Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W72/00—Local resource management
  • H04W72/04—Wireless resource allocation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W72/00—Local resource management
  • H04W72/04—Wireless resource allocation
  • H04W72/044—Wireless resource allocation based on the type of the allocated resource
  • H04W72/0466—Wireless resource allocation based on the type of the allocated resource the resource being a scrambling code
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W72/00—Local resource management
  • H04W72/12—Wireless traffic scheduling
  • H04W72/121—Wireless traffic scheduling for groups of terminals or users
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W74/00—Wireless channel access
  • H04W74/08—Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA
  • H04W74/0808—Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
  • H04W74/0816—Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA] with collision avoidance
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W72/00—Local resource management
  • H04W72/20—Control channels or signalling for resource management
  • H04W72/23—Control channels or signalling for resource management in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W84/00—Network topologies
  • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
  • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
  • H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Definitions

• Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, to legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding.
• MIMO Multiple-input multiple- output
• IEEE 802.11 The IEEE 802.11 standard denotes a set of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) air interface standards developed by the IEEE 802.11 committee for short-range communications (e.g., tens of meters to a few hundred meters).
• WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
• a MIMO system employs multiple (N T ) transmit antennas and multiple (N R ) receive antennas for data transmission.
• a MIMO channel formed by the ⁇ transmit and NR receive antennas may be decomposed into A3 ⁇ 4 independent channels, which are also referred to as spatial channels, where N s ⁇ mm ⁇ N T , N R ⁇ .
• Each of the Ns independent channels corresponds to a dimension.
• the MIMO system can provide improved performance (e.g., higher throughput and/or greater reliability) if the additional dimensionalities created by the multiple transmit and receive antennas are utilized.
• AP Access Point
• STAs user stations
• the apparatus generally includes a processing system configured to generate a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and a first interface configured to output the frame for transmission.
• a processing system configured to generate a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and a first interface configured to output the frame for transmission.
• MU multi-user
• Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications.
• the method generally includes generating a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and a first interface and outputting the frame for transmission.
• MU multi-user
• the apparatus generally includes means for generating a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and means for outputting the frame for transmission.
• MU multi-user
• the computer readable medium generally includes instractions stored thereon for: generating a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and outputting the frame for transmission.
• MU multi-user
• the access point generally includes at least one antenna, a processing system configured to generate a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and a first interface configured to output the frame for transmission via the at least one antenna.
• a processing system configured to generate a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes and a first interface configured to output the frame for transmission via the at least one antenna.
• Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for wireless communications.
• the apparatus generally includes an first interface configured to obtain a frame comprising channel bonding information, a processing system configured to determine, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication, and a second interface configured to output data for transmission on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide an method for wireless communications.
• the method generally includes obtaining a frame comprising channel bonding information, determining, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication, and outputting data for transmission on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• MU multi-user
• the apparatus generally includes means for obtaining a frame comprising channel bonding information, means for determining, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multiuser (MU) communication, and means for outputting data for transmission on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• MU multiuser
• the computer readable medium generally includes instructions stored thereon for obtaining a frame comprising channel bonding information, determining, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication, and outputting data for transmission on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• MU multi-user
• the wireless node generally includes at least one antenna, a first interface configured to obtain a frame comprising channel bonding information via the at least one antenna, a processing system configured to determine, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi- user (MU) communication, and a second interface configured to output data for transmission via the at least one antenna on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• a processing system configured to determine, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi- user (MU) communication
• MU multi- user
• aspects of the present disclosure also provide various methods, means, and computer program products corresponding to the apparatuses and operations described above.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example wireless communications network, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example access point and example user terminals, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 3 illustrates various primary and secondary channel band widths in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 4 illustrates example operations that may be performed by a wireless device in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 4A illustrates example means capable of performing the operations illustrated in FIG. 4.
• FIG. 5 illustrates example operations that may be performed by a wireless device in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 5 A illustrates example means capable of performing the operations illustrated in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 6A illustrates an example Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol data unit (PPDU) frame format, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• PLCP Physical Layer Convergence Protocol
• PPDU Protocol data unit
• FIG. 6B illustrates an example service field format, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 7A illustrates various primary and secondar ' channel bandwidths allocations, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 7B illustrates an example channel index mapping for a scrambler initialization portion of a service field, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 7C illustrates an example bitmap for a reserved portion of a service field, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 8 illustrates an example timeline of downlink (DL) channel bonding signaling, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 9 illustrates that a time after which PPDU transmissions on alternate temporary' primary channels is initiated may be longer than a time at which transmission on a primary channel is initiated, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 10 illustrates an example timeline of channel bonding signaling for downlink (DL) PPDUs, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 11 illustrates an example timeline of channel bonding signaling for uplink (UL) PPDUs, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for providing legacy compatible signaling for MU communication channel bonding by hiding information (e.g., channel bonding information) in a legacy frame that may be decodable by stations (STAs) supporting channel bonding (e.g., non-legacy STAs) .
• STAs stations
• non-legacy STAs non-legacy STAs
• the techniques described herein may be used for various broadband wireless communication systems, including communication systems that are based on an orthogonal multiplexing scheme.
• Examples of such communication systems include Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) systems, and so forth.
• SDMA Spatial Division Multiple Access
• TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
• OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
• SC-FDMA Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access
• An SOMA system may utilize sufficiently different directions to simultaneously transmit data belonging to multiple user terminals.
• a TDMA system may allow multiple user terminals to share the same frequency channel by dividing the transmission signal into different time slots, each time slot being assigned to different user terminal.
• An OFDMA system utilizes orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which is a modulation technique that partitions the overall system bandwidth into multiple orthogonal sub-carriers. These sub-carriers may also be called tones, bins, etc. With OFDM, each sub-carrier may be independently modulated with data.
• An SC-FDMA system may utilize interleaved FDMA (IFDMA) to transmit on sub-carriers that are distributed across the system bandwidth, localized FDMA (LFDMA) to transmit on a block of adjacent sub-earners, or enhanced FDMA (EFDMA) to transmit on multiple blocks of adjacent sub-carriers.
• IFDMA interleaved FDMA
• LFDMA localized FDMA
• EFDMA enhanced FDMA
• modulation symbols are sent in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDMA.
• a wireless node implemented in accordance with the teachings herein may comprise an access point or an access terminal .
• An access point may comprise, be implemented as, or known as a Node B, a Radio Network Controller (“RNC”), an evolved Node B (eNB), a Base Station Controller (“BSC”), a Base Transceiver Station ( “ B ' l ' S “ ).
• RNC Radio Network Controller
• eNB evolved Node B
• BSC Base Station Controller
• B ' l ' S " Base Transceiver Station
• BS Base Station
• TF Transceiver Function
• TF Transceiver Function
• TF Transceiver Function
• ESS Extended Service Set
• RBS Radio Base Station
• An access terminal may comprise, be implemented as, or known as a subscriber station, a subscriber unit, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a user device, user equipment, a user station, or some other terminology.
• an access terminal may comprise a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol ("SIP”) phone, a wireless local loop (“WLL”) station, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), a handlield device having wireless connection capability, a Station (“STA”), or some other suitable processing device connected to a wireless modem.
• SIP Session Initiation Protocol
• WLL wireless local loop
• PDA personal digital assistant
• STA Station
• a phone e.g., a cellular phone or smart phone
• a computer e.g., a laptop
• a portable communication device e.g., a portable computing device (e.g., a personal data assistant), an entertainment device (e.g., a music or video device, or a satellite radio), a global positioning system device, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wireless or wired medium.
• the node is a wireless node.
• Such wireless node may provide, for example, connectivity for or to a network (e.g., a wide area network such as the Internet or a cellular network) via a wired or wireless communication link.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a multiple-access multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system 100 with access points and user terminals.
• MIMO multiple-access multiple-input multiple-output
• An access point is generally a fixed station that communicates with the user terminals and may also be referred to as a base station or some other terminology.
• a user terminal may be fixed or mobile and may also be referred to as a mobile station, a wireless device or some other terminology.
• Access point 110 may communicate with one or more user terminals 120 at any given moment on the downlink and uplink.
• the downlink i.e., forward link
• the uplink i.e., reverse link
• a user terminal may also communicate peer-to-peer with another user terminal .
• a system controller 130 couples to and provides coordination and control for the access points.
• an access point (AP) 1 10 may be configured to communicate with both SDMA and non-SDMA user terminals. This approach may conveniently allow older versions of user terminals (“legacy" stations) to remain deployed in an enterprise, extending their useful lifetime, while allowing newer SDMA user terminals to be introduced as deemed appropriate.
• the system 100 employs multiple transmit and multiple receive antennas for data transmission on the downlink and uplink.
• the access point 110 is equipped with N a p antennas and represents the multiple-input (MI) for downlink transmissions and the multiple -output (MO) for uplink transmissions.
• a set of K selected user terminals 120 collectively represents the multiple-output for downlink transmissions and the multiple-input for uplink transmissions.
• MI multiple-input
• MO multiple -output
• K selected user terminals 120 collectively represents the multiple-output for downlink transmissions and the multiple-input for uplink transmissions.
• N a p > K ⁇ l if the data symbol streams for the K user terminals are not multiplexed in code, frequency or time by some means.
• K may be greater than l ap if the data symbol streams cars be multiplexed using TDMA technique, different code channels with CDMA, disjoint sets of subbands with OFDM, and so on.
• Each selected user terminal transmits user-specific data to and/or receives user-specific data from the access point.
• each selected user terminal may be equipped with one or multiple antennas (i.e., N tlt > 1 ).
• Hie K selected user terminals can have the same or different number of antennas.
• the system 100 may be a time division duplex (TDD) system or a frequency division duplex (FDD) system.
• TDD time division duplex
• FDD frequency division duplex
• MIMO system 100 may also utilize a single carrier or multiple carriers for transmission.
• Each user terminal may be equipped with a single antenna (e.g., in order to keep costs down) or multiple antennas (e.g., where the additional cost can be supported).
• the system 100 may also be a TDMA system if the user terminals 120 share the same frequency channel by dividing transmission/reception into different time slots, each time slot being assigned to different user terminal 120.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of access point 110 and two user terminals
• the access point 110 is equipped with 1
• N > antennas 224a through 224t.
• User terminal 120m is equipped with lh > m antennas
• the access point 110 is a transmitting entity for the downlink and a receiving entity for the uplink.
• Each user terminal 120 is a transmitting entity for the uplink and a receiving entity for the downlink.
• a "transmitting entity” is an independently operated apparatus or device capable of transmitting data via a wireless channel
• a "receiving entity' 1 is an independently operated apparatus or device capable of receiving data via a wireless channel.
• the subscript "dn” denotes the downlink
• the subscript "up” denotes the uplink
• N up user terminals are selected for simultaneous transmission on the uplink
• N ⁇ m user terminals are selected for simultaneous transmission on the downlink
• N up may or may not be equal to ⁇ ,3 ⁇ 4
• N up and N-m may be static values or can change for each scheduling interval .
• the beam-steering or some other spatial processing technique may be used at the access point and user terminal. [ ⁇ 046]
• On the uplink at each user terminal 120 selected for uplink transmission, a
• TX data processor 288 receives traffic data from a data source 286 and control data from a controller 280. TX data processor 288 processes (e.g., encodes, interleaves, and modulates) the traffic data for the user terminal based on the coding and modulation schemes associated with the rate selected for the user tenninal and provides a data symbol stream. A TX spatial processor 290 performs spatial processing on the data
• Each transmitter unit (TMTR) 254 receives and processes (e.g., converts to analog, amplifies, filters, and frequency upconverts) a respective transmit symbol stream to g ⁇ ntesammlung uplink S ,g microphonea, transnntter unto 254 prov* »*» uplmk sign*
• N up user terminals may be scheduled for simultaneous transmission on the uplink.
• Each of these user terminals performs spatial processing on its data symbol stream and transmits its set of transmit symbol streams on the uplink to the access point.
• ap antennas 224a through 224ap receive the uplink signals from all N., P user terminals transmitting on the uplink.
• Each antenna 224 provides a received signal to a respective receiver unit (RCVR) 222.
• Each receiver unit 222 performs processing complementary to that performed by transmitter unit 254 and provides a received symbol stream.
• An RX spatial processor 240 performs receiver
• Each recovered uplink data symbol stream is an estimate of a data symbol stream transmitted by a respective user terminal.
• An RX data processor 242 processes (e.g., demodulates, deinterleaves, and decodes) each recovered uplink data symbol stream in accordance with the rate used for that stream to obtain decoded data.
• the decoded data for each user tenninal may be provided to a data sink 244 for storage and/or a controller 230 for further processing.
• a TX data processor 210 receives traffic data from a data source 208 for Ndn user terminals scheduled for downlink transmission, control data from a controller 230, and possibly other data from a scheduler 234. The various types of data may be sent on different transport channels.
• TX data processor 210 processes (e.g., encodes, interleaves, and modulates) the traffic data for each user terminal based on the rate selected for that user terminal.
• TX data processor 210 provides Ndn downlink data symbol streams for the Ndn user terminals.
• a TX spatial processor 220 performs spatial processing (such as a precoding or beamforming, as described in the present disclosure) on the Ndn downlink data symbol
• Each transmitter unit 222 receives and processes a respective transmit symbol stream to
• N ⁇ N - generate a downlink signal.
• ap transmitter units 222 providing ap downlink signals for transmission from _ i antennas 224 to the user terminals.
• antennas 252 receive the ' downlink signals from access point 110.
• Each receiver unit 254 processes a received signal from an associated antenna 252 and provides a received symbol stream .
• An RX spatial processor 260 performs receiver spatial processing on N ut - m received symbol streams A'
• An RX data processor 270 processes (e.g., demodulates, demterleaves and decodes) the recovered downlink data symbol stream to obtain decoded data for the user terminal.
• a channel estimator 278 estimates the downlink channel response and provides downlink channel estimates, which may include channel gain estimates, SNR estimates, noise variance and so on.
• a channel estimator 228 estimates the uplink channel response and provides uplink channel estimates.
• Controller 280 for each user terminal typically derives the spatial filter matrix for the user terminal based on the downlink channel response matrix H dn ,m for that user terminal.
• Controller 230 derives the spatial filter matrix for the access point based on the effective uplink channel response matrix ⁇ dress ⁇
• Controller 280 for each user terminal may send feedback information (e.g., the downlink and/or uplink eigenvectors, eigenvalues, SNR estimates, and so on) to the access point.
• Controllers 230 and 280 also control the operation of various processing units at access point 110 and user terminal 120, respectively.
• one or more user terminals 120 may send one or more High Efficiency WLAN (HEW) packets 150, with a preamble format as described herein (e.g., in accordance with one of the example formats shown in FIGs. 3A-4), to the access point 1 10 as part of a UL MU-MIMO transmission, for example.
• HEW packet 150 may be transmitted on a set of one or more spatial streams (e.g., up to 4).
• the preamble portion of the HEW packet 150 may include tone-interleaved LTFs, subband-based LTFs, or hybrid LTFs (e.g., in accordance with one of the example implementations illustrated in FIGs. 4-5 and 7).
• the HEW packet 150 may be generated by a packet generating unit 287 at the user terminal 120.
• the packet generating unit 287 may be implemented in the processing system of the user terminal 120, such as in the TX data processor 288, the controller 280, and/or the data source 286.
• the FIEW packet 150 may be processed (e.g., decoded and interpreted) by a packet processing unit 243 at the access point 1 10.
• the packet processing unit 243 may be implemented in the process system of the access point 110, such as in the RX spatial processor 240, the RX data processor 242, or the controller 230.
• the packet processing unit 243 may process received packets differently, based on the packet type (e.g., with which amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard the received packet complies).
• the packet processing unit 243 may process a HEW packet 150 based on the IEEE 802.11 HEW standard, but may interpret a legacy packet (e.g., a packet complying with IEEE 802.11a b/g) in a different manner, according to the standards amendment associated therewith.
• a legacy packet e.g., a packet complying with IEEE 802.11a b/g
• the bandwidth of a basic service set may be up to 160MHz and may support multi-user transmissions aimed at increasing efficiency.
• the bandwidth of the BSS may be any multiple of 20 MHz (e.g., 320 MHz, and so on).
• a trigger frame may be used to solicit data from multiple stations in different sub channels in parallel, wherein a sub channel may be 20 MHz in width or consist of one or more portions (e.g., Resource Units) of the subchannel.
• legacy stations e.g., 11a, l ln, l lac, etc.
• SI. Single User
• a legacy station is not capable of interpreting a new functionality, that other STAs in the network are capable of interpreting. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when legacy packets are sent, multi-user transmissions may not be performed since there is no signaling for legacy STAs to support the multi-user transmissions.
• aspects of the present disclose present techniques for legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding which may enable a more efficient use of bandwidth (e.g., by enabling secondary channels to be used for delivering and receiving PPDUs to multiple STAs, while the primary channel is used by legacy STAs). More specifically, aspects of the present disclosure techniques for enabling downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) multi-user channel allocation in a system supporting legacy and non- legacy (e.g., high efficiency (HE)) STAs. In some cases, this may involve "hiding" information (e.g., channel bonding information) in a legacy frame that may enable HE STAs to transmit or receive on secondary channels in parallel with legacy STAs transmitting or receiving on the primary channel. According to certain aspects, the channel bonding information may be decodabie by HE stations but may not be decodable by legacy stations.
• FIG. 4 illustrates example operations 400 that may be performed by a device for providing legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• Operations 400 may be performed by an apparatus, such as an access point (e.g., AP 110).
• Operations 400 may begin at 402, by generating a frame having channel bonding information indicating one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) communication by one or more wireless nodes.
• the apparatus may output the frame for transmission.
• FIG. 5 illustrates example operations 500 that may be performed by a device for receiving legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• Operations 500 may be performed by an apparatus, such as a wireless node/station (e.g., STA 120).
• a wireless node/station e.g., STA 120
• Operations 500 may begin at 502, by obtaining a frame comprising channel bonding information.
• the wireless node determines, based on the channel bonding information contained in the frame, one or more channels available for multi-user (MU) transmissions.
• the wireless node outputs data for transmission on the one or more of the channels determined to be available for MU communication.
• MU multi-user
• signaling may be provided, by an access point, in a legacy frame that may enable HE STAs to transmit or receive on secondary channels in parallel with legacy STAs (i.e., STAs that do not support channel bonding) transmitting or receiving on the primary channel.
• the legacy compatible signaling may be provided in various ways. For example, one way to provide the legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding may be to provide the signaling in a Service field of a PHY Protocol Data Unit (PPDU).
• PPDU PHY Protocol Data Unit
• FIG. 6A illustrates a frame format for a PPDU 600A, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.
• the PPDU may comprise an L-STF/L-LTF/LSIG field 602A, a Service field 604A, and a PHY Sen/ice Data Unit 606A.
• the Service field 604A may comprise 16 bits (e.g., bits 0-15), which may be split up into a Scrambler Initialization portion 608B (e.g., spanning bits 0-6) and a Reserved portion 610B (e.g., spanning bits 7-15).
• the legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding may be provided in the Scrambler Initialization portion 608B and/or the Reserved portion 610B of the Service field 604A. Additionally, in some cases, one or more of the bits in the Reserved portion 610B of the Service field 604A may be used to protect the information earned in the Service field 604A. Further, bits B8-B15 may be set differently depending on a type of the PPDU 600A. For example, if the PPDU 600A comprises a high throughput (HT) PPDU, bits B8-B15 may be set to all 0s.
• HT high throughput
• bits B8-B15 may comprise a SIG-B cyclic redundancy check (CRC).
• the legacy compatible signaling for channel bonding may comprise a list of idle channels (e.g., a channel index, CH_IDX) that may be used for multi-user UL/DL transmissions in parallel with legacy transmissions (e.g., 11a, l ln, l lac, and/or HE single user transmissions) .
• a list of multi-user STAs that are allowed to access the idle channels may be provided by the AP in advance to the list of idle channels.
• FIGs. 7A and 7B illustrate an example mapping of the secondary idle channel bandwidths to bits in the scrambler initialization portion 608B of the Service field.
• FIG. 7A illustrates a secondary 40MHz channel bandwidth that may comprise a primary channel bandwidth, CB_P2, and a corresponding secondary' channel bandwidth, CB S2.
• a secondary 80MHz channel bandwidth may comprise primary channel bandwidths, CBJP3 and CB P4, and corresponding secondary channel bandwidths, CB__S3 and CB_S4.
• the idle channel bandwidths listed in the channel index, CHB IDX may be indicated using a combination of three or more bits of the scrambler initialization portion 608B of the Service field 604A. For example, a value of 0 (i.e., 000) may indicate that no secondary channels are idle while a value of 6 (i.e., 1 10) may indicate that primary channels CB_P3 and CBJP4 of the secondary 80 MHz channel bandwidth are idle. While FIG. 7B illustrates one mapping of bit values to idle channels, it should be understood that other mappings may exist.
• contiguous channel bonding may be supported using the secondary idle channels illustrated in FIG. 7A.
• there may be three channels which are eligible for channel bonding e.g., CB_P2, CBJP3, and CB_P4
• a primary channel e.g., CBJP2
• the AP may also inform the STA that the STA may expand its transmission over the corresponding secondary channel (e.g., CB S2).
• the bandwidth of transmissions may be up to 40MHz, while if contiguous channel bonding is not supported, the bandwidth of the transmissions may only be 20MHz on the idle secondary channels.
• the mapping illustrated in FIGs, 7 A and 7B assumes a basic service set (BSS) bandwidth of 160MHz.
• BSS basic service set
• the number of bits needed to indicate the idle channels may be less (e.g., 2 bits instead of 3).
• the left over bit may be used for scrambling. For example, when the BSS bandwidth is 80MHz, the most significant bit may be assigned to the scrambler. Additionally, the left over bit may be used for providing better resolution. For example, when the BSS bandwidth is 80MHz, each bit can indicate a status of each 20 MHz channel,
• Another way to provide legacy compatible signaling for channel boding may be to indicate a list of idle channels in the reserved portion of the Service field.
• a bitmap of 7 bits may be provided in which each bit of the bitmap may indicate a different idle channel (e.g., CB P2, CB S2, CBJP3, CB__S3, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 7 A) that may be available for channel bonding.
• a different idle channel e.g., CB P2, CB S2, CBJP3, CB__S3, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 7 A
• one bit in the reserved portion of the service field may be used as a parity bit to protect (e.g., used for checking for errors) the 7-bit bitmap sequence.
• the bandwidth of transmissions may be 20MHz for this option.
• this option may inherit request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) bandwidth signaling from 802.1 l ac and may maintain 1 bit (in an RTS) and 2 bits (in a CTS) for scrambling.
• RTS request to send
• CTS clear to send
• an HE AP may define one or more "alternate temporary primary channels" (e.g., the secondary idle channel bandwidths illustrated in FIG. 7A), In some cases, the AP may allocate (or pre-allocate meaning allocated before the actual availability of the channels is signaled) each of its HE STA a different alternate temporary primary channel.
• alter temporary primary channels e.g., the secondary idle channel bandwidths illustrated in FIG. 7A
• FIG. 8 illustrates that, according to certain aspects, at some point before a (legacy data) transmission with limited bandwidth, the AP may send a channel allocation (CHA) frame (e.g., a data frame, RTS frame, CTS frame, etc), comprising legacy compatible signaling (e.g., channel bonding information) for channel bonding, notifying HE STAs of a possible simultaneous HE transmission (i.e., MU transmissions) on the alternate temporary primary channels.
• the channel bonding information in the CHA frame may comprise at least one bit indicating whether or not one or more of the allocated channels are available for MU communication.
• the at least one bit may comprise a plurality of bits corresponding to the one or more channels, each bit indicating whether or not the corresponding one or more channels are available for MU communication.
• the HE AP may transmit the channel allocation frame to a legacy STA which may receive the channel allocation in a primary channel (e.g., the 20MHz primary channel), as illustrated in FIG. 8.
• the channel allocation frame may also be received by other HE STAs which, upon receiving the channel allocation frame, may switch and wait for (HE) PPDUs in the alternate temporary primary channels indicated in the channel allocation frame.
• the HE STAs may stay on the alternate temporary primary channel for a time indicated in the channel allocation frame or for a predefined time negotiated outside of the channel allocation frame.
• FIG. 9 illustrates that the time after which PPDU transmissions on the alternate temporary primary channels is initiated may be longer than the time at which the transmission on the primary channel is initiated.
• the time at which PPDUs are transmitted on the primary (e.g., 20MHz) channel, Tl may be SIFS time after transmission of the channel allocation frame
• the time at which PPDUs are transmitted on the alternate temporary primary channels, T2 may be PIFS time after transmission of the channel allocation frame.
• transmitting on the alternate temporary primary channels at a later time than on the primary channel may avoid ambiguities during the detection of the bandwidth of the PPDU transmission sent on the primary channel.
• FIG. 10 illustrates a timeline of providing legacy compatible signaling for channel boding for DL PPDUs, in which the channel allocation frame, as described above, comprises an RTS frame.
• an HE AP may transmit an RTS frame 1002 to legacy STA l on the primary 20MHz channel, initiating (or during) a legacy transmission opportunity (TXOP).
• the Service field of the RTS frame 1002 may comprise a list of channels (e.g., the CHB__IDX, as described above) that are idle and available for channel bonding.
• the bandwidth/channel bonding signaling may be provided in a scrambler initialization portion or a reserved portion of the service field.
• the RTS frame may be duplicated (e.g., if the AP is capable, it may transmit "enhanced" RTS frames 1004 to non-legacy STAs 3 and 4).
• STA1 may respond with a CTS frame 1006, indicating that the primary channel is idle.
• CB STAs 3 and 4 may receive the RTS frame 1002 and determine the list of idle channels (i.e., CHB _IDX). For example, the CB STAs may check if their pre-allocated channel bonding channel is included in the list of idle channels.
• the CB STA may synchronize to one or more of the pre-allocated channel bonding channels to receive DL buffer units (BUs) (i.e., downlink data).
• BUs DL buffer units
• the CB STA may have 2* Short interface Space (SIFS) + CTSTxTime to synchronize.
• SIFS Short interface Space
• a full duplex mode may be supported in which the CB STAs may be able to transmit UL BUs while the AP is transmitting DL BUs to the STAs not supporting channel bonding.
• the channel bonding STA may then receive DL BUs 1008 from, the AP in the allocated channel bonding channels in parallel with data deliver ⁇ ' to legacy STA I .
• the STAs may then transmit acknowledgements (ACKs) in their allocated channel bandwidths.
• ACKs acknowledgements
• channel bonding STAs may receive an RTS frame 1002 intended for a legacy station and may determine if a pre-allocated channel bonding channel is included within a list of idle channels in the RTS frame.
• the CB STAs scheduled to receive DL BUs during a legacy TXOP need to know which of the channels in CB IDX list (i.e., the list of idle channels) are pre-allocated for their DL BUs.
• an AP may provide STAs with an indication of an assignment of pre-allocated channels in various ways. For example, an AP may deliver the pre-allocated channels assignment information in a beacon that precedes the beacon interval (BI) during which the RTS with CB signaling (i.e., the list of idle channels) is sent. According to certain aspects, more than one CB STA may be specified for a given CB channel and the indication may be valid for one BI.
• BI beacon interval
• the AP may deliver the pre-allocated channels assignment information in a target wake time (TVVT) element that precedes a TVVT service period (SP) during which the RTS with CB signaling is sent.
• TVVT target wake time
• SP TVVT service period
• more than one CB TWT STA may be specified for a given CB channel and the indication may be valid for one or more TWT SPs.
• the AP may deliver the pre-allocated channels assignment information in a frame that is sent to the CB STA(s) prior to the RTS frame with CB signaling. For example, the AP may send a Trigger to the CB STA(s) at a time of SIFS or more prior to transmitting the RTS frame.
• the indication may be valid for a pre-defined amount of time, which may be negotiated or specified in the frame itself.
• the AP may deliver the allocated channels assignment information in the channel allocation frame (e.g., an RTS and/or CTS frame) itself, which may be valid for a pre-defined amount of time.
• the channel allocation frame e.g., an RTS and/or CTS frame
• FIG. 11 illustrates a timeline of providing legacy compatible signaling for channel boding for UL PPDUs, in which the cha nel allocation frame, as described above, comprises an CTS frame.
• a legacy STA e.g., STA1
• the HE AP may transmit a CTS frame 1104 to STA1 during a legacy TXOP.
• the Sendee field of the CTS frame 104 may comprise a list of channels (e.g., CHB_IDX) that are idle and available for channel bonding.
• the bandwidth/channel bonding signaling may be provided in a scrambler initialization portion or a reserved portion of the service field .
• the CTS frame 1 104 may be duplicated (e.g., if the AP is capable, it may transmit "enhanced" CTS frames 1 106 to CB STAs 3 and 4). In some cases, the AP may also transmit a CTS frame as a CTS-to-self for STA1.
• STA 1 may respond with data (i.e., UL BUs) 1108.
• data i.e., UL BUs
• non-intended receivers that are capable of channel bonding e.g., channel bonding (CB) STAs 3 and 4
• CB channel bonding
• CHB_IDX the list of idle channels
• the CB STAs may check if their pre-allocated channel bonding channel is included in the list of idle channels.
• the CB STA may synchronize to one or more of the pre-allocated channel bonding channels to transmit UL buffer units (BUs). In some cases, the CBs may be able to randomly select one of the idle channels to transmit on. The CB STAs may then transmit data (i.e., UL BUs) on their indicated CB channels either after SIFS, staggered in time, or, if the medium was idle PIFS, before the CTS, as illustrated in FIG. 11.
• data i.e., UL BUs
• a full duplex mode may be supported in which the CB STAs may be able to receive DL BUs from the AP while the AP is receiving UL BUs from the STAs not supporting channel bonding.
• CB STAs may receive an CTS frame intended for a legacy station and may determine if a pre-allocated channel bonding channel is included within a list of idle channels in the CTS frame.
• the CB STAs scheduled to transmit UL BUs during a legacy TXOP need to know which of the channels in CB_IDX list (i.e., the list of idle channels) are pre-allocated for their UL BUs. Knowing the allocated channels may be particularly important if the access in the CB channels is done SIFS time any only be one CB STA (i.e., without contention).
• the AP may deliver the information about the allocation of CB channels in a Beacon preceding the beacon interval (BI) during which CTS with CB signaling is sent.
• BI beacon interval
• more than one CB STA can be specified for a given CB channel and the indication may be valid for one BI. Additionally, this option may be available when CB STAs are allowed to contend for the CB channel.
• the AP may deliver the information about the allocation of CB channels in a TWT element that precedes a TWT SP during which the CTS with CB signaling is sent.
• more than one CB TWT STA may be specified for a given CB channel and the indication may be valid for one or more TWT SPs.
• the AP may deliver the information about the allocation of CB channels in a frame that is sent to the CB STA(s) prior to the CTS frame with CB signaling. For example, the AP may send a Trigger to the CB STA(s) at a time of SIFS or more prior to transmitting the CTS frame.
• the indication may be valid for a pre-defined amount of time, which may be negotiated or specified in the frame itself.
• the information about the allocation of CB channels may also include an indication of whether the allocated CB channel assigned for DL or UL.
• the information about whether the CB channel is assigned for DL or UL may be indicated in the Service field of the RTS frame and/or the CTS frame which includes the indication about which secondary channels are idle.
• the various operations of methods described above may be performed by any suitable means capable of performing the corresponding functions.
• the means may include various hardware and/or software component(s) and/or module(s), including, but not limited to a circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or processor.
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• operations 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 correspond to means 400A illustrated in FIG. 4A.
• operations 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 correspond to means 500A illustrated in FIG. 5A.
• means for transmitting may comprise a transmitter (e.g., the transmitter unit 222) and/or an antenna(s) 224 of the access point 1 10 or the transmitter unit 254 and/or antenna(s) 252 of the user terminal 120 illustrated in FIG. 2.
• Means for receiving (or means for obtaining) may comprise a receiver (e.g., the receiver unit 222) and/or an antenna(s) 224 of the access point 1 10 or the receiver unit 254 and/or antenna/ s) 254 of the user terminal 120 illustrated in FIG. 2.
• Means for processing, means for generating, means for performing frequency offset adjustment, means for determining, means for using (e.g., means for using one or more bits of a service field), and/or means for providing may comprise a processing system, which may include one or more processors, such as the RX data processor 242, the TX data processor 210, the TX spatial processor 220, and/or the controller 230 of the access point 110 or the RX data processor 270, the TX data processor 288, the TX spatial processor 290, and/or the controller 280 of the user terminal 120 illustrated in FIG. 2. [ ⁇ 092] In some cases, rather than actually transmitting a frame a device may have an interface to output a frame for transmission (a means for outputting).
• a processor may output a frame, via a bus interface, to a radio frequency (RF) front end for transmission.
• a device may have an interface to obtain a frame received from another device (a means for obtaining).
• a processor may obtain (or receive) a frame, via a bus interface, from an RF front end for reception.
• determining encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and the like.
• a phrase referring to "at least one of a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members.
• "at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).
• DSP digital signal processor
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• FPGA field programmable gate array
• PLD programmable logic device
• a general- purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine.
• a processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
• the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the present disclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.
• a software module may reside in any form of storage medium that is known in the art.
• storage media examples include random access memor ' (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM and so forth.
• RAM random access memor '
• ROM read only memory
• flash memory EPROM memory
• EEPROM memory EEPROM memory
• registers a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM and so forth.
• a software module may comprise a single instruction, or many instructions, and may be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across multiple storage media.
• a storage medium may be coupled to a processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
• the methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method.
• the method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims.
• the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.
• an example hardware configuration may comprise a processing system in a wireless node.
• the processing system may be implemented with a bus architecture.
• the bus may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system and the overall design constraints.
• the bus may link together various circuits including a processor, machine -readable media, and a bus interface.
• the bus interface may be used to connect a network adapter, among other things, to the processing system via the bus.
• the network adapter may be used to implement the signal processing functions of the PHY layer.
• a user terminal 120 see FIG.
• a user interface e.g., keypad, display, mouse, joystick, etc.
• the bus may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.
• the processor may be responsible for managing the bus and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the machine-readable media.
• the processor may be implemented with one or more general-purpose and/or special- purpose processors. Examples include microprocessors, microcontrollers, DSP processors, and other circuitry that can execute software.
• Machine -readable media may include, by way of example, RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, ROM (Read Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), registers, magnetic disks, optical disks, hard drives, or any other suitable storage medium, or any combination thereof.
• RAM Random Access Memory
• ROM Read Only Memory
• PROM Programmable Read-Only Memory
• EPROM Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• registers magnetic disks, optical disks, hard drives, or any other suitable storage medium, or any combination thereof.
• the machine-readable media may be embodied in a computer- program product.
• the computer-program product may comprise packaging materials.
• the machine-readable media may be part of the processing system separate from the processor.
• the machine-readable media, or any portion thereof may be external to the processing system.
• the machine-readable media may include a transmission line, a carrier wave modulated by data, and/or a computer product separate from, the wireless node, all which may be accessed by the processor through the bus interface.
• the machine-readable media, or any portion thereof may be integrated into the processor, such as the case may be with cache and/or general register files.
• the processing system may be configured as a general-purpose processing system with one or more microprocessors providing the processor functionality and external memory providing at least a portion of the machine-readable media, all linked together with other supporting circuitry through an external bus architecture.
• the processing system may be implemented with an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) with the processor, the bus interface, the user interface in the case of an access terminal), supporting circuitry, and at least a portion of the machine-readable media integrated into a single chip, or with one or more FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable circuitr ', or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure.
• FPGAs Field Programmable Gate Arrays
• PLDs Programmable Logic Devices
• controllers state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, or any other suitable circuitr ', or any combination of circuits that can perform the various functionality described throughout this
• the machine-readable media may comprise a number of software modules.
• the software modules include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processing system to perform various functions.
• the software modules may include a transmission module and a receiving module.
• Each software module may reside in a single storage device or be distributed across multiple storage devices.
• a software module may be loaded into RAM from a hard drive when a triggering event occurs.
• the processor may load some of the instructions into cache to increase access speed.
• One or more cache lines may then be loaded into a general register file for execution by the processor.
• Computer- readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium, that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.
• a storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer.
• such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.
• any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium.
• Disk and disc include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.
• computer-readable media may comprise non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., tangible media).
• computer-readable media may comprise transitory computer- readable media (e.g., a signal). Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
• certain aspects may comprise a computer program product for performing the operations presented herein.
• a computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium having instructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein.
• the computer program product may include packaging material.
• modules and/or other appropriate means for performing the methods and techniques described herein can be downloaded and/or otherwise obtained by a user terminal and/or base station as applicable.
• a user terminal and/or base station can be coupled to a server to facilitate the transfer of means for performing the methods described herein.
• various methods described herein can be provided via storage means (e.g., RAM, ROM, a physical storage medium such as a compact disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.), such that a user terminal and/or base station can obtain the various methods upon coupling or providing the storage means to the device.
• storage means e.g., RAM, ROM, a physical storage medium such as a compact disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.
• CD compact disc
• floppy disk etc.
• any other suitable technique for providing the methods and techniques described herein to a device can be utilized.

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• 2016
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