an exemplary SCHED control frame for TXOP distribution；

Figure 49 shows a traditional 802.11PPDU；

Figure 50 gives an exemplary MIMO PPDU for data transmission；

Figure 51 gives an illustrative SCHED PPDU；

Figure 52 gives an illustrative FRACH PPDU；And

Figure 53 shows another embodiment for the method that can be interoperated with legacy system.

Specific embodiment

The exemplary embodiment for supporting efficient operation is disclosed herein in the physical layer of the very high bit rate of combining wireless LAN (alternatively, using the similar application of emerging transmission technology).The illustrative WLAN supports the bit rate more than 100Mbps (megabits per second) in 20MHz bandwidth.

Various exemplary embodiments remain the simplicity and robustness of the distributed collaboration operation of conventional WLAN system, for example, they are 802.11 (a-e).The advantages of various embodiments may be implemented, while keeping the backward compatibility with these legacy systems.(it should be noted that being illustrative legacy system by 802.11 System describes in the following description.Those skilled in the art will be apparent that these improvement are equally compatible with the system of replacement and standard.)

A kind of illustrative WLAN may include Subnetwork protocol stack.Subnetwork protocol stack can usually support the physical layer transmission mechanism of high data rate, high bandwidth, including but not limited to: the mechanism based on OFDM modulation；Single carrier modulation technique；Using the system (multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) system, including multiple input single output (MISO) system) of multiple transmittings and multiple receiving antennas, the operation for very high bandwidth efficiency；Multiple transmittings and receiving antenna and space multiplexing technique are used in combination to the system for being sent data with the introversive multiple user terminals in interval at the same time or being received data from multiple user terminals；And employing code division multiple access (CDMA) technology is come the system of realizing multiple user's simultaneous transmissions.The example of replacement includes single input and multi-output (SIMO) and single-input single-output (SISO) system.

One or more exemplary embodiment given here is unfolded to introduce for wireless data communication system environment.Although different embodiments of the invention can also be applied to different environment or configuration it is preferred that using in this context.Under normal conditions, various systems described herein can be realized with the processor of software control, integrated circuit or discrete logic.Data, instruction, order, information, signal, symbol and the chip quoted through the application are preferably indicated with voltage, electric current, electromagnetic wave, magnetic field or particle, light field or particle or combinations thereof.In addition, the step of box shown in every width block diagram can indicate hardware or method.Without departing from the scope of the present invention, method and step be can be interchanged." illustrative " word used herein means " being used as example, example or explanation ".Any embodiment or design for being described herein as " exemplary " are not necessarily to be construed as than other embodiments or design preferably or with advantage.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of system 100 comprising an access point (AP) 104, the access point 104 are connected to one or more user terminals (UT) 106A-N.According to 802.11 terms, herein, AP and UT also referred to as station or STA.AP and UT is communicated via WLAN (WLAN) 120.In this illustrative embodiment, WLAN 120 is high speed MIMO ofdm system.But WLAN 120 is also possible to any Wireless LAN.Access point 104 is communicated via network 102 with any amount of external equipment or treatment process.Network 102 can be internet, Intranet or any other wired, wireless or optical-fiber network.Connection 110 is by physical layer signal 104 from transmission of network to access point.Equipment or treatment process may be coupled to network 102, alternatively, as the UT (or via connection) on WLAN 120.It can include: phone with the example of network 102 or WLAN 120 equipment being connected；Personal digital assistant (PDA)；Various types of computers (laptop computer, personal computer, work station, any kind of terminal)；Video equipment, such as camera, video camera, web camera；And the in fact data equipment of any other type.Process may include voice, video, data communication etc..Various data flows may have different transmission requirements, these can be met by using different service quality (QoS) technologies.

System 100 can be disposed with a centralization AP 104.In an exemplary embodiment, all UT 106 are communicated with the AP.In an alternative embodiment can carry out direct point to point link between two UT, and without modifying system, this is obvious to those skilled in the art, will be illustrated below to its example.Access can be managed by AP or (namely based on the competition) of self-organizing, will be described in more detail below.

In one embodiment, it is adaptive (adaptation) to provide Ethernet by AP 104.In this case, in addition to AP, an ip router can also be disposed, to provide the connection (its details not shown herein) for arriving network 102.Ethernet frame can transmit (being described more detail below) between router and UT 106 by WLAN subnet.Ethernet is adaptive and connectivity is well-known technology in the art.

In an alternative embodiment, it is adaptive that AP 104 provides IP.In this case, for having connected the set of UT, AP serves as a gateway router (not showing its details).In this case, IP datagram can be routed to UT 106 by AP 104, and, the IP datagram from UT 106 is routed.IP is adaptive and connectivity is well-known technology in the art.

Fig. 2 gives an exemplary embodiment of wireless telecom equipment, which can be configured to access point 104 or user terminal 106.Fig. 2 shows the configurations of access point 104.Transceiver 210 is required according to the physical layer of network 102, is received and transmitted in connection 110.From or be sent to the data of the equipment or application that are connected with network 102 and be passed to mac processor 220.These data, which are referred to herein as, flows 260.Stream may have different characteristics, also, the type based on application associated with the stream, it may be necessary to different processing.For example, video or voice are characterized in low delay stream (video usually has higher throughput demands than voice).Many data applications are less sensitive to being delayed, but may data integrity requirement with higher (that is, voice can tolerate some packet loss, but file transmission generally can not tolerate packet loss).

220 receiving stream 260 of mac processor, and processor they, in order to be transmitted on a physical layer.Mac processor 220 also receives physical layer data, and handles the data, to form the grouping for being used for output stream 260.Internal control and signaling are also transmitted between AP and UT.Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (MAC PDU), also referred to as physical layer (PHY) protocol Data Unit (PPDU), or frame (saying according to 802.11), it is passed to wireless LAN transceiver 240 by connection 270, and receives them from wireless LAN transceiver 240.MAC PDU is converted into from stream and order and will be described in detail below from the example technique that MAC PDU is converted into flowing and ordering.The embodiment of replacement can use any switch technology.Feedback 280 corresponding with various MAC ID can return to mac processor 220 from physical layer (PHY) 240, for numerous purposes.Feedback 280 may include any physical layer information, including channel (including Multicast Channel and unicast tunnel) can supporting rate, modulation format and various other parameters.

In one exemplary embodiment, adaptation layer (ADAP) and data link control layer (DLC) are executed in mac processor 220.Physical layer (PHY) is executed on wireless LAN transceiver 240.It will be apparent to a skilled person that the segmentation of various functions can be carried out under any configuration.Mac processor 220 can execute part or all of physical layer process.Wireless LAN transceiver may include a processor, for executing MAC processing or part of it.Any amount of processor, specialized hardware or combinations thereof can be used.

Mac processor 220 can be general purpose microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP) or application specific processor.Mac processor 220 can be connected with specialized hardware, to assist each task (its details not shown herein).Various applications may operate on the processor of outer company, such as the computer of outer company, or may operate on the Attached Processor in 104 (not shown) of access point by network connection, alternatively, may operate in mac processor 220.Shown in mac processor 220 be connected with memory 255, the latter can be used to store data and instruction, in order to execute various programs and method described herein.It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that memory 255 may include one or more various types of storage units, can be embedded in whole or in part in mac processor 220.

In addition to storing the instruction and data for executing function described here, memory 255 may further be used to storage data associated with individual queue.

Wireless LAN transceiver 240 can be any kind of transceiver.In an exemplary embodiment, wireless LAN transceiver 240 is an OFDM transceiver, it can use MIMO or MISO interfaces.To those skilled in the art, OFDM, MIMO and MISO are well known.The co-pending United States Patent application No.10/650 of on August 27th, 2003 " FREQUENCY-INDEPENDENT SPATIAL-PROCESSING FORWIDEBAND MISO AND MIMO SYSTEMS " submitting, entitled, in 295, OFDM, MIMO and MISO transceiver of various exemplary are described, this part of application is assigned to assignee of the present invention.The embodiment of replacement may include SIMO or SISO system.

Shown in wireless LAN transceiver 240 be connected with antenna 250A-N.In various embodiments, any amount of antenna can be supported.Antenna 250 can be used to be sent and received on WLAN 120.

Wireless LAN transceiver 240 may include the spatial processor being connected with one or more antennas 250.The spatial processor can be independently processed from each antenna data to be sent, alternatively, carrying out Combined Treatment to received signal on all antennas.The example of independent process can be based on channel estimation, the feedback from UT, channel reversion (channel inversion) or various other technologies as known in the art.The processing is performed using one of any in a variety of spatial processing techniques.Multiple such transceivers can be used Wave beam forming, beam steering (beamsteering), feature guiding (eigen-steering) or other space technologies, Lai Tigao and be sent to the handling capacity of a given user terminal and the handling capacity from a given user terminal.In the exemplary embodiment that one wherein sends OFDM symbol, which may include multiple subspace processors, for handling each OFDM subchannel or frequency range (bin).

In an exemplary system, which can have N number of antenna, and an illustrative UT can have M antenna.Therefore, there are MxN paths between the AP and the antenna of the UT.In the art, it is all well known that the various space technologies of handling capacity are improved using the mulitpath.In a kind of space-time emission diversity (STTD) system (herein, also referred to as " diversity "), transmission data are formatted and encoded, and then, are sent as individual traffic by all antennas.Using M transmitting antenna and N number of receiving antenna, MIN (M, N) a independent channel can be formed.Spatial reuse utilizes these independent pathways, and different data can be sent on every independent pathway, to improve transmission rate.

Various technologies for learning and adapting to the characteristic of channel between AP and UT are well known.Unique pilot tone can be sent from each transmitting antenna.These pilot tones of reception and measurement at each receiving antenna.It is then possible to information feedback be returned to transmitting equipment, for use in transmission.The feature decomposition of measurement channel matrix can be executed, to determine channel characteristics mode.Another kind, which avoids the technology for the feature decomposition for carrying out channel matrix in receivers, to be oriented to using the feature of pilot tone and data, to simplify the spatial manipulation in receiver.

Therefore, different data rates can be provided for the transmission to user terminal each in system according to current channel status.Specifically, the particular link between AP and each UT has superior performance than multicast link or broadcasting link, multicast link or broadcasting link can be shared from AP to more than one UT.The example of this respect is described in detail further below.Which kind of spatial manipulation is used based on the physical link between AP and UT, wireless LAN transceiver 240 can determine supported rate.The information can be feedbacked by connection 280, to handle for MAC.

The quantity of antenna can be disposed according to the data requirements and size and form factor of UT.For example, due to its higher bandwidth requirement, high definition video display may include, for example, four antennas；And PDA can have two antennas.One illustrative access point can have four antennas.

User terminal 106 can be disposed by mode similar with access point 104 shown in Fig. 2.Stream 260 is not allowed for be connected to LAN transceiver (although UT may include such transceiver, it is wired or wireless), stream 260 is usually that the one or more application to work from connected equipment or UT or processing are received, or are transmitted to the one or more application or processing to work in connected equipment or UT.It can be any type with AP 104 or UT 106 high level being connected.Layer described herein is merely illustrative.

Traditional 802.11MAC

As described above, various embodiments described can be used in order to compatible with legacy system holding.IEEE 802.11 (e) function set (keeping backward compatibility with 802.11 standards earlier) includes the various functions that will be summarized in this section, and the function of introducing in more early standard.Detailed description for these functions please refers to corresponding 802.11 standard of IEEE.

Basic 802.11MAC includes Carrier Sense Multiple Access/conflict avoidance (CSMA/CA) based on distributed coordination function (DCF) and point coordination function (PCF).DCF can access media in the case where no center control.Central control is provided using PCF in AP.In order to avoid conflict, DCF and PCF utilize the various gaps between continuously transmitting.Transmission is referred to as frame, and the gap between frame is then referred to as interframe space (IFS).Frame can be user data frame, control frame or management frame.

The interframe space duration changes according to the type in be inserted into gap.Fig. 3 shows 802.11 Inter Frame Space parameters: short interFrameGap (SIFS), point interframe space (PIFS) and DCF interframe space (DIFS).It note that SIFS < PIFS < DIFS.Therefore, compared with the transmission for having to wait for the long period before attempting to access channel, positioned at compared with the transmission after short duration by priority with higher.

According to carrier sense (CSMA) function of CSMA/CA, when detecting that channel is idle at least one DIFS duration, stand (STA) access right of channel can be obtained.(term " STA " used herein above can refer to the accession to any station of WLAN, and may include access point and user terminal).In order to avoid conflict, in addition to DIFS, each STA also waits for a randomly selected back off time (), then could access channel.STA with longer back off time will be noted that when high priority STA starts to send on channel, therefore avoids and conflict with the STA phase.(its corresponding back off time can be reduced its time quantum waited before other transmission on listening to the channel by the STA of each waiting, thus the priority for keeping its opposite).Therefore, according to the conflict avoidance of the agreement (CA) function, STA keeps out of the way a random time section between [0, CW], wherein initially selecting CW for CWmin, increases the factor 2 when conflict every time, until maximum value CWmax.

Fig. 4 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 400, for illustrating how to add back off time using DIFS according to DCF to be accessed.410 busy channels of existing transmission.In this embodiment, when transmission 410 terminates, there is not the access of higher priority, so, after DIFS and associated back off time section, start new transmission 420.In the following discussion, it is believed that the STA for carrying out transmission 420 has been obtained for the transmission opportunity in this case through competition.

It is being simply expected in the frame sequence that a specific STA responds current transmission, is using SIFS.For example, the ACK can be sent immediately after receiving data and adding SIFS when sending acknowledgement frame (ACK) in response to the data frame received.Others transmission sequence can also use SIFS between frames.After a request sends (RTS) frame, SIFS and allowance can be followed by and send (CTS) frame, it is then possible to send data in the SIFS after CTS, after this, SIFS after the data can be followed by an ACK.As described above, these frame sequences are all interspersed with SIFS.The SIFS duration can be used for: (a) detecting the energy on channel, and judges whether energy has exhausted (that is, channel clear)；(b) having time is decoded to preceding one and judges whether ACK frame shows that transmission is correctly received；(c) STA transceiver having time switches to transmitting from reception and switches to reception from transmitting.

Fig. 5 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 500, for illustrating how there is higher priority than DIFS access using SIFS before ACK.One existing transmission 510 occupies the channel.In this embodiment, when transmission 510 terminates, ACK 520 is followed by when transmission 510 terminates the latter SIFS.Note that ACK 520 be DIFS expire before start, so, it is intended to any other STA for winning transmission will not succeed.In this embodiment, after ACK 520 terminates, there is not the access of higher priority, so, after DIFS and associated back off time (if any), start new transmission 530.

RTS/CTS frame sequence (other than providing flow control function) can be used to improve the protection to data frame transfer.RTS and CTS includes the Duration Information of subsequent data frame and ACK and any intermediate SIFS.The STA for listening to RTS or CTS marks the occupied duration on their network allocation vector (NAV), and within the duration is considered as media busy.Typically, using RTS/CTS, the frame longer than designated length can be protected, and shorter frame is transmitted in unprotect.

PCF can be used to that AP is made to provide the centralized control of channel.When detecting media within the PIFS duration is the free time, AP can obtain the control to the media.PIFS ratio DIFS is short, therefore has higher priority than DIFS.Compared with DCF, once AP obtains the access right to channel, it can provide uncompetitive access chance to other STA, to improve MAC efficiency.It note that SIFS ratio PIFS has higher priority, so, PCF has to wait for before control channel, until all SIFS the sequence ends.

Once AP obtains the access right to media using PIFS, it can establish a uncontended periods (CFP), and within the period, AP can provide polling type access to associated STA.Uncompetitive poll (CF-Poll), or simply referred to as poll are sent by AP and behind followed by the transmission from STA to the AP by poll.Equally, STA has to wait for the SIFS duration after CF-Poll, although need not be waited DIFS or any back off time by the STA of poll.802.11 (e) introduce various enhancings, and including the enhancing to poll, one such example is described in further detail below in conjunction with Fig. 9.

The beacon that AP is sent establishes the duration of CFP.It is similarly to prevent contention access using RTS or CTS.But some terminals can not hear the beacon, but its transmission may interfere the transmission being scheduled by AP, so, hidden terminal problem still will appear.Start each terminal of transmission in the cfp by using CTS-to-self, further protection may be implemented.

ACK and CF-Poll can be contained in a frame, and can be included in together with data frame, to improve MAC efficiency.It note that SIFS < PIFS < DIFS relationship provides a kind of certainty priority mechanism for channel access.In DCF, it is probabilistic that the contention access between STA, which is based on avoidance mechanism,.

802.11 standards of early stage, which are alsied specify, is divided into lesser fragment for big grouping.One advantage of this segmentation is: the mistake in a section needs less re-transmission than the mistake in a larger grouping.Be segmented in these standards one the disadvantage is that: the transmission for confirmation type needs for one ACK of each section of transmission, wherein additional SIFS, which corresponds to additional ACK, to be transmitted and sliced transmission.Fig. 6 shows this point.The transmission that illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 600 gives N number of section and its confirms accordingly.Existing transmission 610 is transmitted.At the end of transmitting 610, the first STA waits DIFS 620 and back off time 630, to obtain the access right to channel.First STA sends N number of section of 640A-640N to the 2nd STA, must there is the delay of N number of corresponding SIFS 650A-650N respectively behind.2nd STA sends N number of acknowledgement frame 660A-660N.Between each fragment, the first STA has to wait for SIFS, so, there are N-1 SIFS 670A-670N-1.Therefore, compared with sending grouping, ACK and SIFS, a grouping by segmentation needs identical grouping transmission time, but has N number of ACK and 2N-1 SIFS.

802.11 (e) standards are added to enhancing function, in order to improve the pervious MAC in 802.11 (a), (b) and (g).802.11 (g) and (a) are ofdm systems, they are much like, but work in different frequency bands.The various functions of such as 802.11 (b) etc low speed MAC protocol pass on forward to the system with playout length, to introduce poor efficiency, behind will be described in more detail.

In 802.11 (e), DCF is enhanced, therefore is referred to as enhancing distributed channel access (EDCA).Main quality of service (QoS) enhancing of EDCA is the introduction of Arbitration Inter Frame Space (AIFS).AIFS [i] is associated with type of service (TC) with number i mark.AP can be used from other STA can used in different AIFS [i] value of AIFS [i] value.The AIFS equal with PIFS [i] value can be used in only AP.In other cases, AIFS [i] is greater than or equal to DIFS.Under default condition, for " voice " and " video " type of service, selection is equal to the AIFS of DIFS.If AIFS is larger, it is shown to be type of service " best effort (besteffort) " and " background " has selected lower priority.

The size of competition window is also the function of TC.Highest priority type allows that CW=1 is arranged, that is, does not have back off time.For other TC, different contention window sizes provides probabilistic relative priority, but cannot be used to reach delay guaranteed.

802.11 (e) introduce transmission opportunity (TXOP).In order to improve MAC efficiency, when STA passes through EDCA or gets media by the polling type access in HCCA, STA can send more than one frame.The one or more frame is referred to as TXOP.In the media, the maximum length of TXOP depends on type of service and is determined by AP.In addition, AP indicates the allowance duration of TXOP for the TXOP by poll.During TXOP, STA can send a series of frame, be interspersed with SIFS and the ACK from destination party therebetween.Other than it DIFS need not be waited to add back off time each frame, the STA for having won a TXOP can be known, it is able to maintain the channel for subsequent transmission.

During TXOP, the ACK from destination party can be (just as the same in 802.11MAC earlier) of every frame, alternatively, at once or delay block ACK can be used, as described below.In addition, for specific Business Stream, such as broadcast or multicast allows the strategy without ACK.

Fig. 7 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 700, for illustrating with the TXOP confirmed frame by frame.One existing transmission 710 is transmitted.It after transmission 710 and waits after DIFS 720 and back off time 730 (if any), STA wins TXOP 790.TXOP 790 includes N number of frame 740A-740N, and each frame is followed by N number of corresponding SIFS 750A-750N.Received STA is carried out to be responded with N number of corresponding ACK760A-760N.ACK 760 is followed by N-1 SIFS 770A-770N-1.It should be noted that each frame 740 includes lead code 770 and header and grouping 780.The following detailed description of exemplary embodiment can substantially reduce for lead code reserve transmission time amount.

Fig. 8 shows the TXOP 810 with block confirmation.TXOP 810 can be won by competition or poll.TXOP 810 includes N number of frame 820A-820N, and each frame is followed by N number of corresponding SIFS 830A-830N.After the transmission of frame 820 and SIFS 830, a block ACK request 840 is sent.Received STA is carried out to respond block ACK request at the following a certain moment.Block ACK can be after the block end of transmission of frame, or can be postponed, to allow the software of receiver to handle.

The following detailed description of exemplary embodiment can to greatly reduce the transmission time amount between frame (be in this embodiment SIFS).In some embodiments, it is continuously transmitting between (i.e. frame) It is not necessary to delay.

It should be noted that, for specific transformat, defining a kind of signal extension (Signal Extension) in 802.11 (a) and other standards, increasing additional delay in the end of every frame.Although being technically not included in the definition of SIFS, the following detailed description of each embodiment can also remove signal extension.

Efficiency can be improved in block ACK function.In one example, STA can send most 64 MAC Service Data Units (SDU) (being each further divided into 16 fragments) corresponding with 1024 frames, and destination party STA can provide single response at the end of the block of frame, to show the ACK state of each of this 1024 frame.Typically, when rate is high, MAC SDU before needing the block ACK from destination party, will not can send less than 64 MAC SDU by carry out fragment, and for low delay.In this case, in order to send M frame, total time is reduced to+M SIFS+ block ACK of M frame from+M SIFS+M ACK+M-1 SIFS of M frame.Following detailed examples further increase the efficiency of block ACK.

802.11 (e) the direct link agreements (DLP) introduced enable STA that frame to be directly forwarded to the another object side STA (being controlled by identical AP) in a set of basic (BSS).AP can this direct frame transmission between STA the TXOP of poll is provided.Before introducing the function, in polling type access procedure, the always AP of the destination party from the frame by poll STA, and these frames are transmitted to destination party STA by AP.By eliminating the frame forwarding of double bounce, media efficiency is improved.The embodiment illustrated in detail further below is that DLP transmission increases apparent efficiency.

802.11 (e) also introduce in-dash computer F, referred to as Hybrid Coordination Function (HCF).In the channel access (HCCA) of HCF control, AP can access channel at any time, to establish controlled access phase (CAP), this is similar to CFP, transmission opportunity is provided for any time within the competitive stage, rather than only after beacon.AP waits PIFS in the case where no back off time, then accesses media.

Fig. 9 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 800, for illustrating the TXOP by poll using HCCA.In this embodiment, AP competes the poll.One existing transmission 910 is transmitted.After transmission 910, AP waits PIFS, and then transmitting and receiving side is the poll 920 of a STA.It should be noted that other STA for competing the channel have to wait at least DIFS, be not in since the poll 920 sent leads to this, as shown in the figure.The TXOP 940 by poll is sent after poll 920 and SIFS 930 by the STA of poll.AP can continue poll, respectively waited PIFS by between the TXOP of poll 940 and poll 920.In another case, AP can wait PIFS from transmission 910, to establish CAP.AP can send one or more polls during CAP.

MAC is improved

As described above, the various inefficient functions of MAC also pass in version later in the past.For example, the very long lead code designed for the 11Mbps opposite with 64Mbps will lead to poor efficiency.With the increase of rate, Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) constantly reduces, so, so that various interframe spaces and/or lead code is kept constant the corresponding reduction for meaning that channel utilization.For example, high data rate MIMO MPDU transmission may only have several microseconds in length, and in contrast, 802.11 (g) lead codes with 72 μ s.It eliminates or reduces delay, such as SIFS, signal extension and/or lead code, it will improve the handling capacity and utilization rate of channel.

Figure 10 is an exemplary embodiment of TXOP 1010 comprising multiple continuous transmission frames, without any gap.TXOP 1010 includes N number of frame 1020A-1020N, they are (being compared this with SIFS needed for TXOP 810 shown in Fig. 8) transmitted in an orderly manner in the case where no any gap.The quantity of frame in the TXOP is limited only by the buffer and decoding capability of receiver.When STA sends successive frame together with block ACK in TXOP 1010, it is not necessary to interspersed (intersperse) SIFS duration, this is because there is no other STA to need to obtain the access right to media between successive frame.An optional block ACK request 1030 is added after N number of frame.Certain form of business may not be needed to confirm.After TXOP, a block ACK request can be responded, or can send later.The extension of 1020 undesired signal of frame.Any embodiment that TXOP 1010 can be used for being described in detail here, as long as wherein needing TXOP.

As shown in Figure 10, when sending all frames by the same STA, SIFS need not be sent between the successive frame of TXOP.In 802.11 (e), these gaps are reserved, in order to limit the complexity requirement at receiver.In 802.11 (e) standards, the ofdm signal of the SIFS period of 10 μ s and 6 μ s are extended to receiver and provide 16 μ s in total, for handling the frame received (including demodulation and decoding).But if PHY rate is very big, this 16 μ s can significantly reduce efficiency.In some embodiments, by introducing MIMO processing, even if 16 μ s are also not enough to complete to handle.And in this exemplary embodiment, from STA a to AP or to the continuously transmitting of another STA, not needing SIFS and ofdm signal extension (using direct link agreement).Therefore, if a receiver needed after the end of transmission additional time period for MIMO receiver processing and channel decoding (such as, turbo/ convolution/LDPC decoding), then the receiver can execute these functions, while media are used for additional transmitted.Later, a confirmation can be sent, as described above (for example, using block ACK).

Due to the different propagation delays between STA; transmission between different STA pairs can be separated with protective time slot; (Figure 10 does not show, but could be made that further detailed description later) is collided at receiver from continuously transmitting for different STA to avoid on the media.In one exemplary embodiment, the protective time slot (4 μ s) of an OFDM symbol is all enough for 802.11 all working environment.Transmission from same STA to different destination party STA does not need to separate (as shown in Figure 10) with protective time slot.It will be explained in further detail further below, these protective time slots are referred to alternatively as guard band interframe space (GIFS).

Without using SIFS and/or signal extension, by using the ARQ scheme (rollback N or selectively repetition) based on window, required receiver processing time (for example, handle and decode for MIMO) can be provided, these technologies are well known to the skilled person.Stop-and-wait (stop-and-wait) the MAC layer ACK of tradition 802.11 has been enhanced to the mechanism of window type in 802.11 (e), in this embodiment at maximum up to 1024 frames and block ACK.The self-organizing block ACK schemes for being preferably introduced into the ARQ scheme based on window of standard, rather than being designed in 802.11 (e).

Permitted maximized window depends on receiver processing complexity and buffering.Transmitter can send enough data according to peak value PHY rate accessible between one receiver pair of transmitter to fill up receiver window.For example, because receiver processing possibly can not get caught up in PHY rate, receiver may need to store soft (soft) decoder output, until they can be decoded as stopping.Therefore, the buffer requirement of physical layer process may be used to determine maximum allowable window when peak value PHY rate.

In one exemplary embodiment, receiver can notice it can not make its physical layer buffers overflow in the case where with the maximum allowable PHY Block size of a specific PHY rate processing.Alternatively, receiver can also notice it can not make its physical layer buffers overflow in the case where with the maximum allowable PHY Block size of maximum PHY rate processing.When PHY rate is lower, longer block size can be handled in the case where no buffer overflows.Known formula can be used to calculate the maximum allowable PHY Block size for specific PHY rate in the maximum allowable PHY Block size noticed when according to maximum PHY rate, transmitter.

If the maximum PHY Block size of notice is a static parameter, can handle physical layer buffers and receiver be ready to receive next PHY burst before time quantum be another be known at transmitter and be also known receiver parameters at scheduler.Alternatively, the maximum PHY Block size noticed can dynamically change according to the occupancy situation of physical layer buffers.

Receiver processing delay may be used to determine round-trip (round-trip) delay of ARQ, and the latter may be used to determine the delay that application program is observed.Therefore, in order to support low delay service, the PHY Block size of permission can be limited.

Figure 11 gives an exemplary embodiment of TXOP 1110, reduces required preamble transmissions amount for illustrating.TXOP 1110 includes lead code 1120, and what is be followed by is N number of to continuously transmit 1130A-1130N.An optional block ACK request 1140 can be added.In this embodiment, transmission 1130 includes a header and a grouping.TXOP 1110 is compared with the TXOP 790 of Fig. 7, each frame 740 further includes a lead code in addition to header and grouping in the latter.For same amount of transmission data, by sending single lead code, required preamble transmissions are only a lead codes, rather than N number of lead code.

Therefore, lead code 1120 can be excluded from continuously transmitting.Initial preamble 1120 can be used to obtain signal and for the fine frequency acquisition of OFDM in receiver.For MIMO transmission, compared with current OFDM lead code, initial preamble 1120 can extend, to enable a receiver to estimation space channel.But the subsequent frame in same TXOP can not need additional lead code.Pilot tone in OFDM symbol is typically enough to carry out signal trace.In an alternative embodiment, additional (being similar to lead code) symbol can periodically interlock in TXOP 1110.However, it is possible to be substantially reduced total lead code expense.Lead code just only can be sent if necessary, and lead code can differently be sent based on the time quantum passed since the previous lead code of transmission.

It should be noted that TXOP 1110 can also combine with the function of legacy system.For example, block ACK is optional.It can also support more frequent ACK.Even so, lesser gap, such as GIFS can replace longer SIFS (plus signal extension, if you are using).Continuously transmitting 1130 can also include multiple sections of larger grouping, as described above.It should also be noted that being sent to continuously transmitting 1130 header and being compressed for same recipient STA.It will be explained in an example of header compression further below.

Figure 12 gives an exemplary embodiment of method 1200, is combined with above-mentioned various aspects, including merging lead code, removes the gap of such as SIFS etc and is inserted into GIFS as needed.The process starts from frame 1210, wherein using any technology being described in detail here, a STA has won a TXOP.In frame 1220, as needed, a lead code is sent.Equally, which can be longer or shorter than traditional lead code, and can be changed according to various parameters (for example, the time to have passed since previous transmission lead code), so that recipient STA can estimate MIMO space channel.In frame 1230, STA sends one or more packets (alternatively, more generally, any kind of to continuously transmit) to destination party.It should be noted that no need to send additional lead codes.In an alternative embodiment can also optionally send one or more additional lead codes, alternatively, as needed, can intert the symbol of similar lead code.In frame 1240, STA optionally can send signal to an additional recipient STA.In this case, it is inserted into GIFS as needed, is sent to additional recipient STA and it is possible to which one or more is continuously transmitted.Then, which can terminate.In various embodiments, STA can continue to send signal to more than two STA, GIFS and/or lead code needed for being inserted into estimated performance grade.

Therefore, as described above, continuously transmitting by will be merged into from a STA to the transmission of multiple destination party STA, it can be further improved MAC efficiency, to save many or whole protective time slots and reduce lead code expense.For continuously transmitting from same STA to different the multiple of destination party STA, single lead code (alternatively, pilot transmission) can be used.

Merged by poll, additional efficiency can be obtained.In one exemplary embodiment, several polls can be merged into a control channel, its example is described more fully below.In one example, AP can send signal to multiple destination party STA, including the polling message for distributing TXOP.In contrast, in 802.11 (e), there are CF-Poll and SIFS and then from AP before each TXOP.When will several such CF-Poll message coalescings at single control channel message (in an exemplary embodiment being discussed in more detail below, referred to as SCHED message) to be used to distribute several TXOP when, efficiency can be improved.In a common embodiment, any time section can distribute to the poll and its corresponding TXOP after merging.An exemplary embodiment is described below with reference to Figure 15, also, herein further includes other examples.

In order to further increase efficiency, control channel (i.e. SCHED) message can be encoded with the rate architecture of layering.Correspondingly, the polling message for being sent to any STA can be encoded according to the channel quality between AP and STA.The order of transmission of polling message needs not be the order of distributed TXOP, but can be ranked according to coding robustness.

Figure 13 gives illustrative physical layer (PHY) span line 1300, for illustrating combined poll and its corresponding TXOP.Combined poll 1310 is transmitted.It can be used and its exemplary control channel structure is described in detail here, or can be used it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other technologies, to send these polls.In this embodiment, in order to not need to use interframe space between poll and any forward link TXOP, forward link TXOP 1320 is directly transmitted after combined poll 1310.After forward link TXOP1320, various reverse link TXOP 1330A-1330N are sent, wherein GIFS 1340 can be inserted as needed.It should be noted that when carrying out order transfer from a STA, it is not necessary to including GIFS (similar to the forward link transmissions for being sent to different STA from AP, not needing GIFS).In this embodiment, reverse link TXOP includes the TXOP (for example, using DLP) of STA to STA (that is, point-to-point).Order of transmission shown in it should be noted that is merely exemplary.Forward link and reverse link TXOP (including point-to-point transmission) can be interchanged, alternatively, interspersed mutually.The number of gaps that some configurations are eliminated may be different from the number of gaps that other configurations are eliminated.By enlightenment here, those skilled in the art will easily modify out a variety of alternate embodiments.

Figure 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method 1400 for merging poll.Process starts from frame 1410, wherein by channel resource allocation into one or more TXOP.Any scheduling feature can be used, determined to make TXOP distribution.In frame 1420, being merged according to the distribution information come the poll for distributing TXOP.In frame 1430, by one or more control channels, the poll of the merging is sent to one or more STA (that is, in exemplary embodiment being discussed in more detail below, the CTRLJ section of SCHED message).Any message delivery techniques can be used to send the poll of merging in In an alternative embodiment.In frame 1440, STA sends TXOP according to the poll distribution in the poll of the merging.Then, which can terminate.This method can be used in conjunction with the combined polling interval of any length, and the combined poll of any length may include all or part of of system localizer interval.As described above, combined poll can intermittently be used for access competition-based or traditional poll.In one exemplary embodiment, method 1400, the other parameters such as system load or data transportation requirements can be repeated periodically or according to other parameters.

Below with reference to Figure 15 and 16, an exemplary embodiment of MAC protocol is described in detail, to illustrate various aspects.In the co-pending United States Patent application XX/XXX of " WIRELESS LANPROTOCOL STACK " be filed concurrently herewith, entitled, XXX, XX/XXX, XXX and XX/XXX, the MAC protocol is described in further detail in XXX (file number is respectively 030428,030433 and 030436), this three applications are assigned to present assignee.

An illustrative TDD mac frame interval 1500 is shown in Figure 15.Term " TDD mac frame interval " used refers to a period of time in this case, wherein defines the various span lines being described below in detail.TDD mac frame interval 1500 is different from the term " frame " generally used, in order to describe the transmission in 802.11 systems.In 802.11 terms, TDD mac frame interval 1500 is similar to the sub-fraction of beacon interval or beacon interval.It is merely illustrative in conjunction with the parameter being described in detail of Figure 15 and 16.The example can be easily set to be adapted to various other embodiments using some or all and various parameters value, those of ordinary skill in the art of described component.MAC function 1500 is allocated between following transmission channel section: broadcast, control, forward and backward business (being known respectively as downlink phase and uplink phase) and random access.

In this exemplary embodiment, TDD mac frame interval 1500 is time division duplex (TDD) in 2 milliseconds of time interval, is divided into five transmission channel section 1510-1550, as shown in the figure.In the alternative embodiment, other order and different frame sizes can be used.Duration distribution on TDDMAC frame period 1500 can be quantized into a certain mini-bus time interval.

This five illustrative transmission channels in TDD mac frame interval 1500 include: (a) broadcast channel (BCH) 1510, are transmitted broadcast control channel (BCCH)；(b) control channel (CCH) 1520 transmits frame control channel (FCCH) and random access feedback channel (RFCH) on the forward link；(c) Traffic Channel (TCH), it transmits user data and control information, and the reverse traffic channel (R-TCH) 1540 on the forward traffic channel (F-TCH) 1530 being further subdivided on (i) forward link and (ii) reverse link；(d) random access channel (RCH) 1550, transmission access request channel (ARCH) (are used for UT access request).Pilot beacon is also to send in section 1510.

The downlink phase of frame 1500 includes section 1510-1530.Uplink phase includes section 1540-1550.Section 1560 indicates the beginning at next TDD mac frame interval.The embodiment of a replacement including point-to-point transmission is described further below.

Broadcast channel (BCH) and beacon 1510 are sent by AP.The first part of BCH 510 includes common physical layer expense, such as pilot signal, including timing and frequency acquisition pilot tone.In an exemplary embodiment, beacon includes 2 short OFDM symbols that frequency and timing acquisition are used for by UT, is followed by 8 short OFDM symbols for being used to estimate the public MIMO pilot tone of channel by UT.

The second part of BCH 1510 is data portion.BCH data portion defines the distribution condition relative to transmission channel section CCH 1520, F-TCH 1530, R-TCH 1540 and RCH 1550, TDDMAC frame period, and also definition is relative to subchannel, the combination of CCH.In this embodiment, BCH 1510 defines the coverage area of Wireless LAN 120, so by sending under available most healthy and strong data-transmission mode.The length of entire BCH is fixed.In an exemplary embodiment, BCH defines the coverage area of MIMO-WLAN, and is sent under space-time emission diversity (STTD) mode using the binary phase shift keying (BPSK) of 1/4 rate coding.In this embodiment, the length of BCH is fixed as 10 short OFDM symbols.In the alternative embodiment, various other signaling technologies can be used.

The combination of the remainder at TDD mac frame interval is defined by the control channel (CCH) 1520 that AP is sent, and is illustrated how using combined poll.CCH 1520 is sent in multiple subchannels with very healthy and strong transmission mode, and each subchannel has different data rates.First subchannel is most healthy and strong, and is expected to be decoded by all UT.In an exemplary embodiment, the BPSK of 1/4 rate coding is used for the first CCH subchannel.Additionally providing other robustness reduces the subchannel of (efficiency raising).In one exemplary embodiment, using most three additional subchannels.Each UT attempts to be decoded all subchannels in order, until decoding failure.CCH transmission channel section in each frame has variable length, which depends on the quantity of CCH message in every sub-channels.Confirmation message for the burst of reverse link random access is transmitted in most healthy and strong (first) subchannel of CCH.

CCH includes physical layer bursts distribution information on the forward and reverse links (similar to the combined poll for TXOP).Distribution can be used for transmitting data on either the forward or the reverse links.In general, physical layer bursts distribution includes: (a) MAC ID；(b) value indicated in the frame at the beginning of distribution (in F-TCH or R-TCH)；(c) length distributed；(d) length of dedicated physical layer overhead；(e) transmission mode；(f) coding and modulation scheme of physical layer bursts are used for.

The distribution information of other upper exemplary types of CCH includes: the distribution information on reverse link, is used for transmission the dedicated pilot from UT；Distribution information on reverse link is used for transmission buffer and link-state information from UT.CCH can also define the reserved unused portion of frame.These unused portions of the frame can be used to carry out by UT noise floor (and interference) estimation, and measurement adjacent system beacon.

Random access channel (RCH) 1550 is reverse chain channel, and UT can send random access burst by it.For each frame, the variable-length of RCH is specified in BCH.

Forward traffic channel (F-TCH) 1530 includes one or more physical layer bursts sent from AP 104.Each burst all points to distribute the specific MAC ID indicated in information in CCH.Each burst includes dedicated physical layer overhead, for example, the pilot signal (if any) and MAC PDU distributing the transmission mode indicated in information and coding and modulation scheme according to CCH and send.F-TCH has variable length.In an exemplary embodiment, dedicated physical layer overhead may include a dedicated MIMO pilot tone.An illustrative MAC PDU is set forth in detail in Figure 16.

Reverse traffic channel (R-TCH) 1540 includes the physical layer bursts transmission from one or more UT 106.Each burst is sent by the specific UT indicated in CCH distribution information.Each burst may include the dedicated pilot lead code (if any) sent and a MAC PDU according to the transmission mode and coding and modulation scheme indicated in CCH distribution information.R-TCH has variable length.

In this exemplary embodiment, F-TCH 530, R-TCH 540 or both, transmission while spatial reuse or Code Division Multiple Access realization MAC PDU associated from different UT can be used, (i.e. comprising MAC ID associated with MAC PDU, the expection recipient on sender or downlink in uplink) a field may include in MAC PDU header.This can be used to all addressing uncertain problems for solving to be likely to occur when use space multiplexing or CDMA.In the alternative embodiment, when multiplexing is strictly based upon time division technique, MAC ID is not needed in MAC PDU header, because addressing information is included in CCH message, CCH message has given the specific time period allocated in TDD mac frame interval to a specific MAC ID.The combination of spatial reuse, code division multiplexing, time division multiplexing and any other technology known in the art can be used.

Figure 16 shows the exemplary MAC PDU 1660 from a grouping 1610, and in this embodiment, grouping 1610 can be IP datagram or ethernet segment.Illustrative field type and size are described in the example shown.It will be appreciated by the appropriately skilled person that within the scope of the present invention, various other sizes, type and configuration are it is also conceivable that obtain.

As shown, data grouping 1610 is segmented in adaptation layer.Each adaptive sublayer PDU 1630 carries one of these sections 1620.In this embodiment, data grouping 1610 is divided into N number of section of 1620A-N.Adaptive sublayer PDU 1630 includes payload 1634, and payload 1634 includes corresponding section 1620.Type field 1632 (being a byte in this embodiment) is affixed in adaptive sublayer PDU 1630.

Logical links (LL) header 1642 (being in this embodiment 4 bytes) is added in payload 1644, and payload 1644 includes adaptation layer PDU 1630.The exemplary information of LL header 1642 includes flow identifier, control information and serial number.CRC 1646 is calculated for header 1642 and payload 1644, and the affix CRC 1646 is to form logical links sublayer PDU (LL PDU) 1640.Logic link control (LLC) and wireless spread-spectrum technology (RLC) PDU can be formed by similar fashion.LL PDU 1640 and LLC PDU and RLC PDU is placed (for example, high QoS queue, best effort queue or control message queue) in the queue, with the service for being provided by MUX function.

MUX header 1652 is affixed on each LL PDU 1640.One illustrative MUX header 1652 may include length and type (in this embodiment, header 1652 is two bytes).For each control PDU (that is, LLC and RLC PDU), similar header can be formed.LL PDU 1640 (or LLC or RLC PDU) constitutes payload 1654.Header 1652 and payload 1654 constitute MUX sublayer PDU (MPDU) 1650 (MUX sublayer PDU is referred to herein as MUX PDU).

In this embodiment, the communication resource shared on media is distributed in a series of TDDMAC frame periods by MAC protocol.It is described in detail below in its exemplary alternative embodiment, the TDD mac frame interval of these types can be interted various other MAC functions, including competition-based or poll, and including using other kinds of access protocol and legacy system to interact.As described above, scheduler can determine the size for distributing to the physical layer bursts of one or more MAC ID in each TDD mac frame interval (similar to the TXOP of combined poll).It should be noted that the MAC ID for not each having data to send can be assigned to the space in any specific TDD mac frame interval.Within the scope of the present invention, any access control or scheduling scheme can be used.When being allocated for MAC ID, the corresponding MUX function of the MAC ID will constitute MAC PDU 1660 comprising one or more MUX PDU 1650, in order to include in the TDD mac frame interval.(that is, TDD mac frame interval 1500, is described in detail in conjunction with Figure 15 above) will be included in a TDD mac frame interval for one or more MUX PDU 1660 of one or more allocated MAC ID.

In one exemplary embodiment, make it possible to send a part MPDU1650 on one side, to realize efficient package in MAC PDU 1660.In this embodiment, all part MPDU 1650 remaining not sent byte in preceding primary transmission may include coming in, and identified by part MPDU 1664.In the current frame, these bytes 1664 will be sent before all new PDU 1666 (that is, LL PDU or control PDU).Header 1662 (being in this embodiment 2 bytes) includes MUX pointer, and being directed toward the first new MPDU to be sent in present frame (is in this embodiment the beginning of MPDU 1666A).Header 1662 further includes MAC Address.

MAC PDU 1660 includes MUX pointer 1662, the possible part MUXPDU 1664 (being remaining after preceding primary distribution) in beginning, it is followed by zero or more complete MUX PDU 1666A-N and a possible part MUX PDU 1668 (from current primary distribution), or other filling informations, for filling up the distribution portion of physical layer bursts.MAC PDU 1660 is carried in the physical layer bursts for having distributed to the MAC ID.

Therefore, which shows a transmission (alternatively, being frame by 802.11 terms), it can be sent to another STA from a STA, including the data portion from the one or more streams for being directed toward destination party STA.By optionally using part MUX PDU, efficient package may be implemented.The time indicated in the combined poll for including in CCH, each MAC PDU can be sent in a TXOP (using 802.11 terms).

The exemplary embodiment being described in detail in Figure 15 and 16 lists various aspects, including by sending physical layer bursts in an orderly manner from each STA (including AP) to merging poll, reducing preamble transmissions and eliminating gap.These aspects are also applied for any MAC protocol, including 802.11 systems.The embodiment of replacement is given further below, to illustrate that the high efficiency of MAC may be implemented in other various technologies, these technologies, and supports point-to-point transmission, and can combine and/or cooperate with existing legacy protocol or system.

As described above, the various embodiments being described in detail here can use channel estimation and stringent rate control.By minimizing the unnecessary transmission on media, the MAC efficiency of raising can be obtained, still, in some cases, insufficient rate control feed back will reduce overall throughput.Therefore, for channel estimation and feedback, enough chances can be provided, so that the transmission rate under all MIMO modes maximizes, to prevent the reduction of the handling capacity caused by insufficient channel estimation, insufficient channel estimation can offset any MAC efficiency and increase.Therefore, can be with the MAC embodiment of design example, to provide enough preamble transmissions chances, and receiver is allowed to have an opportunity to provide rate control feed back to transmitter, introduction has been carried out to this above, will be explained in further detail further below.

In one example, AP periodically interts MIMO pilot tone (at least TP milliseconds every, wherein TP can be fixed or variable parameter) in its transmission.Each STA can start its TXOP by poll with a MIMO pilot tone, which can be used to estimate channel by other STA and AP.For using direct link agreement (will be explained in further detail below) to arrive the transmission of AP or another STA, MIMO pilot tone can be guiding reference signal (steeredreference), to help to simplify the receiver processing in destination party STA.

AP can also provide chance to destination party STA, to allow it to provide ACK feedback.These feedback chances also can be used in destination party STA, and the rate control feed back that can use MIMO mode is provided to sender STA.Such rate control feed back is not defined on 802.11 system of tradition including 802.11 (e).Introducing MIMO can be improved the total amount of rate control information (for every kind of MIMO mode).In some cases, in order to improved effect maximize in terms of MAC efficiency, these can be supplemented by stringent rate control feed back.

Another aspect described herein and will be explained in further detail below is deposit (backlog) information and scheduling of STA.Each STA can start its TXOP with a lead code, which is followed by the request duration of next TXOP.The information purpose is oriented to AP.AP collects next request TXOP for information about from multiple and different STA, and determines for next TDD mac frame interval, the duration distribution condition of TXOP in the media.Different priority or QoS rule can be used in AP, shares the media or it to determine how very simple rule can be used and to share the media proportionally according to the request from STA.Any other dispatching technique can also be used.TXOP distribution for next TDD mac frame interval is assigned in the latter control channel message from AP.

Specified access point

In the embodiment being described in detail herein, network can support real access point or without the operation in the case where real access point.When there are real AP, for example, it may be coupled to wired thick pipe connection (that is, cable, optical fiber, DSL or T1/T3, Ethernet) or home entertainment server.In this case, which can be the information source and the stay of two nights for most of data that equipment room flows in network.

When real AP is not present, multiple stations still be can be used as the enhanced distributed channel of distributed coordination function as described above (DCF) or 802.11b/g/a or 802.11e access etc. communicates with each other.It will be explained in further detail further below, when needing additional resource, using the scheduling scheme of centralization, can more efficiently use media.For example, the network architecture is likely to occur in the family, wherein many distinct devices (that is, DVD-TV, CD-Amp-Speaker etc.) needs communicate with each other.In this case, these network stations specify a station to serve as AP automatically.It should be noted that as described below, adaptive coordination function (ACF) can be used by specified access point, and can be used in the case where centralized scheduling, random access, ad-hoc communication or any combination thereof.

Some non-AP equipment but not every non-AP equipment have the MAC ability of enhancing, therefore are suitable for specified AP and work.It should be noted that not all equipment requires to be designed to have specified AP MAC ability.When QoS (for example, secure delay), high-throughput and critically important/efficiency, an equipment in network allows for supporting the operation of specified AP.

It means that the ability of specified AP is usually associated with the equipment for having high ability, for example, having one or more attributes, such as line power (line power), a large amount of antenna and/or transmitting/reception chain or high-throughput requirement.(additive factor for selecting specified AP is described more fully).Therefore, low side devices do not need the ability for the AP for having specified such as low side camera or phone, and high-end equipment can have the ability of specified AP such as high-end video source or high definition video display.

In the network of not AP, specified AP plays the effect of real AP, and may or may not have less functionality.In various embodiments, specified AP can execute following function: (a) establishing network basic service set and close (BSS) ID；(b) by sending beacon and broadcast channel (BCH) network configuration information (BCH can define the media combination before next BCH), network sequence is set；(c) forward control channel (FCCH) is used, is scheduled by the transmission to the station in network, to manage connection；(d) management association (association)；(e) admission control is provided for QoS flow；And/or (f) various other functions.Complicated scheduler or any kind of dispatching algorithm may be implemented in specified AP.Simple scheduler can be used, its example is detailed further below.

Below with reference to point to point link, improved physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header is described in detail, this is also applied for specified AP.In one embodiment, the PLCP header of all transmission by all master data rates being decoded (including specified AP) of standing can be sent.The PLCP header of transmission from multiple stations includes the data reserve at station associated with certain priority or stream.Alternatively, it includes a Duration Request for the latter transmission opportunity of certain priority or stream.

By " snooping (snooping) " in the PLCP header of all station transmission, specified AP can determine the deposit requested by these stations or transmission opportunity duration.Based on load, conflict or other congestion metrics, specified AP, which can be determined, distributes to (distribution access) based on EDCA portion of time, and portion of time is distributed to uncompetitive poll (centralization) access.Specified AP can run a basic scheduler, distribute the bandwidth proportional to request, and be scheduled in uncontended periods to it.The scheduler of enhancing is also possible, but it is not necessary to.Transmission by scheduling is noticed in CCH (control channel) by specified AP.

Specified AP does not need the transmission loopback (echo) that one is stood to another station (that is, serving as springboard), but this function is also to permit.Real AP can have loop-back capabilities.

When the specified access point of selection, a kind of hierarchical system can be created, to determine which equipment should serve as access point.In the specified access point of selection, admissible example factors include following: (a) user configuration (over-ride)；(b) higher preference gradations；(c) security level；(d) ability: line power；(e) ability: antenna amount；(f) ability: maximum transmission power；(g) additional consideration based on other factors (break a tie): the address media access control (MAC)；(h) equipment of first booting；(i) any other factor.

In fact, specified AP is preferably located at center, and there is optimal total Rx SNRCDF (that is, all stations can be received in the case where good SNR).As soon as receiving sensitivity is better in general, the antenna that station possesses is more.In addition, specified AP can have higher transmission power, so that the specified AP can be listened to by a large amount of station.When adding station and/or when station is mobile, it can be estimated that these attributes, and them are utilized, to enable the network to dynamically reconfigure.

If network configuration has real AP or specified AP, point-to-point can be supported to connect.Next section will be described in point-to-point connection.In one embodiment, two kinds of point-to-point can be supported to connect: (a) managed point-to-point connection, wherein AP participated in each station transmission is scheduled；(b) connection of self-organizing, wherein AP is not involved in the management or scheduling of station transmission.

Specified AP can set mac frame interval, and a beacon is sent when frame starts.Broadcast and control channel can specify the allocated duration in the frame for allowing station to send.Those are requested, the station (for AP, these requests are known) being allocated is transmitted to point-to-point, AP can provide the dispensing section that have passed through scheduling.AP can notice these dispensing sections in control channel, for example, in each mac frame.

Optionally, AP can also include that (will be described in more detail below) in the mac frame A-TCH (self-organizing) section.It can be indicated in BCH and FCCH kind in mac frame with the presence or absence of A-TCH.In A-TCH, CSMA/CA process is can be used to execute point to point link in station.The CSMA/CA process of IEEE Wireless LAN standard 802.11 can be modified, to exclude the requirement of ACK at once.When a station, which is robbed, accounts for channel, which can send a MAC-PDU (protocol Data Unit) comprising multiple LLC-PDU.One maximum duration that can be occupied in A-TCH of standing provides in BCH.For the LLC by confirmation, can be held consultation according to required application delay to window size and maximum confirmation delay.Improved mac frame is described in detail below with reference to Figure 20, with A-TCH sections, can be used for real AP and specified AP.

In one embodiment, non-guide (unsteered) MIMO pilot tone can make all stations understand the channel between their own and dispatching station.In some cases, this is useful.In addition, non-guide MIMO pilot tone can be used in specified AP, with the demodulation for carrying out channel estimation He being convenient for PCCH, distribution then can be therefrom exported.Once specified AP receives all requested distribution in the frame of a special MAC, then it can be scheduled them for subsequent mac frame.It should be noted that rate control information is not necessarily contained in FCCH.

In one embodiment, scheduler can execute following operation: firstly, for next mac frame, scheduler collects all requested dispensing sections, and calculates total requested dispensing section (Total Requested).Second, scheduler calculates the total available resources (Total Available) that can distribute to F-TCH and R-TCH.Third uses the ratio determined by Total Available/Total Requested, all requested dispensing sections is zoomed in and out if Total Requested is greater than TotalAvailable.4th, for dispensing section after any scaling less than 12 0FDM symbols, these dispensing sections are increased into 12 OFDM symbols (in this exemplary embodiment in this way, but the embodiment of replacement different parameters can be used).5th, in order to accommodate resulting dispensing section in F-TCH+R-TCH, by being reduced more than all dispensing sections of 12 OFDM symbols in a looping fashion, since maximum value, symbol, can accommodate any additional OFDM symbol and/or guard time one at a time.

One example can illustrate above-described embodiment.Consider following distribution request: 20,40,12,48.So Total Requested=120.Assuming that Total Available=90.Assume again that required guard time is 0.2 OFDM symbol.Therefore, the dispensing section as described in third operation above, after scaling are as follows: 15,30,9,36.As described in the 4th operation above, dispensing section 9 is increased to 12.According to the 5th operation, modified dispensing section is added with guard time, total allocation section is 93.8.It means that dispensing section will reduce by 4 symbols.Since maximum, a symbol is once removed, so that it is determined that final dispensing section is 14,29,12,34.(that is, 89 symbols and 0.8 symbol for guard time in total)

In one exemplary embodiment, when there is specified AP, it can establish the beacon and setting network sequence of BSS.Multiple equipment is associated with the specified AP.When two equipment associated with a specified AP needs a QoS connection, for example, with the HDTV link that low delay and high-throughput require, then, they specify AP offer operational indicator to this, to carry out admission control.The specified AP can receive or refuse the connection request.

If media utilization rate is sufficiently low, CSMA/CA can be used, reserve the entire duration of media between the beacons, operated for EDCA.If EDCA operation operation is smooth, for example, without excessive conflict, keeping out of the way and postponing, then the specified AP needs not be provided coordination function.

The PLCP header that specified AP is transmitted by monitoring station can continue to monitor media utilization rate.According to media observation and storage level or transmission opportunity Duration Request, specified AP can decide when EDCA operation be unsatisfactory for permit stream required QoS.For example, storage level and the trend of requested duration that it can be reported with observation station, and the stream based on allowance, it is compared with desired value.

When being unsatisfactory for required QoS specified AP is determined in distribution access, the operation on media can be converted into the operation with poll and scheduling by it.The latter provides more deterministic delay and higher throughput efficiency.The example of this operation is described more fully below.

Therefore, it by observation media utilization rate, conflict, congestion and observes transmission opportunity request from dispatching station and is compared with QoS flow is permitted request, can adaptively be converted into dispatching (centralized) operation from EDCA (distributed access mechanism).

As previously mentioned, in any embodiment for the application detailed description for wherein describing access point, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiment is adapted to work in the case where having real access point or specified access point.Just as being described in detail here, a specified access point can be used and/or select, which can work according to any agreement, any combination including the agreement or various protocols that do not refer in the application.

Point-to-point transmission and direct link agreement (DLP)

As described above, point-to-point (or being referred to as " point-point ") transmission enables a STA directly to send data to another STA, without first sending the data to AP.Here the various aspects being described in detail can be used for point-to-point transmission.In one embodiment, direct link agreement (DLP) can be modified, as described below.Figure 17 shows an exemplary point to point links in system 100.System 100 in this is similar to system 100 shown in FIG. 1, modified, can be realized and transmits from the direct of UT to another UT and (in this embodiment, show the transmission between UT 106A and UT 106B).UT 106 can directly be communicated with AP 104, be will be described in detail here by WLAN 120.

In various exemplary embodiments, two kinds of point-can be supported to connect: (a) managed point-connection, wherein AP is scheduled each STA transmission participated in；(b) point-connection of self-organizing, wherein AP is not involved in the management or scheduling of STA transmission.One embodiment may include the one or both of both connections.In one exemplary embodiment, the signal sent may include: a part comprising the public information that can be received by one or more stations (being also possible that access point)；And formatting has been exclusively carried out in order to by the received information of point-receiving station.Public information can be used for dispatching (for example, as shown in figure 25), or be kept out of the way for competing (for example, as shown in figure 26) by various neighbor stations.

The various exemplary embodiments being described below in detail introduce the closed loop rate control of point-connection.This rate control can be used, to make full use of available high data rate.

For purposes of illustration only, that various functions (that is, confirmation) is not described in detail in exemplary embodiment.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art function disclosed herein can combine, to form any number of set or subclass in various embodiments.

Figure 18 shows the physical layer bursts 1800 of the prior art.Lead code 1810 can be first sent, physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header 1820 is followed by.802.11 traditional systems define a kind of PLCP header, including rate type and modulation format, the data for transmitting as data symbol 1830.

Figure 19 gives an illustrative physical layer bursts 1900, it can be used for point-transmission.As Figure 18, lead code 1810 and PLCP header 1820 are includable, and what is be followed by is the point-transmission for being marked as P2P 1940.P2P 1940 may include the MIMO pilot tone 1910 used by recipient UT.MIMO Rate Feedback 1920 is also includable, in order to be used in the future transmission for sending back to sender UT by recipient UT.Rate Feedback can be generated from receiving station to dispatching station in response to previous transmission.Then, the selected rates and modulation format that data symbol 1930 can be connected according to point-are sent.It should be noted that physical layer bursts, such as PHY burst 1900, can be used for the point-connection of AP management and the point-transmission of self-organizing.The following detailed description of illustrative Rate Feedback embodiment.It further below include the embodiment of the replacement comprising the physical layer transmission burst in terms of these.

In an exemplary embodiment, AP sets TDD mac frame interval.Broadcast and control channel can be used to indicate the allocated duration in TDD mac frame interval.For having requested that the STA (being known for AP) of point-transmission distribution, AP can provide the distribution by scheduling, and notice them in control channel in each TDD mac frame interval.Fig. 1 above 5 gives an illustrative system.

Figure 20 shows an exemplary embodiment at TDD mac frame interval 2000 comprising an optional self-organizing section is identified as A-TCH 2010.It may include the identical part of the described number of Figure 15 above in conjunction in TDD mac frame interval 2000.It may indicate that in BCH510 and/or CCH 520 in TDD mac frame interval 2000 with the presence or absence of A-TCH 2010.During A-TCH 2010, any competition process is can be used to execute point to point link in STA.It is, for example, possible to use 802.11 technologies, SIFS, DIFS as detailed above, back off time etc..Also QoS technology can be used, those of introduction (that is, AIFS) technology in such as 802.11 (e).Various other schemes competition-based can also be used.

In one exemplary embodiment, for the CSMA/CA process of competition, for example, the process being defined in 802.11, can be modified as follows.ACK at once is not needed.When rob account for channel when, a STA can send the Medium Access Control (MAC) Protocol Data Unit (MAC-PDU) including multiple PDU (that is, LLC-PDU).It may indicate that STA occupied maximum duration in A-TCH in BCH.When it is desirable that passing through the transmission of confirmation, it can negotiate window size according to required application delay and maximum confirms delay.

In this embodiment, F-TCH 530 is a part at TDD mac frame interval, for the transmission from AP to STA.In A-TCH 2010, the point to point link using competitive technologyL between STA can be executed.In R-TCH 540, the point to point link of the scheduling between STA can be executed.Any one of these three sections can be set as empty.

Figure 21 gives an illustrative physical layer bursts 2100, also referred to as " PHY burst ".Point-the connection that PHY burst 2100 can be used for dispatching, such as during R-TCH 540, or during the self-organizing connection of such as A-TCH 2010 etc, have been combined Figure 20 above and this is described in detail.PHY burst 2100 includes non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110, reciprocity common control channel (PCCH) 2120 and one or more data symbols 2130.Non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110 can receive at one or more stations, also, can be used as by receiving station with reference to estimating the respective channel between dispatching station and receiving station.This illustrative PCCH includes fields: (a) destination party MAC-ID；(b) for next TDD mac frame interval the expection transmitting continuous time distribution request；(c) transmission rate indicator is used to indicate the transformat of current data grouping；(d) control channel (that is, CCH) subchannel, for receiving any distribution from AP；And (e) CRC.PCCH 2120 and non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110 are common segments, therefore can be received by various monitoring stations (including access point).It can be inserted into distribution request, in PCCH in order to realize managed point-connection in following TDD mac frame interval.Such PHY burst may include that also, can still request the point-to-point connection of the scheduling in following TDD mac frame interval in self-organizing connection.In this exemplary embodiment, non-guide MIMO pilot tone is 8 OFDM symbols (in the embodiment replaced in the following detailed description of, less symbol is just enough to realize channel estimation), and PCCH is two OFDM symbols.After common segment (including non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110 and PCCH2120), using the spatial reuse and/or higher modulation format determined by each STA in point-connection, one or more data symbols 2130 are sent.The part of transmission is encoded according to the rate control information being embedded in the data portion of transmission.Therefore, a part of PHY burst 2100 can be received by multiple periphery stations, and actual data have passed through special finishing, station or AP in order to high efficiency of transmission to one or more specific point-connections.Data 2130 can be sent as access point distributes alternatively, being connected according to self-organizing and being sent (process competed namely based on CSMA/CA).

One exemplary embodiment of PHY burst includes a lead code, which is made of 8 OFDM symbols that non-guide MIMO is referred to.Reciprocity common control channel (PCCH) MAC-PDU header is included in subsequent 2 OFDM symbols, has been used STTD mode, has been encoded with R=1/2BPSK.MAC-ID is 12 bits.It further include the distribution request of 8 bits, in order to receive (therefore, largest request is 256 short OFDM symbols) in the expected duration in next TDD mac frame interval by AP.TX rate is 16 bits, is used to indicate rate used in current group.FCCH subchannel preference is two bits, corresponding to the preference between most four sub-channels, is based on this, AP makes any applicable distribution.CRC is 10 bits.Other any amount of fields and/or field size may include in the PHY burst embodiment of replacement.

In this embodiment, remaining MAC-PDU transmission uses the spatial reuse and higher modulation determined by each STA in point-connection.This part of the transmission is that the rate control information being embedded in the data portion according to transmission is encoded.

Figure 22 gives point-point data transmission illustrative methods 2200.In frame 2210, process starts, wherein a station sends non-guide MIMO pilot tone.In frame 2220, which sends can common decoded information.For example, the example of non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110 and PCCH2120 as the mechanism for requesting distribution in managed connection, AP or other control stations are required to be decoded the signal section for including the request.Those skilled in the art will be recognized that there are also the request mechanisms of countless replacements, for being scheduled on a shared channel to point-connection.In frame 2230, according to the transformat consulted, data are transmitted to another station from a station.In this embodiment, guiding data is sent with rate and parameter according to determined by the measurement result of non-guide MIMO pilot tone 2110.Those skilled in the art will be recognized that also there are many means replaced can be used to send the data especially modified for specific point-channel.

Figure 23 shows a kind of illustrative methods 2300 of point to point link.The illustrative methods 2300 give many aspects, and a part in terms of these can be used in any specific embodiment.In decision box 2310, process starts.In decision box 2310, if having data to carry out STA-STA transmission, enter decision box 2320.If it is not, executing the communication of any other type, including other access styles (if any) into frame 2370.Into frame 2360, process can return to decision box 2310 and be repeated, alternatively, process can terminate.

In decision box 2320, if there is STA-STA data will be transmitted, then judge that the point-connection is scheduling or self-organizing.If the transmission is scheduling, enter frame 2320, and requests distribution to win a TXOP.It should be noted that distribution request can be issued in the random access part of TDDMAC frame period as described above, alternatively, it can be included in self-organizing transmission.Once making distribution, so that it may send a STA-STA physical burst in frame 2350.In one exemplary embodiment, method 2200 can be used for a kind of STA-STA PHY burst.

In decision box 2320, it is undesirable that the point-connection of scheduling, then enter in frame 2340, in order to contention access power.It is, for example, possible to use 2010 sections of A-TCH of TDD mac frame interval 2000.After successfully winning access right by competing, into frame 2350, and a STA-STA PHY burst is sent, as described above.

Enter decision box 2360 from frame 2350, wherein process can repeat, as described above, alternatively, can stop.

Figure 24, which is shown, provides a kind of illustrative methods 2400 of Rate Feedback, connects for point-.The figure shows various transmission and other steps that can be executed by two STA 1 and STA 2 that stand.STA 1 sends a non-guide pilot tone 2410 to STA 2.STA 2 measures channel 2420 while receiving non-guide pilot tone 2410.In one exemplary embodiment, what STA 2 determined the transmission on measured channel can supporting rate.STA 1 is sent to using the rate definitive result as Rate Feedback 2430.In the embodiment of various replacements, other parameters can be transmitted, are determined in order to make Rate Feedback in STA 1.In 2440, STA 1 receives the distribution or contention transmission opportunities by scheduling, such as in A-TCH.Once having won transmission opportunity, in 2450, STA 1 sends data to STA 2 just with the rate according to determined by Rate Feedback 2430 and modulation format.

Method shown in Figure 24 can be promoted the use of in various embodiments, this is obvious to those skilled in the art.It is described more fully and is integrated with point-point velocity feedback and otherwise some examples.

Method 2500 in Figure 25 shows the managed point-connection stood between STA 1 and STA 2 and access point (AP) at two.In 2505, STA 1 sends non-guide pilot tone and distribution request.Data can also be sent according to distributing earlier with previous Rate Feedback, will be described below.In addition, any such data can be sent according to from previously managed point-connection or come the Rate Feedback of free STA 1 or STA 2 ad-hoc communication initiated.STA 2 and access point can all receive non-guide pilot tone and transmission request (can be received by various other stations in the region).

Access point receives transmission request, and according to one of a variety of dispatching algorithms, determines when and whether make the distribution for point to point link.STA 2 measures channel, while in 2505, non-guide pilot tone is transmitted, and STA 2 can determine with STA 1 carry out point to point link can supporting rate.Optionally, STA 2 can also receive feedback and/or data from STA 1 according to preceding primary transmission.

In this embodiment, access point, which has determined, to be allocated for requested transmission.In 2515, a distribution is transferred to STA 1 from access point.It in this embodiment, is being transmitted in control channel (such as above-mentioned CCH 520) to the distribution of R-TCH 540.Equally, in 2520, for STA 2, the distribution on R-TCH is made.In 2525, STA 1 receives the distribution from access point.In 2530, STA 2 receives the distribution from access point.

In 2535, according to distribution 2520, STA, 2 transmission rate feedback.It is alternatively possible to include the request and any data to be sent according to previous request of the transmission as described above for scheduling.As described above, the Rate Feedback sent is selected according to channel measurement 2510.2535 PHY burst also may include non-guide pilot tone.In 2540, STA 1 measures the channel from STA 2, receives feedback, and can also receive optional data.

In 2545, data are sent according to the rate feedback information received according to distribution 2515, STA 1.In addition, for following distribution request can be made, and according to the channel measurement in 2540, provide Rate Feedback.Data are the specific channel measurements according to point to point communication and send.In 2550, STA 2 receives data, and, any rate control optionally sent.STA 2 can also measure channel, in order to provide Rate Feedback for future transmission.

It should be noted that transmission 2535 and 2545 can all be received by access point, at least non-guide part can be received, as described above.Therefore, for comprising any request, access point can provide the additional allocation for future transmission, be indicated respectively by the distribution 2555 and 2560 for being sent to STA 1 and STA 2.In 2565 and 2570, STA 1 and STA 2 receive respective distribution.Then, which ad infinitum repeats, wherein access point management shares the access on media, STA 1 and STA 2 according to selected rate supported on point-channel and modulation format, directly mutually sends point to point communication.It note that in the alternative embodiment, self-organizing point to point communication can also be executed, while also executing managed point to point communication as shown in figure 25.

Figure 26 shows (or, self-organizing) point-connection competition-based.STA 1 and STA2 are communicated with each other.Other STA also may be in range of receiving, and can access shared channel.In 2610, the STA 1 for having data to be sent to STA 2 monitors shared channel, and contention access is weighed.Once having won transmission opportunity, point-point PHY burst 2615 is just sent to STA 2, PHY burst 2615 may also be received by other STA.In 2620, monitor that other STA of shared channel are likely to be received the transmission from STA 1, old friend road avoids accessing the channel.For example, PCCH described above may include in transmission 2615.In 2630, STA 2 happens suddenly 2615 pilot tones according to PHY to measure channel, and competes the return access on shared channel.STA 2 also can according to need transmission data.Note that the competition time can change.For example, in traditional 802.11 systems after sifs, an ACK can be returned to.Due to SIFS highest priority, so STA2 can be responded in the case where not losing channel.Different embodiments can permit lower delay, and can provide high priority for returned data.

In 2635, STA 2 is fed back to 1 transmission rate of STA and optional data.In 2640,1 receiving velocity of STA feedback competes the access right to shared channel, and in 2645 again, according to the Rate Feedback received, sends signal to STA 2.In 2640, STA 1 can also measure channel, in order to provide the Rate Feedback for being used for future transmission to STA 2, and can receive any optional data sent out by STA 2.In 2650, the rate and modulation format, reception data that STA 2 is determined according to measured channel conditions transmit 2645.STA 2 also can receive Rate Feedback, for returning to a transmission to STA 1.STA 2 can also measure channel, to provide following Rate Feedback.Therefore, it returns in 2635, allowing STA 2 to return to Rate Feedback and data, the process can repeat.

Therefore, two stations can be weighed by contention access bidirectionally executes ad-hoc communication.By using the transmission that Rate Feedback and especially finishing are sent to receiving station, keep point-connection itself very efficient.When using public receivable part (such as PCCH) of PHY burst, then, as shown in 2620, the accessible information of other STA, and avoid interfering on channel in the known holding time shown in PCCH.As shown in figure 25, before the step shown in Figure 26, managed or self-organizing point to point communication can initiate data transmission, also, can be used for then proceeding with point to point communication.Therefore, it is possible to use any combination of scheduling and self-organizing point to point communication.

Figure 27 gives an illustrative TDD mac frame interval 2700, for illustrating the managed point to point communication between station.In this embodiment, F-TCH the and A-TCH duration is all set as 0.Beacon/BCH 510 and the transmission the same as before of CCH 520.The beginning of the expression next frame of beacon/BCH 560.CCH 520 indicates the distribution for point to point communication.According to these distribution, during allocated burst 2710, STA 1 sends signal to STA 2.It note that in identical TDD mac frame interval, the distribution of STA 2 obtains section 2730, for responding to STA 1.It may include above-mentioned various composition in any specific point-PHY layer burst, such as Rate Feedback, request, guiding and/or non-guide pilot tone, guiding and/or non-guide data.In distribution 2720, STA 3 sends signal to STA 4.In distribution 2740, STA 4 sends signal in a similar manner, to STA 3.It may include various other rl transmissions, including non-dots-connection in R-TCH.The additional exemplary embodiment for illustrating these and other aspects is provided in detail further below.

It note that in Figure 27, as needed, the protection interval between section can be scheduled.A major issue about point to point communication is, it is generally the case that the path delay between two STA is unknown.In this regard, a kind of processing method is to allow each STA that its sending time is kept to fix, so that the clock of they and AP be made synchronizedly to reach AP.In this case, AP can provide guard time at the both ends that each point-to-point distributes, to compensate the unknown path delay between the STA in two communication.Cyclic prefix will be enough in many cases, without being adjusted at STA receiver.Then, STA must determine their own time migration, in order to be aware of when to receive the transmission of other STA.STA receiver may need to maintain two reception clocks: one is used for AP frame timing, another is connected for point-.

As described in various embodiments above, receiver can be confirmed in its distribution and channel feedback, and feeds back and arrive transmitter.Even if total Business Stream be it is unidirectional, receiver can also send reference and request to be distributed.AP scheduler is ensured to be feedback and provides enough resources.

With the interoperability at traditional station and access point

Just as being described in detail here, described various embodiments provide the improvement relative to legacy system.But since legacy system had been widely present already, a system is preferably able to keep backward compatibility with existing legacy system and/or legacy user terminals.Term used herein is " novel " to be used to distinguish with traditional system.The system of new type can integrate the one or more aspects or feature being described in detail here.One illustrative novel system is that MIMO ofdm system is described below with reference to Figure 35-52.In addition, the aspect for making novel system and legacy system interoperate being described below in detail is also applied for other systems still leaved for development, but regardless of whether including any particular refinement being described in detail here in the system.

In an exemplary embodiment, (FA) is distributed by using different frequencies, backward compatibility can be kept with other systems, so that a novel system be made to work on the FA different from legacy user.Therefore, novel system may search for the available FA to work on it.Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) algorithm can be implemented in the New WLAN to realize this function.Preferably with the AP of multicarrier.

The traditional STA for attempting to access WLAN can use two kinds of scan methods: active scan and drive sweep.In the case where drive sweep, by scanning work frequency band, STA obtains the list of the feasible set of basic (BSS) near it.In the case where active scan, STA sends an inquiry, to request the response of other STA in BSS.

Traditional standard is not related to how STA determines which BSS is added, still, once make a decision, so that it may trial is associated.If it fails, STA will be moved by its BSS list, until success.When a tradition STA can not understand transmitted beacon message, which does not attempt to associated with a New WLAN.But as a kind of method for maintaining single WLAN type on single FA, a novel AP (and UT) can ignore the request from traditional STA.

A kind of technology of replacement is to allow new A P or novel STA using effective traditional (that is, 802.11) message delivery techniques, refuses the request of any tradition STA.If a legacy system supports this message delivery techniques, redirection message can be provided for tradition STA.

It is that two kinds of STA is supported to need additional frequency spectrum from the associated one obvious drawback that works on different FA.One benefit is, convenient for managing different WLAN, to remain such as QoS function.But, just as being described in detail in the application, for the high data rate that the novel system of mimo system embodiment as detailed herein is supported, traditional CSMA MAC protocol (e.g., those of detailed description agreement in traditional 802.11 standards) is usually not enough efficiently.Therefore, preferably with the operating mode of backward compatibility, so that novel MAC and traditional MAC coexists on identical FA.Several exemplary embodiments are described below, wherein tradition and novel system can share identical FA.

Figure 28 shows method 2800, for supporting both tradition and novel station in the distribution of identical frequency.In this embodiment, for convenience, it is assumed that BSS works in isolation (that is, not coordinating between the BSS of multiple overlappings).Process starts from frame 2810, and a uncontended periods are established using traditional signaling.

Here is several illustrated examples for traditional 802.11 systems, wherein hook built-in in traditional 802.11 standards can be used to reserve by the novel station dedicated time in New WLAN AP.In addition to this, for various types of legacy systems, other any amount of signaling technologies can be used to establish a uncontended periods.

A kind of technology is to establish uncontended periods (CFP) under PCF/HCF mode.AP may establish that a beacon interval, and a uncontended periods are noticed in the beacon interval, wherein it can provide service in the polling mode for novel and traditional STA.This makes all tradition STA that its network allocation vector (NAV) is arranged to the duration of noticed CFP, and network allocation vector is the counter for tracking CFP.So the traditional STA for receiving the beacon must not use channel, unless by AP poll in CFP.

Another technology is to establish CFP and setting NAV by RTS/CTS and duration/id field.In this case, new A P can issue a specific RTS with reserved address (RA), which shows that the AP is reserving the channel to all novel STA.The RA field is resolved to and is directed toward a specific STA by traditional STA, and is not responded.Novel STA is responded with a specific CTS, thus, BSS is removed in the period provided in duration/id field of CTS/RTS message pair.In this point, novel station can freely use channel subscribing in the duration, without conflicting.

In frame 2820, the STA that the traditional type of the signal for establishing uncontended periods has been received, which is waited until, to be polled or until uncontended periods terminate.In this way, access point is successfully assigned with shared media, for the use of novel MAC protocol.In frame 2830, new STA can be accessed according to the agreement.Here any set or subset for the aspect being described in detail may be used in such a novel MAC protocol.For example, can using the forward link and reverse link transmission of scheduling, and, managed point-transmission, self-organizing or communication (including point-point) competition-based, alternatively, any combination of above-mentioned transmission.In frame 2840, using any one of multi-signal type, terminate novel access period, signal type can change according to used legacy system.In this exemplary embodiment, a uncontended periods end signal is sent.In an alternative embodiment can also be with poll tradition STA in uncontended periods.Such access can be after novel access, alternatively, can intert wherein.

In frame 2850, a competing cycle is defined if it is legacy system, all STA can be weighed with contention access.In this way, the legacy system that not can be carried out communication in uncontended periods can issue request and/or attempt to send signal.In decision box 2860, which can be by being continued, alternatively, can also stop back to frame 2810.

Figure 29 shows the combination of tradition and new media access control.Traditional MAC protocol 2910 is given on novel protocol 2930, when both combines, is formed a MAC protocol, such as the MAC protocol 2950 after combining.In this embodiment, for purpose of explanation, 802.11 traditional signaling messages have been used.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art technology disclosed herein is also applied for any one of a variety of legacy systems and any novel MAC protocol, the combination including function disclosed herein.

Traditional MAC protocol 2910 includes beacon 2902, identifies beacon interval.Traditional beacon interval includes uncontended periods 2904, and what is be followed by is competing cycle 2906.Various contention free-poll frame 2908A-N can be generated in uncontended periods 2904.Uncontended periods 2904 are to terminate 2910 by means of uncontended periods and terminate.In 802.11 exemplary embodiments, each beacon 2902 is transmitted at target beacon sending time (TBTT).Novel MAC protocol 2930 includes mac frame 2932A-N.

Beacon interval 2950 after merging illustrates tradition and interoperability of the novel MAC protocol in uncontended periods 2904.Including novel TDD mac frame interval 2932, that be followed by is traditional polled CF poll 2908A-N.Uncontended periods, which end at CFP, terminates 2910, and what is be followed by is competing cycle 2906.Novel TDD mac frame interval 2932 can be any type, optionally include the various aspects being described in detail here.In one exemplary embodiment, novel TDD mac frame interval 2932 includes various sections, such as those sections described in conjunction with Figure 20 above.Therefore, in this embodiment, novel TDD mac frame interval includes pilot tone 510, control channel 520, fl transmission channel 530, self-organizing point-part (A-TCH) 2010, reverse link traffic channel 540 and random access channel 550.

It note that in CFP 2904, traditional STA should not interfere with any New WLAN transmission.AP can in CFP any tradition STA of poll, thus allow in this paragraph carry out mixed mode operations.In addition, AP can reserve entire CFP 2904 for novel use, and push all traditional businesses to competing cycle (CP) 2906 at the end of beacon interval.

Exemplary 802.11 traditional standard needs CP 2906 long enough to support the exchange between two conventional terminals.So beacon can be used, but this will lead to the time jitter (time jitter) in system.If necessary, in order to reduce shake, the interval CFP can be shortened, thus the beacon interval being kept fixed.The timer for establishing CFP and CP can be set, so that CFP (that is, about 1.024 seconds) is longer than CP (that is, less than 10 milliseconds).But if AP poll conventional terminal during CFP, the duration of their transmission may be unknown, and may cause additional time jitter.Therefore, when traditional STA to be contained on identical FA, it has to be noted that keep the QoS of novel STA.802.11 traditional standard synchronisations are to 1.024 milliseconds of time quantum (TU).In this embodiment, using 2TU or 2.048 millisecond of mac frame duration, novel MAC is designed to synchronous with legacy system.

In some embodiments, it is preferably ensured that keeping novel mac frame synchronous.That is, the mac frame clock of system can be continuous, also, when sending, which starts from the integral multiple of 2.048 milliseconds of frame periods.In this way it is easier to keep the sleep pattern of STA.

Novel Delivery does not need compatible with conventional transmission.Header, lead code etc. can be it is distinctive for novel system, their example is described in detail in the application.Traditional STA can attempt to be demodulated, but will be unable to correctly be decoded.Traditional STA under sleep pattern is usually unaffected.

Figure 30 shows the method 3000 for obtaining transmission opportunity.Method 3000 may be used as the frame 2830 in an exemplary embodiment of method 2800 as described above.The process starts from decision box 3010, wherein access can be scheduling or non-scheduled type.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art in any specific embodiment, can support one of both access styles or both although this is illustrated two kinds of access.In decision box 3010, if it is desired to which the access of non-scheduled type then enters frame 3040, so that contention access is weighed.Any amount of access technology competition-based can be used.Once obtaining transmission opportunity (TXOP), then sent in frame 3050 according to the transmission opportunity.Then, process can terminate.

In frame 3010, if it is desired to which the access of scheduling enters frame 3020, then to request to access.The access request can be made on a random access channel during Self-organizing Competition, alternatively, using any other technology disclosed herein.In frame 3030, after granting the access request, it will receive a distribution.Into in frame 3050, according to the distribution received, TXOP is sent.

In some cases, it is preferred to use traditional BSS of overlapping realizes interoperability in the distribution of identical frequency between new A P and its associated BSS.Traditional BSS can work under DCF or PCF/HCF mode, so, synchronizing between novel B SS and tradition BSS may not be that can reach.

If tradition BSS works under PCF or HCF mode, new A P can attempt to be synchronized to TBTT.If this be it is possible, new A P can be used various mechanism and occupy channel in competing cycle, in order to work in the region BSS of overlapping, be made that description to the example of the mechanism above.If tradition BSS works at DCF, new A P can also attempt to occupy channel, and notice a CFP, to remove channel.

In some cases, some or all of traditional BSS STA may can not receive new A P transmission.In this case, these tradition STA may interfere with the operation of New WLAN.In order to avoid this interference, novel station can default to be operated based on CSMA, and relies on point-transmission (it will be described in further detail in conjunction with Figure 33-34 further below).

Figure 31 shows a kind of illustrative method 3100, so that multiple BSS share single FA.In frame 3110, conventional access points send a beacon.The novel access point of shared identical frequency assignments can be synchronized to TBTT (optional) associated with the beacon.In frame 3120, if traditional uncontended periods be it is defined according to the beacon, execute it.Once uncontended periods (if any) terminate, then all STA can be weighed contention access in defined competing cycle.In frame 3130, novel access point contention access in competing cycle is weighed.In frame 3140, novel STA can access shared media within the time that novel access point has competed access right.Access style during the novel access may include that any one aspect is described in detail here.Multiple technologies as detailed above can be used, Xiang Chuantong STA indicates the time quantum of the access point channel reservation.In frame 3150, once the end cycle, then tradition STA can be competed.In decision box 3160, which can be continued by returning in frame 3110, alternatively, can terminate.

Figure 32 shows the overlapping BSS using single FA.Legacy system 3210 send beacon 3205 (3205A and 3205B are shown in figure, for illustrate legacy system TBTT and total beacon interval).Beacon 3205A identifies uncontended periods 3210 and competing cycle 3215.In uncontended periods 3210, traditional contention free-poll 3220A-N can be executed, what is be followed by is the end indicator 3225 of uncontended periods.

Station in New WLAN 3240 monitors channel, receives beacon 3205, and gain control of oneself and do not access media, until the chance of contention access power is arrived.In this embodiment, earliest chance is in uncontended periods.After PIFS 3230, novel access point sends a classical signal 3245, to indicate to conventional stations by the time quantum of busy channel.A variety of symbols can be used to execute the function, and detailed description has been carried out above for their example.Various other signals can be used, this depends on expectation and interoperates with which legacy system realization.Traditional STA in the range of receiving of classical signal 3245 can avoid access channel, until novel access period 3250 terminates.Period 3250 includes one or more TDD mac frame interval 3260 (in this embodiment, being 3260A-N).TDD mac frame interval 3260 can be any type, and example includes the one or more aspects being described in detail here.

In an exemplary embodiment, new A P occupies channel (that is, in every 40 milliseconds, 20 milliseconds of new A P busy channel) in the interval of fixed length.New A P can maintain a timer, to ensure its only busy channel in expected duration, to guarantee the fairness of Channel Sharing.During seizing channel, any signaling technology is can be used in new A P.For example, CTS/RTS or conventional beacon can be sent, to notice new CFP.

In novel interval 3250, an illustrative first TDD mac frame interval can be as given a definition: firstly, sending a beacon adds F-CCH, which indicates will UT in current MAC frame in the list of poll.After F-CCH, one section of MIMO pilot tone is broadcasted, so that STA obtains mimo channel and forms the accurate measurement results of mimo channel.In one exemplary embodiment, 2 short OFDM symbols of each antenna, can be realized fabulous performance.It means that the F-TCH in initial mac frame generally includes 8 MIMO frequency pilot signs.The part R-TCH of first mac frame can be constructed such that the STA on polling list sends non-guide MIMO pilot tone and rate indicator (for downlink), and confirmation to AP.In this embodiment, prepare to work under normal consistency type mode in next TDD mac frame interval in all terminals on the point, polling list.Hereafter, under the coordination of AP, using any technology disclosed herein, the TDD mac frame interval after the first TDD mac frame interval can be used for exchanging data.

As described above, under specific circumstances (for example, when some or all of traditional BSS STA can not receive new A P transmission), the operation based on CSMA is defaulted at novel station, and relies on point-transmission.At this point, ON OFF circulation described above may not have advantage, or even not possible with.In these cases, novel station can default point-operation.

Figure 33 gives a kind of illustrative methods 3300, uses various technologies disclosed herein, executes high speed point to point communication, while interoperating with traditional BSS.Process starts from frame 3310, wherein has data to issue the first STA contention access power of the 2nd STA.In frame 3320, after successful contention to access right, which uses classical signal, signal those of as described above, Lai Qingli media.In frame 3330, the first STA sends a request to the 2nd STA (together with pilot tone).2nd STA can measure channel according to transmitted pilot tone.Channel feedback is sent the first STA by 2nd STA.Therefore, in frame 3340, first stop receives the response with channel feedback (for example, Rate Feedback).In frame 3350, according to the feedback, the first STA sends pilot tone and guiding data to second station.In frame 3360, the 2nd STA can be sent to the first STA to be confirmed, and can send subsequent Rate Feedback, for other transmission.Make for clearing up the classical signal of media: using any high speed technology and relative to the improvement of legacy system, those technologies as disclosed herein, Lai Zhihang frame 3330 to 3360.Within the scope of the present invention, once STA has cleaned up media, so that it may use any point-MAC protocol.As shown in decision box 3370, by return frame 3310, process can be continued or process can terminate.

In one exemplary embodiment, it using point-dot pattern, seizes channel and is worked according to the traditional rule of CSMA.In this embodiment, PCF and HCF is not used, and not necessarily with a centralized network architecture.When a novel STA wishes to be communicated with another novel STA (or AP), which seizes channel.First transmission includes enough MIMO pilot tones, in addition a certain message for requesting to establish connection.It come cleaning area and can be set aside some time using CTS and RTS.Requesting party STA message must include STA BSS ID, STA MAC ID and target STA MAC ID (if if it is known that).Response should include the BSSID of responder STA.In this way, these STA can judge whether they need to be implemented the receiver correction of transmitting guiding vector (if having used guiding).Note that in this embodiment using transmitting guiding and it is nonessential, although if STA be used in both coordinate BSS specified AP and calibrated, it is advantageous for doing so.

As shown in figure 33, response may include MIMO pilot tone (if employed, being guiding) along with rate indicates.Once the exchange occurs, so that it may be oriented on each link ().But if these STA belong to different BSS, the first guiding transmission initiated between the STA of the connection may include guiding MIMO pilot signal, so that the receiver of responder STA can correct the phase difference value between different BSS.

In this exemplary embodiment, once initial exchange has occurred, so that it may be oriented to.These exchanges should follow the interval SIFS between downlink and uplink transmission.Due to calculating the potential processing delay in the feature vector for being oriented to, this may need STA to handle using least mean-square error (MMSE), rather than feature vector is handled.Once calculating guiding vector, STA can start in launch party using feature vector, and recipient can continue to handle using MMSE, change towards optimal spatial matched filter solution.Periodic feedback between two STA helps to carry out tracking and rate control.The interval SIFS can be followed, in order to allow STA to keep the control to channel.

Figure 34 shows point to point communication, uses MIMO technology, contention access (that is, managed) on traditional BSS.In this embodiment, initiator 106A contention access on channel is weighed.When it, which is successfully robbed, accounts for channel, send MIMO pilot tone 3405, behind followed by request 3410.The message may include the MAC ID of BSS ID, the MAC ID of initiator STA and target STA (if known).Other signalings can be used to further clear up channel such as CTS and RTS.Responder STA 106B sends guiding pilot tone 3420, is followed by confirmation and Rate Feedback 3425.Guiding pilot tone 3420 is sent when requesting the SIFS 3415 after 3410.In this exemplary embodiment, conventional access points are 802.11 access points, and SIFS has highest priority, and therefore, response station 106B keeps the control to channel.The various transmission of Figure 34 detailed description can be sent with mutual distance SIFS, so that the control to channel is kept, until point to point communication terminates.

In one exemplary embodiment, the maximum duration of channel occupancy can be determined.Guiding pilot tone 3430 and data 3435 after Rate Feedback 3425 are sent to response station STA 106B from initiator STA 106A according to the Rate Feedback.After data 3435, responder STA 106B sends guiding pilot tone 3440 and confirmation and rate control 3445.In response, initiator 106A sends guiding pilot tone 3450, followed by data 3455.

The process can ad infinitum continue, or at maximum up to channel access permitted maximum time, this depends on deployment cycle.Although not showing in Figure 34, responder STA can also send data, also, initiator can also be with sending rate control.These data segments can combine with section those of shown in Figure 34, so that efficiency maximizes (that is, SIFS need not be inserted between these transmission).

When two or more BSS overlapping, preferably with the mechanism that can share channel with coordination mode.Several illustrative mechanism and exemplary operational process associated there is given below.These mechanism can be used in combination with.

The first illustrative mechanism is dynamic frequency selection (DFS).Before establishing a BSS, WLAN needs to search for the wireless medium to determine optimal frequency distribution (FA), in order to establish the operation of BSS.During searching for candidate FA, AP can also create neighbor list, switch between AP in order to redirect.In addition, mac frame timing and neighbours BSS can be synchronized and (are further described below) by WLAN.DFS can be used to distribute BSS, so that synchronisation requirement between BSS be made to minimize.

Second of illustrative mechanism is synchronization between BSS.During DFS, the timing of the available neighbours BSS of AP.In general, preferably making all BSS (in one embodiment, on single FA, alternatively, in another embodiment, synchronizing across multiple FA), in order to carry out switching between BSS.But using this mechanism, at least works on identical FA and BSS those of closer to each other synchronizes its mac frame.In addition, if channel BSS overlapping (that is, AP can listen to other side each other) altogether, then newly arrived AP can be had the situation original AP of informing, and formulate Resource Sharing Protocol as follows.

The third illustrative mechanism is Resource Sharing Protocol.The BSS being overlapped on same FA can coequally share channel.Mac frame can be made to replace between BSS according to certain predetermined way, to realize this point.In this way, the business in each BSS can use channel, without risking the risk interfered by other BSS.Between such shared BSS that may be implemented to be overlapped at two.For example, an AP uses the mac frame of even-numbered, and another AP uses the mac frame of odd-numbered in the case where 2 BSS are overlapped.It is shared to be realized with 3 be mould in the case where 3 BSS are overlapped.The embodiment of replacement can use any kind of shared mechanism.Control field in BCH Overhead Message may indicate whether that the type of resource-sharing and shared period can be carried out.In this embodiment, the timing of all STA is adjusted to suitably share the period in BSS.In this embodiment, in the case where BSS is overlapped, delay will be will increase.

4th kind of illustrative mechanism is the resynchronisation of STA auxiliary.It is possible that such case: two BSS can't hear other side each other, but the new STA of in overlapping region can hear both.The STA can determine the timing of the two BSS, and report this to them.In addition, the STA can determine time migration, and indicate which AP should change its frame timing and change how much.The information must be propagated to all BSS being connected with the AP, they must all re-establish frame timing to realize synchronization.The resynchronisation of frame can be noticed in BCH.The algorithm can be applied to the more unconscious overlapping BSS of processing.

The example process that can be used for above-mentioned one or more mechanism is described below in detail.

AP can realize synchronization in power-up or in other specified times.By system near searching in all FA, system sequence can be determined.For convenient for synchronization, one group of orthogonal code can be used for assisting to distinguish different AP.For example, AP has duplicate known beacon in each mac frame.These beacons can be covered with Walsh sequence (for example, length is 16).Therefore, the equipment of such as AP or STA etc can execute the pilot frequency intensity measuring (PSM) of local AP, to determine the BSS of overlapping.It will be explained in further detail below, activity STA associated with an AP can send echo, to assist to synchronize.Timing corresponding with AP overlay code (cover) and soverlay technique (covering) can be used in these echoes.Therefore, when BSS is overlapped but the respective AP of these BSS can not detect the signal from other side, STA echo can be received by neighbor AP, thus provide its AP for information about and the signal that can synchronize of neighbor AP.Note that can reuse orthogonal overlay code on different FA.

Based on the set of undetected Walsh overlay code, the selection (that is, selection one Walsh overlay code on neighbor AP not detecting) of Walsh overlay code can be deterministically completed.If all overlay codes all exist, code corresponding with most weak received signal level (RSL) can be reused by new AP.Otherwise, in one embodiment, can choose makes the maximized code in the operating point of AP (referring to structuring power compensation (powerbackoff) mechanism adaptively reused, will be described in more detail further below).

In this embodiment, the frame counter sent by each AP is interlaced with each other to come.Used staggeredly mode corresponds to Walsh overlay code label.Therefore, AP0 uses Walsh code 0.As AP0 frame counter=i, APj uses Walsh overlay code j, also, its frame counter is equal to 0.

In power-up or the synchronous any time is being executed, AP monitors neighbor AP beacon and/or STA echo.If not detecting neighbor system, AP establishes the time reference of own.This can be arbitrary, or local time reference related or any other to GPS.If detecting individual system, local timing is correspondingly established.If AP detects two or more systems to work with different time line, AP can be synchronized with the system with peak signal.If the work of these systems in identical frequency distribution (FA), AP can attempt to it is associated with weaker AP, to inform its work AP near other on independent clock.The new AP attempts time migration needed for synchronizing the area Liang Ge AP and informs weaker AP.Weaker its adjustable timing of area AP.For multiple neighbor APs, this can be repeated.With the synchronous sequence of two or more systems, new AP can may establish that its timing.If all neighbor APs cannot all be synchronized to single timing (regardless of reason), which can be synchronized to any one neighbor AP.

AP can execute dynamic frequency selection in power-up.As described above, under normal conditions, preferably keep BSS overlapping minimum by DFS selection, to make the quantity for needing synchronous BSS and associated any delay synchronous with this or handling capacity reduce and minimize (i.e., compared to the BSS that must share the media with one or more neighbours BSS, the BSS that entire media can be accessed on a FA is more efficient).After synchronization, new AP can choose the FA (that is, when measuring neighbor AP, or during echo) with minimum RSL.AP can periodically inquire STA, in order to carry out AP pilot measurement.Equally, AP can be scheduled silence period, to assess the disturbance level as caused by the STA from other areas (i.e. neighbor bss S) at AP.If the RSL grade is excessive, AP can attempt to find another FA within the non-scheduled period, and/or formulate power compensation strategy, as described below.

As set forth above, it is possible to according to pilot tone overlay code come tissue AP.In this embodiment, the Walsh sequential covering code that length is 16 can be used in each AP.The code of any different length can be used.Pilot tone overlay code is used for the signal in a super frame period internal modulation beacon.In this embodiment, super frame period is equal to 32 milliseconds (that is, 16 continuous N AC frame beacons).Then, STA can coherently be integrated in superframe interval, to determine pilot power associated with a specific AP.As described above, AP can select its Walsh code from undetected multiple available Walsh codes.If detected all codes (on identical FA), AP can be according to from most to most weak secondary ordered pair, they are lined up by force.AP can reuse Walsh code corresponding with the most weak Walsh code detected.

For convenient for identifying neighbor AP, STA can be used for sending echo, to identify their corresponding AP.Therefore, as described above, the AP that neighbor AP is not detected may detect corresponding STA echo, to identify the AP and its timing.Each AP can send configuration information in its beacon, also, each STA can serve as repeater, in order to retransmit AP configuration information and timing to any received neighbor AP.

When receiving the order from AP, movable STA needs to send a scheduled mode, so that the AP near on identical FA that works detects the existence of the neighbor system.A kind of simple method is an observation interval (for example, between FCH and RCH section) to be defined in mac frame, not by AP for any business.The duration of observation interval can be defined as long enough, to handle propagation delays (for example, 160 chips, alternatively, 2 OFDM symbols) different from the maximum between the associated STA of the AP and STA associated with neighbor AP.For example, STA associated with the AP of Walsh overlay code j is used can send echo in its mac frame counter=0.Being encoded on the echo makes neighbor AP detection existence and necessary information efficiently coexists with the STA in the adjacent area AP.

It can be using the structuring power compensation adaptively reused.When system is crowded must be reused near another AP to each FA, it is therefore desirable to apply a kind of power compensated mechanism of structuring, so that the terminal in the area Liang Ge is all worked with maximal efficiency.When detecting congestion, power control can be used to improve the efficiency of system.That is, not being whenever all to be sent with total power, the power compensated mechanism with a kind of structuring of their mac frame counter synchronisation can be used in AP.

For example, it is assumed that two AP work are on identical FA.Once these AP detect the situation, they will formulate known power compensation strategy.For example, two AP use a kind of compensation scheme, make: being total power Ptot on mac frame 0, be on mac frame 1 Ptot (15/16) ... ..., is Ptot/16 on mac frame 15.Since AP is synchronous and their frame counter interlocks, so, total power is used simultaneously without the area AP.The target is the compensation model that selection makes the STAs in each area AP work with highest-possible throughput.

Compensation model used in one specific AP can be the function of the degree of disturbance detected.In this embodiment, most 16 known compensation models can be used in a specific AP.AP can transmit compensation model used in BCH and in the echo sent by the associated STA of AP.

The United States Patent (USP) 6 of " Method and apparatus for controllingtransmissions of a communications systems " that Walton etc. makes, entitled, 493, a kind of illustrative compensation scheme is described in detail in 331, which is assigned to assignee of the present invention.

Figure 53 shows the another exemplary embodiment for the technology that can be interoperated with legacy system.An illustrative mac frame 1500 is shown in figure, has been combined Figure 15 above and it is elaborated.A kind of time slotted mode is also introduced, there is defined slot times 5310.Slot time 5310 includes MIMO pilot interval 5315 and time slot gap 5320.As shown, inserting pilot tone 5315, to reserve the channel, the influence at other stations (including AP) of the Rules according to such as EDCA etc is protected it from.Improved mac frame 5330 consists essentially of mac frame 1500, wherein pilot tone 5315 is inserted, in order to keep the control to media.Figure 53 is merely exemplary, and this is obvious to those skilled in the art.Time slotted mode can combine with any kind of mac frame, its various example is described in detail here.

In this embodiment, for convenience, it is assumed that the mac frame that 802.11 traditional systems use is 1.204 milliseconds of integral multiple.Mac frame can be set as 2.048 milliseconds, in order to synchronization.At target beacon sending time (TBTT), the CFP duration is noticed, so that its NAV is arranged in STA.During CFP, the STA in BSS should not send signal, unless being polled.Optionally, as previously mentioned, AP can also send RTS, and one identical CTS of STA loopback is allowed, further to clear up BSS.The CTS can be the synchronous transfer from all STA.In this embodiment, by ensuring that mac frame always starts from 2.048 milliseconds of boundaries, shake can be eliminated.Even if in this way, also holding time synchronization between adjacent/overlapping BSS in the case where TBTT shortens.Various other technologies described above can combine with technology described below.Once having reserved media for modified mac frame 5330, any available technology can be used, the right of possession corporeal right to media is kept using time slotted mode, to prevent the transmission of traditional STA interference scheduling, increase (i.e. to potentially reduce the handling capacity of novel system, using scheme shown in Figure 15 or Figure 53, or other schemes being described in detail here).

In this embodiment, new A P follows CSMA rule to seize channel.But before this, it should or listen to beacon or other STA, it is intended to determine whether there is another BSS.But it in order to realize fair resource-sharing, does not need to synchronize.

Once detecting neighbours BSS, new A P can seize channel by sending its beacon.In order to prevent (lock out) other users, new A P sends the pilot tone with a certain frequency, to prevent other STA from using the channel (that is, being longer than PIFS=25 microsecond without idling cycle).

New A P, which can be set one, can make it determine the timer for occupying the channel in fair fixed duration.In this way can substantially with the Beacon Period Synchronization of traditional AP or asynchronous (that is, 100 milliseconds in every 200 milliseconds).

New A P can seize channel in any point in its permitted interval, this can be postponed by traditional BSS user.If not having traffic to service, new A P can abandon channel before its time expires.When new A P occupies channel, it is used and is limited to a just period by it.In addition, the timing that new A P is established can be consistent with traditional mac frame timing.That is, novel beacon appears on 2.048 milliseconds of boundaries of new A P clock.In this way, novel STA can judge whether HTAP has occupied channel, to keep synchronous by observing these specific intervals.

New A P can notice its frame parameter in a beacon.A part of frame parameter may include pilot interval spacing, for indicating the frequency of pilot transmission in the mac frame.It note that new A P can dispatch STA, so that its transmission is Chong Die with periodic burst pilot.In this case, the STA of dispensing section overlapping knows this point, and ignores pilot tone within the period.Other STA do not know this point, therefore use a threshold supervision device, to confirm what whether pilot tone sent in specified interval.

It is possible that such case: STA has sent pilot signal at the time of script will be sent by AP, alternatively, AP sends guiding pilot tone to STA in the interval.Other STA deteriorate its channel estimation using the pilot tone in order to prevent, and the Walsh overlay code mutually orthogonal with public guide frequency Walsh overlay code can be used in AP pilot tone.It can be using the structure for distributing Walsh overlay code.Such as, when STA and AP uses different Walsh overlay codes, the space Walsh may include 2N overlay code, N number of overlay code therein is reserved for AP, and other overlay codes be it is reserved for STA associated with a specific AP, the overlay code that these STA are used is associated with the Walsh overlay code of corresponding AP in a known way.

When new A P sends distribution information to a STA, it is expected that the STA is sent in specified interval to it.The STA may not receive the distribution information, and in this case, the interval that channel may be not used by is longer than PIFS.Occurs such case in order to prevent, AP can detect channel in t < SIFS, and judge whether it is occupied.If unoccupied, AP can accordingly determine the pilot tone of phase by sending, and seize channel immediately.

Novel channel distribution section time slot can be melted into the interval (16 microsecond) of SIFS.In this way, channel occupancy can be obtained by guarantee, to refuse legacy user within the new exclusive period.

RCH must be designed to support interoperability, this is because the duration of RCH can exceed that 16 microseconds.If cannot easily provide the RCH In a particular embodiment, when novel MAC does not have channel control weight (that is, coexisting under traditional mode), which can be distributed into work under traditional mode.By allowing any time (that is, wait 4 microseconds, and send 8 microseconds) of the STA after pilot transmission to send access request, F-RCH can be accommodated, as shown in figure 53.

Exemplary embodiment: enhancement 802.11MIMO WLAN

The exemplary embodiment being described below in detail illustrates above-mentioned various aspects and other aspects.In this embodiment, the enhancement 802.11WLAN using MIMO is shown.It will be described in various MAC enhancings, and, with the corresponding data and messaging structure in MAC layer and physical layer.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art disclose only an illustrative subset of WLAN function, also, they can make interoperability of the enlightenment suitable for 802.11 legacy systems here, and the interoperability with various other systems.

The function for the exemplary embodiment being described below in detail is the interoperability with traditional 802.11a, 802.11g STA, and the interoperability with 802.11e draft and expected ultimate criterion.The exemplary embodiment includes MIMO OFDM AP, is to distinguish with traditional AP phase named in this way.It will be explained in further below, due to backwards compatibility, traditional STA can be associated with MIMO OFDM AP.But if necessary, MIMO OFDMAP can clearly refuse the association request from traditional STA.DFS process can be directed to the STA being rejected another AP (can be traditional AP or another MIMO OFDM AP) for supporting traditional operation.

MIMO OFDM STA can be with 802.11a or 802.11g BSS or in which independent BSS (IBSS) of AP be not associated.Therefore, for the operation, such a STA will realize all necessary functions of the expected final draft of 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11e.

In BSS or IBSS, when sharing identical RF channel with MIMO OFDM STA, various functions are supported when traditional.Proposed MIMO OFDM PHY spectrum mask (spectral mask) is compatible with the spectrum mask of existing 802.11a, 802.11g, thus, additional adjacent-channel interference will not be introduced to traditional STA.The signal field of extension in PLCP header (the following detailed description of) and the signal field backward compatibility of tradition 802.11.Unused rate value is configured to define new PPDU type (being described more detail below) in traditional signal field.Adaptive coordination function (ACF) (being described more detail below) can realize any shared of media traditional between MIMOOFDM STA.The period of 802.11e EDCA, 802.11e CAP and SCAP can be arbitrarily punctured into any beacon interval, this is determined by AP scheduler.

As described above, needing effectively to be balanced the high data rate of MIMO WLAN physical layer support with high-performance MAC.Each attribute of the exemplary MAC embodiment is described below in detail.Here is some illustrative attributes:

The capacity of mimo channel is utilized to the self-adapted high-efficient of PHY rate and transmission mode.

The low delay service of PHY provides low end-to-end delay, to solve the demand of high-throughput (for example, multimedia) application.MAC technology competition-based is used in low-load, or low delay operation may be implemented using centralization or distributed scheduling in heavy burden loading system.Low delay has many benefits.For example, low delay may be implemented it is quick self-adapted, so that physical layer data rate be made to maximize.Low delay can realize cheap MAC with minibuffer device, without delaying ARQ.For multimedia and high-throughput application, low delay also minimizes end-to-end delay.

Another attribute is high MAC efficiency and low competition expense.In MAC competition-based, when data rate is high, the time that useful transmission occupies shortens, and the incremental portion of the time is wasted in expense, conflict and idling cycle.By scheduling, and by the way that multiple high layer packets (for example, IP datagram) are aggregated in single mac frame, the time wasted in the media can be reduced.Aggregate frame can also be formed, to make lead code and training minimizing overhead.

Simplified QoS processing may be implemented in the high data rate that PHY is supported.

The following detailed description of exemplary MAC enhancing can solve above-mentioned performance issue in a manner of keeping backward compatibility with 802.11g and 802.11a.In addition, to the support of the function of including in draft standard 802.11e as described above and to improve include following functions, such as TXOP and direct link agreement (DLP), and, optional block affirmation mechanism.

In the description to following illustrative embodiment, for some concepts presented hereinbefore, new term is used.The mapping of new terminology is as shown in table 1:

1. term mapping table of table

Early stage term

It is mapped to new term

Term used in earlier paragraphs	Term used in subsequent paragraphs
		MUX PDU or MPDU	Mac frame
Part MPDU	Mac frame fragment
		MAC PDU	PPDU
Broadcast channel message (BCH) and control channel message (CCH)	SCHED message
		Control channel message subchannel	The CTRLJ section of SCHED message
TDD mac frame interval	Scheduled access period (SCAP)
		F-TCH (forward traffic channel)	The AP-STA of scheduling is transmitted
R-TCH (reverse traffic channel)	The STA-AP or STA-STA of scheduling are transmitted
		A-TCH (the point to point service, PTP channel of self-organizing)	Shielded EDCA or MIMO OFDM EDCA
PCCH (pointtopoint control channel)	PLCP header signal field
		RCH	FRACH

Flexible frame aggregation

In this embodiment, flexible frame aggregation is easily achieved.Figure 35 is shown encapsulates one or more mac frames (or fragment) in an aggregate frame.Frame aggregation can be encapsulated in one or more mac frames (or fragment) 3510 in an aggregate frame 3520, wherein header-compressed can be added, will be described in more detail below.It polymerize mac frame 3520 and forms PSDU 3530, can be used as a PPDU and send.It is the frame (or fragment) 3510 after data, management or the encapsulation of control that aggregate frame 3520, which may include type,.When needing privacy, frame payload can be encrypted.The mac frame header of encrypted frame is " in (in the clear) under plaintext state " transmission.

This MAC layer frame aggregation as described above can transfer a frame to identical recipient STA in the case where no IFS or BIFS (will be explained in further detail below burst interframe space).In some applications, it is desirable to which AP is made to send multiple recipient STA for multiple frames or aggregate frame in the case where no IFS.This point may be implemented by using SCHED frame described below.At the beginning of the multiple TXOP of SCHED frame definition.When AP carries out (back-to-back) transmission back-to-back to multiple recipient STA, lead code and IFS can not had to.This is referred to as PPDU polymerization, to be different from the frame aggregation of MAC layer.

One illustrative polymerization mac frame transmission beginning (i.e. PPDU) is lead code, followed by MIMO OFDM PLCP header (including signal field, the signal field may include two fields: signal 1 and signal 2), followed by MIMO OFDM training symbol (if any).Illustrative PPDU format is further described below with reference to Figure 49-52.Polymerization mac frame has neatly polymerize the one or more frames or fragment that be sent to identical recipient STA.(the following detailed description of SCHED message allow to polymerize from AP to the TXOP of multiple recipient STA).For the quantity of polymerizable frame and fragment, there is no limit.It can be restricted for the full-size of aggregate frame established through consultation.Typically, first frame in aggregate frame and the last one frame may be the fragment that creates for efficient package.When the data frame after several encapsulation includes in an aggregate frame, the MAC header of data and QoS data frame can be compressed, as described below.

By using flexible frame aggregation, sender MAC can reduce PHY and PLCP expense and idling cycle as possible.Interframe space and PLCP header, and flexible frame fragment can be eliminated, by the way that frame to polymerize to occupy the available space in TXOP, Lai Shixian this point completely.In a kind of example technique, the duration based on current data rate with TXOP being distributed or competition-based, MAC first calculates the byte number that be supplied to PHY.It is then possible to the mac frame after complete and fragment is packaged, to occupy entire TXOP.

If a complete frame cannot be contained in the remaining space in TXOP, next frame can be carried out fragment by MAC, to occupy remainder bytes as much as possible in the TXOP.For efficiently package, fragment arbitrarily can be carried out to frame.In one exemplary embodiment, which will be limited by most 16 fragments of every frame.In the alternative embodiment, it may not be necessary to the limitation.Residue (multiple) fragment of mac frame can be sent in next TXOP.In subsequent TXOP, if desired, MAC can give higher priority the fragment of the frame of non-complete transmission.

The following detailed description of aggregation header (being 2 bytes in this embodiment) be inserted into the MAC header of each encapsulated frame (or fragment), encapsulated frame (or fragment) is inserted in aggregate frame.Length field in aggregation header indicates the length (unit is byte) of mac frame after encapsulation, and is used to extract frame (and fragment) from aggregate frame by receiver.PPDU size field in proposed signal field provides the size (quantity of OFDM symbol) of MIMO OFDM PPDU transmission, and the length of the mac frame after each encapsulation is indicated by aggregation header.

The header-compressed of encapsulated frame

Figure 36 shows a traditional mac frame 3600 comprising MAC header 3660, what is be followed by is frame 3650 (may include the N number of byte of variable number) and frame check symbol (FCS) 3655 (in this embodiment, being 4 bytes).The prior art mac frame format is described in detail in 802.1 le.MAC header 3660 includes: frame control field 3610 (2 bytes), duration/id field 3615 (2 bytes), sequence control field 3635 (2 bytes) and QoS control field 3645 (2 bytes).In addition, further including four address fields: address 1 3620, address 2 3625, address 3 3630 and address 4 3640 (each is 6 bytes).These addresses can also be referred to as TA, RA, SA and DA.TA is transmitter station address, and RA is destination address, and SA is source station address, and DA is purpose station address.

When in an aggregate frame including several encapsulation of data frames, the MAC header of data and QoS data frame can be compressed.For example, Figure 37-39 shows the compressed MAC header of QoS data frame.It note that FCS is calculated according to compressed MAC header and (encryption or unencryption) payload.

As shown in figs. 37-39, when sending frame with MIMO data PPDU (type 0000), an aggregation header field is introduced into the MAC header 3660 of mac frame 3600, to create the mac frame after encapsulation, i.e., 3705,3805 or 3905.MAC header, including aggregation header field, the MAC header referred to as extended (i.e. 3700,3800 or 3900).Management, control and/or data frame (including QoS data) after one or more encapsulation can be aggregated in the mac frame after polymerization.When using data-privacy, the payload of data or QoS data frame can be encrypted.

For each frame (or fragment) being inserted into aggregate frame (respectively 3705,3805 or 3905), it is inserted into aggregation header 3710.Header-compressed is indicated by the aggregation header type field being described below in detail.The frame header of data and QoS data frame can be compressed, to eliminate redundant field.The aggregate frame 3705 provided in Figure 37 shows a kind of unpressed frame comprising all four addresses and duration/id field.

As soon as aggregate frame in addition need not identify dispatching station and destination address, because they are identical after sending a unpressed aggregate frame.Therefore, it is convenient to omit address 1 3620 and address 23625.For the subsequent frame in aggregate frame, it is not necessary to including duration/id field 3615.Duration can be used for setting NAV.Duration/id field is as the case may be and heavily loaded.In polling message, it includes access ID (AID).In other message, identical field indicates the duration for setting NAV.Corresponding frame 3805 is shown in Figure 38.

When source address and purpose station address include identical information, further compression can be provided.In this case, address 3 3630 and address 4 3640 can also be omitted, to obtain frame 3905 shown in Figure 39.

When field is removed, in order to decompress, the respective field from previous header (after decompression) can be inserted into the aggregate frame by receiver.In this embodiment, the first frame in aggregate frame always uses unpressed header.The decryption of payload may need some fields from MAC header, these fields may be to be removed convenient for header-compressed.After the decompression of frame header, these fields can be supplied to decryption engine.Length field is used to extract frame (and fragment) from aggregate frame by receiver.Length field indicates the length of the frame with header compression (unit is byte).

After extracting, aggregation header field is removed.Then, the frame after decompression is transmitted to decryption engine.In decrypting process, the field in (after decompression) MAC header needs to carry out message integrity verification.

Figure 40 gives an illustrative aggregation header 3710.For the one or more frames (encryption or non-encrypted) sent in MIMO data PPDU, aggregation header is added for each frame (or fragment) header.The aggregation header includes the length field 4030 of aggregation header type field 4010 (for the indicating whether header-compressed and which kind of type used) and 12 bits of 2 bits.00 frame of type does not use header-compressed.01 frame of type eliminates 2 field of duration/ID, address 1 and address.0 frame of Class1 has removal field identical with 01 frame of type, furthermore also removes 4 field of address 3 and address.Length field 4030 in aggregation header indicates that the length of the frame with header compression, unit are bytes.2 bits 4020 are reserved.Aggregation header type is summarized in table 2.

2. aggregation header type of table

Bit 0

Bit 1

The meaning

0	0	It is uncompressed
			0	1	Eliminate 2 field of duration/ID, address 1 and address
1	0	Eliminate duration/ID, address 1,4 field of address 2, address 3 and address
			1	1	It is reserved

In this exemplary embodiment, all management frames and control frame encapsulated in aggregate frame use unpressed frame header, and aggregation header type is 00.Following management frame can be encapsulated in aggregate frame together with data frame: association request, associated response, again association request, again associated response, probe requests thereby, probe response, disassociation, certification and releasing certification.Following control frame can be encapsulated in aggregate frame together with data frame: BlockAck (block confirmation) and BlockAckRequest (block confirmation request).In other embodiments, any kind of frame can be encapsulated.

Adaptive coordination function

Adaptive coordination function (ACF) is the extended version of HCCA and EDCA, can be realized the operation of flexible, efficient low delay scheduling, suitable for the operation for the high data rate supported by MIMO PHY.Figure 41 gives an exemplary embodiment of the scheduled access period frame (SCAP) used in ACF.Using SCHED message 4120, AP can dispatch one or more AP-STA, STA-AP or STA-STA TXOP simultaneously within the period of entitled scheduled access period 4130.These are identified as scheduled transmission 4140 by the transmission dispatched.SCHED message 4120 is instead of traditional HCCA poll detailed above.In this exemplary embodiment, the maximum permissible value of SCAP is 4 milliseconds.

For purposes of illustration only, Figure 41 gives illustrative scheduled transmissions 4140 comprising 4144 and STA to STA transmission 4146 is transmitted in AP to STA transmission 4142, STA to AP.In this embodiment, AP sends 4142A to STA B, then, sends 4142B to STA D, then send 4142C to STA G.Note that need not introduce gap between these TXOP, because information source (AP) is identical for each frame.When information source changes, the gap (illustrative clearance gap is detailed further below) between TXOP is shown.In this embodiment, after AP to STA transmission 4142, STA C sends 4144A to AP, and then, behind a gap, STA G sends 4144B to AP, and using a gap, STA E sends 4144C to AP.Then, a point-to-point TXOP 4146 is scheduled.In this case, STA E is information source (sending to STA F), so, if STA E transmission power is constant, otherwise not needing introducing gap can be used the gap BIFS.Other STA to STA can be transmitted and be scheduled, but not show these in this embodiment.In any order, any combination of TXOP can be scheduled.Shown in the order of TXOP type be only exemplary convention.In order to reduce required gap number, it is desirable to be scheduled to TXOP, still, it's not necessary.

Scheduled access period 4130 also may include: the FRACH period 4150, be exclusively used in quick random access channel (FRACH) transmission (wherein, STA can issue distribution request)；And/or 4160 period of MIMO OFDM EDCA, wherein EDCA process can be used in MIMO STA.These protections of access period competition-based by the NAV set for SCAP.Within 4160 period of MIMO OFDM EDCA, MIMO STA accesses media using EDCA process, without being at war with traditional STA.Transmission in each shielded competing cycle (is illustrated) in detail further below using MIMO PLCP header.In this embodiment, AP does not provide TXOP scheduling in shielded competing cycle.

When only existing MIMO STA, the NAV of SCAP can be set by the Duration field in SCHED frame and (SCHED frame can be described in further detail further below).Optionally, if it is desired to which being protected against traditional STA influences, and CTS-to-Self 4110 can also be arranged in AP before SCHED frame 4120, to establish NAV for the SCAP at all STA in BSS.

In this embodiment, MIMO STA abides by the boundary SCAP.The last one STA sent in SCAP must terminate its TXOP at least PIFS duration before SCAP terminates.MIMO STA also abides by the boundary TXOP of scheduling, and completes its transmission before the TXOP distributed terminates.In this way, the STA of subsequent scheduling can start its TXOP in the case where that need not detect channel and be idle.

SCHED message 4120 defines dispatch list.It (is described below in detail, be 4515-4530 in Figure 45) in the CTRLJ item that the distribution information (AP-STA, STA-AP and/or STA-STA) of TXOP is included in SCHED frame.SCHED message also may be defined that a part of SCAP 4100, be exclusively used in FRACH 4150, if any；And the protected portion of EDCA operation 4160, if any.If not including the TXOP distribution information by scheduling in SCHED frame, the NAV set for SCAP reserves entire SCAP and transmits (including any FRACH) for EDCA, to protected from the influence of traditional STA.

Can be indicated in ACF ability item permitted scheduling in SCAP or TXOP's competition-based maximum length.In this embodiment, the length of SCAP does not change in a beacon interval.The length can indicate in ACF ability item.One illustrative ACF include: SCAP length (10 bit), maximum SCAP TXOP length (10 bit), protection IFS (GIFS) duration (4 bit) and FRACH response (4 bit).SCAP length indicates the length of SCAP in current Beacon Interval.The field is encoded as unit of 4 μ s.Maximum SCAP TXOP length indicates the maximum allowable TXOP length in SCAP.The field is encoded as unit of 4 μ s.The GIFS duration is continuous through the protection interval between the STA TXOP of scheduling.The field is encoded as unit of 800ns.FRACH response is indicated as unit of SCAP.AP must use FRACHPPDU, provide the TXOP by scheduling to STA by responding in SCAP in FRACH, respond to the request received.

Figure 42 gives an example for being used in combination with SCAP and HCCA and EDCA.In any beacon interval (being indicated with beacon 4210A-C), AP be fully able to flexibly, adaptively by the duration of the access competed based on EDCA it is interspersed with 802.11e CAP, MIMO OFDM SCAP together with.

Therefore, it can be worked as in HCCA using ACF, AP, still, it can also be SCAP assignment period.For example, AP can use CFP and CP as in PCF, CAP is distributed for the operation of poll as in HCCA, alternatively, SCAP can be distributed for the operation of scheduling.As shown in figure 42, in a beacon interval, any combination in the period competition-based for accessing (EDCA) 4220A-F, CAP 4230A-F and SCAP 4100A-I is can be used in AP.(for the sake of simplicity, the example in Figure 42 does not show any CFP.) AP based on its dispatching algorithm and its observed result occupied to media, adjusts the ratio of media occupied by different type access mechanism.Any dispatching technique can be used.AP determines whether received QoS flow is satisfied with, and other observed results can be used, including the media occupancy situation measured, to be adjusted.

Described above is HCCA and associated CAP.An illustrative CAP 4230 is given in Figure 42.That AP TXOP 4232 is followed by is poll 4234A.HCCA TXOP4236A is followed behind poll frame 4234A.Another poll 4234B is sent, behind followed by another corresponding HCCA TXOP 4236B.

Described above is EDCA.An illustrative EDCA 4220 is given in Figure 42.Show various EDCATXOP 4222A-C.CFP is omitted in the example.

SCAP 4100 as shown in figure 42 can be using the format of Figure 41 detailed description, including optional CTS-to-Self4110, SCHED 4120 and scheduled access period 4130.

AP indicates scheduling operation using 802.11 business transferring instruction message (DTIM) message as described below.Another STA in bitmap of the DTIM comprising access ID (AID), the AP or BSS has laid in data for it.Using DTIM, all STA for having MIMO ability is notified to stay awake for after beacon.In all existing BSS of traditional and MIMO STA, after beacon, traditional STA is first dispatched.After conventional transmission, SCHED message is sent immediately, shows the composition of scheduled access period.The STA for having MIMO ability not dispatched in particular schedule access period can sleep in remaining SCAP, then wake up and monitor subsequent SCHED message.

Using ACF, various other operation modes may be implemented.Figure 43 shows an illustrative operation, wherein each beacon interval includes multiple SCAP 4100, wherein being interspersed with access period 4220 competition-based.In such a mode, media can liberally be shared, wherein be scheduled during SCAP to MIMO QoS flow, while the non-QoS flow of MIMO uses competing cycle (if present) together with traditional STA.The interspersed period realizes low delay service to MIMO and tradition STA.

As described above, can have a CTS-to-Self before SCHED message, for being protected from the influence of traditional STA in SCAP.If there is no traditional STA, then CTS-to-Self (or other traditional cleaning signals) are not needed.Beacon 4210 can set a long CFP, to protect all SCAP from the influence of traditional STA of any arrival.CP at the end of beacon interval makes newly arrived tradition STA have access to media.

Using exemplary operation shown in Figure 44, in the case where there are a large amount of MIMO STA, the low delay operation of optimization may be implemented.In this example it is assumed that tradition STA (if any) only needs limited resource.AP sends a beacon, to establish long CFP 4410 and short CP 4420.What beacon 4210 was followed by is any broadcast/multi broadcast message for traditional STA.Then, SCAP 4100 is scheduled back-to-back.This operation mode also provides the power management of optimization, because STA needs to periodically wake up to listen to SCHED message, also, if can sleep in the interval SCAP without being scheduled in current SCAP.

By FRACH the or MIMO EDCA period for including in the scheduled access period 4130 of SCAP 4100, the access based on protected competition for MIMO STA is provided.In CP 4420, traditional STA can carry out access competition-based to media.

After the transmission of SCHED frame, the transmission continuously dispatched from AP can be scheduled.SCHED frame can be sent together with lead code.Subsequent scheduling AP transmission can be sent in the case where no lead code.(can send for indicate whether include lead code indicator).An illustrative PLCP lead code is detailed further below.In this exemplary embodiment, the STA transmission of scheduling starts in the case where there is lead code.

Fault recovery

Restored to be received in mistake from SCHED, various processes can be used in AP.For example, it cannot utilize its TXOP if a STA can not be decoded a SCHED message.If the TXOP of a scheduling is not started at the beginning of distributed, by the transmission in the PIFS after the TXOP of unused scheduling starts, AP can star recovery.The TXOP period of unused scheduling can be used as a CAP in AP.In the CAP, AP can send one STA of signal or poll to one or more STA.Poll can be for the STA or another STA for the TXOP for missing scheduling.Before next scheduling TXOP, which terminates.

At the end of the TXOP that one is dispatched is too early, identical process also can be used.By sending when PIFS after the last one end of transmission in the TXOP of scheduling, AP can start to restore.As described above, the unused period of the TXOP of scheduling can be used as CAP in AP.

Shielded competition

As described above, SCAP also may include: a part and/or MIMO STA for being exclusively used in FRACH transmission can be in a part for wherein using EDCA process.These access periods competition-based can be protected by the NAV set for SCAP.

Shielded competition is by allowing STA to indicate that TXOP requests in order to assist AP to be scheduled, to supplement low delay scheduling operation.Within the shielded EDCA period, the access (avoiding competing with tradition STA) based on EDCA is can be used to send frame in MIMOOFDM STA.Using traditional technology, STA can indicate TXOP Duration Request or buffer state in 802.11e QoS control field in an mac header.But FRACH is to provide a kind of more efficient means of identical function.Within the FRACH period, the competition of the Aloha formula in gap is can be used in STA, accesses channel in fixed-size FRACH time slot.FRACH PPDU may include TXOP Duration Request.

In this exemplary embodiment, MIMO frame transmission uses MIMO PLCP header, will be described in more detail below.There are non-MIMO STA; due to traditional 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g STA can only 1 field of signal (being described in detail below in conjunction with Figure 50) to MIMO PLCP header be decoded; so MIMO frame must be sent in the case where there is protection.When tradition and MIMO STA all in the presence of, traditional RTS/CTS sequence can be used using the STA of EDCA access procedure to be protected.Traditional RTS/CTS refers to transmitting RTS/CTS using legacy preamble code, PLCP header and mac frame format.

The protection mechanism of 802.11e HCCA offer also can be used in MIMO transmission.Therefore, using control access period (CAP), the transmission from AP to STA, the poll transmission from STA to AP or from STA to STA (using direct link agreement) be can be protected.

Traditional CTS-to-Self, influence of protection MIMO scheduled access period (SCAP) from traditional STA also can be used in AP.

When an AP determines that all STA present in BSS can be decoded MIMO PLCP header, this point is indicated in its MIMO ability item in a beacon.Such BSS is referred to as MIMO BSS.

In MIMO BSS, at EDCA and HCCA, according to MIMO OFDM training symbol aging rule, frame transmission uses MIMO PLCP header and MIMO OFDM training symbol.Transmission in MIMO BSS uses MIMO PLCP.

The interframe space of reduction

Various technologies described in detail above commonly used in reducing interframe space.Here the example of the interframe space in several reduction exemplary embodiments is provided.It for scheduled transmission, is indicated in SCHED message at the beginning of TXOP.The accurate start time that sender STA can be indicated in SCHED message starts it and dispatches TXOP, without determining that media are the free time.As described above, the AP transmission continuously dispatched in SCAP is sent in the case where no minimum IFS.

In this exemplary embodiment, the STA transmission (from different STA) continuously dispatched is sent in the case where IFS is at least one protection IFS (GIFS).The default value of GIFS is 800ns.It can choose bigger value, the at maximum up to value of burst IFS (BIFS) defined below.The value of GIFS can indicate in ACF ability item, as described above.Other embodiments can use any value of GIFS and BIFS.

Continuous N IMO OFDM PPDU transmission (TXOP burst) from identical STA is separated with BIFS.When work is in 2.4GHz frequency band, BIFS is equal to 10 μ s, also, MIMO OFDM PPDU does not include the ofdm signal extension of 6 μ s.When work is in 5GHz frequency band, BIFS is 10 μ s.In an alternative embodiment, BIFS can be set as larger or smaller value, including 0.In order to change recipient STA automatic growth control (AGC) can between transmissions, when the transmission power of sender STA changes, the gap greater than 0 can be used.

Needing the frame responded at once from recipient STA is sent using MIMO OFDMPPDU.On the contrary, they are sent using traditional PPDU, that is, the clause 17 in clause 19 or 5GHz frequency band in 2.4GHz frequency band.Several examples are given below, illustrate how for tradition and MIMO OFDM PPDU to be multiplexed on media.

Firstly, considering a tradition RTS/CTS, and then MIMO OFDM PPDU happens suddenly behind.The transmission sequence is as follows: traditional RTS-SIFS- traditional CT S-SIFS-MIMOOFDM PPDU-BIFS-MIMO OFDM PPDU.In 2.4GHz, traditional RTS or CTS PPDU is extended using ofdm signal, and SIFS is 10 μ s.In 5GHz, extended without OFDM, but SIFS is 16 μ s.

Secondly, considering an EDCA TXOP using MIMO OFDM PPDU.The transmission sequence is as follows: MIMO OFDM PPDU-BIFS- tradition BlockAckRequest-SIFS-ACK.For suitable access style (AC), EDCATXOP is obtained using EDCA process.As described above, the access style that EDCA is defined can be to each AC using different parameters, such as AIFS [AC], CWmin [AC] and CWmax [AC].Traditional BlockAckRequest is sent in the case where having signal extension or 16 μ s SIFS.If BlockAckRequest is sent in the aggregate frame in MIMO OFDM PPDU, without ACK.

Third considers the TXOP continuously dispatched.It is as follows to transmit sequence: STA A MIMOOFDM PPDU-GIFS-STA B MIMO OFDM PPDU.If the maximum allowable TXOP time that PPDU transfer ratio is distributed is short, after STA A MIMO OFDMPPDU transmission, it might have one section of free time.

As described above, the decoding and demodulation of encoded OFDM transmission impose additional process demand at recipient STA.In order to solve this point, 802.11a and 802.11g allow recipient STA to have the additional time before it must send ACK.In 802.11a, the SIFS time is set as 16 μ s.In 802.11g, the SIFS time is set as 10 μ s, but is the introduction of additional 6 μ s ofdm signal extension.

According to identical logic, since the decoding and demodulation of MIMO OFDM transmission will cause more processing loads, so, the embodiment for improving SIFS or ofdm signal extension can be designed, this can further decrease efficiency.In this exemplary embodiment, by extending the block ACK and delay block affirmation mechanism of 802.11e, for all MIMO OFDM transmissions, it is not necessary to need ACK at once.Instead of increasing SIFS or signal extension, eliminate signal extension, also, for many situations, continuously transmit between required interframe space reduced or eliminated, to improve efficiency.

SCHED message

Figure 45 shows SCHED message, is described to it above in conjunction with Figure 41, will be described in further detail further below to it.SCHED message 4120 is polling message more than one, within the duration of scheduled access period (SCAP), distributes one or more AP-STA, STA-AP and STA-STATXOP.Using SCHED message, poll and competition expense can be reduced, and, eliminate unnecessary IFS.

SCHED message 4120 defines the dispatch list of SCAP.SCHED message 4120 includes MAC header 4510 (in this exemplary embodiment, being 15 bytes).In this exemplary embodiment, CTRL0, CTRL1, CTRL2 and CTRL3 sections (are typically expressed as CTRLJ here, J can be 0 to 3, respectively indicate a section 4515-4530) each of be all it is elongated, their (when it is present) can be sent with 6,12,18 and 24Mbps respectively.

The exemplary MAC header 4510 includes: that frame controls 4535 (2 bytes), duration 4540 (2 bytes), BSSID 4545 (6 bytes), power management 4550 (2 bytes) and MAP 4555 (3 bytes).The bit 13-0 of Duration field 4540 indicates that the length of SCAP, unit are microseconds.Duration field 4540 is used to set the duration of NAV to(for) SCAP by the STA for being able to carry out MIMO OFDM transmission.When there is tradition STA in BSS, other means are can be used to protect SCAP in AP, for example, traditional CTS-to-Self.In this exemplary embodiment, the maximum value of SCAP is 4 milliseconds.BSSID field 4545 identifies AP.

Power management field 4550 is shown in Figure 46.Power management 4550 includes: that SCHED counts 4610, reserved field 4620 (2 bits), transmission power 4630 and receives power 4640.AP transmission power and AP receive power and show that STA received power level is measured in STA in power management field.

It is a field (be in this embodiment 6 bits) all incremental in each SCHED transmission that SCHED, which is counted,.SCHED counting is resetted in each beacon transmissions.SCHED counting can be used for various purposes.For example, the electricity-saving function counted using SCHED is described below.

Transmission power field 4630 indicates transmitted power level used in AP.In this exemplary embodiment, this 4 bit field encodes as follows: for the channel indicated in the item of information of beacon, the value represent transmitted power level lower than maximum transmitted power level (unit as the 4dB stride of dBm) quantity.

Receiving power field 4640 indicates desired received power level at AP.In this exemplary embodiment, this 4 bit field encodes as follows: the value represents the quantity that received power level is higher than the 4dB stride of minimum receiver sensitivity level (- 82dBm).Based on the received power level at STA, STA can calculate its transmitted power level as follows: STA transmission power (dBm)=AP transmission power (dBm)+AP receives power (dBm)-STA and receives power (dBm).

In this exemplary embodiment, in the STA-STA transmission process of scheduling, control section is the launching electrical level can be decoded at AP and recipient STA and sends.Power management field 4550 in power control report from AP or SCHED frame, can determine STA can be decoded required transmitted power level at AP to control section.The general aspect is described above in conjunction with Figure 22.For scheduling STA-STA transmission, when be decoded at AP required power be different from be decoded required power at recipient STA when, in the two power levels the higher person send PPDU.

MAP field 4555 shown in Figure 47 indicates to whether there is access period and its duration based on protected competition during SCAP.MAP field 4555 includes: that FRACH counts 4710, FRACH, 4720 and EDCA of offset offset 4730.It is the quantity (10 bits) for starting the FRACH time slot of scheduling at FRACH offset 4720 that the illustrative FRACH, which counts 4710 (4 bits),.Each FRACH time slot is 28 μ s.If FRACH count value is 0, then it represents that there is no the FRACH period in current scheduled access period.EDCA offset 4730 is the beginning in protected EDCA period.The illustrative EDCA offset 4730 is 10 bits.FRACH deviate 4720 and EDCA offset 4730 be all since SCHED frame transmit as unit of 4 μ s.

SCHED message 4120 is that the SCHED PPDU 5100 (type 0010) special as one is transmitted, and is described in detail below with reference to Figure 51.It whether there is CTRL0 4515, CTRL14520, CTRL2 4525 and CTRL34530 sections and its length in SCHED message 4120, is indicated in the signal field (5120 and 5140) of the PLCP header of SCHED PPDU 5100.

Figure 48 shows the SCHED control frame for TXOP distribution.Each of CTRL0 4515, CTRL1 4520, CTRL2 4525 and 4530 sections of CTRL3 have variable length, each includes 0 or multiple assignment items (respectively 4820,4840,4860 and 4880).Each CTRLJ sections is added with the FCS (respectively 4830,4850,4870 and 4890) and 6 tail bits (not shown)s of 16 bits.For CTRL0 section 4515, FCS calculates (so showing in Figure 48, MAC header is added before CTRL0 4515) for MAC header 4510 and any CTRL0 assignment item 4820.It in this exemplary embodiment, also include the FCS 4830 of CTRL0 4515 even if not including assignment item in CTRL0 sections.

Just as being described in detail herein, AP sends the distribution information of AP-STA, STA-AP and STA-STA transmission in SCHED frame.Assignment item to different STA is sent in CTRLJ sections, is indicated by the STA in the SCHED speed field of the PLCP header of its transmission.It note that CTRL0 to CTRL3 corresponds to the robustness successively decreased.Each STA starts to be decoded the PLCP header of SCHED PPDU.Signal field indicates CTRL0, CTRL1, CTRL2 and CTRL3 sections in SCHED PPDU of existence and its length.MAC header and CTRL0 sections are decoded when STA receiver starts, to each assignment item until FCS is decoded, it continues thereafter with decoding CTRL1, CTRL2 and CTRL3, stops at the CTRLJ section that can not be verified to its FCS.

As shown in table 3, five kinds of assignment items are defined.Several assignment items can be bundled in CTRLJ sections each.Each assignment item indicate sender STA access ID (AID), recipient STAAID, scheduling TXOP at the beginning of and scheduling TXOP maximum allowable length.

3. assignment item type of table

Type (3 bit)	Assignment item type	Field (bit length)	Total bit length
				000	Either simplex AP-STA	Lead code existence (1) AID (16) start offset (10) TXOP duration (10)	40
001	Either simplex STA-AP	AID (16) start offset (10) TXOP duration (10)	39
				010	Duplexing AP-STA	Lead code existence (1) AID (16) start offset (10) AP TXOP duration (10) STA start offset (10) STA TXOP duration (10)	60
011	Either simplex STA-AP	It sends AID (16) and receives AID (16) start offset (10) maximum PPDU size (10)	55

100

Duplexing STA-STA

AID1 (16) AID2 (16) STA1 start offset (10) STA1 maximum PPDU size (10) STA2 start offset (10) STA2 maximum PPDU size (10)

75

In continuously transmitting from AP, lead code can be eliminated.If the AP that AP is not scheduling is transmitted and sent lead code, lead code existence bit is set as 0.For example, eliminate lead code benefit be, when AP have to several STA low bandwidth, low delay stream when, for example, in the BSS flowed with multiple ip voices (VoIP).Therefore, the polymerization (that is, above-mentioned PPDU polymerize) from AP to the transmission of several recipient STA may be implemented in SCHED frame.Above-mentioned frame aggregation allows for the frame for being sent to a recipient STA to polymerize.

Start offset field is the integral multiple of 4 μ s, is reference at the beginning of the SCHED message lead code.AID is the access ID for distributing (multiple) STA.

For all assignment item types in addition to the STA-STA of scheduling transmission, it is the integral multiple of 4 μ s that TXOP Duration field, which is the maximum allowable length of the TXOP of scheduling,.The practical PPDU size of transmitted PPDU is pointed out and (be will be explained in further detail below) in 1 field of signal of PPDU.

(assignment item type 011 and 100) is transmitted for the STA-STA of scheduling, it is the integral multiple of 4 μ s that maximum PPDU size field, which is also the maximum allowable length of the TXOP of scheduling, but it is also possible to use other rules.In this exemplary embodiment, the STA-STA of scheduling is transmitted, TXOP only includes a PPDU.Recipient STA determines the quantity (because PPDU size field is replaced by the request field in signal 1, being described in detail below with reference to Figure 51) of OFDM symbol in PPDU using the maximum PPDU size indicated in assignment item.If STA-STA stream is using the OFDM symbol with standard protection interval (GI), the PPDU size of the TXOP of scheduling is set to the maximum PPDU size indicated in assignment item by recipient STA.If STA-STA stream is using having the OFDM symbol for shortening GI, recipient STA determines PPDU size by being amplified and being rounded up with the factor 10/9 by maximum PPDU size field.Sender STA can send the PPDU shorter than the maximum PPDU size distributed.PPDU size does not provide the length of mac frame after polymerization to receiver.The length of encapsulated frame is included in the aggregation header of each mac frame.

It include that can make the not scheduled STA power saving sent or received in SCAP in assignment item by launch party and recipient STA.Recall the SCHED count area of mistake presented hereinbefore.By each distribution information that SCHED message is scheduled indicate sender STAAID, recipient STAAID, scheduling TXOP at the beginning of and scheduling TXOP maximum allowable length.SCHED is counted to be incremented by each SCHED transmission, and is resetted in each beacon transmissions.STA can indicate power-save operation to AP, and therefore be provided specific SCHED count value, and during this period, they can be distributed by AP and send or receive TXOP scheduledly.Then, STA can periodically wake up, and only monitor the SCHED message that there is suitable SCHED to count.

PPDU format

Figure 49 shows 802.11 traditional PPDU 4970 comprising PLCP lead code 4975 (12 OFSM symbols), PLCP header 4910, elongated PSDU 4945, the tail portion 4950 of 6 bits and elongated filling information 4955.A part 4960 of PPDU 4970 includes: signal field (1 OFDM symbol), is sent with BPSK with rate=1/2；And elongated data field 4985, it is sent with the modulation format and rate indicated in signal 4980.PLCP header 4910 includes the service field 4940 (including in data 4985, being sent according to the format) of the bit of signal 4980 and 16.Signal field 4980 includes: rate 4915 (4 bit), reserved field 4920 (1 bit), length 4925 (12 bit), parity bit 4930 and tail portion 4935 (6 bit).

The signal field (being described more fully below) of extension in the illustrative PLCP header (being described more fully below) and the signal field 4980 of tradition 802.11 keep backward compatibility.The unused value of speed field 4915 in traditional signal field 4980 is set, to define new PPDU type (being described below in detail).

Introduce several new PPDU types.In order to keep backward compatibility with traditional STA, the speed field in the signal field of PLCP header is modified to rate/type field.The unused value of rate is designated as PPDU type.PPDU type also indicates the existence and its length that signal field extends specified signal 2.The new value of rate/type field is defined in table 4.These values of rate/type field are that traditional STA is not defined.Therefore, traditional STA can abandon the decoding to PPDU after being successfully decoded to 1 field of signal and finding the undefined value in speed field.

Alternatively, the reserved place in legacy signal field can be set as " 1 ", to indicate to be sent to the MIMO OFDM transmission of a novel STA.Recipient STA can ignore the reserved place, and continue to attempt to be decoded signal field and remaining transmission.

Receiver can determine the length of 2 field of signal based on PPDU type.FRACHPPDU only occurs once in the specified portions of SCAP, and needs only to be decoded by AP.

Table 4.MIMO PPDU type

Rate/type (4 bit)	MIMO PPDU	2 field length of signal (OFDM symbol)
			0000	MIMO BSS IBSS or MIMO AP transmits (except SCHED PPDU)	1
0010	MIMO BSS SCHED PPDU	1
			0100	MIMO BSS FRACH PPDU	2

Figure 50 shows the MIMO PPDU format 5000 for data transmission.PPDU 5000 is referred to as PPDU type 0000.PPDU 5000 includes: PLCP lead code 5010, signal 1 5020 (1 OFDM symbol), signal 2 5040 (1 OFDM symbol), training symbol 5060 (0,2,3 or 4 symbol) and elongated data field 5080.In this exemplary embodiment, PLCP lead code 5010 (if present) is 16 μ s.Signal 1 5020 and signal 2 5040 are sent with PPDU control section rate and modulation format.Data 5080 include: service 5082 (16 bit)；Feed back 5084 (16 bits)；Elongated PSDU 5086；Tail portion 5088 (each stream has 6 bits), wherein the convolution channel coding different to each stream application；Elongated filling information 5090.Data 5080 are sent with PPDU control section rate and modulation format.

The MIMO PLCP header of PPDU type 0000 includes: 5084 fields of signal (including signal 1 5020 and signal 2 5040), service 5082 and feedback.Compared with traditional 802.11, service field is constant, and is sent with the data segment rate and format.

Feedback fields 5084 are sent with the data segment rate and format.The feedback fields include: ES field (1 bit), data rate vector feedback (DRVF) field (13 bit) and power control field (2 bit).

ES field indicates preferred guidance method.In this exemplary embodiment, when ES bit is set, feature vector guiding (ES) is selected, otherwise, is selected spatial spread (SpatialSpreading, SS).

Data rate vector feedback (DRVF) field to peer station provide feedback, the feedback about most four spatial models each on can supporting rate.

Specific Rate Feedback makes station maximize its transmission rate, to greatly improve system effectiveness.The feedback of low delay is ideal.But feedback chance needs not be synchronous.Transmission opportunity can be obtained in any manner, for example, (i.e. ACF) mode of (i.e. EDCA) competition-based, (i.e. the HCF) of poll or scheduling.Therefore, variable time amount can be transmitted between transmission opportunity and Rate Feedback.In service life based on Rate Feedback, transmitter can apply avoidance mechanism, to determine transmission rate.

For the transport stream from STA A to STA B, PPDU data segment rate adaptation depends on the feedback provided from STA B to STA A (description has been carried out in front, for example, with reference to Figure 24).For ES or SS operation mode, when STA B receives MIMOOFDM training symbol from STA A, it will estimate achievable data rate on each spatial flow.In any subsequent transmission stream from STA B to STA A, which is included in the DRVF field of feedback 5084 by STA B.DRVF field is sent with 5080 rate of data segment.

When sending signal to STA B, the DRVF that STA A is received based on it from STA B determines avoidance mechanism required when postponing using which kind of transmission rate and optional consideration.Signal field (the following detailed description of) includes the DRV field 5046 of 13 bits, which enables recipient STA B to be decoded the frame sent from STA A.DRV 5046 is sent with control section rate.

DRVF field is encoded comprising: STR field (4 bit), R2 field (3 bit), R3 field (3 bit) and R4 field (3 bit).STR field indicates the rate of stream 1.It is STR value shown in table 5 by the code field.R2 indicates the difference between the STR value of stream 1 and the STR value of stream 2.R2 value " 111 " indicates what stream 2 was off.R3 indicates the difference between the STR value of stream 2 and the STR value of stream 3.R3 value " 111 " indicates what stream 3 was off.If R2=" 111 ", is set as " 111 " for R3.R4 indicates the difference between the STR value of stream 3 and the STR value of stream 4.R4 value " 111 " indicates what stream 4 was off.If R3=" 111 ", is set as " 111 " for R4.

As ES=0, i.e., spatial spread when, another coding of DRVF is as follows: flowing the rate (4 bit) of quantity (2 bit), each stream.The speed field of each stream is encoded as above-mentioned STR value.Remaining 7 bits are reserved.

Table 5.STR coding

STR value	Encoding rate	Modulation format	Bit/each stream symbol
				0000	1/2	BPSK	0.5
0001	3/4	BPSK	0.75
				0010	1/2	QPSK	1.0
0011	3/4	QPSK	1.5
				0100	1/2	16QAM	2.0
0101	5/8	16QAM	2.5
				0110	3/4	16QAM	3.0
0111	7/12	64QAM	3.5
				1000	2/3	64QAM	4.0
1001	3/4	64QAM	4.5
				1010	5/6	64QAM	5.0
1011	5/8	256QAM	5.0
				1100	3/4	256QAM	6.0
1101	7/8	256QAM	7.0

Other than DRVF, STA B also provides continuous power-control feedback to sender STA A.The feedback is included in power control field, and is also to be sent with data segment rate.The field is 2 bits, and indicates to increase power or reduce power or keep power constant.Obtained transmitted power level is designated as data segment transmitted power level.

Table 6 shows illustrative power control word segment value.The embodiment of replacement can use different size of power control field, and the power adjustment of replacement.

6. power control word segment value of table

Power control field	Meaning
		00	It is unchanged
01	Power is increased into 1dB
		10	Power is reduced into 1dB
11	It is reserved

For entire PPDU, transmitted power level is remained unchanged.When data segment transmitted power level and different open loop STA transmission power (that is, AP is decoded required power level to above-mentioned transport stream), PPDU is sent with the maximum value in the two power levels.That is, PPDU transmitted power level is the maximum value in open loop STA transmission power (dBm) and data segment transmission power (dBm).

In this exemplary embodiment, in the first frame of any Frame switch sequence, power control field is set as " 00 ".In a subsequent frame, it indicates to increase or decrease power according to the step-length of 1dB.Recipient STA will use the feedback information in all subsequent frames transmission for being sent to the STA.

Signal 1 5020 includes: the tail portion 5030 of rate/type field 5022 (4 bit), a reserved place 5024, PPDU size/request 5026 (12 bit), the bit of parity bit 5028 and 6.1 field 5020 of signal is to send (in this exemplary embodiment, being 6Mbps) with control section rate and format.Rate/type field 5022 is set as 0000.Reserved place 5024 can be set as 0.

There are two effects for PPDU size/request 5026, this depends on transmission mode.In STA competition-based transmission and all AP transmission, which indicates PPDU size.Under the first mode, bit 1 indicates that PPDU has used the OFDM symbol of extension, and bit 2 indicates PPDU using having the OFDM symbol for shortening GI, and bit 3-12 indicates the quantity of OFDM symbol.

In the non-AP STA transmission of scheduling, PPDU size/request 5026 indicates request.Under second of mode, bit 1-2 indicates SCHED rate.SCHED rate representation can be used to the SCHED field that the number highest (0,1,2 or 3) of a distribution information is sent to STA.During the training symbol transmission from AP, each non-AP STA estimates that it can robustly receive the rate of SCHED frame transmission from AP.In the subsequent scheduled transmissions from STA, which is included in SCHED speed field.The field is decoded by AP.AP uses the information to be scheduled the subsequent TXOP of STA, and determines CTRLJ (0,1,2 or 3), for issuing these distribution to STA.

In the second mode, bit 3-4 indicates qos field, identifies a part (being the multiple of one third) (that is, 0%, 33%, 67%, 100%) of the request of TC 0 or 1.Bit 5-12 indicates the request length (in this exemplary embodiment, being the integral multiple of 16 μ s) of TXOP.

1 field 5020 of signal is verified by parity bits 5028, and to terminate for 6 bit tails 5030 of convolution coder.

The existence and its length of 2 field 5040 of signal are indicated by rate/type field 5022 in signal 1 5020.2 field 5040 of signal is sent with control section rate and format.Signal 2 5040 includes: reserved place 5042, training type 5044 (3 bit), data rate vector (DRV) 5046 (13 bit), parity bit 5048 and tail portion 5050 (6 bit).The training type field of 3 bits indicates the length and format of MIMO OFDM training symbol.The quantity (0,2,3 or 4 OFDM symbol) of bit 1-2 expression MIMO OFDM training symbol 5060.Bit 3 is trained type field: 0 indicates SS, and 1 indicates ES.DRV 5046 provides the rate for each of most four spatial models.DRV 5046 (being included in feedback 5084, as described above) identical as the coding mode that DRVF is used.2 field 5040 of signal is verified by 1 parity bit 5048, and to terminate for 6 bit tails 5050 of convolution coder.

Figure 51 shows SCHED PPDU 5100 (rate/type=0010).SCHEDPPDU 5100 includes: PLCP lead code 5110, signal 15120 (1 OFDM symbol), signal 2 5140 (1 OFDM symbol), training symbol 5160 (0,2,3 or 4 symbol) and elongated SCHED frame 5180.It in this embodiment, is 16 μ s in the presence of PLCP lead code 5110.Signal 1 5020 and signal 2 5040 are sent with PPDU control section rate and modulation format.SCHED frame 5180 may include the above-mentioned various rates in conjunction with ACF description.

Signal 15120 includes: rate/type 5122 (4 bit), reserved place 5124, CTRL0 size 5126 (6 bit), CTRL1 size 5128 (6 bit), parity bit 5130 and tail portion 5132 (6 bit).Rate/type 5122 is set as 0010.Reserved place 5124 can be set as 0.CTRL0 size 5126 is indicated with minimum speed limit (in this embodiment for the segment length of the 6Mbps) SCHEDPPDU sent.This section includes: service field, MAC header and the CTRL0 section 5126 of PLCP header.In this embodiment, which encoded with the integral multiple of 4 μ s.CTRL1 size 5128 is indicated with next higher rate (in this embodiment for the segment length of the 12Mbps) SCHEDPPDU sent.In this embodiment, which encoded with the integral multiple of 4 μ s.CTRL1 size is " 0 " expression: corresponding CTRL1 sections being not present in SCHED PPDU.1 field 5120 of signal is verified by parity bit 5130, and to terminate for 6 bit tails 5132 of convolution coder.

Signal 2 5140 includes reserved place 5142, training type 5144 (3 bit), CTRL2 size 5146 (5 bit), CTRL3 size 5148 (5 bit), FCS 5150 (4 bit) and tail portion 5152 (6 bit).Reserved place 5142 can be set as 0.Training type 5144 (training type 5044) as specified for PPDU type 0000.

CTRL2 size 5146 is indicated with secondary flank speed (in this embodiment for the segment length of 18Mbps) the SCHED PPDU sent.In this embodiment, which encoded with the integral multiple of 4 μ s.CTRL2 size is " 0 " expression: corresponding CTRL2 sections being not present in SCHED PPDU.CTRL3 size 5148 is indicated with flank speed (in this embodiment for the segment length of 24Mbps) the SCHED PPDU sent.In this embodiment, which encoded with the integral multiple of 4 μ s.CTRL2 size is " 0 " expression: corresponding CTRL3 sections being not present in SCHED PPDU.

FCS 5150 is calculated according to entire signal 1 and 2 field of signal.2 field 5152 of signal for 6 bit tails 5152 of convolution coder with to terminate.

Figure 52 shows FRACH PPDU 5200 (rate/type=0100).FRACHPPDU 5200 includes: PLCP lead code 5210, signal 15220 (1 OFDM symbol) and signal 25240 (2 OFDM symbols).In this exemplary embodiment, PLCP lead code 5210 (when it is present) is 16 μ s.Signal 1 5220 and signal 2 5240 are sent with PPDU control section rate and modulation format.During the FRACH period in MIMO scheduled access period, STA sends FRACH PPDU 5200.The FRACH period is established by AP, therefore is known (as detailed above) for it.

Signal 1 5220 includes: rate/type 5222 (4 bit), reserved place 5224,5226 (12 bits) of request, parity bit 5228 and tail portion 5230 (6 bit).Rate/type 5222 is set as 0100.Reserved place 5224 can be set as 0.Request field 5226 is as detailed above as specified for PPDU type 0000 (5000).1 field 5220 of signal is tested by parity bit 5228, and to terminate for 6 bit tails 5230 of convolution coder.

Signal 2 5240 includes reserved place 5242, source AID 5244 (16 bit), purpose AID5246 (16 bit), FCS 5248 (4 bit) and tail portion 5250 (6 bit).Reserved place 5242 can be set as 0.Source AID 5244 identifies the STA sent on FRACH.Purpose AID 5246 identifies the requested purpose STA of TXOP.In this exemplary embodiment, if destination party is AP, the value of purpose AID field 5246 is set as 2048.The FCS 5248 of 4 bits is calculated according to entire signal 1 and 2 field of signal.Before convolutional encoding, the tail portion 5250 of 6 bits is added.

In this exemplary embodiment, time slotted Aloha can be used to access channel in STA, and request message is sent in FRACH.If be successfully received by AP, AP provides a scheduled TXOP to requesting party STA in latter scheduled access period.The FRACH timeslot number of current scheduling access period indicates in SCHED message, N_FRACH.

STA can also maintain a variable B_FRACH.After transmission on FRACH, if STA receives the distribution information of the TXOP from AP, B_FRACH is resetted.If STA does not receive the TXOP from AP in the SCHED transmission of predetermined quantity (FRACH_RESPONSE) and distributes information, B_FRACH is increased by 1, at maximum up to maximum value 7.Parameter FRACH_RESPONSE includes in the ACF item of beacon.In any FRACH, STA is choosing a FRACH time slot with probability (N_FRACH) -1*2-B_FRACH.

If AP unscheduled any FRACH period, EDCA rule is can be used in MIMO STA, is at war in the protected competing cycle in SCAP.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variety of different technologies and method, which can be used, indicates information and signal.For example, can be indicated with voltage, electric current, electromagnetic wave, magnetic field or particle, light field or particle or above-mentioned any combination in data, instruction, order, information, signal, bit, symbol and the chip referred in above description.

Those skilled in the art will also be appreciated that, can be realized here in conjunction with various illustrative logical boxs, module, circuit and the algorithm steps of the disclosed embodiments descriptions with the combination of electronic hardware, computer software or both.In order to be clearly shown the interchangeability between hardware and software, the above description carried out in the form of its is functional to various illustrative components, frame, module, circuit and step generally.This functionality is with hardware realization or the design constraint implemented in software applied dependent on specific application and whole system.Those skilled in the art can realize in many ways described function for each specific application, but the result of this realization should not be interpreted as causing away from the scope of the present invention.

Using general processor, digital signal processor (DSP), specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) either other programmable logical device, discrete gate or transistor logics, discrete hardware components or any combination among them, various illustrative logic diagrams, module and circuit in conjunction with embodiment disclosed herein description are may be implemented or executed.General processor may be microprocessor, but in another scenario, which may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine.Processor may also be implemented as calculating the combination of equipment, for example, the combination of DSP and microprocessor, multi-microprocessor, the microprocessor of one or more combination DSP cores or any other such structure.

The software module or the combination of both that the step of method in conjunction with described in embodiment disclosed herein or algorithm can be embodied directly in hardware, be executed by processor.Software module is likely to be present in the storage media of RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, eprom memory, eeprom memory, register, hard disk, mobile disk, CD-ROM or any other form well known in the art.One kind being typically stored media and couples with processor, so that processor can read information from the storage media, and information can be written to the storage media.In the example of replacement, storage media can be the component part of processor.Processor and storage media is likely to be present in an ASIC.The ASIC is likely to be present in a user terminal.In the example of replacement, processor and storage media can be used as the presence of the discrete assembly in user terminal.

The title for including herein is for referring to and helping to position each section.These titles are not intended to limit the protection scope of described concept behind.These concepts can be adapted for full text.

The foregoing description for providing the disclosed embodiment may make those skilled in the art can be realized or using the present invention.To those skilled in the art, the various modifications of these embodiments be it will be apparent that and the general principles that define here can also be applied to other embodiments on the basis of not departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention is not limited to embodiments shown here, but consistent with the widest scope for meeting principle disclosed herein and novel feature.

Claims (45)

1, a kind of device, comprising:

Transmitter, for sending signal according to the first transformat, so as to by one section of duration of shared medium reservation, and for being sent during the reserved duration according to second of transformat；And

Receiver, for being received during the reserved duration according to second of transformat.

2, a kind of device, comprising:

Transmitter, for being sent according at least part of the first communication format, and for being sent according to second of communication format；

Receiver, for being received according to second of communication format；And

Reserved module, is used for by one section of duration of shared medium reservation, to be communicated during the reserved duration according to second of transformat.

3, a kind of wireless communication system, comprising:

Sending module, for sending signal according to the first transformat, so as to by one section of duration of shared medium reservation；And

Communication module, for being communicated during the reserved duration according to second of transformat.

4, a kind of method, for being interoperated between the equipment that one or more is communicated according to the first transformat and one or more equipment communicated according to second of transformat by sharing media, which comprises

Signal is sent according to the first transformat, so as to by one section of duration of shared medium reservation；And

During the reserved duration, communicated according to second of transformat.

5, method as claimed in claim 4, further includes: before sending for the reserved signal, according to the first described transformat contention access.

6, method as claimed in claim 4, further includes:

Request accesses the shared media；And

Receive distribution in response to the request.

7, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal is the transmission opportunity (TXOP) according to 802.11 agreement of IEEE.

8, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the signal establishes uncontended periods.

9, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein send a signal to further include sending a request to send (RTS) message by one section of duration of shared medium reservation, the RTS message indicates the transmitting continuous time.

10, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein send a signal to further include sending an allowance to send (CTS) message by one section of duration of shared medium reservation, the CTS message indicates the transmitting continuous time.

11, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first described transformat is IEEE802.11 format.

12, method as claimed in claim 4, wherein second of transformat includes time division multiplexing (TDD) frame period, which includes:

Pilot tone；

Combined poll；

According to the combined poll zero or more access point to distant station frame；

According to the combined poll zero or more distant station to access point frame；

According to the combined poll zero or more distant station to distant station frame；And

According to zero or more random access section of the combined poll.

13, a kind of device, comprising:

First distribution module, for being to carry out the first duration of allocation of communications on shared media according to the first communication format in a variety of communication formats；And

Second distribution module, for being to carry out the second duration of allocation of communications on the shared media according to second of communication format in a variety of communication formats.

14, device as claimed in claim 13 further includes the module for spatial manipulation.

15, computer-readable media, for executing following steps:

It is to carry out the first duration of allocation of communications on shared media according to the first communication format in a variety of communication formats；And

It is that the second duration of allocation of communications is carried out on the shared media according to second of communication format in a variety of communication formats.

16, media as claimed in claim 15, for executing following steps:

Send time division multiplexing (TDD) frame period including combined poll；

Send one or more frames according to the combined poll；And

Receive one or more frames according to the combined poll.

17, a kind of method for being communicated on shared media, comprising:

It is that the first duration of allocation of communications is carried out on the shared media according to the first communication format in a variety of communication formats；And

It is that the second duration of allocation of communications is carried out on the shared media according to second of communication format in a variety of communication formats.

18, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least one of described a variety of communication formats communication format includes spatial manipulation.

19, method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the communication format in a variety of communication formats including spatial manipulation is multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication format.

20, method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the MIMO communication format is multiple input single output (MISO) communication format.

21, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of described a variety of communication formats communication format includes time division multiplexing (TDD) frame period, which includes:

Pilot tone；

Combined poll；And

According to one or more frames of the combined poll.

22, method as claimed in claim 21, wherein one or more frames include the communication of access point to distant station.

23, method as claimed in claim 21, wherein one or more frames include the communication of distant station to access point.

24, method as claimed in claim 21, wherein one or more frames include the communication of distant station to distant station.

25, method as claimed in claim 21, wherein one or more frames include the random access to the shared media.

26, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of a variety of communication formats communication format and 802.11 EDCA formats are essentially identical.

27, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of a variety of communication formats communication format and 802.11 CAP formats are essentially identical.

28, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of a variety of communication formats communication format is substantially essentially identical with SCAP.

29, method as claimed in claim 17, further include: it according to the first communication format in a variety of communication formats is that a series of allocation of communications one or more third duration are carried out on the shared media, and according to second of communication format in a variety of communication formats to carry out on the shared media a series of allocation of communications one or more 4th duration, a series of third duration and a series of 4th duration are mutually interspersed.

30, method as claimed in claim 29, wherein selection is described interspersed to provide the maximum time interval between a series of third duration.

31, method as claimed in claim 17, wherein first duration includes the one or more interval SCAP.

32, method as claimed in claim 31, wherein second duration includes one or more 802.11 intervals EDCA.

33, method as claimed in claim 17 further includes establishing uncontended periods for first duration.

34, method as claimed in claim 17 further includes establishing competing cycle for second duration.

35, a kind of device, comprising:

Contention access module, for sharing media according to the first communication protocol contention access；And

Communication module, for being communicated on the shared media according to second of communication protocol during the access competed.

36, a kind of method for being communicated on shared media, comprising:

Send beacon；

Media are shared according to the first communication protocol contention access；And

During the access competed, communicated on the shared media according to second of communication protocol.

37, method as claimed in claim 36, further includes:

Establish uncontended periods；And

During the uncontended periods, poll is distributed according to the first described communication protocol.

38, method as claimed in claim 36, further includes:

The shared media are accessed for the second time according to the competition of the first described communication protocol；And

During second of access competed, communicated on the shared media according to the first described communication protocol.

39, method as claimed in claim 37, in which:

First access point establishes the uncontended periods；And

Second access point is communicated according to second of the communication protocol with one or more distant stations according to the first described communication protocol contention access, and during the access competed.

40, a kind of equipment interoperates with access point, and described access point establishes uncontended periods according to the first communication protocol and competing cycle, the equipment include:

Contention access module, for the first communication protocol contention access according to during the competing cycle；

Transmitter, for being sent during the access competed according to second of communication protocol；And

Receiver, for being sent during the access competed according to second of the communication protocol.

41, computer-readable media is used for following steps:

Media are shared according to the first communication protocol contention access；And

During the access competed, communicated on the shared media according to second of communication protocol.

42, a kind of wireless communication system, comprising:

A kind of equipment, is used for:

Media are shared according to the first communication protocol contention access；And

Signal is sent according to the first described communication protocol with by one section of duration of shared medium reservation；

First distant station, for sending pilot tone according to second of communication protocol；And

Second distant station, is used for:

It measures the pilot tone and determines therefrom that feedback；And

First distant station is sent by the feedback.

43, wireless communication system as claimed in claim 42, wherein according to the feedback, first distant station transmits data to second distant station also according to second of the communication protocol.

44, a kind of method for being communicated on shared media, comprising:

Media are shared according to the first communication protocol contention access；

Signal is sent according to the first described communication protocol with by one section of duration of shared medium reservation；

According to second of communication protocol by pilot tone from the first remote station to the second distant station；

The pilot tone is measured at second distant station and determines therefrom that feedback；

By the feedback from second remote station to first distant station；And

According to the feedback, according to second of the communication protocol by data from first remote station to second distant station.

45, a kind of wireless communication system is received and transmitted using shared media, which includes:

First access point, for being communicated according to the first communication format；And

Second access point, for being communicated according to second of communication format, second access point is used to send signal according to the first described communication format, and one section of duration of shared medium reservation is communicated for use according to second of communication format.

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