BR112020019216A2 - APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING A GROUPING PROTOCOL; SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

apparatus and method for carrying out a grouping protocol; system for programming wireless communications the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for coordinating programming and transmission from multiple access points. an example device includes a connection analyzer for performing a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station; and when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station; and an interface for transmitting an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server having to program communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster.

Description

“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING A GROUPING PROTOCOL; SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMING WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ” FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This disclosure relates, in general, to wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connectivity and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for coordinating programming and transmission from multiple access points.

HISTORIC

[0002] Many locations provide Wi-Fi to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to networks such as the Internet. Wi-Fi enabled devices include personal computers, video game consoles, phones and mobile devices, digital cameras, tablet devices, smart TVs, digital audio players, etc. Wi-Fi allows Wi-Fi enabled devices to access the Internet wirelessly over a wireless local area network (WLAN). To provide Wi-Fi connectivity to a device, a Wi-Fi access point transmits a radio frequency Wi-Fi signal to the Wi-Fi enabled device within the access point signal range (for example, a hotspot) . Wi-Fi is deployed using a set of media access control (MAC) and physical layer specifications (PHY) (for example, such as the 802.11 protocol from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Figure 1 is an exemplary wireless communication environment for programming communication between Wi-Fi devices.

[0004] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the example server, the example access point protocol executor and the example station return generator of Figure 1.

[0005] Figure 3 is a representative flowchart of sample machine-readable instructions that can be executed to deploy the example server in Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0006] Figure 4 is a flowchart representing sample machine-readable instructions that can be executed to deploy the exemplary access point protocol executor of Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0007] Figure 5 is a representative flowchart of example machine-readable instructions that can be performed to deploy the example station return generator of Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0008] Figure 6 is a representative flowchart of sample machine-readable instructions that can be executed to deploy the example server in Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0009] Figure 7 is a representative flowchart of sample machine-readable instructions that can be executed to deploy the exemplary access point protocol executor of Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0010] Figures 8 and 9 are representative flowcharts of exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be performed to deploy the exemplary access point protocol executor and the exemplary station return generator of Figures 1 and / or 2.

[0011] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary timing protocol diagram and an exemplary collaborative beamform null data packet communication that can be transmitted by the server to the access points of Figure 1.

[0012] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary timing protocol diagram and an exemplary joint transmission null data packet communication that can be transmitted by the server to the access points of Figure 1.

[0013] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a radio architecture according to some examples.

[0014] Figure 13 illustrates a set of exemplary front-end module circuits for use in the radio architecture of Figure 12 according to some examples.

[0015] Figure 14 illustrates an exemplary IC radio circuitry for use in the radio architecture of Figure 12 according to some examples.

[0016] Figure 15 illustrates a set of baseband exemplifying processing circuits for use in the radio architecture of Figure 12 according to some examples.

[0017] Figure 16 is a block diagram of a processor platform structured to execute the machine-readable instructions exemplifying Figures 3 to 9 to deploy any one of the server, the access point protocol executor, and / or the station return generator of Figures 1 and / or 2, or any combination thereof.

[0018] The figures are not to scale. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the design (s) and attached written description for reference to parts, elements, etc. the same or similar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Various locations (for example, homes, offices, coffee shops, restaurants, parks, airports, etc.) can provide Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi enabled devices (for example, stations (STA)) to connect the enabled devices with Wi-Fi internet, or any other network, with minimal complications. Locations can provide one or more Wi-Fi access points (APs) to send Wi-Fi signals to the Wi-Fi enabled device within a range of Wi-Fi signals (for example, a hotspot). A Wi-Fi AP is structured to wirelessly connect a Wi-Fi enabled device to the Internet over a wireless local area network (WLAN) using Wi-Fi protocols (for example, such as IEEE

802.11). The Wi-Fi protocol is the protocol by which the AP communicates with the STAs to provide access to the Internet with the STAs transmitting uplink (UL) transmissions and receiving downlink (DL) transmissions to / from the Internet. Some APs communicate using beam-forming techniques. Wireless beamforming wireless systems transmit data from a source station (for example, a router, etc.) to a destination station (for example, a computing device, a mobile device, etc.) with use of a concentrated electromagnetic signal that moves substantially in one direction.

[0020] Some examples revealed in this document refer to high-density Wi-Fi networks, in which there may be several STAs requesting a network connection. Consequently, multiple APs can be installed on different frequency channels and / or on the same frequency channel (for example, collaborative beam formation). Collaborative beam formation allows simultaneous transmission of multiple APs in a network of APs on the same frequency channel without joint processing. Such schemes are primarily based on the directionality of the AP's beams (for example, programming competing broadcasts that are spatially separate). However, collaborative beamforming requires channel resonance feedback and beamforming (BF) reports from all active STAs to all active APs in a network. In this way, the collaborative beam formation increases network overhead and latency.

[0021] Some examples revealed in this document provide a low complexity and less overhead coordination scheme to enable programming of multiple users / multiple APs in which channel sound reports and BF return are not required from all STAs in the network. Such examples revealed in this document provide a low complexity, grouping based on proximity technique (for example, based on signal strengths between STAs) to select AP-STA pairs for simultaneous transmission. Thus, such examples revealed in this document will not program STA in the same group for simultaneous transmission.

[0022] Other examples revealed in this document refer to Wi-Fi communications with extremely low packet loss requirements that require very high reliability links between APs and a STA. For example, industrial process automation and control, robotics cooperation in healthcare, remote surgery in healthcare, etc. may have strict requirements to guarantee a reduced likelihood of packet loss. Conventional techniques to meet such low probability requirements attempt to increase the functionality of a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel on a single AP. However, such conventional techniques limit diversity, BF gains and transmission power, increase interference, reduce quality of service and make boundary users vulnerable. Examples revealed in this document alleviate the problems associated with single AP communications by providing a protocol for joint transmission of multiple APs to reserve redundant physical paths to ensure communication of greater reliability and quality of service to the end user. Such examples revealed in this document provide a non-coherent Wi-Fi joint transmission, in which a signal is transmitted by multiple coordinated APs, in an open circuit without joint pre-coding through the multiple APs, thus providing multiple copies of the same signal to one STA to increase reliability through diversity and arrangement beam formation gains, or to enable spatial multiplexing to increase throughput to an STA.

[0023] Figure 1 is an exemplary wireless communication environment 100 for programming communication between Wi-Fi devices. The exemplary wireless communication environment 100 includes an exemplary server 102 and an exemplary AP 104 network that includes APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers which have exemplary STA protocol executor 108a to 108c. The environment 100 of Figure 1 also includes exemplary STAs 110a to 110c, exemplary STA return generators 112a to 112c, a cluster of exemplary STAs 114 and an exemplary network 116. Although the illustrated example in Figure 1 includes three APs 106a to 106c and three STAs 110a to 110c and a network 116, the exemplary environment 100 can include any number of APs, STAs and / or networks.

[0024] The exemplary server 102 in Figure 1 is a device that communicates (for example, via wired or wireless communication) with the APs 106a through 106c in the exemplary AP 104 network to facilitate the programming of the STAs Exemplary 110a to 110c. In some instances, server 102 may run software on one of the exemplary APs 106a through 106c or another AP.

In such examples, the AP that deploys the exemplary server 102 may be the master AP.

In some examples, server 102 initiates a cluster protocol to determine which STAs are located within a threshold distance from other STAs (for example, corresponding to the exemplary cluster 114). Server 102 initiates the cluster protocol to ensure that APs 106a to 106c can program connected STAs 110a to 110c (for example, which are not grouped with other STAs) at the same time / frequency, as doing so will not cause interference on any of the wireless devices.

In addition, the exemplary server 102 initiates the clustering protocol to ensure that the APs 106a through 106c exemplifiers do not schedule clustered STAs at the same time and / or frequency (for example, due to the fact that doing so would cause significant interference). As also described below in conjunction with Figure 2, the exemplary server 102 initiates the clustering protocol using a minimum amount of communications between the exemplary APs 106a to 106c and the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c, thereby optimizing the efficiency of the grouping.

For example, instead of each STA taking signal measurements on all STAs and each STA transmitting the results for each measurement.

The revealed grouping protocol includes STAs that only perform the measurement for STAs of the same or higher order, to reduce repeated measurements.

In addition, exemplary STAs 110a to 110c can only transmit measurements back to server 102 when the measurement is above a borderline value, thus eliminating the transmission of measurement data to STAs that will not be grouped

[0025] In some examples, the server 102 in Figure 1 initiates a non-coherent joint transmission schedule from the exemplary APs 106a to 106c. If the communication between one or more of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c and one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c matches the requirements for high reliability (for example, mission critical Internet of Things communication, Gigabit connectivity, robotics cooperation, etc.), the exemplary server 102 can initiate a non-coherent joint transmission schedule to be able to program two or more APs in the exemplary AP network 104 to transmit redundant data to the same STA. As shown in Figure 1, example AP2 102b and example AP3 102c can transmit the same data to example STA3 110c due to the fact that APs 106a through 106c on the network of AP 104 have the same service set identifier (SSID) and belong to a controlled Wi-Fi network to allow data to be sent to two or more APs 106a to 106c simultaneously), thus decreasing the likelihood of packet loss. Server 102 can transmit instructions to initiate exemplary APs 106a to 106c to instruct one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c to transmit return reports (for example, channel quality indicator (CQI) return reports) based on channel estimates. In this way, the exemplary server 102 can program non-coherent joint transmission to one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a-110c by selecting a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) mode (for example, gain of space diversity and / or multiplexing (SM) based on the return report. In some examples, when the exemplary APs 106a to 106c include BF antennas, the example server 102 may additionally initiate a sequential channel sound so that one or more of the STAs 110a to 110c can measure the channel to provide BF reports to the Corresponding AP 106a to 106c, which are forwarded to the exemplary server 102. In this way, server 102 can use the CR reports from each AP 106a to 106c to schedule non-coherent joint transmission to one or more STAs 100a to 100c. The exemplary server 102 is also described below in conjunction with Figure 2.

[0026] The exemplary APs 106a to 106c of Figure 1 are devices that allow exemplary STAs 110a to 110c to wirelessly access the exemplary network 116. The exemplary APs 106a to 106c can be routers, modem routers, and / or any other devices that provide a wireless connection to a network. A router provides a wireless communication link to an STA. The router accesses the network through a wire connection through a modem. A modem router combines the functionality of the modem and the router. Exemplary APs 106a through 106c may include one or more antennas or one or more types to carry out one or more communication protocols (for example, BF, single user BF, multiple user BF, MIMO, etc.). Exemplary APs 106a through 106c include radio architecture (for example, the example radio architecture 1200 in Figure 12) for the possibility of wireless data transmission. In addition, exemplary APs 106a to 106c include STA protocol executors 108a to 108c exemplifiers to facilitate obtaining relevant information (for example, RSSI measurements, SNR measurements, CQI return reports, BF return reports , etc.) for programming the example STAs 110a to 110c based on instructions from the example server 102.

[0027] The protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers of Figure 1 facilitate obtaining information for the programming of the exemplary STAs 110a based on the instructions from the exemplary server 102. For example, if the exemplary STA protocol executor 108a of the first exemplary AP 106a receives instructions from the exemplary server 102 to perform a cluster protocol, the exemplary STA protocol executor 108a can transmit a request for a report (for example, a flag report) of the connected STAs (for example, the example STA 110a). The request can correspond to one or more channels that STA 110a must listen to (for example, pickup). In this way, example STA 110a can report information (for example, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value, etc.) based on the flag, if the flag is picked up (for example, heard). In such an example, the STA protocol executor 108a forwards the reported information to the exemplary server 102 for clustering purposes (for example, to generate the example cluster 114 of the exemplary STAs 110a and 110b).

[0028] In another example, if the exemplary STA 108b protocol executor of the second exemplary AP 106b receives instructions from the exemplary server 102 to perform a non-coherent joint transmission to the third exemplary STA 110c, the exemplary STA protocol executor 108a transmits a training ground (for example, a long training ground (LTF)) to STA 110c, so that STA 110c can perform channel estimation. For joint transmissions, each AP 106a to 106c transmits the training fields for channel estimation simultaneously and coordinated with the other APs. For example, server 102 may, in its instructions to APs 106a to 106c include data to ensure that APs 106a to 106c are coordinated (for example, including timing information / protocol in the instructions). In some examples, protocol executors of STA 108a through 108c may provide training for their associated flows by applying a P-Matrix using P-matrix codes sent from server 102. In such examples, if each of the APs 106a at 106c exemplifiers multiplex two data streams, APs 106a to 106c simultaneously transmit orthogonal training fields using a size 6 P-Matrix (e.g., three APs twice two data streams) to the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c.

In this way, one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c (for example, in that exemplary STA 110c) can estimate the compound channel between APs 106a to 106c and STA 110c and provide feedback (return from CQI) to one or more of the exemplary STA 108a to 108c protocol executors.

In some examples, protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c may transmit data to one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c using multi-user BF or collaborative BF.

In such examples, protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c may receive instructions from the exemplary server 102 to perform joint transmission not consistent with BF and / or BF on different frequency channels.

Consequently, exemplary STA 108a to 108c protocol executors can transmit requests (for example, null data packet in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mode), one by one to one or more STAs 110a to 110c examples to obtain an answer that includes reports of BF return.

The exemplary STA 108a to 108c protocol executors transmit the received BF return reports (for example, obtained) to the exemplary server 102 to schedule the joint transmission not consistent with BF (for example, within the same sub-bands or different sub -bandas). An example of one of the exemplary STA protocol executors 108a to 108c is further described below in conjunction with Figure 2.

[0029] The exemplary STAs 110a to 110c of Figure 1 are Wi-Fi enabled computing devices. The exemplary STAs 110a to 110c can be, for example, computing devices, portable devices, mobile devices, mobile phones, smart phones, tablet devices, game systems, digital cameras, digital video recorders, televisions, decoders, e-book readers, and / or any other Wi-Fi enabled devices. The exemplary STAs 110a through 110c include the return generators STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers to connect and communicate with a Wi-Fi AP (for example, APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers) and perform measurements that can be used for the cluster protocol and / or for the joint transmission protocol not consistent for programming purposes.

[0030] STA return generators 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 1 receive instructions from one or more of the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers to perform a signal measurement request (for example, RSSI request or SNR measurement request) . Once received, the sample return generators from STA 112a to 112c process the request and perform correspondence measurement. For example, the request may correspond to channels that STA generators 112a to 112c must listen to and / or channels that STA generators 112a to 112c must transmit.

In this way, each STA can transmit data on one channel and measure the signals transmitted by other STAs on other channels.

In some examples, the request may correspond to an order number.

In such examples, the STA can measure signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratios on channels corresponding to STAs associated with APs of the same order or higher order and avoid measuring signal characteristics on channels corresponding to STAs associated with APs of the same or lower order.

In some instances, the STA can also measure signal strength and / or signal-to-noise ratios on channels corresponding to STAs associated with APs of the same or lower order.

In this way, there are no repeated measurements for any combination of STAs (for example, if a first STA measures the signal corresponding to a second STA, then there is no need for the second STA to measure the signal corresponding to the first STA due to the fact that the measurement will be the same). The exemplary STA return generator 112a to 112c measures the signal characteristics corresponding to the interference (for example, RSSI, SNR, etc.) based on the instructions.

In addition, the sample return generators from STA 112a to 112c compare the signal characteristics to the borderline value (or values) to see if RSSI, SNR, etc. exceeds the maximum threshold.

If RSSI, SNR, etc. measured exceeds the maximum threshold, the STA corresponding to the measurement is located next to the STA that measured the characteristic.

To eliminate unnecessary communications, the STA 112a return generators to

112c, in some examples, can only transmit measurement information if the measurement information exceeds the maximum threshold, thus increasing overall efficiency.

[0031] In some examples, if one of the exemplary STAs 110a through 110c has difficulty in capturing data from another STA (for example, a target STA), the corresponding STA return generator from the corresponding STA can transmit a short frame to the STA- target that needs an answer. For example, if the example STA 110a finds it difficult to pick up the STA 110b on a particular channel, the example STA 110a transmits data to the example STA 110b and the STA 110b is based on a response. In this way, the corresponding STA return generator can measure signal characteristics (SNR, RSSI, etc.) based on the target STA's response. In some instances, STA return generators 112a through 112c may be instructed to perform one or more channel estimates. In such examples, STA return generators 112a through 112c estimate the channel based on the instructions. In some instances, STA return generators 112a through 112c may be instructed to generate a BF return report. In such examples, STA return generators 112a through 112c generate the desired BF return report and transmit the return report to the requesting AP by measuring a channel, calculating a BF vector, quantifying the weights and sending a quantified report.

[0032] The exemplary network 116 of Figure 1 is a system of interconnected systems that exchange data. The exemplary network 116 can be deployed using any type of public or private network such as, but without limitation, the Internet, a telephone network, a local area network (LAN), a cable network, and / or a wireless network. To allow communication over the 116 network, exemplary Wi-Fi APs 106a through 106c include a communication interface that allows connection to an Ethernet, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a coaxial cable, or any wireless connection, etc. In some examples, server 102 and APs 106a through 106c exemplifiers are connected via the example network 116.

[0033] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the example server 102, one of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c example and one of the return generators of STA 112a to 112c example of Figure 1. The example server 102 includes an interface 200 exemplifier, an exemplifier originator 202, an exemplary communications programmer 204, an exemplary network characterizer 206 and an exemplary protocol selector 208. One of the exemplary STA protocol executors 108a through 108c includes an exemplary interface 210, an exemplary instruction processor 212 and an exemplary packet generator 214. The one of the sample return generators from STA 112a to 112c includes an example interface 220, an example link analyzer 222 and an example packet generator 224.

[0034] The exemplary interface 200 of the exemplary server 102 of Figure 2 transmits instructions to the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers of the AP network 104 to initiate a clustering protocol or a joint transmission protocol for programming the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c. In addition, the example interface 200 receives information (e.g., reports) from the example APs 106a and 106b based on the initiated protocols. Due to the fact that some of the protocols are time dependent (for example, BF return reports need to be performed by each AP one by one, signal measurements may need to be performed simultaneously, via the AP 104 network, etc.) , the example interface 200 can include timing information protocol in instructions corresponding to such time dependent protocols and / or the example interface 200 can transmit instructions to each AP according to the desired timing schedule (for example, transmit instructions to the first AP to perform triggering BF return report in a first time, transmit instructions to the second AP to perform triggering BF return report in a second time, etc.).

[0035] The exemplifier orderer 202 of Figure 2 generates an order of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c in the exemplary AP 104 network. Thus, when the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c are performing connection signal measurements (for example, SNR, RSSI, etc.), STAs 110a to 110c only perform such measurements on STAs connected to APs of the same order or of an order taller. The exemplifying originator 202 can sort the exemplary APs randomly or based on network characteristics. For example, if the exemplary server 102 is aware that the STA (or STAs) connected to a particular AP has more power and / or resources, the exemplifier orderer 202 may generate a lower order for the particular AP so that other STAs connected to other APs will perform less measurements. The exemplifying originator 202 can obtain knowledge from the STA (or STAs) 110a to 110c through the exemplary APs 106a to 106c (for example, based on initial communications).

[0036] The communications programmer 204 exemplifier schedules the communications between the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers with the STAs 110a to 110c exemplifiers based on the feedback received corresponding to the grouping protocol and / or the joint transmission protocol. For example, during the grouping protocol, the exemplifier communication programmer 204 schedules communications between the exemplary APs 106a to 106c and the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c in any way, less than communications between the grouped STAs (for example, the exemplary STAs 110a and 110b in the example group 114) are not programmed for simultaneous transmission. In such an example, the communication programmer 204 may generate instructions to the exemplary APs 106a to 106c corresponding to the grouped STAs 110a and 110b to ensure that the STAs are programmed at different times and / or at different frequency intervals (e.g., channels). In another example, during the joint transmission protocol, the exemplary communications programmer 204 schedules joint communications between two or more APs 106a through 106c to one or more STAs 110c, thereby ensuring redundant transmission to increase signal reliability. For example, communications programmer 204 may generate instructions to send the second exemplary AP 106b and the third exemplary AP 106c to transmit information together to the third exemplary STA 110c. The exemplary communications programmer schedules such joint transmissions based on characteristics of the device network (for example, determined by network characterizer 206) and a selected protocol (for example, determined by the exemplary protocol selector 208).

[0037] The exemplary network characterizer 206 in Figure 2 determines the network characteristics based on information received from the AP 104 network corresponding to characteristics of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c, the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c, and / or communications between the APs 106a to 106c and STAs 110a to 110c. For example, network characterizer 206 determines the capabilities of exemplary APs 106a to 106c (for example, the types of antennas used by APs 106a to 106c, the protocols that APs 106a to 106c are capable of carrying out, etc.) on the network of exemplary AP 104 and / or the frequency sub-bands that are available for programming based on communications with the exemplary APs 106a through 106c. In addition, the exemplifying network characterizer 206 processes the received reports (e.g., BF and / or CQI reports) from the exemplifying STAs 110a through 110c, so that the exemplary protocol selector 208 can select a protocol based on the reports.

[0038] The protocol selector 208 exemplifier of Figure 2 selects a protocol to be executed by two or more of the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers for joint transmission. For example, protocol selector 208 may select a MIMO protocol, a MIMO protocol with BF, and / or a MIMO protocol with BF in different sub-bands. The exemplary protocol selector 208 performs protocol selection based on the processed data from the network characterizer 206 (for example, the antenna capacities of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c, the return reports from the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c, etc.) . For example, the protocol selector 208 performs a protocol selection based on the SINR of a channel, a classification of a channel, use case of the connection, sensitivity of the connection, the decision made, etc. The selected protocol is transmitted through the AP 104 network through the example interface 200.

[0039] The exemplary interface 210 of one of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c of Figure 2 receives instructions from the exemplary server 102 and reports from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c. For example, the exemplary interface 210 interfaces with radio architecture (for example, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 in Figure 12) to obtain data packets that have been sent to the AP. In addition, the exemplary interface 210 transmits information (for example, data packets via the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of Figure 12) one or more of the exemplary STA return generators 112a through 112c to evoke a return report and / or to the example server 102 to transmit the received return report and / or to transmit other data (for example, AP capacity data).

[0040] The example instruction processor 212 in Figure 1 processes instructions from the example server 102. For example, the example instruction processor 212 processes instructions from the example server 102 to determine what type of programming is being configured (for example, grouping or joint transmission). If the example instruction processor 212 determines that the instructions correspond to the joint transmission schedule, the example instruction processor 212 determines what type of joint transmission schedule is being performed (for example, MIMO, MIMO with BF, and / or MIMO with BF in different sub-bands). In this way, the exemplary packet generator 214 can determine which type of data packet (or packets) to transmit the one or more exemplary STAs 110a to 110c based on the schedule that is currently taking place.

[0041] The example generator packet 214 of Figure 2 generates data packets according to the instructions of the example server 102.

For example, if the instructions from the example server 102 corresponds to a clustering protocol, the example packet generator 214 generates a data packet (for example, a collaborative beamforming null (NDP) data packet (CBF)) for evoke a report corresponding to channel measurements from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c.

In such an example, packet generator 214 can generate a packet that includes information related to the channel (or channels) that each STA 110a to 110c must listen to and take measurements (for example, SNR, RSSI, etc.) and the channel (or channels) on which the exemplary STA 110a to 110c must transmit (for example, so that other STAs can take measurements). In another example, when the instructions from the example server 102 corresponds to a joint transmission protocol, the example packet generator 214 generates a data package (for example, a training field) to evoke a report (for example, a CQI) corresponding to the channel estimate of one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c.

In some examples, the training camp includes a P-Matrix for channel estimation.

In another example, when the instructions from the exemplary server 102 corresponds to a joint transmission protocol using beamforming, the exemplary packet generator 214 may generate a data packet (for example, a jointly transmitted null data packet) one or more of the

Exemplary STAs 110a to 110c to evoke a BF return report from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c. The example interface 210 transmits the data packets generated by the example packet generator 218 through the example radio architecture 1200 of Figure 12.

[0042] The exemplary interface 220 of one of the STA return generators 112a to 112c of Figure 2 receives data packets from one or more of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c. For example, the exemplary interface 220 interfaces with the radio architecture (for example, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 in Figure 12) to obtain data packets that have been sent to STA. In addition, the exemplary interface 220 transmits data packets (for example, through the exemplary radio architecture 1200 in Figure 12) to one or more of the exemplary APs 106a through 106c including return report (or reports) (for example, a signal strength, CQI, and / or BF report).

[0043] The exemplary connection analyzer 222 of Figure 2, together with other components of STA 110a to 110c, analyzes the connection on one or more frequency channels based on the instructions of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c. For example, connection analyzer 222 can capture packets on one or more frequency channels to determine the SNR and / or RSSI of the received data packets. In some examples, connection analyzer 222 compares measurements from RSSI, SNR, etc. other STAs to one or more maximum thresholds to determine whether the STA should be grouped with one or more of the other STAs. For example, if a first STA measures a high RSSI value (for example, through a maximum threshold) of a signal from a second STA, the first STA can group the first device with the second device and transmit the grouping to the AP for programming. In some instances, connection analyzer 22 can discard measurements that are below the threshold, thereby decreasing the amount of data that is transmitted to increase overall efficiency. In addition, the exemplary connection analyzer 222 can estimate one or more channels based on a training field received with a P-Matrix. In some examples, connection analyzer 222 measures a channel from the STA corresponding to each AP 106a to 106c in a coordinated set (for example, the set of APs that can communicate with the STA) based on a received null data packet coordinated APs, one by one, to be able to generate BF return data. Alternatively, the exemplary connection analyzer 222 can conduct CR training with each AP independently.

[0044] The example generator packet 224 generates packets that include reports to send to connected APs. For example, packet generator 224 can generate a data packet that includes grouped STAs (for example, based on the measured values of SNR and / or RSSI), a CQI report corresponding to the channel estimate, and / or a report of BF. In this way, the relevant information can be forwarded to the exemplary server 102 to schedule communications between the exemplary APs 106a to 106c and the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c.

[0045] Although an exemplary way to deploy the exemplary server 102, the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers and the return generators of STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 1 are illustrated in Figure 2, one or more of the elements, The processes and / or devices illustrated in Figure 2 can be combined, divided, redeployed, omitted, eliminated and / or implemented in any other way. In addition, the exemplifying interface 200, the exemplifying originator 202, the exemplary communication programmer 204, the exemplifying network characterizer 206, the exemplifying protocol selector 208, the exemplifying interface 210, the exemplifying instruction processor 212, the packet generator Example 214, example interface 220, example connection analyzer 222, example packet generator 224, more generally, example server 102, STA protocol executors 108a through 108c example, and / or return generators from STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 2 can be deployed by hardware, software, firmware and / or any combination of hardware, software and / or firmware. Thus, for example, any one of the exemplary interface 200, the exemplifier originator 202, the exemplary communication programmer 204, the exemplary network characterizer 206, the exemplary protocol selector 208, the exemplary interface 210, the instruction processor 212 exemplifier, the exemplary packet generator 214, the exemplary interface 220, the exemplary connection analyzer 222, the exemplary packet generator 224, more generally, the exemplary server 102, the STA protocol executors 108a through 108c exemplifiers, and / or the STA 112a to 112c return generators exemplifying in Figure 2 could be implanted by one or more analog or digital circuit (or circuits), logic circuits, programmable processor (or processors), programmable controller (or controllers), unit ( or graphic processing units (GPU (or GPUs)), digital signal processor (or processors) (DSP (or DSPs)), circuit application-specific itit (or circuits) (ASIC (or ASICs)), programmable logic device (or devices) (PLD (or PLDs)) and / or field programmable logic device (or devices) (FPLD (or FPLDs)) . When reading any of the claims of the apparatus or system of this patent to cover a purely software and / or firmware deployment, at least one of the exemplary interface 200, the specifier 202 specifier, the exemplary communication program 204, the exemplary network characterizer 206 , the exemplary protocol selector 208, the exemplary interface 210, the exemplary instruction processor 212, the exemplary packet generator 214, the exemplary interface 220, the exemplary connection analyzer 222, the exemplary packet generator 224, more generally , the exemplary server 102, the STA protocol executors 108a to 108c exemplifiers, and / or the STA return generators 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 2 is / are expressly defined hereby to include a computer-readable storage device non-transitory or storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a compact disc (CD), a Blu-ray disc, etc. including software and / or firmware. In addition, link aggregator example 104 of Figure 1 may include one or more elements, processes and / or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in Figure 2, and / or may include more than one of any or all the elements, processes and devices illustrated. As used in this document, the term “in communication”, which includes variations thereof, includes direct communication and / or indirect communication through one or more intermediate components and does not need direct physical communication (for example, wired) and / or constant communication, but instead includes additional selective communication at periodic intervals, programmed intervals, aperiodic intervals, and / or single events.

[0046] Flowcharts representative of the exemplary hardware logic or machine-readable instructions for deploying the exemplary server 102, the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers, and / or the return generators of STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 1 are shown in Figures 3 to 9. Machine-readable instructions can be a program or portion of a program to be executed by a processor such as processor 1612 shown on the example processor platform 1600 discussed below in connection with Figure

16. The program can be incorporated into software stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor 1612, but the entire program and / or parts of it could alternatively be executed by a device other than the 1612 processor and / or incorporated in firmware or dedicated hardware. In addition, although the example program is described in reference to the flowchart illustrated in Figures 3 to 9, many other methods of deploying the example server 102, the STA protocol executors 108a through 108c example, and / or the STA return generators Examples 112a to 112c can be used alternatively. For example, the execution order of the blocks can be changed, and / or some of the described blocks can be changed, eliminated or combined. Additionally or alternatively, any or all of the blocks can be deployed by one or more hardware circuits (for example, discrete and / or integrated analog and / or digital circuits, an FPGA, an ASIC, a comparator, an operational amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit, etc.) structured to perform the corresponding operation without running software or firmware.

[0047] As mentioned above, the example processes in Figures 3 to 9 can be implemented using executable instructions (for example, computer and / or machine-readable instructions) stored on non-machine and / or machine-readable media transient, such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a temporary supply storage, a random access memory and / or any other storage device or disk storage in which information is stored for any duration (for example, for periods of time, permanently, briefly, for storage in temporary memory and / or temporary storage of information provision). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer-readable medium is expressly defined as including any type of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk and excluding propagating signals and excluding transmission media.

[0048] "Include" and "understand" (and all forms and combinations thereof) are used in this document to be open ended terms. Accordingly, whenever a claim employs any form of "include" or "understand" (for example, comprises, includes, understand, include, have, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim quote of any kind,

it must be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without departing from the scope of the corresponding claim or quote. As used in this document, when the term "at least" is used as the transitional term in, for example, a preamble to a claim, it is opened in the same way as the term "that comprises" and "that includes" open. The term "and / or" when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and / or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, ( 2) B by itself, (3) C by itself, (4) A with B, (5) A with C and (6) B with C.

[0049] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart 300 exemplifying representative of machine-readable instructions exemplifying that can be executed by the example server 102 in Figure 1 to initiate a grouping protocol for programming. Although flowchart 300 in Figure 3 is described in conjunction with the example server 102 in the example environment 100 in Figure 1, instructions can be executed by any server in any type of wireless environment.

[0050] In block 302, the exemplary interface 200 receives the STA-AP connections from the network of APs 104. The exemplary STA-AP connections can correspond to which STAs are currently connected to which APs and / or which possible STA connections -AP that could occur (for example, all STA within the transmission range of each AP 106a to 106c). In block 304, the exemplifying originator 202 orders the APs. As described above in conjunction with Figure 2, the exemplifying sorter 202 can sort the APs 106a to 106c randomly and / or based on known characteristics of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c. The exemplifying originator 202 orders the exemplifying APs to reduce the total number of measurements that need to be taken by the exemplifying STAs 110a to 110c. For example, without ordering, each STA performs SNR and / or RSSI measurements for all other STAs. However, with ordering, a STA only performs SNR and / or RSSI measurements for STAs connected to APs of the same or a higher order, thus eliminating repeated measurements for all STAs.

[0051] In block 306, the example interface 200 transmits instructions to the network of APs 104 to initiate the STA clustering protocol. In block 308, after the exemplary APs 106a to 106c and the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c performed the measurements initiated, as further described below in conjunction with Figures 4 and 5, the exemplary interface 200 determines whether the groups of STAs 110a to 110c exemplifiers of APs 106a through 106c exemplifiers were received. Due to the fact that groups can only be sent if the STAs are located close together (for example, the location being determined based on RSSI, SNR, etc.), if the STAs are not located close together, then none group will be received.

[0052] If the example interface 200 determines that a group has not been received (block 308: NO), the process continues to block 312. If the interface example 200 determines that one or more groups have been received (block 308: YES), the communications programmer 204 exemplifier schedules communications to the grouped STAs (for example, the STAs 110a and 110b corresponding to the 114 example group) at different time / frequency intervals (block 310), to reduce / eliminate the interference effect between the grouped STAs 110a and 110b. In block 312, the exemplary communications programmer 204 programs the grouped STAs not grouped in the same time / frequency range and / or any desired time / frequency range. In block 314, the exemplary interface 200 transmits programming to the exemplary APs 106a through 106c in the exemplary AP 104 network.

[0053] Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 400 representative of machine-readable exemplary instructions that can be performed by one or more of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers of Figure 2 to evoke measurements of one or more of STAs 110a to Exemplary 110c for a clustering protocol. Although flowchart 400 of Figure 4 is described in conjunction with the one or more STA protocol executors 108a through 108c exemplifiers in the exemplary environment of Figure 1, instructions can be executed by any STA protocol executor in any communication environment wireless.

[0054] In block 402, the example interface 210 receives instructions from the example server 102. In block 404, the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines whether the instructions correspond to a clustering protocol.

For example, instruction processor 212 can process instructions received to determine whether the instructions correspond to a CBF NDP that includes information corresponding to how / when to instruct one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c to perform a measurement (e.g. an SNR measurement, an RSSI measurement, etc.). If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the instructions do not correspond to a clustering protocol (block 404: NO), the process ends (for example, another protocol can be performed). If the example instruction processor 212 determines that the instructions correspond to a clustering protocol (block 404: YES), the example packet generator 214 generates a measurement request element (e.g., data packet) (block 406) . The measurement request element corresponds to instructions corresponding to which channels a connected STA must listen (for example, to perform the measurement) and / or which channels the STA must transmit (for example, so that other receiving STAs can perform measurements corresponding to the transmission STA). In block 408, the exemplary interface 210 transmits the measurement request element to the connected STAs.

In some examples, the packet generator 214 may include timing instructions in the measurement request, corresponding to when to capture and when to transmit on particular channels.

[0055] In block 410, the example interface 210 determines whether a group (or groups) of STA were received from the connected STAs. If the example 210 interface determines which STA groups were not received (block 410: NO), the process continues to block 414. If the example 210 interface determines which STA groups were received (block 410: YES), the example 210 interface transmits the STA measurement (or measurements) to the exemplary server 102 (block 412). In block 414, the sample interface 200 receives programming information from the sample server 102. In block 416, the exemplary AP 106a to 106c operates according to the received programming information. For example, interface 210 can transmit the programming information to another processor (for example, the application processor 1210 exemplifying in Figure 12), to ensure that communications to the connected STAs follow the received programming information. Programming information ensures that grouped APs (for example, the example group 114) are not programmed by one or more APs at the same time and / or frequency.

[0056] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 exemplifying representative of machine-readable exemplary instructions that can be executed by one or more of the return generators of STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 2 to respond to a measurement request from an AP. Although flowchart 500 of Figure 5 is described together with one or more of the STA return generators 112a through 112c exemplifiers in the example 100 environment of Figure 1, instructions can be executed by any STA return generator at any time in the environment wireless communications.

[0057] In block 502, the example interface 220 receives a measurement request element from a connected AP. For example, the exemplary STA return generator 112a can receive a measurement element from the exemplary AP 106a. In block 504, the exemplary interface 220 can instruct the STA radio architecture (for example, the exemplary radio architecture 1200 of Figure 12) to transmit data packets on channels corresponding to the instructions of the measurement element. In block 506, connection analyzer 222 measures the RSSI and / or SNR of devices of a higher order based on the measurement request element. For example, connection analyzer 222 can process the measurement request to determine the order of the AP and only perform measurements based on channels corresponding to STAs that are connected to APs of the same order or higher order. The order of the APs and / or the STA-AP connection may already be known or may be included in the measurement request element.

[0058] In block 508, the exemplary connection analyzer 222 determines whether there are any difficulties in detecting data frames for measuring RSSI and / or SNR of any STA on any channel (for example, based on the measurement request element) . If the exemplary connection analyzer 222 determines that there are no difficulties (block 506: NO), the process continues to block 514. If the exemplary connection analyzer 222 determines that there are difficulties (block 506: YES), the exemplary interface 220 evokes a STA response that corresponds to the difficulties (for example, transmitting a data packet through the radio architecture) (block 510). In block 512, the exemplary channel meter 22 measures the RSSI and / or SNR based on the corresponding STA response.

[0059] In block 514, the connection analyzer example 22 determines whether any measurement (for example, RSSI, SNR, etc.) exceeds a threshold. If the example connection analyzer 222 determines that none of the measurements exceeds a threshold (block 514: NO), the measurement is discarded and the process ends (for example, STA avoids transmitting a response). If the exemplary connection analyzer 222 determines that one or more of the measurements exceed a threshold (block 514: YES), the exemplary connection analyzer 222 groups the corresponding STAs together based on the measurement (or measurements) that exceed the maximum threshold ( block 516). In block 518, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates an STA measurement element based on the cluster (or clusters). The STA measurement element corresponds to the grouped STAs located next to each other. In block 520, the exemplary interface 220 transmits the STA measurement element to the corresponding AP. As described above, the STA measurement element is transmitted to the exemplary server 102 to ensure that two devices within a threshold distance from each other are grouped together so that they are not programmed at the same time and / or frequency.

[0060] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart 600 that is representative of machine-readable instructions that can be executed by the example server 102 in Figure 1 to initiate a joint transmission protocol for joint transmission programming of one or more STAs. Although flowchart 600 in Figure 6 is described in conjunction with the example server 102 in the example environment 100 in Figure 1, instructions can be executed by any server in any type of wireless environment.

[0061] In block 602, the example interface 200 determines whether joint transmission is desired. For example, interface 200 may determine that joint transmission is desired based on instructions received from a processor (for example, the application processor 1210 exemplifying in Figure 12). In some instances, the joint transmission corresponds to a particular STA, or multiple STAs. For example, in Figure 1, the application processor 1210 of Figure 12 can transmit instructions to perform joint transmission for only the exemplary STA 110c of Figure 1. If the example interface 200 determines that the joint transmission is not desired (block 602: NO ), the process ends. If the exemplary interface 200 determines which joint transmission is desired (block 602: YES), the exemplary interface 200 receives AP network data from APs 106a to

106c of the AP 104 network (block 604). For example, interface 200 can transmit instructions to each AP to return data corresponding to which STAs are connected to each AP and / or which STAs are within the transmission range of each AP. In addition, the exemplary interface 200 can receive data characteristic of the exemplary APs 106a through 106c, including capabilities and / or characteristics of the APs and / or STAs.

[0062] In block 606, the network characterizer 206 example determines the AP network characteristics based on the received AP network data. For example, the network characterizer can process the received data to determine whether APs 106a through 106c are capable of BF, the availability of frequency bands / subbands for communication, and / or perform BF in different subbands. In block 608, the exemplary protocol selector 208 selects a protocol based on the AP network characteristics. For example, if the joint transmission protocol matches STA 110c and STA 110c is within the transmission range of the exemplary APs 106b and 106c, then the exemplary protocol selector 208 can select a protocol based on the AP characteristics of the exemplary APs 106b and 106c. In another example, if the joint transmission protocol matches all exemplary STAs 110a to 110c, then the exemplary protocol selector 208 can select a protocol based on the AP characteristics of all exemplary APs 106a to 106c.

[0063] The exemplary protocol selector 208 may select a non-coherent joint transmission MIMO (NC-JT) protocol if the exemplary APs 106a through 106c are currently unable to perform BF, the exemplary protocol selector 208 may select MIMO from Beam-forming NC-JT if the exemplary APs 106a to 106c have beam-forming capability, and the exemplary protocol selector 208 can select beam-forming MC-JR MIMO in different sub-bands, if the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers have beam-forming capabilities, different sub-bands with beam-forming capabilities and different sub-bands are available.

[0064] If the protocol selector 208 example selects the NC-JT MIMO protocol (block 610: NC-JT MIMO), the example interface 200 starts NC-JT MIMO on the AP 104 network (block 612). For example, interface 200 can transmit an NC-JT NDP report to each of the corresponding APs 106a through 106c. The NC-JT NDP announcement includes information to initiate the gathering of relevant information necessary for the exemplary server 102 to program one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a through 110c for joint transmission using NC-JT MIMO.

[0065] If the exemplary protocol selector 208 selects the NC-JT and BF MIMO protocol (block 610: NC-JT and BF MIMO), the example 200 interface starts NC-JT and BF MIMO in the AP network 104 (block 614). For example, interface 200 can transmit an NC-JT NDP report to each of the corresponding APs 106a through 106c. The NC-JT NDP announcement includes information to initiate the gathering of relevant information necessary for the exemplary server 102 to program one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a through 110c for joint transmission using NC-JT and BF MIMO.

[0066] If the example selector protocol selector 208 selects the NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-band protocol (block 610: NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands), the example 200 interface starts MIMO of NC-JT and BF in different sub-bands in the AP 104 network (block 616). For example, interface 200 can transmit an NC-JT NDP report to each of the corresponding APs 106a through 106c. The NC-JT NDP announcement includes information to initiate the gathering of relevant information necessary for the exemplary server 102 to program one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c for joint transmission using NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub -bands.

[0067] In block 618, the example interface 200 receives feedback from the APs corresponding to the protocol that was started. At block 620, the exemplary protocol selector 208 processes the feedback received to determine whether the joint transmission should operate using space diversity or spatial multiplexing based on the feedback reports. The exemplary protocol selector 208 can select space diversity or spatial multiplexing based on the CQI report. For example, if the CQI report indicates a high SNR and total rating matrix, protocol selector 208 can select spatial multiplexing. In addition, the exemplary protocol selector 208 may have the criteria that overlap the CQI report (for example, although a CQI report allows spatial multiplexing, the exemplary protocol selector 208 can apply diversity to ensure a certain quality of service (for example, example, reliability.) If the exemplifier protocol selector 208 selects space diversity (block 620: space), the communications programmer 204 exemplifier schedules the joint transmission using space diversity (block 622). exemplifier select spatial multiplexing (block 620: multiplexing), communications programmer 204 exemplifier schedules joint transmission using spatial multiplexing (block 624).

[0068] In block 626, if the protocol selector 208 example selects the MIMO of NC-JT and BF in different sub-bands (block 626: YES), the communications programmer 204 example sets the example APs 106b and 106bc corresponding to the joint transmission to the exemplary STA 110c to consider different sub-bands (block 628). In block 626, if the protocol selector 208 exemplifier does not select the NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands (block 626: NO), the process continues to block 630. In block 630, the exemplary interface 200 transmits the programming to the corresponding APs (for example, the exemplary APs 106b and 106c).

[0069] Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 700 representative of machine-readable exemplary instructions that can be executed by one or more of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers of Figure 2 to evoke measurements of one or more of STAs 110a to 110c examples for a joint transmission programming protocol. Although flowchart 400 of Figure 4 is described in conjunction with the one or more STA protocol executors 108a through 108c exemplifiers in the exemplary environment of Figure 1, instructions can be executed by any STA protocol executor in any communication environment wireless.

[0070] In block 700, the example interface 210 transmits AP-STA connections to server 102. In addition, the example interface can transmit potential AP-STA connections (for example, corresponding to STAs within the transmission range of the AP) . For example, in Figure 1, the exemplary AP 106b can be connected to the exemplary STA 110b and be within the transmission range of the exemplary STA 110c, but not connected to it. Consequently, the exemplary AP 106b can transmit data corresponding to the connection to the exemplary STA 110b and the potential connection to the exemplary STA 110c.

[0071] In block 702, the exemplary interface 210 transmits AP-STA connections to the exemplary server 102. In block 704, the exemplary interface 210 receives a joint transmission protocol initiation (for example, an NC-JT NDP announcement) from the exemplary server 102. As described above, the exemplary joint transmission protocol initiation triggers the exemplary STA protocol executor (for example, the exemplary STA protocol executor 108b) to request information from one or more STAs 110a through 110c to schedule joint transmissions for the one or more STAs 110a to 110c. The joint transmission protocols can be NC-JT MIMO, NC-JT and BF MIMO, and / or NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands.

[0072] In block 706, the example instruction processor 212 determines whether the joint transmission initiation received corresponds to NC-JT MIMO by processing the initiation of joint transmission protocol received. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission initiation does not correspond to NC-JT MIMO, then the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the joint transmission corresponds to a protocol beam formation (for example, in the same sub band or in different sub-bands). If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the received joint transmission initiation corresponds to NC-JT MIMO (block 706: YES), the process continues to block 710. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the joint transmission initiation received does not correspond to NC-JT MIMO (block 706: NO), the STA protocol executor (for example, the exemplary STA protocol executor 108b)

performs a beamform return report protocol with corresponding STAs (for example, the example STA 110c) (block 708), as further described below in conjunction with Figure

8.

[0073] In block 710, the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines whether the initiation of joint transmission protocol received corresponds to NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands. If the example instruction processor 212 determines that the joint transmission protocol initiation received does not correspond to NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands (block 710: NO), the STA protocol executor (for example, the executor of the exemplary STA 108b protocol) performs a channel estimation protocol with the corresponding STAs (for example, the exemplary STA 110c) (block 712), as further described below in conjunction with the Figure

9. The channel estimation protocol is performed by APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers simultaneously. If the exemplary instruction processor 212 determines that the joint transmission protocol initiation received corresponds to NC-JT and BF MIMO in different sub-bands (block 712: YES), the STA protocol executor (for example, the executor example protocol STA 108b) performs a subchannel-specific channel estimation protocol with the corresponding STAs (for example, the example STA 110c) (block 714). The subchannel-specific channel estimation protocol to block 712 channel estimation protocol, except that the designated STAs will be instructed to estimate an interlaced frequency channel from the exemplary APs 106b and 106c.

[0074] In block 716, the exemplary interface 210 transmits the return (e.g., channel estimate return, beamforming return, etc.) from one or more of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c to the exemplary server 102. In this way, the exemplary server 102 can schedule the joint transmission based on the return. In block 718, the exemplary interface 210 receives the joint transmission schedule from the exemplary server 102. In block 720, the exemplary interface 210 instructs the application processor (for example, the exemplary application processor 1210 of Figure 12) to operate according to the received joint transmission schedule.

[0075] Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 708 representative of machine-readable exemplary instructions that can be executed by one or more of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers of Figure 2 to evoke beamform return reports from a or more of the exemplary STAs 110a through 110c for a joint transmission scheduling protocol, as described above in conjunction with block 708 of Figure 7. In addition, Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 810 representative of exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be performed by the example STA generators 112a, 112b, 112c to generate a return report of

BF in response to a request from an AP. Although flowcharts 708, 810 of Figure 8 are described together with the one or more exemplary STA 108a to 108c protocol executors and / or one or more STA 112a to 112c return generators in the exemplary environment 100 of Figure 1, the instructions can be executed by any AP or STA feedback generator in any wireless communication environment.

[0076] As described above, each AP of the APs 106a to 106c exemplifiers will transmit NDPs one by one in TDMA mode so that each STA corresponding to the joint transmission (for example, the exemplary STA 110c) will send BF return reports to each one of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c one by one. Consequently, at block 800, the exemplary packet generator 214 generates an NDP corresponding to a beamform return report request. In block 802, the exemplary interface 210 of the exemplary STA 110b, for example, transmits a null data packet to the exemplary STA 110c based on the timing protocol of the joint transmission protocol initiations (for example, the NDP announcement from NC- JT) (for example, to ensure that each AP transmits the NDP one by one). After the exemplary STA 110c generates the BF return report, as further described below, the exemplary interface 220 receives the BF return reports from one or more STA (or STAs) (for example, the exemplary STA 110c) corresponding to the joint transmission

(block 804). After block 804, the process returns to block 710 of Figure 7.

[0077] In block 812, after the exemplary AP 108b exemplary STA 108b protocol executor transmits the NDP, the exemplary STA 112b return generator exemplary interface 220 receives the exemplary AP 106b NDP (for example, by means of of the 1200 radio architecture exemplifying Figure 12). In block 814, the exemplary connection analyzer 222 determines BF return data based on the NDP. For example, connection analyzer 222 can measure a channel, calculate BF vectors, quantize calculated vectors. At block 816, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates a BF return report based on the BF return data. In block 818, the exemplary interface 220 transmits the BF return report to the exemplary AP 106b.

[0078] Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 712 representative of exemplary machine-readable instructions that can be executed by one or more of the protocol executors of STA 108a to 108c exemplifiers of Figure 2 to evoke one or more channel estimate returns of the exemplary STAs 110a to 110c for a joint transmission programming protocol, as described above in conjunction with block 712 of Figure 7. In addition, Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary flowchart 910 representative of machine-readable instructions that can be executed by STA return generators 112a, 112b, 112c exemplifiers for generating a channel estimate return report in response to a request from an AP. Although flowcharts 712, 910 of Figure 8 are described together with the one or more exemplary STA 108a to 108c protocol executors and / or one or more STA 112a to 112c return generators in the exemplary environment 100 of Figure 1, the instructions can be executed by any AP or STA feedback generator in any wireless communication environment.

[0079] As described above, each AP provides training for its connected STAs or potential connected STAs by applying a P-Matrix. To determine channeling, each of the exemplary APs 106a to 106c transmits training fields for channeling, simultaneously (for example, based on a timing protocol) and coordinated with the other APs in the AP 104 network. As described above, the example server 102 provides P-Matrix codes across the AP network 104 to coordinate the AP network

104. Consequently, in block 900, the example generator packet 214 generates a training field with the P-matrix codes for channel estimation. In block 902, the exemplary interface 210 transmits the training field to the connected STA (or STAs) and / or STA (or STAs) corresponding to the joint transmission (for example, STA 110c). After the exemplary STA 110c generates the CQI return report corresponding to the channel estimate, as further described below, the exemplary interface 220 receives the exemplary STA 110c return report (block 904). After block 904, the process returns to block 714 of Figure 7.

[0080] In block 912, after the exemplary AP 108b exemplary STA 108b protocol executor transmits the training field, the exemplary STA 112b return generator exemplary interface 220 receives the training field. In block 914, the exemplary connection analyzer 222 estimates the channel based on the training field (for example, and the P-Matrix). At block 916, the exemplary packet generator 224 generates a return report (e.g., CQI return) based on the channel estimate. In block 918, the exemplary interface 220 transmits the return report to the requesting AP.

[0081] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary timing protocol diagram 1000 and a collaborative beamforming null data packet communication 1002 that can be transmitted by server 102 to the AP 104 network of Figure 1 to start obtaining data. data corresponding to a clustering protocol. As shown in the exemplary timing protocol diagram 1000, the exemplary server 102 transmits an NDP announcement from CBF 1002 to the AP 104 network. In the exemplary timing protocol 1000, the first exemplary AP 106a transmits the NDP to the first exemplary STA 110a to evoke the response (for example, the channel sequence indicator (CSI)). In the example in Figure 10 the exemplary AP transmits a trigger frame to start STA 110a to perform a measurement. Alternatively, timing information can be included in NDP. The process continues for each AP. The exemplary null data packet announcement 1002 of Figure 10 includes multiple frames that correspond to frame control, receiver address (RA), transmitter address (TA), sound sequencing information, type of return report (for example , RSSI, SNR, BF, CQI, etc.) and information corresponding to each AP and / or STA. Although the exemplary CBF 1002 NDP announcement is illustrated with particular fields in a particular order, frames can be added, removed or reordered.

[0082] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary timing protocol diagram 1100 and an exemplary joint transmission null data packet communication 1102 that can be transmitted by server 102 to the AP network 104 of Figure 1 to start obtaining corresponding data a grouping protocol. As shown in the exemplary timing protocol diagram 1100, the exemplary server 102 transmits an NDP announcement from JT 1002 to the AP 104 network. In the exemplary timing protocol 1100, the first exemplary AP 106a transmits the NDP to the first exemplary STA 110a to evoke the response (for example, the channel sequence indicator (CSI)). In the example in Figure 11 the exemplary AP transmits a trigger frame to start STA 110a to perform a measurement. Alternatively, timing information can be included in NDP. The process continues for each AP. The exemplary null data packet 1102 of Figure 11 includes multiple frames that correspond to the frame control, receiver address (RA), transmitter address (TA), sound sequencing information, type of return report (for example , RSSI, SNR, BF, CQI, etc.) and information corresponding to each AP and / or STA. Although the exemplary JT 1102 NDP announcement is illustrated with particular fields in a particular order, frames can be added, removed or reordered.

[0083] Figure 12 is a block diagram of a radio architecture 1200 according to some modalities that can be implemented in any of the exemplary APs 126a to 126c and / or the exemplary STAs 130a to 130c of Figure 1. A Radio architecture 1200 may include radio front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1204a and 1204b, IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b and baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b. The 1200 radio architecture as shown includes both Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) functionality and Bluetooth (BT) functionality although modalities are not as limited. In this disclosure, “WLAN” and “Wi-Fi” are used interchangeably.

[0084] The FEM circuitry 1204a and 1204b may include a WLAN or Wi-Fi FEM circuitry 1204a and a Bluetooth (BT) FEM circuitry 1204b. The set of EMF circuits of

WLAN 1204a may include a receive signal path comprising a circuit set configured to operate on WLAN RF signals received from one or more antennas 1201, to amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the array of radio IC circuits WLAN 1206a for further processing. The BT FEM circuitry 1204b may include a receive signal path that may include circuitry configured to operate on BT RF signals received from one or more antennas 1201, to amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals for the BT 1206b radio IC circuitry for further processing. The FEM circuitry 1204a may also include a transmission signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify WLAN signals provided by the IC 1206a radio circuitry for wireless transmission by one or more of the antennas

1201. In addition, FEM circuitry 1204b may also include a transmission signal path that may include circuitry configured to amplify BT signals provided by IC 1206b radio circuitry for wireless transmission over one or more antennas . In the embodiment of Figure 12, although FEM 1204a and FEM 1204b are shown to be distinct from each other, the modalities are thus not limited and include in their scope the use of an FEM (not shown) that includes a transmission path and / or a receive path for both WLAN and BT signals, or the use of one or more FEM circuitry where at least some of the FEM circuitry share signal transmission and / or receive paths for both WLAN signals and BT signals.

[0085] Radio IC circuit set 1206a and 1206b as shown can include WLAN IC radio circuit set 1206a and BT IC radio circuit set 1206b. The WLAN IC radio circuitry 1206a may include a signal receiving path which may include circuitry to downwardly convert WLAN RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1204a and provide baseband signals to the 1208a WLAN baseband processing circuitry. The BT radio circuitry BT 1206b may, in turn, include a signal receiving path which may include circuitry to downwardly convert BT RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1204b and provide signals baseband to the BT 1208b baseband processing circuitry. The WLAN IC radio circuitry 1206a may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry for upwardly converting WLAN baseband signals provided by the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 1208a and provide WLAN RF output signals to the FEM 1204a circuit pack for subsequent wireless transmission over one or more antennas

1201. The BT radio circuitry BT 1206b can also include a transmission signal path which can include circuitry upwardly converting BT baseband signals provided by the baseband processing circuitry BT 1208b and provide BT RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1204b for subsequent wireless transmission over one or more antennas 1201. In the embodiment of Figure 12, although IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b are shown to be distinct from each other, the modalities are not so limited and include in its scope the use of a set of IC radio circuits (not shown) that includes a transmission signal path and / or a signal receiving path for both signals WLAN and BT signals, or the use of one or more IC radio circuitry sets in which at least some of the IC radio circuitry share transmission paths and / or r signal reception for both WLAN and BT signals.

[0086] Baseband processing circuitry 1208a to 1208b may include a WLAN baseband processing circuitry 1208a and a BT 1208b baseband processing circuitry. The WLAN baseband processing circuitry 1208a may include a memory, such as, for example, a set of RAM arrays in a Fast Fourier transform block or reverse Fast Fourier transform (not shown) of the circuitry baseline processing of WLAN 1208a. Each of the WLAN baseband circuitry 1208a and the BT baseband circuitry 1208b may additionally include one or more processors and control logic to process the signals received from the WLAN signal receiving path or corresponding BT of the IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b, and to also generate corresponding WLAN or BT baseband signals for the transmission signal path of the IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b. Each of the baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b can additionally include physical layer (PHY) and media access control layer (MAC) circuitry, and can also interface with link aggregator 124 for generating and processing baseband signals and for controlling operations of the IC 1206a and 1206b radio circuitry.

[0087] Still referring to Figure 12, according to the modality shown, the set of circuits with coexistence of WLAN-BT 1213 can include logic providing an interface between the set of baseband circuits of WLAN 1208a and the set of BT 1208b baseband circuits to enable use cases that require the coexistence of WLAN and BT. In addition, a switch 1203 can be provided between the WLAN FEM circuitry 1204a and the BT FEM circuitry 1204b to enable switching between the WLAN and BT radios according to the application needs. In addition, although antennas 1201 are depicted as being respectively connected to the WLAN FEM circuitry 1204a and the BT 1204b FEM circuitry, modalities include within their scope the sharing of one or more antennas between the FEMs WLAN and BT, or the provision of more than one antenna connected to each of the FEM 1204a or 1204b.

[0088] In some embodiments, front-end module circuitry 1204a and 1204b, IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b and baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b can be provided on one board single radio, such as wireless radio card 1202. In some other embodiments, one or more antennas 1201, the FEM circuitry 1204a and 1204b and the radio circuitry IC 1206a and 1206b can be supplied in one single radio card. In some other embodiments, the radio circuitry IC 1206a and 1206b and the baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b may be provided on a single or integrated chip (IC) circuit, such as IC 1212.

[0089] In some embodiments, the wireless radio card 1202 may include a WLAN radio card and may be configured for Wi-Fi communications, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard. In some of these modalities, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to receive and transmit multiplexed orthogonal frequency division (OFDM) communication signals or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) through a multiple carrier communication channel. OFDM or OFDMA signals can comprise a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.

[0090] In some of these multiple carrier modes, the radio architecture 1200 can be part of a Wi-Fi communication station (STA) such as a wireless access point (AP), a base station or a device mobile device that includes a Wi-Fi device. In some of these modalities, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to transmit and receive signals according to specific communication standards and / or protocols, such as any of the standards of the Institute of Engineers Electrical and Electronic (IEEE) which includes standards 802.11n-2009, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802.11-2016, 802.11n-2009, 802.11ac, 802.11ah,

802.11ad, 802.11ay and / or 802.11ax and / or proposed specifications for WLANs, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard. The radio architecture 1200 may also be suitable for transmitting and / or receiving communications in accordance with other techniques and standards.

[0091] In some modalities, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured for high-efficiency Wi-Fi (HEW) communications according to the IEEE standard

802.11ax. In these modalities, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to communicate according to an OFDMA technique, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard.

[0092] In some other modalities, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to transmit and receive transmitted signals using one or more modulation techniques such as spread spectrum modulation (for example, multiple access by division of sequence code direct (DS-CDMA) and / or multiple access by frequency hopping code division (FH-CDMA)), time division multiplexing modulation (TDM) and / or frequency division multiplexing modulation (FDM), although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this respect.

[0093] In some embodiments, as also shown in Figure 12, the BT 1208b baseband circuitry may conform to a Bluetooth connectivity standard (BT) such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth 14.0 or Bluetooth 12.0, or any other iteration of the Bluetooth standard. In modalities that include BT functionality as shown, for example, in Figure 12, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to establish a oriented link with a synchronized BT connection (SCO) and or a low energy BT link (LE of BT). In some of the modalities that include functionality, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured to establish an extended SCO link (eSCO) for BT communications, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard. In some of these modalities that include BT functionality, the radio architecture can be configured to enter communications without BT asynchronous connection (ACL), although the scope of modalities is not limited in this regard. In some modalities, as shown in Figure 12, the functions of a BT radio card and WLAN radio card can be combined into a single wireless radio card, such as a single wireless radio card 1202, although the modalities are not so limited and include separate WLAN and BT radio cards in their scope

[0094] In some embodiments, the radio architecture 1200 may include other radio cards, such as a cellular radio card configured for cellular (for example, 5GPP, such as LTE communications, LTE enhanced or 7G).

[0095] In some modalities of IEEE 802.11, the radio architecture 1200 can be configured for communication across various bandwidths including bandwidths that have center frequencies of about 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and widths bandwidth of about 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 5 MHz, 5.5 MHz, 6 MHz, 8 MHz, 10 MHz, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz (with contiguous bandwidths) or 80 + 80 MHz (160 MHz) (with non-contiguous bandwidths). In some embodiments, a channel bandwidth of 920 MHz can be used. However, the scope of the modalities is not limited in relation to the central frequencies above.

[0096] Figure 13 illustrates WLAN 1204a FEM circuitry according to some modalities. Although the example in Figure 13 is described in conjunction with the WEM FEM circuitry 1204a, the example in Figure 13 can be described in conjunction with the LEM FEM circuitry example 1204b (Figure

12), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.

[0097] In some embodiments, the FEM 1204a circuitry may include a TX / RX 1302 switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEM 1204a circuitry may include the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. The signal receiving path of the FEM circuitry 1204a can include a low noise amplifier (LNA) 1306 to amplify received RF signals 1303 and provide the received RF signals 1307 amplified as an output (for example, to the IC radio circuits 1206a and 1206b (Figure 12)). The transmission signal path of circuitry 1204a can include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify incoming RF signals 1309 (for example, provided by IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b) and one or more filters 1312 , such as bandpass filters (BPFs), low-pass filters (LPFs) or other types of filters, to generate RF 1315 signals for subsequent transmission (for example, by one or more of the 1201 antennas (Figure 12)) by by means of an exemplary 1314 duplexer.

[0098] In some dual-mode modes for Wi-Fi communication, the FEM 1204a circuitry can be configured to operate on both the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum and the 12 GHz frequency spectrum. the signal receiving path of the FEM circuitry 1204a can include a duplexing signal receiving path 1304 to separate the signals from each spectrum as well as providing a separate LNA 1306 for each spectrum as shown. In these embodiments, the transmission signal path of the FEM 1204a circuitry may also include a power amplifier 1310 and a filter 1312, such as a BPF, LPF or other type of filter for each frequency spectrum and a duplexer of transmission signal path 1304 to provide signals from one of the different spectra in a single transmission path for subsequent transmission through one or more of the antennas 1201 (Figure 12). In some embodiments, BT communications can use the 2.4 GHz signal paths and can use the same set of FEM 1204a circuits as that used for WLAN communications.

[0099] Figure 14 illustrates a set of radio circuits IC 1206a according to some modalities. The IC 1206a radio circuit set is an example of a circuit set that may be suitable for use as the WLAN or BT 1206a / 1206b IC radio circuit set (Figure 12), although other circuit set configurations may also be be adequate. Alternatively, the example in Figure 14 can be described in conjunction with the BT 1206b radio IC circuit set example.

[00100] In some embodiments, the IC 1206a radio circuitry may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The signal receiving path of the IC radio circuitry 1206a may include at least mixer circuitry 1402, such as, for example, downward mixer circuitry, amplifier circuitry 1406 and circuitry filter

1408. The transmission signal path of the IC radio circuitry 1206a may include at least filter circuitry 1412 and mixer circuitry 1414, such as, for example, upstream mixer circuitry. The radio circuitry IC 1206a may also include synthesizer circuitry 1404 to synthesize a frequency 1405 for use by mixer circuitry 1402 and mixer circuitry 1414. Mixer circuitry 1402 and / or 1414 can, each, according to some modalities, be configured to provide direct conversion functionality. The latter type of circuitry features a much simpler architecture as compared to standard superheterodyne mixer circuitry, and any clicking noise caused by them can be alleviated for example through the use of OFDM modulation. Figure 14 illustrates only a simplified version of an IC radio circuitry and may include, although not shown, modalities in which each of the circuitry depicted may include more than one component. For example, mixer circuitry 1414 may each include one or more mixers, and filter circuitry 1408 and / or 1412 may each include one or more filters, such as one or more BPFs and / or LPFs according to the application needs. For example, when the mixer circuit packs are of the direct conversion type, they can each include two or more mixers.

[00101] In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1402 can be configured to downwardly convert RF signals 1307 received from FEM circuitry 1204a and 1204b (Figure 12) based on synthesized frequency 1405 provided by the set of synthesizer circuits 1404. Amplifier circuit set 1406 can be configured to amplify downstream converted signals and filter circuit set 1408 can include an LPF configured to remove unwanted signals from downstream converted signals to generate output baseband 1407. Output baseband signals 1407 can be supplied to baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b (Figure 12) for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals 1407 may be zero frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1402 may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard.

[00102] In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1414 can be configured to upwardly convert input baseband signals 1411 based on synthesized frequency 1405 provided by synthesizer circuitry 1404 to generate output signals from RF 1309 for the FEM circuitry 1204a and 1204b. Baseband signals 1411 can be provided by baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b and can be filtered by filter circuitry 1412. Filter circuitry 1412 can include an LPF or BPF, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard.

[00103] In some embodiments, the mixer circuit set 1402 and the mixer circuit set 1414 can each include two or more mixers and can be arranged for downward conversion and / or upward quadrature conversion respectively with the aid of synthesizer 1404. In some embodiments, mixer circuit set 1402 and mixer circuit set 1414 may each include two or more mixers each configured for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection) . In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1402 and mixer circuitry 1414 may be arranged for direct downward conversion and / or direct upward conversion, respectively. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1402 and mixer circuitry 1414 can be configured for superheterodyne operation, although this is not a necessity.

[00104] The mixer circuitry 1402 may comprise, according to one embodiment: passive quadrature mixers (for example, for the phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) paths). In such an embodiment, the RF input signal 1307 of Figure 14 can be downwardly converted to provide baseband output signals I and Q to be sent to the baseband processor

[00105] Passive quadrature mixers can be driven by time-varying LO switching signals at zero and ninety degrees provided by a set of quadrature circuits that can be configured to receive a LO frequency (fLO) from a local oscillator or a synthesizer, such as LO frequency 1405 of synthesizer 1404 (Figure 14). In some embodiments, the LO frequency can be the carrier frequency, while in other modalities, the LO frequency can be a fraction of the carrier frequency (for example, one half of the carrier frequency, one third of the carrier frequency) . In some modalities, the time variation switching signals from zero to ninety degrees can be generated by the synthesizer, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard.

[00106] In some modalities, the LO signals may diverge in the work cycle (the percentage of a period in which the LO signal is high) and / or displacement (the difference between the period's starting points). In some modalities, LO signals can have a duty cycle of 85% and an offset of 80%. In some embodiments, each branch of the mixer circuitry (for example, the phase (I) and quadrature (Q) path) can operate on an 80% duty cycle, which can result in a significant reduction it's power consumption.

[00107] The RF 1307 input signal (Figure 13) can comprise a balanced signal, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard. The baseband output signals I and Q can be supplied to the low noise amplifier, such as amplifier circuit set 1406 (Figure 14) or filter circuit set 1408 (Figure 14).

[00108] In some embodiments, the output baseband signals 1407 and the input baseband signals 1411 may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard. In some alternative embodiments, the output baseband signals 1407 and the input baseband signals 1411 can be digital baseband signals. In these alternative embodiments, the IC radio circuitry may include analog to digital converter (ADC) and digital to analog converter (DAC) circuitry.

[00109] In some dual mode modalities, a separate IC radio circuitry can be provided to process signals for each spectrum, or for other spectra not mentioned here, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this regard.

[00110] In some embodiments, the synthesis circuit set 1404 may be a fractional synthesizer N or a fractional synthesizer N / N + 1, although the scope of the modalities is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be appropriate. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1404 can be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase loop locked with a frequency divider. According to some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1404 may include digital synthesizer circuitry. An advantage of using a digital synthesizer circuitry is that, although it may still include some analog components, its footprint can be scaled downward much more than the footprint of an analog synthesizer circuitry. In some embodiments, frequency input to synthesizer circuit assembly 1404 may be provided by a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), although this is not a requirement. A splitter control input can additionally be provided by any set of baseband processing circuits 1208a and 1208b (Figure 12) depending on the desired output frequency 1405. In some embodiments, a splitter control input (for example, N) can be determined from a look-up table (for example, inside a

Wi-Fi) based on a channel number and central anal frequency as determined or indicated by the exemplary 1210 application processor. Application processor 1210 may include, or otherwise be connected to, one of the exemplary AP protocol executor 108a to 108c and / or one of the exemplary STA return generator 112a to 112c (for example, depending on which device the exemplary radio architecture is implemented).

[00111] In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1404 can be configured to generate a carrier frequency as output frequency 1405, while in other embodiments, output frequency 1405 can be a fraction of the carrier frequency (for example, example, one half of the carrier frequency, one third of the carrier frequency). In some embodiments, the output frequency 1405 can be an LO frequency (fLO).

[00112] Figure 15 illustrates a functional block diagram of the 1208a baseband processing circuitry according to some embodiments. Baseband processing circuitry 1208a is an example of circuitry that may be suitable for use as baseband processing circuitry 1208a (Figure 12), although other circuitry configurations may also be adequate. Alternatively, the example in Figure 143 can be used to deploy the BT 1208b baseband processing circuitry example in Figure 12.

[00113] Baseband processing circuitry 1208a may include a receiving baseband processor (BBP of RX) 1502 to process receiving baseband signals 1409 provided by radio circuitry IC 1206a and 1206b (Figure 12) and a transmission baseband processor (TX BBP) 1504 to generate transmission baseband signals 1411 for IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b. Baseband processing circuitry 1208a may also include control logic 1506 to coordinate operations of baseband processing circuitry 1208a.

[00114] In some embodiments (for example, when analog baseband signals are exchanged between the baseband processing circuitry 1208a and 1208b and the IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b), the circuitry baseband processing 1208a may include ADC 1510 to convert analog baseband signals 1509 received from the IC radio circuitry 1206a and 1206b into digital baseband signals for processing by the BBP of RX 1502. In these embodiments, the baseband processing circuitry 1208a may also include DAC 1512 for converting digital baseband signals from the TXP BBP 1504 to analog baseband signals 1511.

[00115] In some embodiments that communicate OFDM signals or OFDMA signals, such as via baseband processor 1208a, transmission baseband processor 1504 can be configured to generate OFDM or OFDMA signals as appropriate for transmission performing a fast inverse Fourier transform (IFFT). The receiving baseband processor 1502 can be configured to process received OFDM signals or OFDMA signals by performing an FFT. In some embodiments, the receiving baseband processor 1502 can be configured to detect the presence of an OFDM signal or OFDMA signal by performing an autocorrelation, to detect a preamble, such as a short preamble, and by performing a cross correlation, to detect a long preamble. The preambles can be part of a predetermined frame structure for Wi-Fi communication.

[00116] Referring again to Figure 12, in some embodiments, antennas 1201 (Figure 12) may each comprise one or more directional or unidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, antennas of path, circuit antennas, microtape antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmitting RF signals. In some modalities of multiple inputs multiple outputs (MIMO), the antennas can be effectively separated to take advantage of spatial diversities and the different channel characteristics that can result. 1201 antennas can each include a set of phased array antennas, although modalities are not as limited.

[00117] Although the radio architecture 1200 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements can be combined and can be deployed by combining elements configured by software, such as processing elements that include processors. digital signal (DSPs) and / or other hardware elements. For example, some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field programmable port arrangements (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry to perform at least the functions described in this document. In some embodiments, the functional elements may refer to one or more operating processes on one or more processing elements.

[00118] Figure 16 is a block diagram of an exemplary 1600 processor platform structured to execute the instructions in Figures 3 to 9 to deploy any, or combination, of the exemplary server 102, the AP protocol executor 108a through 108c example, and / or return generators from STA 112a to 112c exemplifiers of Figure 3. The processor platform 1600 can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, a workstation, a self-learning machine (for example, a neural network), a mobile device (for example, a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet device such as an iPadTM), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an internet appliance, a DVD player, a player CD player, digital video recorder, Blu-ray player, game console, personal video recorder, decoder, headset or other wearable device, or any other type of device computing asset.

[00119] The processor platform 1600 in the illustrated example includes a 1612 processor. The 1612 processor in the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the 1612 processor can be deployed by one or more integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors GPUs, DSPS, or controllers of any desired family or manufacturer. The hardware processor can be a semiconductor-based device (for example, silicon-based). In this example, the exemplifying processor 1612 can be used to deploy any, or combination, of the exemplifying interface 200, the exemplifying computer 202, the exemplary communication program 204, the exemplifying network characterizer 206, the exemplifying protocol selector 208, the exemplary interface 210, exemplary instruction processor 212, exemplary packet generator 214, exemplary interface 220, exemplary connection analyzer 222, and / or exemplary packet generator 224.

[00120] The 1612 processor in the illustrated example includes a 1613 local memory (for example, a cache). The processor 1612 in the example illustrated is in communication with a main memory that includes a volatile memory 1614 and a non-volatile memory 1616 via a 1618 bus. The volatile memory 1614 can be deployed by Synchronized Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM®) and / or any other type of random access memory device. Non-volatile memory 1616 can be deployed by flash memory and / or any other desired type of memory device. Access to main memory 1614, 1616 is controlled by a memory controller.

[00121] The processor platform 1600 in the example illustrated also includes a 1620 interface circuit. The 1620 interface circuit can be deployed by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB) , a Bluetooth® interface, a near-field communication (NFC) interface, and / or a PCI expression interface.

[00122] In the illustrated example, one or more 1622 input devices are connected to the 1620 interface circuit. The 1622 input device (or devices) allows a user to enter data and / or commands in the 1612 processor. The device (or devices ) input can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball and / or isoponto.

[00123] One or more 1624 output devices are also connected to the 1620 interface circuit of the example shown. 1624 output devices can be implanted, for example, by display devices (for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a display cathode ray tube (CRT), a switching display in place (IPS), a touchscreen, etc.), a touch output device, a printer and / or speaker. The interface circuit 1620 of the illustrated example thus typically includes a graphics unit card, a graphics unit chip and / or a graphics unit processor.

[00124] The 1620 interface circuit of the illustrated example also includes a communication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, a modem, a residential communication port, a wireless access point, and / or an interface network to facilitate data exchange with external machines (for example, computing devices of any type) over a 1626 network. Communication can be through, for example, an Ethernet connection, a subscriber line connection (DSL), a telephone line connection, a coaxial cable system, a satellite system, a wireless local line system, a cellular telephone system, etc.

[00125] The processor platform 1600 of the illustrated example also includes one or more mass storage devices 1628 for storing software and / or data. Examples of such 1628 mass storage devices include floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, independent redundant disk array (RAID) systems and digital versatile disk drives (DVD ).

[00126] The machine executable instructions 1632 of Figures 3 to 9 can be stored in the mass storage device 1628, in the volatile memory 1614, in the non-volatile memory 1616, and / or on a removable non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

[00127] Example 1 includes an apparatus for carrying out a grouping protocol, the apparatus comprising a connection analyzer for carrying out a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station and, when the measurement of signal exceeds a threshold, grouping the first station with the second station, and an interface for transmitting a cluster indication to an access point, a server must program communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster.

[00128] Example 2 includes the apparatus of example 1, in which the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement.

[00129] Example 3 includes the apparatus of example 1, in which the connection analyzer must, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the measurement.

[00130] Example 4 includes the apparatus of example 1, in which the grouping corresponds to the first station and the second station that are within a threshold distance from each other.

[00131] Example 5 includes the apparatus of example 1, in which the communications are first communications, the server to program the first communications for the first station and second communications for the second station in at least one of a different time or a frequency different.

[00132] Example 6 includes the device of example 1, in which the access point must transmit the indication of the group to the server.

[00133] Example 7 includes the apparatus of example 1, in which the connection analyzer must perform signal measurement on a first channel while the interface is transmitting information on a second channel.

[00134] Example 8 includes a tangible computer-readable storage medium that comprises instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least perform a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station, when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station, and transmit an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server must program communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster.

[00135] Example 9 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, where the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement.

[00136] Example 10 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, in which the instructions cause the machine, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, to discard the measurement.

[00137] Example 11 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, where the grouping corresponds to the first station and the second station which are within a threshold distance from each other.

[00138] Example 12 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, where communications are first communications, where instructions cause the machine to program first communications for the first station and second communications for the second station at least one of a different time or a different frequency.

[00139] Example 13 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, where the instructions cause the machine to transmit the group indication to the server.

[00140] Example 14 includes the computer-readable storage media of example 8, in which the instructions cause the machine to perform signal measurement on a first channel while the interface is transmitting information on a second channel.

[00141] Example 15 includes a method for performing a grouping protocol, the method comprising performing a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station, when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station, and transmit an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server must program communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster.

[00142] Example 16 includes the method of example 15, in which the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement.

[00143] Example 17 includes the method of example 15, which additionally includes, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the measurement.

[00144] Example 18 includes the method of example 15, in which the grouping corresponds to the first station and the second station that are within a threshold distance from each other.

[00145] Example 19 includes the method of example 15, in which communications are first communications, which additionally include scheduling first communications for the first station and second communications for the second station at least one of a different time or frequency different.

[00146] Example 20 includes the method of example 15, which additionally includes transmitting the group indication to the server.

[00147] Example 21 includes the method of example 15, which additionally includes performing signal measurement on a first channel while the interface is transmitting information on a second channel.

[00148] Example 22 includes a system for programming wireless communications, the system comprising a server to initiate a grouping protocol by sending information to a first access point, the first access point to, in response to receiving the information, instruct a first station to perform a signal measurement based on the information received, and the first station to perform a signal measurement based on a signal from a second station, and when the signal measurement exceeds a neighboring group , the first station with the second station, and transmitting an indication of the cluster to the first access point, the server to schedule communications between the first access point and the first station based on the cluster.

[00149] Example 23 includes the system of example 22, in which the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement.

[00150] Example 24 includes the system of example 22, in which the first station must, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the measurement.

[00151] Example 25 includes the system of example 22, which additionally includes a second access point to, in response to receiving information, instruct the second station to perform a second signal measurement based on the information received.

[00152] Example 26 includes the system of example 25, in which the server must order the first and second access points.

[00153] Example 27 includes the system of example 26, in which the second station must avoid performing signal measurement on channels corresponding to the access points of at least one of a higher or lower order.

[00154] Example 28 includes the system of example 22, in which communications are first communications, the server for scheduling second communications between a second access point and the second station based on the cluster.

[00155] Example 29 includes the system of example 28, in which the server must program the first communications, and the second communications are at least one among a different time or a different frequency.

[00156] Example 30 includes the system of example 22, in which the first station must transmit the group indication to the server.

[00157] Example 31 includes the system of example 22, in which the server is deployed by at least one of the first access point or a second access point.

[00158] Example 32 includes the system of example 22, in which the first station must perform signal measurement on a first channel and transmit a data packet on a second channel.

[00159] Example 33 includes the system of example 22, which additionally includes a third station to perform a second signal measurement on the second channel, if the second signal measurement exceeds the threshold, group the first station with the third station and transmit a second indication of a second cluster to a third access point, and if the second signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the second signal measurement.

[00160] Example 34 includes a device for carrying out a joint transmission protocol, the device comprising an interface for initiating a joint transmission protocol for joint transmission to a station using two or more access points in a network of points access, and initiation includes requesting the return of two or more access points, a protocol selector to select a space diversity protocol or a spatial multiplexing protocol for joint transmission based on the return of two or more access points. access, and a communication programmer to program the joint transmission of the two or more access points for the joint transmission to the station based on the diversity of space or spatial multiplexing protocol.

[00161] Example 35 includes the apparatus of example 34, where the joint transmission protocol corresponds to a multiple input, multiple output (minimum) protocol, a maximum and beam formation protocol, or a maximum and beam formation protocol in different sub-band protocol.

[00162] Example 36 includes the apparatus of example 35, in which, when the joint transmission protocol corresponds to the maximum and beam formation in different sub-band protocol, the two or more access points are to transmit the same data to the station in different sub-bands.

[00163] Example 37 includes the apparatus of example 34, in which the protocol selector selects protocol for joint transmissions based on the characteristics of the two or more access points.

[00164] Example 38 includes the apparatus of example 36, which additionally includes a network characterizer for determining characteristics based on information received from the network of access points.

[00165] Example 39 includes the apparatus of example 34, in which the protocol selector must select the space diversity protocol or the spatial multiplexing protocol based on a beamforming report received from each station communicating with a or more access points in the access point network.

[00166] Example 40 includes the apparatus of example 34, in which the interface must transmit the programming of joint transmission to the two or more access points.

[00167] Example 41 includes the apparatus of example 34, in which the joint transmission corresponds to the transmission of duplicate data to the station using the two or more access points.

[00168] Example 42 includes the apparatus of example 40, where the joint transmission corresponds to at least one among time diversity or frequency diversity.

[00169] Example 43 includes the apparatus of example 34, in which the return corresponds to a beam formation report generated by the station, the beam formation report corresponding to a signal strength of the two or more access points in relation to the station.

[00170] Although certain methods, apparatus and sample manufacturing articles have been described in this document, the scope of coverage of this relative is not limited to them. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, devices and articles of manufacture that are reasonably within the scope of the claims of this patent.

Claims (25)

1. Apparatus for carrying out a grouping protocol, the apparatus being characterized by comprising: a connection analyzer for: performing a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station; and when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station; and an interface for transmitting an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server must program communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the connection analyzer must, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the measurement. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the grouping corresponds to the first station and the second station which are within a threshold distance from each other. 5. Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the communications are first communications, the server must program the first communications for the first station and the second communications for the second station in at least one time. different or a different frequency. 6. Device, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the access point must transmit the indication of the group to the server. 7. Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the connection analyzer must perform signal measurement on a first channel while the interface is transmitting information on a second channel. 8. Tangible computer-readable storage media characterized by understanding instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to: perform a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station; when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station; and transmit an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server must schedule communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster. Computer-readable storage media according to claim 8, characterized in that the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement. 10. Computer-readable storage media according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the instructions cause the machine, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, to discard the measurement. 11. Computer-readable storage media according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the grouping corresponds to the threshold distance between the first station and the second station. 12. Computer-readable storage media according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that communications are first communications, in which the instructions cause the machine to program the first communications for the first station and the second communications for the second station in at least one of a different time or a different frequency. 13. Computer-readable storage media, according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the instructions cause the machine to transmit the group indication to the server. 14. Computer-readable storage media according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the instructions cause the machine to perform signal measurement on a first channel while the interface is transmitting information on a second channel. 15. Method for carrying out a clustering protocol, the method being characterized by comprising: performing a signal measurement at a first station based on a signal from a second station; when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold, group the first station with the second station; and transmitting an indication of the cluster to an access point, a server must schedule communications between the access point and the first station based on the cluster. 16. System for programming wireless communications, the system being characterized by comprising: a server to initiate a grouping protocol by sending information to a first access point; the first access point must, in response to receiving the information, instruct a first station to perform a signal measurement based on the information received; and the first station must: perform signal measurement based on a signal from a second station; and when the signal measurement exceeds a threshold: group the first station with the second station; and transmitting an indication of the cluster to the first access point, the server must schedule communications between the first access point and the first station based on the cluster. 17. The system according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the signal measurement is at least one of a received signal strength indicator measurement or a signal to noise ratio measurement. 18. System according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the first station must, when the signal measurement does not exceed the threshold, discard the measurement. 19. System, according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that it additionally includes a second access point to, in response to receiving information, instruct the second station to perform a second signal measurement based on the information received. 20. System, according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that the server must order the first and second access points. 21. System according to claim 20, characterized by the fact that the second station must avoid performing signal measurement on channels corresponding to the access points of at least one among a higher or lower order. 22. System, according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that communications are first communications, the server having to program second communications between a second access point and the second station based on the cluster. 23. System, according to claim 22, characterized by the fact that the server must program the first communications, and the second communications are at least one among a different time or a different frequency. 24. System, according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the first station must transmit the indication of the group to the server. 25. System, according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the server is deployed by at least one of the first access point or a second access point.