WO2018132261A1 - Attribution de tonalités dans une plage d'identificateurs de dispositifs - Google Patents

Attribution de tonalités dans une plage d'identificateurs de dispositifs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018132261A1
WO2018132261A1 PCT/US2017/068589 US2017068589W WO2018132261A1 WO 2018132261 A1 WO2018132261 A1 WO 2018132261A1 US 2017068589 W US2017068589 W US 2017068589W WO 2018132261 A1 WO2018132261 A1 WO 2018132261A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
feedback report
trigger frame
sta
numerical range
ndp feedback
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2017/068589
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Laurent Cariou
Daniel F. BRAVO
Ehud Reshef
Assaf Gurevitz
Nir UNGER
Original Assignee
Intel IP Corporation
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Publication of WO2018132261A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018132261A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W16/00—Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
    • H04W16/14—Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0037—Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0048—Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0001—Arrangements for dividing the transmission path
    • H04L5/0003—Two-dimensional division
    • H04L5/0005—Time-frequency
    • H04L5/0007—Time-frequency the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00—Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/003—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
    • H04L5/0044—Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path allocation of payload
    • 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]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
    • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Definitions

  • Embodiments pertain to wireless networks and wireless communications. Some embodiments relate to wireless local area networks (WLANs) and Wi-Fi networks including networks operating in accordance with the IEEE 802.1 1 family of standards. Some embodiments relate to IEEE
  • Some embodiments relate to methods, computer readable media, and apparatus for allocating at least a portion of a transmission opportunity to multiple devices.
  • 802.1 lax protocol allows multiple stations to respond to a request by an access point for sounding feedback.
  • the stations respond by transmitting a preamble without a data payioad using a multi-user uplink protocol.
  • the STAs use orthogonal allocation that is designated in the HE-LTF field in the PHY preamble.
  • the AP can perform energy or sequence detection on each of these allocations to identify which station sent the feedback (allocation ID) and what is the feedback ( energy/sequence detection).
  • allocation ID which station sent the feedback
  • energy/sequence detection energy/sequence detection
  • One example use of this protocol allows an access point to determine which stations have data waiting for transmission.
  • the access point may transmit a trigger frame indicating that the stations are to respond with the indication.
  • Each station may respond with a binary indication of whether they have data waiting for transmission or not.
  • One proposal utilizes 20 Mhz for the transmissions.
  • the 20 Mhz may be divided in some aspects into nine resource units, each of the resource units may include 26 tones. Each of the 26 tones may be sub-divided into four sets of six tones.
  • states are orthogonal in a time/frequency/ space dimensions by using HE-LTFs with different resource units or tones and different P-matrix codes.
  • One or two bits are assigned to a single user for feedback response.
  • Two sets of six tones are used to transmit a single bit.
  • Channel estimation is not needed for detection.
  • the AP and ST As must have a prior agreement on tone sets and P-matrix spreading to use for a given response, for instance, by providing parameters in the trigger frame
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio architecture in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates FEM circuitry in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates radio IC circuitry in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of baseband processing circuitry in accordance with some embodiments.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a WLAN in accordance with some
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may perform.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless device upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies or operations) discussed herein may perform.
  • FIG. 8 shows two message exchanges between an access point and four illustrated stations.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates another message exchange between an access point and associated stations that may be implemented by some of the disclosed embodiments.
  • FIG . 10 shows examples of two messages, either of which may be transmitted in one or more of the disclosed embodiments.
  • FIG. 11 A illustrates an example format of a trigger frame.
  • FIG. 1 IB illustrates an example format of a trigger frame.
  • FIG. 12 shows an example allocation of tones in four long training fields to a plurality of stations with association identifiers within a range.
  • FIG. 13 illustrates a correspondence between multiple ranges of devices indicated in a trigger frame and multiple sets of long training fields that may be allocated to the devices
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method of encoding and transmitting a message.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of encoding and transmitting a message.
  • more stations may be associated with a single access point. For example, this may occur in an Internet of Things environment, where the number of wirelessly connected devices is expected to grow significantly when compared to typical environments of today.
  • multiple triggers may be required.
  • a first trigger may stimulate responses from a first set of stations, while a second trigger stimulates responses from a second set of devices.
  • This solution presents a technical problem in that is supports simultaneous responses from a number of stations that may be below a number of stations in communication with an access point.
  • This limitation may require the invocation of multiple query/response cycles, increasing a total amount of time required to obtain responses from the large number of STAs and also increasing the total amount of data exchanged between the access point and stations on the wireless network.
  • This alternative solution allows a single trigger frame to solicit feedback from multiple groups of stations, one after the other in time.
  • the disclosed solution more efficiency identifies stations that may respond to a trigger frame by specifying the stations via a numerical range of identifiers, instead of identifying each station individually.
  • At least some of the disclosed embodiments may transmit a trigger message indicating a starting association identifier for a numerical range of association identifiers.
  • Devices having an association identifier within the range are indicated, by the message, to transmit a response to the message.
  • a number of devices included in the range may be based on further information included in the trigger message, at least in some aspects.
  • the message may indicate how many tone indexes are allocated to devices in the range, and, in some aspects, a number of tones per index.
  • the indexes may be multiplexed to encode data for more than one device.
  • two p matrix codes may be used in some aspects to provide for encoding data for two devices within a single tone index.
  • the stations may be identified via one or more continuous ranges of identifiers, such as association identifiers.
  • Each station may identify its allocation within the joint response based on the station's identifier relative to a starting station identifier for the range. More details on how allocations for a particular station is determined is provided in the description below.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio architecture 100 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • Radio architecture 100 may include radio front-end module (FEM) circuitry 104, radio IC circuitry 106 and baseband processing circuitry 108.
  • Radio architecture 100 as shown includes both Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) functionality and Bluetooth (BT) functionality although embodiments are not so limited.
  • WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
  • BT Bluetooth
  • FEM circuitry 104 may include a WLAN or Wi-Fi FEM circuitry 04 A and a Bluetooth (BT) FEM circuitry 104B.
  • the WLAN FEM circuitry 104 A may include a receive signal path comprising circuitry configured to operate on WLAN RF signals received from one or more antennas 101, to amplify the received signals and to provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the WLAN radio IC circuitry 106A for further processing.
  • the BT FEM circuitry 104B may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry configured to operate on BT RF signals received from one or more antennas 101, to amplify the received signals and to provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the BT radio IC circuitry 106B for further processing.
  • FEM circuitry 104 A may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify WLAN signals provided by the radio IC circuitry 106 A for wireless transmission by one or more of the antennas 101.
  • FEM circuitry 104B may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify BT signals provided by the radio IC circuitry 106B for wireless transmission by the one or more antennas.
  • FIG. 1 In the embodiment of FIG.
  • FEM 104 A and FEM 104B are shown as being distinct from one another, embodiments are not so limited, and include within their scope the use of an FE ⁇ (not shown) that includes a transmit path and/or a receive path for both WLAN and BT signals, or the use of one or more FEM circuitries where at least some of the FEM circuitries share transmit and/or receive signal paths for both WLAN and BT signals.
  • Radio IC circuitry 106 as shown may include WLAN radio IC circuitry 106 A and BT radio IC circuitry 106B.
  • the WLAN radio IC circuitry 106A may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down- convert WLAN RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 104A and provide baseband signals to WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A.
  • BT radio IC circuitry 106B may in turn include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down-convert BT RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 104B and provide baseband signals to BT baseband processing circuitry 108B.
  • WLAN radio IC circuitry 106 A may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert WLAN baseband signals provided by the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A and provide WLAN RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 104 A for subsequent wireless transmission by the one or more antennas 101.
  • BT radio IC circuitry 106B may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert BT baseband signals provided by the BT baseband processing circuitry 108B and provide BT RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 104B for subsequent wireless transmission by the one or more antennas 101 , In the embodiment of FIG.
  • radio IC circuitries 106A and 106B are shown as being distinct from one another, embodiments are not so limited, and include within their scope the use of a radio IC circuitry (not shown) that includes a transmit signal path and/or a receive signal path for both WLAN and BT signals, or the use of one or more radio IC circuitries where at least some of the radio IC circuitries share transmit and/or receive signal paths for both WLAN and BT signals.
  • Baseband processing circuity 108 may include a WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A and a BT baseband processing circuitry 108B.
  • the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A may include a memory, such as, for example, a set of RAM arrays in a Fast Fourier Transform or Inverse Fast Fourier Transform block (not shown) of the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A.
  • Each of the WLAN baseband circuitry 108 A and the BT baseband circuitry 108B may further include one or more processors and control logic to process the signals received from the corresponding WLAN or BT receive signal path of the radio IC circuitry 106, and to also generate
  • Each of the baseband processing circuitries 108 A and 108B may further include physical layer (PHY) and medium access control layer (MAC) circuitry, and may further interface with application processor 111 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the radio IC circuitry 106,
  • the wireless radio card 102 may include separate baseband memory for one or more of the WLAN baseband processing circuitry 108 A and Bluetooth baseband processing circuity 108B, shown as baseband memories 109 A and 109B respectively,
  • WLAN-BT coexistence circuitry 113 may include logic providing an interface between the WLAN baseband circuitry 108 A and the BT baseband circuitry 108B to enable use cases requiring WA and BT coexistence.
  • a switch 103 may be provided between the WLAN FEM circuitry 104 A and the BT FEM circuitry 104B to allow switching between the WLAN and BT radios according to application needs.
  • the antennas 101 are depicted as being respectively connected to the WLAN FEM circuitry 104 A and the BT FEM circuitry 104B, embodiments include within their scope the sharing of one or more antennas as between the WLAN and BT FEMs, or the provision of more than one antenna connected to each of FEM 104 A or 104B.
  • the front-end module circuitry 104, the radio IC circuitry 106, and baseband processing circuitry 108 may be provided on a single radio card, such as wireless radio card 102,
  • the one or more antennas 101, the FEM circuitry 104 and the radio IC circuitry 106 may be provided on a single radio card.
  • the radio IC circuitry 106 and the baseband processing circuitry 108 may be provided on a single chip or integrated circuit (IC), such as IC 1 12.
  • the wireless radio card 102 may include a
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured to receive and transmit orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication signals over a multicarrier communication channel.
  • OFDM orthogonal frequency division multiplexed
  • OFDMA orthogonal frequency division multiple access
  • radio architecture 100 may be part of a Wi-Fi communication station (STA) such as a wireless access point (AP), a base station or a mobile device including a Wi-Fi device.
  • STA Wi-Fi communication station
  • AP wireless access point
  • radio architecture 100 may be configured to transmit and receive signals in accordance with specific communication standards and/or protocols, such as any of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards including, IEEE 802.11n-2QG9, IEEE 802.11-2012, IEEE 802, 1 1 -2016, IEEE 802. 1 1 ac, and/or IEEE 802, 1 lax standards and/or proposed specifications for WLANs, although the scope of embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • Radio architecture 100 may also be suitable to transmit and/or receive communications in accordance with other techniques and standards.
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured for high-efficiency (HE) Wi-Fi (HEW) communications in accordance with the IEEE 802.1 lax standard. In these embodiments, the radio architecture 100 may be configured to communicate in accordance with an
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured to transmit and receive signals transmitted using one or more other modulation techniques such as spread spectrum modulation (e.g., direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) and/or frequency hopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA)), time-division multiplexing (TDM) modulation, and/or frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) modulation, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • modulation techniques such as spread spectrum modulation (e.g., direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) and/or frequency hopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA)), time-division multiplexing (TDM) modulation, and/or frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) modulation, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • spread spectrum modulation e.g., direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) and/or frequency hopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA)
  • TDM time-division
  • the BT baseband circuitry 108B may be compliant with a Bluetooth (BT) connectivity standard such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth 5.0, or any other iteration of the Bluetooth Standard.
  • BT Bluetooth
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured to establish a BT synchronous connection oriented (SCO) link and/or a BT low energy (BT LE) link.
  • SCO BT synchronous connection oriented
  • BT LE BT low energy
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured to establish an extended SCO (eSCO) link for BT communications, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the radio architecture may be configured to engage in a BT Asynchronous Connection-Less (ACL) communications, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • ACL Asynchronous Connection-Less
  • the functions of a BT radio card and WLAN radio card may be combined on a single wireless radio card, such as single wireless radio card 102, although embodiments are not so limited, and include within their scope discrete WLAN and BT radio cards
  • the radio-architecture 100 may include other radio cards, such as a cellular radio card configured for cellular (e.g., 3GPP such as LTE, LTE-Advanced or 5G communications).
  • a cellular radio card configured for cellular (e.g., 3GPP such as LTE, LTE-Advanced or 5G communications).
  • the radio architecture 100 may be configured for communication over vario s channel bandwidths including bandwidths having center frequencies of about 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and bandwidths of about 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 2.5 MHz, 4 MHz, 5MHz, 8 MHz, 10 MHz, 16 MHz, 20 MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz (with contiguous bandwidths) or 80+80MHz (160MHz) (with non-contiguous bandwidths).
  • a 320 MHz channel bandwidth may be used. The scope of the embodiments is not limited with respect to the above center frequencies however.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates FEM circuitry 200 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the FEM circuitry 200 is one example of circuitry that may be suitable for use as the WLAN and/or BT FEM circuitry 104A/104B (FIG. 1), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.
  • the FEM circuitry 200 may include a
  • the FEM circuitry 200 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path.
  • the receive signal path of the FEM circuitry 200 may include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 206 to amplify received RF signals 203 and provide the amplified received RF ' signals 207 as an output (e.g., to the radio IC circuitry 106 (FIG. 1)).
  • LNA low-noise amplifier
  • the transmit signal path of the circuitry 200 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RF ' signals 209 (e.g., provided by the radio IC circuitry 106), and one or more filters 212, such as band-pass filters (BPFs), low-pass filters (EPFs) or other types of filters, to generate RF signals 215 for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the antennas 101 (FIG. 1)).
  • PA power amplifier
  • filters 212 such as band-pass filters (BPFs), low-pass filters (EPFs) or other types of filters
  • the FEM circuitry 200 may be configured to operate in either the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum or the 5 GHz frequency spectrum.
  • the receive signal path of the FEM circuitry 200 may include a receive signal path duplexer 204 to separate the signals from each spectrum as well as provide a separate LNA 206 for each spectrum as shown.
  • the transmit signal path of the FEM circuitry 200 may also include a power amplifier 210 and a filter 212, such as a BPF, a EPF or another type of filter for each frequency spectrum and a transmit signal path duplexer 214 to provide the signals of one of the different spectrums onto a single transmit path for subsequent transmission by the one or more of the antennas 101 (FIG. 1).
  • BT communications may utilize the 2.4 GHZ signal paths and may utilize the same FEM circuitry 200 as the one used for WLAN communications.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates radio IC circuitry 300 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the radio IC circuitry 300 is one example of circuitry that may be suitable for use as the WLAN or BT radio IC circuitry 106A/106B (FIG. 1), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.
  • the radio IC circuitry 300 may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path.
  • the receive signal path of the radio IC circuitry 300 may include at least mixer circuitry 302, such as, for example, down-conversion mixer circuitry, amplifier circuitry 306 and filter circuitry 308.
  • the transmit signal path of the radio IC circuitry 300 may include at least filter circuitry 312 and mixer circuitry 314, such as, for example, up- conversion mixer circuitry.
  • Radio IC circuitry 300 may also include synthesizer circuitry 304 for synthesizing a frequency 305 for use by the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314.
  • the mixer circuitry 302 and/or 314 may each, according to some embodiments, be configured to provide direct conversion functionality.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates only a simplified version of a radio IC circuitry, and may include, although not shown, embodiments where each of the depicted circuitries may include more than one component.
  • mixer circuitry 320 and/or 314 may each include one or more mixers
  • filter circuitries 308 and/or 312 may each include one or more filters, such as one or more BPFs and/or LPFs according to application needs.
  • mixer circuitries when mixer circuitries are of the direct-conversion type, they may each include two or more mixers.
  • mixer circuitry 302 may be configured to down-convert RF signals 207 received from the FEM circuitry 104 (FIG. 1) based on the synthesized frequency 305 provided by synthesizer circuitry 304.
  • the amplifier circuitry 306 may be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and the filter circuitry 308 may include a LPF configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals 307.
  • Output baseband signals 307 may be provided to the baseband processing circuitry 108 (FIG. 1) for further processing.
  • the output baseband signals 307 may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement.
  • mixer circuitry 302 may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the mixer circuitry 314 may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals 31 1 based on the synthesized frequency 305 provided by the synthesizer circuitry 304 to generate RF output signals 209 for the FEM circuitry 104.
  • the baseband signals 31 1 may be provided by the baseband processing circuitry 108 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 312.
  • the filter circuitry 312 may include a LPF or a BPF, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314 may each include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature down-conversion and/or up-conversion respectively with the help of synthesizer 304.
  • the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314 may each include two or more mixers each configured for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection).
  • the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314 may be arranged for direct down- conversion and/or direct up-conversion, respectively.
  • the mixer circuitry 302 and the mixer circuitry 314 may be configured for superheterodyne operation, although this is not a requirement.
  • Mixer circuitry 302 may comprise, according to one embodiment: quadrature passive mixers (e.g., for the in-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) paths).
  • RF input signal 207 from Fig. 3 may be down- converted to provide I and Q baseband output signals to be sent to the baseband processor
  • Quadrature passive mixers may be driven by zero and ninety- degree time-varying LO switching signals provided by a quadrature circuitry which may be configured to receive a LO frequency (fLO) from a local oscillator or a synthesizer, such as LO frequency 305 of synthesizer 304 (FIG. 3).
  • a LO frequency fLO
  • the LO frequency may be the carrier frequency
  • the LO frequency may be a fraction of the carrier frequency (e.g., one-half the carrier frequency, one-third the carrier frequency).
  • the zero and ninety-degree time-varying switching signals may be generated by the synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the LO signals may differ in duty cycle (the percentage of one period in which the LO signal is high) and/or offset (the difference between start points of the period). In some embodiments, the LO signals may have a 25% duty cycle and a 50% offset. In some embodiments, each branch of the mixer circuitry (e.g., the in-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) path) may operate at a 25% duty cycle, which may result in a significant reduction is power consumption.
  • I in-phase
  • Q quadrature phase
  • the RF input signal 207 may comprise a balanced signal, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the I and Q baseband output signals may be provided to iow-nose amplifier, such as amplifier circuitry 306 (FIG. 3) or to filter circuitry 308 (FIG. 3).
  • the output baseband signals 307 and the input baseband signals 311 may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternate
  • the output baseband signals 307 and the input baseband signals 31 1 may be digital baseband signals.
  • the radio IC circuitry may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry.
  • ADC analog-to-digital converter
  • DAC digital-to-analog converter
  • a separate radio IC circuitry may be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, or for other spectrums not mentioned here, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.
  • the synthesizer circuitry 304 may be a fractional-N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+l synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable.
  • synthesizer circuitry 304 may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.
  • the synthesizer circuitry 304 may include digital synthesizer circuitry.
  • frequency input into synthesizer circuity 304 may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement.
  • VCO voltage controlled oscillator
  • a divider control input may further be provided by either the baseband processing circuitry 108 (FIG. 1) or the application processor 11 1 (FIG. 1) depending on the desired output frequency 305.
  • a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table (e.g., within a Wi-Fi card) based on a channel number and a channel center frequency as determined or indicated by the application processor 1 1 1.
  • synthesizer circuitry 304 may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency 305, while in other embodiments, the output frequency 305 may be a fraction of the carrier frequency (e.g., one-half the carrier frequency, one-third the carrier frequency). In some embodiments, the output frequency 305 may be a LO frequency (fLO).
  • fLO LO frequency
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram of baseband processing circuitry 400 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the baseband processing circuitry 400 is one example of circuitry that may be suitable for use as the baseband processing circuitry 108 (FIG. 1), although other circuitry configurations may also be suitable.
  • the baseband processing circuitry 400 may include a receive baseband processor (RX BBP) 402 for processing receive baseband signals 309 provided by the radio IC circuitry 106 (FIG. 1) and a transmit baseband processor (TX BBP) 404 for generating transmit baseband signals 31 1 for the radio IC circuitry 106.
  • RX BBP receive baseband processor
  • TX BBP transmit baseband processor
  • the baseband processing circuitry 400 may also include control logic 406 for coordinating the operations of the baseband processing circuitry 400.
  • the baseband processing circuitry 400 may include ADC 10 to convert analog baseband signals received from the radio IC circuitry 106 to digital baseband signals for processing by the RX BBP 402. In these embodiments,
  • the baseband processing circuitry 400 may also include DAC 412 to convert digital baseband signals from the TX BBP 404 to analog baseband signals.
  • the transmit baseband processor 404 may be configured to generate OFDM or OFDMA signals as appropriate for transmission by performing an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT).
  • IFFT inverse fast Fourier transform
  • the receive baseband processor 402 may be configured to process received OFDM signals or OFDMA signals by performing an FFT.
  • the receive baseband processor 402 may 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 may be part of a predetermined frame structure for Wi-Fi communication.
  • the antennas 101 may each comprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopoie antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals.
  • the antennas may be effectively separated to take advantage of spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result.
  • Antennas 101 may each include a set of phased-array antennas, although embodiments are not so limited.
  • the radio-architecture 100 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements.
  • DSPs digital signal processors
  • some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein.
  • the functional elements may refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a WLAN 500 in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the WLAN 500 may comprise a basis service set (BSS) that may include a HE access point (AP) 502, which may be an AP, a plurality of high- efficiency wireless (e.g., IEEE 802.1 lax) (HE) stations 504, and a plurality of legacy (e.g., IEEE 802.1 ln/ac) devices 506.
  • BSS basis service set
  • AP HE access point
  • HE high- efficiency wireless
  • legacy e.g., IEEE 802.1 ln/ac
  • the HE AP 502 may be an AP using the IEEE 802.11 to transmit and receive.
  • the HE AP 502 may be a base station.
  • the HE AP 502 may use other communications protocols as well as the IEEE 802.11 protocol.
  • the IEEE 802.11 protocol may be IEEE 802.1 lax.
  • the IEEE 802.11 protocol may include using orthogonal frequency division multiple-access (OFDM A), time division multiple access (TDMA), and/or code division multiple access (CDMA).
  • the IEEE 802.11 protocol may include a multiple access technique.
  • the IEEE 802.11 protocol may include space-division multiple access (SOMA) and/or multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MTMO).
  • SOMA space-division multiple access
  • MU-MTMO multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output
  • There may be more than one HE AP 502 that is part of an extended service set (ESS).
  • a controller (not illustrated) may store information that is common to the more than one
  • the legacy devices 506 may operate in accordance with one or more of IEEE 802, 11 a/b/g n ac/ad/af/ah/aj/ay, or another legacy wireless communication standard.
  • the legacy devices 506 may be STAs or IEEE STAs.
  • the HE STAs 504 may be wireless transmit and receive devices such as cellular telephone, portable electronic wireless communication devices, smart telephone, handheld wireless device, wireless glasses, wireless watch, wireless personal device, tablet, or another device that may be transmitting and receiving using the IEEE 802.11 protocol such as IEEE 802.1 lax or another wireless protocol.
  • the HE STAs 504 may be termed high efficiency (HE) stations.
  • HE high efficiency
  • the HE AP 502 may communicate with legacy devices 506 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques.
  • the HE AP 502 may also be configured to communicate with HE
  • a HE frame may be configurable to have the same bandwidth as a channel.
  • the HE frame may be a physical Layer Convergence Procedure (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU).
  • PLCP physical Layer Convergence Procedure
  • PPDU Protocol Data Unit
  • MAC media access control
  • the bandwidth of a channel may be 20MHz, 40MHz, or 80MHz,
  • the bandwidth of a channel may be 1 MHz, 1.25MHz, 2.03MHz, 2.5MHz, 4.06 MHz, 5MHz and 10MHz, or a combination thereof or another bandwidth that is less or equal to the available bandwidth may also be used.
  • the bandwidth of the channels may be based on a number of active data subcarriers. In some embodiments, the bandwidth of the channels is based on 26, 52, 106, 242, 484, 996, or 2x996 active data subcarriers or tones that are spaced by 20 MHz In some embodiments, the bandwidth of the channels is 256 tones spaced by 20 MHz.
  • the channels are multiple of 26 tones or a multiple of 20 MHz.
  • a 20 MHz channel may comprise 242 active data subcarriers or tones, which may determine the size of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).
  • FFT Fast Fourier Transform
  • An allocation of a bandwidth or a number of tones or sub- carriers may be termed a resource unit (RU) allocation in accordance with some embodiments.
  • the RU are used in the 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz OFDMA HE PPDU formats.
  • the 106-subcarrier RU is used in the 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz OFDMA and MU-MIMO HE PPDU formats.
  • the 242-subcarrier RU is used in the 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz OFDMA and MU- MIMO HE PPDU formats.
  • the 484-subearrier RU is used in the 80 MHz, 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz OFDMA and MU-MIMO HE PPDU formats.
  • the 996-subcarrier RU is used in the 160 MHz and 80+80 MHz OFDMA and MU-MIMO HE PPDU formats.
  • a HE frame may be configured for transmitting a number of spatial streams, which may be in accordance with MU-MIMO and may be in accordance with OFDMA.
  • the HE AP 502, HE STA 504, and/or legacy device 506 may also implement different technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA) 2000, CDMA 2000 IX, CDMA 2000 Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), IEEE 802. 16 (e.g., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), BlueTooth®, or other technologies.
  • CDMA code division multiple access
  • CDMA 2000 IX CDMA 2000 Evolution-Data Optimized
  • EV-DO Evolution-Data Optimized
  • IS-2000 Interim Standard 2000
  • IS-95 IS-95
  • a HE AP 502 may operate as a master station which may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium (e.g., during a contention period) to receive exclusive control of the medium for an HE control period.
  • the HE control period may be termed a transmission opportunity (TXOP).
  • TXOP transmission opportunity
  • the HE AP 502 may transmit a HE master-sync transmission, which may be a trigger frame or HE control and schedule transmission, at the beginning of the HE control period.
  • the HE AP 502 may transmit a time duration of the TXOP and sub-channel information.
  • HE ST As 504 may communicate with the HE AP 502 in accordance with a non-contention based multiple access technique such as OFDMA or MU-MLMO. This is unlike conventional WLAN communications in which devices communicate in accordance with a contention-based communication technique, rather than a multiple access technique.
  • the HE AP 502 may communicate with HE stations 504 using one or more HE frames.
  • the HE STAs 504 may operate on a sub-channel smaller than the operating range of the HE AP 502.
  • legacy stations refrain from communicating. The legacy stations may need to receive the communication from the HE AP 502 to defer from communicating.
  • the HE STAs 504 may contend for the wireless medium with the legacy devices 506 being excluded from contending for the wireless medium during the master-sync transmission.
  • the trigger frame may indicate an uplink (UL) UL- ⁇ - ⁇ and/or UL OFDMA TXOP.
  • the trigger frame may include a DL UL-MU-MIMO and/or DL OFDMA with a schedule indicated in a preamble portion of trigger frame.
  • the multiple-access technique used during the HE TXOP may be a scheduled OFDMA technique, although this is not a requirement.
  • the multiple access technique may be a time-division multiple access (TDM A) technique or a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technique.
  • the multiple access technique may be a space-division multiple access (SDMA) technique.
  • the multiple access technique may be a Code division multiple access (CDM A).
  • the HE AP 502 may also communicate with legacy stations 506 and/or HE stations 504 in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.11 communication techniques.
  • the HE AP 502 may also be configurable to communicate with HE stations 504 outside the HE TXOP in accordance with legacy IEEE 802.1 1 communication techniques, although this is not a requirement.
  • the HE station 504 may be a "group owner" (GO) for peer-to-peer modes of operation.
  • a wireless device may be a HE station 502 or a HE AP 502.
  • the HE station 504 and/or HE AP 502 may be configured to operate in accordance with IEEE 802.1 lmc.
  • the radio architecture of FIG. 1 is configured to implement the HE station 504 and/or the HE AP 502
  • the front-end module circuitry of FIG. 2 is configured to implement the HE station 504 and/or the HE AP 502.
  • the radio IC circuitry of FIG. 3 is configured to implement the HE station 504 and/or the HE AP 502.
  • the base-band processing circuitry of FIG. 4 is configured to implement the HE station 504 and/or the HE AP 502.
  • the HE stations 504, HE AP 502, an apparatus of the HE stations 504, and/or an apparatus of the HE AP 502 may include one or more of the following: the radio architecture of FIG . 1, the front- end module circuitry of FIG. 2, the radio IC circuitry of FIG 3, and/or the baseband processing circuitry of FIG. 4.
  • the radio architecture of FIG. 1, the front-end module circuitry of FIG. 2, the radio IC circuitry of FIG. 3, and/or the base-band processing circuitry of FIG. 4 may be configured to perform the methods and operations/functions herein described in conjunction with FIGS. 1- 15.
  • the HE station 504 and/or the HE AP are HE stations 504 and/or the HE AP.
  • Wi-Fi may refer to one or more of the IEEE 802.1 1
  • AP and STA may refer to HE access point 502 and/or HE station 504 as well as legacy devices 506.
  • a HE AP STA may refer to a HE AP 502 and a HE ST As 504 that is operating a HE APs 502.
  • when an HE STA 504 is not operating as a HE AP it may be referred to as a HE non-AP STA or HE non-AP.
  • HE STA 504 may be referred to as either a HE AP STA or a HE non-AP.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 600 upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may perform.
  • the machine 600 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines.
  • the machine 600 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine, or both in server-client network environments.
  • the machine 600 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P)
  • P2P peer-to-peer
  • the machine 600 may be a HE AP
  • HE station 504 personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable communications device, a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
  • PC personal computer
  • PDA personal digital assistant
  • portable communications device a mobile telephone, a smart phone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.
  • machine shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer cluster configurations.
  • Machine 600 may include a hardware processor 602 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 604 and a static memory 606, some or all of which may communicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 608.
  • a hardware processor 602 e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof
  • main memory 604 e.g., main memory
  • static memory 606 e.g., static memory
  • main memory 604 includes Random Access Memory (RAM), and semiconductor memory devices, which may include, in some embodiments, storage locations in semiconductors such as registers.
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • semiconductor memory devices which may include, in some embodiments, storage locations in semiconductors such as registers.
  • static memory 606 include non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only
  • EPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
  • flash memory devices such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; RAM; and CD-ROM and
  • the machine 600 may further include a display device 610, an input device 612 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 614 (e.g., a mouse).
  • the display device 610, input device 612 and UI navigation device 614 may be a touch screen display.
  • the machine 600 may additionally include a mass storage (e.g., drive unit) 616, a signal generation device 618 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 620, and one or more sensors 621, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass, accelerometer, or other sensor.
  • GPS global positioning system
  • the machine 600 may include an output controller 628, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).
  • a serial e.g., universal serial bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader, etc.).
  • the processor 602 and/or instructions 624 may comprise processing circuitry and/or transceiver circuitry.
  • the storage device 616 may include a machine readable medium
  • the instructions 624 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 604, within static memory 606, or within the hardware processor 602 during execution thereof by the machine 600.
  • the hardware processor 602, the main memory 604, the static memory 606, or the storage device 616 may constitute machine readable media.
  • machine readable media may include: nonvolatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM or EEPROM) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks, RAM; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.
  • nonvolatile memory such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM or EEPROM) and flash memory devices
  • magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks
  • magneto-optical disks e.g., CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.
  • machine readable medium 622 is illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 624.
  • machine readable medium may include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) configured to store the one or more instructions 624.
  • An apparatus of the machine 600 may be one or more of a hardware processor 602 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory 604 and a static memory 606, sensors 62 , network interface device 620, antennas 660, a display device 610, an input device 612, a UI navigation device 614, a mass storage 616, instructions 624, a signal generation device 618, and an output controller 628.
  • the apparatus may be configured to perform one or more of the methods and/or operations disclosed herein.
  • the apparatus may be intended as a component of the machine 600 to perform one or more of the methods and/or operations disclosed herein, and/or to perform a portion of one or more of the methods and/or operations disclosed herein.
  • the apparatus may include a pin or other means to receive power.
  • the apparatus may include power conditioning hardware.
  • machine readable medium may include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by the m achine 600 and that cause the machine 600 to perform any one or more of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions.
  • Non- limiting machine readable medium examples may include solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media.
  • Specific examples of machine readable media may include: non-volatile memory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks;
  • EPROM Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory
  • EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
  • machine readable media may include non- transitory machine readable media.
  • machine readable media may include machine readable media that is not a transitory propagating signal.
  • the instructions 624 may further be transmitted or received over a communications network 626 using a transmission medium via the network interface device 620 utilizing any one of a number of transfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP), transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.).
  • Example communication networks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks).
  • Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks and wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 1 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16 family of standards known as WiMax ⁇ ), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) family of standards, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) family of standards, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others.
  • IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • Wi-Fi® IEEE 802.16 family of standards known as WiMax ⁇
  • Wi-Fi® Wireless Fidelity
  • WiMax ⁇ wireless wide area network
  • the network interface device 620 may include one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or more antennas to connect to the communications network 626, In an example, the network interface device 620 may include one or more antennas 660 to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-input multiple-output
  • the network interface device 620 may wirelessly communicate using Multiple User MIMO techniques.
  • transmission medium shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machine 600, and includes digital or analog communications signals or other intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software.
  • Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms.
  • Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner.
  • circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to external entities such as other circuits) in a specified manner as a module.
  • the whole or part of one or more computer systems e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system
  • one or more hardware processors may be configured by firmware or software (e.g., instructions, an application portion, or an application) as a module that operates to perform specified operations.
  • the software may reside on a machine readable medium.
  • the software when executed by the underlying hardware of the module, causes the hardware to perform the specified operations.
  • module is understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specifically configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily) configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or to perform part or all of any operation described herein.
  • each of the modules need not be instantiated at any one moment in time.
  • the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processor configured using software
  • the general-purpose hardware processor may be configured as respective different modules at different times.
  • Software may accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, to constitute a particular module at one instance of time and to constitute a different module at a different instance of time.
  • Some embodiments may be implemented fully or partially in software and/or firmware.
  • This software and/or firmware may take the form of instructions contained in or on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Those instructions may then be read and executed by one or more processors to enable performance of the operations described herein.
  • the instructions may be in any suitable form, such as but not limited to source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like.
  • Such a computer-readable medium may include any tangible non- transitory medium for storing information in a form readable by one or more computers, such as but not limited to read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory, etc.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless device 700 upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies or operations) discussed herein may perform.
  • the wireless device 700 may be a HE device.
  • the wireless device 700 may be a HE STA 504 and/or HE AP 502 (e.g., FIG. 5).
  • a HE STA 504 and/or HE AP 502 may include some or all of the components shown in FIGS. 1-15.
  • the wireless device 700 may be an example machine 600 as disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 6.
  • the wireless device 700 may include processing circuitry 708.
  • the processing circuitry 708 may include a transceiver 702, physical layer circuitry (PHY circuitry) 704, and MAC layer circuitry (MAC circuitry) 706, one or more of which may enable transmission and reception of signals to and from other wireless devices 700 (e.g., HE AP 502, HE STA 504, and/or legacy devices 506) using one or more antennas 712.
  • the PHY circuitry 704 may perform various encoding and decoding functions that may include formation of baseband signals for transmission and decoding of received signals.
  • the transceiver 702 may perform various transmission and reception functions such as conversion of signals between a baseband range and a Radio Frequency (RF) range.
  • RF Radio Frequency
  • the PHY " circuitry 704 and the transceiver 702 may be separate components or may be part of a combined component, e.g., processing circuitry 708.
  • some of the described functionality related to transmission and reception of signals may be performed by a combination that may include one, any or all of the PHY circuitry 704 the transceiver 702, MAC circuitry 706, memory 710, and other components or layers.
  • the MAC circuitry 706 may control access to the wireless medium.
  • the wireless device 700 may also include memory 710 arranged to perform the operations described herein, e.g., some of the operations described herein may be performed by instructions stored in the memory 710.
  • the antennas 712 may comprise one or more directional or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example, dipole antennas, monopoie antennas, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals.
  • the antennas 712 may be effectively separated to take advantage of spatial diversity and the different channel characteristics that may result.
  • One or more of the memory 710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706, the antennas 712, and/or the processing circuitry 708 may be coupled with one another.
  • memory 710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706, the antennas 712 are illustrated as separate components, one or more of memory 710, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706, the antennas 712 may be integrated in an electronic package or chip.
  • the wireless device 700 may be a mobile device as described in conjunction with FIG. 6.
  • the wireless device 700 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more wireless communication standards as described herein (e.g., as described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-6, IEEE 802.11).
  • the wireless device 700 may include one or more of the components as described in conjunction with FIG. 6 (e.g., display device 610, input device 612, etc.)
  • the wireless device 700 is illustrated as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements, such as processing elements including digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements.
  • DSPs digital signal processors
  • some elements may comprise one or more microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) and combinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing at least the functions described herein.
  • the functional elements may refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements.
  • an apparatus of or used by the wireless device 700 may include various components of the wireless device 700 as shown in FIG. 7 and/or components from FIGS. 1-6. Accordingly, techniques and operations described herein that refer to the wireless device 700 may be applicable to an apparatus for a wireless device 700 (e.g., FIE AP 502 and/or FIE STA 504), in some embodiments.
  • the wireless device 700 is configured to decode and/or encode signals, packets, and/or frames as described herein, e.g., PPDUs.
  • the MAC circuitry 706 may be arranged to contend for a wireless medium during a contention period to receive control of the medium for a HE TXOP and encode or decode an HE PPDU. In some embodiments, the MAC circuitry 706 may be arranged to contend for the wireless medium based on channel contention settings, a transmitting power level, and a clear channel assessment level (e.g., an energy detect level).
  • a clear channel assessment level e.g., an energy detect level
  • the PHY circuitry 704 may be arranged to transmit signals in accordance with one or more communication standards described herein.
  • the PHY circuitry 704 may be configured to transmit a HE PPDU.
  • the PHY circuitry 704 may include circuitry for modulation/demodulation, upconversion/downconversion, filtering, amplification, etc. In some
  • the processing circuitry 708 may include one or more processors.
  • the processing circuitry 708 may be configured to perform functions based on instructions being stored in a RAM or ROM, or based on special purpose circuitry.
  • the processing circuitry 708 may include a processor such as a general-purpose processor or special purpose processor.
  • the processing circuitry 708 may implement one or more functions associated with antennas 712, the transceiver 702, the PHY circuitry 704, the MAC circuitry 706, and/or the memory 710. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 708 may be configured to perform one or more of the functions/operations and/or methods described herein.
  • communication between a station (e.g., the HE stations 504 of FIG. 5 or wireless device 700) and an access point (e.g., the HE AP 502 of FIG. 5 or wireless device 700) may use associated effective wireless channels that are highly directionaily dependent.
  • beamforming techniques may be utilized to radiate energy in a certain direction with certain beam width to communicate between two devices.
  • the directed propagation concentrates transmitted energy toward a target device in order to compensate for significant energy loss in the channel between the two communicating devices.
  • Using directed transmission may extend the range of the millimeter- wave communication versus utilizing the same transmitted energy in omni-directional propagation.
  • FIG 8 shows two message exchanges between an access point and four illustrated stations.
  • FIG. 8 shows the access point 810 first transmitting a trigger message 802a.
  • the trigger message 802a may identify a first group of stations 812a that are to respond to the trigger message.
  • the stations 820 and 830 may be included in the first group of stations 812a. Other stations, not illustrated in FIG. 8, may also be included in the first group of stations 812a.
  • the stations identified by the trigger message 802a may respond via a multi-user uplink message 803a to the access point 810.
  • the responses may be in the form of sounding messages.
  • the responses 804a-b are null data packet (NDP) feedback reports.
  • the messages may indicate a queued buffer status of the responding stations in some aspects.
  • NDP null data packet
  • the individual responses 804a-b may be encoded in a preamble of the multi-user uplink message 803a.
  • the multiuser uplink message 803a may not include a data portion, and may only include the preamble portion.
  • FIG. 8 shows that each of the two responses 804a-b include four (4) long training fields 805a ⁇ d and 805e-h respectively.
  • the responses from each of the stations 820 and 830 may be encoded in different portions of the four long training fields 805a-d and 805e-h. For example, as shown in FIG.
  • ST A 820 may respond via an allocation 820a in the four long training fields 805a-d and STA 830 may respond in an allocation 820b of the four long training fields 805e ⁇ f
  • FIG. 8 shows the four long training fields 805a-d and 805e-h as different long training fields, they might be considered an integrated set of long training fields.
  • combined transmissions of the stations 820 and 830, along with other stations in the group 812a may collectively form a single set of four long training fields.
  • a portion of long training field 805a, transmitted by STA 820, combined with a different portion of long training field 805e, transmitted by STA 830, may be transmitted simultaneously and received by the AP 810 as a single long training field having energy at both allocations 820a and 820b.
  • energy may also be present at other allocations within the four long training fields, corresponding to the allocations of those other STAs,
  • Other embodiments may utilize more or few long training fields than the four shown in FIG. 8. Further example preamble portions are illustrated below with respect to FIG. 10.
  • the complete response from each station may be encoded in the set of one or more long training fields included in the multi-user preamble (i.e. 805a-d and 805e-h).
  • the stations 820 and 830 transmit responses 804a-b simultaneously as part of the multi-user uplink message 803a in response to the trigger message 802a.
  • the complete responses 804a-b are encoded in the set of long training fields in the multi-user uplink message (805a-d and 805e-h), a finite number of symbols are available for encoding the responses, and therefore a limit is present in terms of how many responses may physically be encoded in the single multiuser uplink response 803a.
  • FIG. 8 demonstrates an environment where a number of stations associated with the AP 810 exceeds the number of responses that may physically be encoded within the single multi-user uplink response 803a. While FIG. 8 shows only two stations transmitting responses within multi-user uplink message 803a, this is only due to space constraints within the figure, and in real world application of the described process, a number of stations participating in the multi-user transmission 803a may be substantially higher, for example, 36 or more stations may participate in the single multi-user transmission 803a in some aspects.
  • a second message exchange including the trigger message 802b and multi-user uplink transmission 803b may be necessary to obtain responses from all or most associated stations.
  • the second multi-user uplink transmission 803b includes at least responses 804c-d from stations 840 and 850 respectively.
  • the responses 804c-d are NDP feedback reports.
  • one or more stations may respond in a single multi-user uplink response message such as 803b, including, in some aspects, seventy or more stations, again depending on a number of stations associated with the access point 810.
  • STA 840 may transmit on an allocation 820c while STA 850 transmits simultaneously on an allocation 820d.
  • FIG. 8 demonstrates two message exchanges including trigger messages 802a-b and multi-user uplink responses 803 a-b respectively in some aspects, fewer or additional exchanges may be needed for all or most stations associated with an access point to provide sounding information to the access point, depending on the number of stations associated with the AP 810.
  • each message may include a number of overhead bytes.
  • each multi-user message 803a may include a legacy preamble, signal fields, short training fields, and potentially other signally.
  • the additional overhead of this per packet or per message transmission is incurred.
  • One technical solution to this technical problem is to include the responses for all four stations 820,830,840, and 850 in a single message including only one legacy preamble, set of signal fields, and associated signaling, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 9.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates another message exchange between an access point and associated stations that may be implemented by some of the disclosed embodiments.
  • FIG. 9 shows transmission by the AP 910 of a trigger frame 902a.
  • the trigger frame 902a may be a NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • the multi-user uplink transmission 903 is comprised of individual transmissions 904a-d illustrated in FIG. 9.
  • the individual transmissions 904a-d may be NDP feedback reports.
  • the responses may include status information with respect to buffered data at each of the responding STAs.
  • the responses 904a-d differ from responses 804a-d illustrated in FIG.
  • the multi-user uplink transmission 903 includes two sets of four long training fields (eight long traimng fields total) 912a-b.
  • the multi-user uplink transmission 903 includes two sets of four long training fields (eight long traimng fields total) 912a-b.
  • more stations may participate in a multi-user uplink transmission 903 including simultaneous transmission of the messages 904a-d.
  • ST As 920 and 930 transmit their portions of the multi-user uplink transmission 903 in allocations 920a-b, which are part of the first four long training fields 912a, represented by 905a-d for STA 920 and 906a-d for STA 930 as shown in FIG. 9. Similar to the illustration of FIG. 8, while FIG.
  • FIG. 9 shows separate long training fields 905a-d and 9()6a-d transmitted by stations STA 920 and 930 respectively, this is for ease of illustration only.
  • stations 920 and 930 transmit on onl y a portion of tones avail able in the first set of long training fields (e.g. four (4) LTFs) immediately following preamble fields of the multi-user transmission 903 (such as a legacy preamble, signal field, one or more short training fields, etc - for example, as illustrated below in FIG. 10).
  • ST As 940 and 950 transmit on allocations 922a-b, which are included in a second set of long training fields 912b shown as 907e-h for STA 930 and 9()8e-h for STA 940.
  • FIG. 10 shows examples of two messages, either of which may be transmitted in one or more of the disclosed embodiments.
  • a first message 1000 includes a legacy preamble, a high efficiency signal A field 1004, a high efficiency signal B field 1006, and four high efficiency long training fields 1008a-d.
  • the first message 1000 may also include a packet extension field 1009.
  • multiple groups of stations may respond to a trigger frame using multiple transmissions of the frame 1000.
  • each transmission of frame 1000 may be separated in time by a SIFS.
  • the first message 1000 may encode sounding responses from a plurality of ST As.
  • the encoded sounding responses may be NDP feedback reports.
  • the first message 1000 may encode status responses from each of the responding STAs, with the status indicating a buffer state on the responding STA.
  • FIG. 10 also shows a second message 1010,
  • the second message 1010 includes a legacy preamble 1012, high efficiency signal A field 1014, high effi ciency short training field 1016, a first set of four high effi ciency long training fields 101 l a, which includes individual fields 1018a-d, and a second set of four high efficiency long training fields 1011b, which includes individual long training fields 102()a-d.
  • the first set of four high efficiency long training fields 1018a-d may encode responses from a first set of stations to an access point
  • the second set of four high effi ciency long training fields 1020a-d may encode responses from a second set of stations to the access point.
  • the second message 1010 may encode sounding responses from a plurality of STAs.
  • the encoded sounding responses may be NDP feedback reports.
  • the second message 1010 may encode status responses from each of the responding STAs, with the status indicating a buffer state on the responding STA.
  • the message 1010 may provide for a greater capacity in responses than the message 1000.
  • the message 1010 may include one or more additional sets of four high efficiency long training fields (not shown).
  • the message 1010 may include 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, or any multiple of four number of long training fields, with each set of four long training fields encoding responses from a different set of stations.
  • a high efficiency signal A field such as high efficiency signal A field 1014 may be included in each set of four (4) long training fields 101 la-b.
  • the frame 1010 may also include a packet extension field 1020 after the groups of four long training fields, as shown.
  • a packet extension field may be included in each group of four long training fields 101 la-b.
  • One advantage of the frame 1010 when compared to multiple transmissions of the frame 1000 is there may be less overhead. Multiple transmissions of the frame 1000 results in multiple transmissions of the legacy preamble 1002, and one or more of the HE-SIGA field 1004, HE-STF field 1006 and the PE field 1009 (when present). A single transmission of the frame 1010 may not require multiple transmissions of one or more of these fields in some aspects.
  • FIG. 1 1 A illustrates an example format of a trigger frame.
  • the trigger frame 1100 may be referred to in some embodiments as a NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • the trigger frame 1 100 includes a frame control field 1102, duration field 1104, receiver address field 1106, transmitter address field 1108, common info field 1 110, one or more user info fields 1112a-n, padding field 1116, and a frame check sequence field 1118.
  • the frame control field may include a type field 1122 and a subtype field 1124. In some aspects, a first predetermined value in the type field 1122 and a second predetermined value in the subtype field 1124 may identify the frame 1100 as a trigger frame.
  • the common info field 1 110 may include a trigger type field
  • a first predetermined value in the trigger type field 1132 may indicate that the trigger frame 1100 solicits sounding feedback by stations addressed by the trigger frame 1100.
  • a second predetermined value in the trigger type field 1132 may indicate that the trigger frame 1100 solicits queued buffer status
  • the trigger requests an indication of whether a station receiving the trigger has data queued up waiting for transmission to an access point.
  • the common info field 1110 may also include a multiplexing flag field 1134, a tones per index field 1 136, and a number of tone indexes field 1 138. These fields may define how allocations for each device within an AID numerical range are provided.
  • the tones per index field 1136 may indicate a number of tones in each group that is allocated to a particular STA. For example, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 12, in some aspects, six tones are allocated to each STA.
  • the number of tone indexes field 1138 may indicate how many groups of tones are provided for the stations identifi ed by a user info field 1 12a-n. For example, in the example of FIG. 12 below, 18 tone groups are provided within each p matrix code.
  • the multiplexing flag 1134 may indicate whether multipie p matrix codes are used in the allocation. While FIG. 11 A shows the multiplexing flag as one bit, in some embodiments it may be more than one bit. For example, when using only one bit for the multiplexing flag, only two p matrix codes may be supported. If a larger number of p matrix codes are supported, the multiplexing flag field 1134 may be more than two bits, including for example, three (3) or four (4) bits in length in various embodiments to indicate a number of p matrix codes used to multiplex data for multiple STAs across a tone index.
  • FIG. 1A shows the multiplexing flag 1 134, tones per index field 1 136, and # of tone indexes fields as included in the common info field 1 I 10, in other aspects, these fields may be included in a user info field, such as user info field 11 12a. In some aspects, there may be only a single user info field 11 12a in the trigger frame 1100. In these aspects, having the fields 1 134, 1136, and 1138 in the user info field 1 1 12 will not result in any repetition of these fields.
  • An example format of a trigger frame in such an implementation is discussed further below with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • a receiving station may decode one or more of the multiplexing flag 1 134, tones per index field 1136, and/or number of tone indexes field 1 138 to determine where its allocation falls in a group of long training fields.
  • the one or more user info fields 1 1 12a-n may each include a device identifier field 1140.
  • Each of the device identifier fields 1 140 in one or more user info fields 1112a-n in the trigger frame 1100 may identify, a numerical range of device identifiers for devices that are to respond to the trigger frame.
  • the range of device identifiers identify devices that are to respond via an allocation within a single group of long training fields (e.g. one of 101 la or 101 lb).
  • a first group of devices identified by a first user info field (e.g. 1 1 12a) may respond in an allocation of a first set of long training fields (e.g.
  • a second group of devices identified by a second user info field may respond in an allocation of a second set of long training fields (e.g. 820a-d or 101 lb).
  • One or more of the first or second group of devices may be identified via an association identifier in the device identifier field 1112.
  • a first association identifier may indicate a starting association identifier in a first sequential set of association identifiers that identify the first group of devices.
  • a second association identifier in a second device id field (e.g. 1112b) may identify a starting association identifier in a second sequential set of association identifiers that identify the second group of devices. While the fields of FIG. 11 A are shown with example lengths in bits or bytes, other field lengths are contemplated and the disclosed embodiments are not limited to fields having the lengths indicated in FIG. 1 1 A,
  • FIG. 1 IB shows an alternative implementation of a trigger frame.
  • the trigger frame 1150 illustrated in FIG. 1 I B may be referred to in some embodiments as a NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • the trigger frame 1150 includes a frame control field 1152, duration field 1154, receiver address field 1156, transmitter address field 58, common info field 1160, a common info for ST A range field 1162a-n, padding field 1166, and a frame check sequence field 1168.
  • the frame control field may include a type field 1172 and a subtype field 1 174.
  • a first predetermined value in the type field 172 and a second predetermined value in the subtype field 174 may identify the frame 1150 as a trigger frame having the format shown in FIG. 1 IB.
  • the common info field 1160 may include a trigger type field 182.
  • a first predetermined value in the trigger type field 182 may indicate that the trigger frame 1 150 solicits sounding feedback by stations addressed by the trigger frame 1150.
  • a second predetermined value in the trigger type field 1182 may indicate that the trigger frame 1 150 solicits queued buffer status
  • the trigger 1150 may indicate a request for a second indication of whether a station receiving the trigger has data queued up waiting for transmission to an access point.
  • the common info field for ST A range field 1162a-n each may include a device identifier field 1180.
  • the device identifier field 1180 may identify, a numerical range of device (e.g. station) identifiers (e.g. association identifiers) for devices that are to respond to the trigger frame 1 50.
  • the range of device identifiers identify devices that are to respond via an allocation within a single group of long training fields (e.g. one of 101 l a or 101 lb).
  • a first association identifier value in the device id field 180 may indicate a starting association identifier in a first sequential set of association identifiers that identify a first group of devices (e.g. stations) that are to respond to the trigger frame.
  • the size of the range of devices identified by the device id field 1180 may be determined based on the other fields of the common info for ST A range field(s) 1 162a-n, as discussed below.
  • the common info for ST A range field(s) 162a-n may also include a multiplexing flag field 1187, a tones per index field 1 186, and a number of tone indexes field 1 188. These fields may define how allocations for each device within an AID numerical range (specified in the device id field 1 180) are provided.
  • the tones per index field 186 may indicate a number of tones in each group that is allocated to a particular STA. For example, as discussed below with respect to FIG. 12, in some aspects, six tones are allocated to each STA.
  • the number of tone indexes field 1188 may indicate how many groups of tones are provided for the stations identified by a device identifier field 180. For example, in the example of FIG.
  • the multiplexing flag 1 184 may indicate whether multiple p matrix codes are used in the allocation. While FIG. 1 IB shows the multiplexing flag 1184 as one bit, in some embodiments it may be more than one bit. For example, when using only one bit for the multiplexing flag 1184, only two p matrix codes may be supported. If a larger number of p matrix codes are supported, the multiplexing flag field 1 184 may be more than two bits, including for example, three (3) or four (4) bits in length in various embodiments,
  • a station receiving the trigger frame 1 150 may decode one or more of the multiplexing flag 1184, tones per index field 1 186, and/or number of tone indexes field 1188 to determine where its allocation falls in a group of long training fields,
  • embodiments are not limited to fields having the lengths indicated in FIG. 1 1 B.
  • FIG . 12 shows an example allocation of tones in four long training fields to a plurality of stations with association identifiers within a numerical range.
  • the example allocation 1200 of F IG. 12 is for 20 MHz of bandwidth.
  • six tones are allocated to each station for a response. This may be indicated in the tones per index field 1136 of the common info field 11 10 as discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 1 A or the tones per index field 1186 of the common info for ST A range field(s) 1162a-n as discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • the particular tones allocated to each station are based on a station's identifier, in some aspects, this is the station's association identifier.
  • a first set of tones are allocated under p matrix zero (0) to the first eighteen (18) AIDs in an AID numerical range, starting with AID 1205.
  • the number of tone indexes in the first group, i.e. 18, may be indicated in the number of tone indexes field 1138 in some aspects.
  • each set of tones (e.g. 6 tones in FIG. 12) may be assigned an index.
  • the index represents an offset from a start of a tone allocation for a particular p matrix code. As shown, the index starts at one and increments for groups of six tones within a particular p matrix code. Thus, for p matrix code zero, the index runs from one (1) to 18. The index then starts at one again for p matrix 1, and increments from one (1) to 18 again.
  • device AID is the association identifier of the device determining its tone allocation.
  • starting AID is the association identifier that is the first association identifier in a numerical range (e.g. device id 134/1184).
  • Cnumtone indexes IS the number of tone indexes that are allocated within a reference bandwidth.
  • the reference bandwidth is 20 Mhz.
  • G mm tone indexes is eighteen in these examples, (e.g. 1138/1 188). In the example of FIG. 1 2, this value is 18).
  • BW is the index for the bandwidth being encoded. BW is set as follows;
  • the device may also determine a space time stream number.
  • the starting space time stream number is equivalent to the p matrix index discussed here. In some aspects, this may be determined via Equation 2 below:
  • Equation 2 where the components of Equation 2 are defined in the same manner as explained above for Equation 1.
  • the starting short training symbol number is an index of a p-matrix code (of dimension 4x4),
  • all codes are spread on four HE-LTFs and there are four orthogonal codes available.
  • the disclosed embodiments may include multiple groups of four long training fields, with each group of four including allocations as discussed above. Therefore, for example, in 20 Mhz embodiments including two groups of four long training fields, up to 72 stations may provide sounding information in one response (36
  • FIG. 13 illustrates two embodiments 1300 and 1350 showing correspondence between multiple numerical ranges of devices indicated in a trigger frame and multiple sets of long training iields that may be allocated to the devices.
  • FIG. 13 shows three user info fields 1 112a-c.
  • the three user info fields 1 1 12a-c may, in some aspects, be included in a trigger frame, such as the trigger frame 1 100 illustrated above with respect to FIG. 11 A.
  • devices identified by each of the user info fields 1112a-c or the common info for ST A range field(s) 1162a-n may participate in a joint transmission 1302.
  • the joint transmission may include, among other data, one or more sets of long training fields. As shown in FIG.
  • the joint transmission 1302 includes three sets of long training fields 1304a-c.
  • Each set of long training fields 1304a-c includes four training fields. Other embodiments may include more or fewer training fields in each set.
  • FIG. 13 shows that devices identified by a range indicated in user info field 112a (e.g. via device identifier field 1 140 in some aspects) may be allocated a portion of the training fields within set 1304a.
  • devices identified by the first user info field 1112a are allocated within the first set of training fields 1304a.
  • Devices identified by the second user info field 1112b are allocated within the second set of training fields 1304b.
  • Devices identified by the third user info field 1112c are allocated with the third set of training fields 1304c.
  • a device identified in, for example, a second device range indicated in a message e.g. via user info field 1112b
  • trigger message 1100 of FIG. 1 I A may understand that its allocation is provided within a second set of training fields (e.g. 1304b).
  • FIG. 13 shows three common info for an
  • the three common info for an ST A range fields 1162a-c may, in some aspects, be included in a trigger frame, such as the trigger frame 1150 illustrated above with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • devices identified by each of the common info for an ST A range fields 1 162a-c may participate in a joint transmission 1312.
  • the joint transmission may include, among other data, one or more sets of long training fields. As shown in FIG. 13, the joint transmission 1312 includes three sets of long training fields
  • Each set of long training fields 1314a-c includes four training fields.
  • FIG. 1 may include more or fewer training fields in each set.
  • devices identified by a range indicated in common info for STA range field 1 62a may be allocated a portion of the training fields within set 1314a.
  • devices identified by the first common info for STA range field 1 162a are allocated within the first set of training fields 1314a.
  • devices identified by the second common info for an ST A range fields 1 162b are allocated within the second set of training fields 1314b.
  • Devices identified by the third common info for an STA range fields 1 162c are allocated with the third set of training fields 1314c.
  • an order of device ranges e.g.
  • a device identified in, for example, a second device range indicated in a message e.g. via common info for an STA range fields 1 162b
  • trigger message 1 150 of FIG. 1 IB may understand that its allocation is provided within a second set of training fields (e.g. 1314b).
  • FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a method of encoding and transmitting a message.
  • a device performing process 1400 may be referred to as an "executing device.”
  • one or more of the functions discussed below with respect to process 1400 and FIG. 14 may be performed by the application processor 1 1 , In some aspects, one or more of the functions discussed below with respect to process 1400 and FIG. 14 may be performed by the control logic 406.
  • Block 1410 encodes a message to indicate a numerical range of device identifiers.
  • the message is encoded as a trigger frame.
  • the trigger message is an NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • the message also indicates that devices having a device identifier within the range are to transmit a message in response to the message.
  • the message sent in response is an NDP feedback report.
  • encoding a message may include allocating memory for the message and initializing the memory consistent with a format of the message.
  • the memory may be initialized or assigned values in a format consistent with one or more fields of message 1 100.
  • the memory may be initialized or assigned values in a format consistent with one or more fields of the message 1150.
  • the type field 1 122 may be assigned a first predetermined value and the subtype field 1 24 may be assigned a second predetermined value.
  • the combination of the fi rst predetermi ned value and the second predetermined value may indicate that the message is a trigger frame.
  • the trigger type field 1 132 in the message may be initialed to indicate the trigger is for a NDP feedback report.
  • a user info field of the message may be set to identify the numerical range.
  • the range may be identified in some aspects by setting the device id field 1140 to an association identifier of a device at a beginning or start of the identified range.
  • a common info for STA range field(s) e.g. 1162a-n
  • the numerical range may be identified in some aspects, by setting the device id field 1180 to an association identifier of a device (e.g. station) at a beginning or start of the identified range (e.g. a lowest numerical AID in the range).
  • Tone allocations for the devices in the range may also be defined by fields encoded in the message (e.g. common info field 160 or common info for STA range field 1162).
  • the number of devices within the numerical range may be determined based on the number of tone indexes field 1 138 or 1 188 and the multiplexing flag field 1134 or 1184, discussed above with respect to FIGs. 1 1 A-B. If the multiplexing flag field 1134/1 184 is clear (0), then the number of devices in the range is equivalent to a value in the number of tone indexes field 1 138/1 188.
  • the number of tone indexes in the example 1200 of FIG. 12 above is eighteen ( 18).
  • the common info field 1 10 or common info for STA range field(s) 1162a-n may be further set to indicate a number of tones per index. In some aspects, this may be indicated in the tones per index field 1 136 or 1 186 respectively. For example, as discussed above, the number of tones per index is six (6).
  • the message may be further encoded to indicate a second range of devices.
  • the second range of devices may be indicated via a second user info field, such as any of user info fields 1 112h-n of FIG. 1 1 A. How tones are allocated to the second set of devices may be performed in a similar manner as that described above with respect to the first set of devices.
  • the second user info field may also include one or more of a multiplexing flag 1134, tones per index field 1 136, and/or number of tone indexes field 1 138.
  • the allocation defined for the second range of stations may be provided via a second set of four long training fields included in a response message (e.g. 101 lb of message 1010).
  • the message may be further encoded to indicate one or more of a third, fourth, fifth, six, seventh, eighth range of devices in a similar manner as described above.
  • Each range of devices may transmit information in a set of four long training fields. No limit on the number of ranges that could be indicated by the message is contemplated.
  • block 1420 the station is configured to transmit the message encoded in block 1410.
  • the executing device is the station.
  • block 1420 includes the application processor 1 1 communicating the message to baseband processing circuitry 108.
  • a pointer to a start of the memory discussed above may be passed to the baseband processing circuitry 108, along with a command indication to send the message.
  • each byte or word of the memory defining the message may be individually written by the application processor 111 to the baseband processing circuitry.
  • a DMA (direct memory access) mechanism may be used.
  • both the application processor 11 1 and the baseband processing circuitry 108 may have access to a shared memory, and communication of the contents of the memory may occur via the shared memory.
  • the command to transmit the message may also pass from the application processor 111 to the baseband processing circuity 108 via the shared memory.
  • an interrupt triggered by the application processor 111 for the baseband processing circuitry 108 may provide a signal for the baseband processing circuitry to read the shared memory.
  • process 1400 further includes receiving data from devices in the first range of devices.
  • the data are NDP feedback reports.
  • the data may be decoded based on the tone allocations encoded in the message in block 1410.
  • each set of tones allocated to a particular device may be decoded to determine if the particular device responded to the message encoded in block 1 10. If the received energy for the allocated tones is above a threshold, the executing device may determine that the particular device has responded to the encoded message. The response may be used, in some aspects, to determine a target received signal strength indication for the particular device. In some other aspects, the response may be decoded to determine if the particular device has data buffered and available to send to the executing device,
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a method of encoding and transmitting a message.
  • a device performing process 1400 may be referred to as an "executing device.”
  • one or more of the functions discussed below with respect to process 1500 and FIG. 15 may be performed by the application processor 11 1.
  • one or more of the functions discussed below with respect to process 1500 and FIG. 15 may be performed by the control logic 406.
  • a message is decoded by the executing device.
  • the message is decoded to determine a numerical range of device identifiers to respond to the message.
  • the message may indicate a device identifier that begins the numerical range (e.g. a lowest numerical AID in the range).
  • the message may be received from an access point.
  • the message may be a trigger message, such as the trigger message 1 100 discussed above with respect to FIG. 11 A or the trigger frame 1 150 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • the message may be a NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • block 1410 includes decoding one or more user info fields (e.g.
  • the message may be further decoded to determine a type of response that is to be provided.
  • the decoded message may be a trigger message, such as trigger message 1100 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 1 A or trigger frame 1 50 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • the trigger type field may be a trigger message, such as trigger message 1100 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 1 A or trigger frame 1 50 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 IB.
  • the trigger type field 1132/1182 may indicate whether a sounding message (such as an NDP feedback report) or an indication of whether the executing device has data buffered for transmission is requested in response to the message (e.g. via a first and second predetermined value respectively),
  • Decision block 1520 determines if a device identifier of the executing device is within the range indicated in the decoded message. Thus, in some aspects, block 1520 may compare an association identifier or MAC address of the executing device to the range of device identifi ers indicated in the decoded message. In aspects utilizing an association identifier, the association identifier may be obtained by the executing device as a result of an association process performed with an access point, such as an access point from which the message decoded in block 1510 is received.
  • a field of the message may be decoded to determine a starting or beginning device identifier for the range.
  • the device identifier may be an association identifier.
  • An ending identifier for the range may be determined by adding a number of devices in the range to the starting device identifier.
  • the number of devices in the range may be based on one or more of a number of tones allocated to each device in the range (as a tone group), a number of tone ranges provided to the devices within the range of device identifiers, and/or whether the allocations to the devices in the range are multiplexed.
  • the number of devices in the range may be the number of tone indexes provided to the devices in the range.
  • the number of devices in the range may be doubled when compared to if the allocation is not multiplexed. If the executing device's identifier is within the range, then process 1500 moves to block 1 530, which determines a set of tones allocated to the executing device.
  • This determination of which tones are allocated to the executing device may be based, in some aspects, on one or more indications decoded from the message. In addition, which tones are allocated to the executing device may be based on a relative position of a device identifier (e.g. AID) for the executing device within the range. For example, in some aspects, block 1530 may decode one or more of the multiplexing flag 1134/1 184, tones per index field 1136/1186 and/or the number of tone indexes field 1 138/1188. In some aspects, tones allocated to the executing device may be determined according to one or more of Equation 1 and/or Equation 2, presented above.
  • Equation 1 may be used, in combination with one or more of the fields in the trigger message indicating how the allocation is provided to each station in the range (e.g. one or more of fields 1 136/1186, and/or 1138/1188) to identify a tone index for the executing device (e.g. such as tone indexes shown in FIG. 12).
  • Equation 2 may be used in some aspects to determine a starting short training symbol number. The starting short training symbol number may be used to determine which p matrix code is allocated to the executing device.
  • field 1134/1184 of the trigger message 1100/1150 may be used to determine the starting short training symbol number.
  • the executing device may select a set of long training fields in which an allocation for the executing device is provided. For example, as discussed above with respect to FIGs. 11A-13, in some aspects, multiple ranges may be indicated by the message. The executing device may decode one or more of the indicated ranges and determine in which range the executing device is included. The executing device may then identify a corresponding set of long training fields in the second message that includes the allocation for the executing device. For example, if the executing device is included in the first range, a first set of long training fields may contain the allocation for the executing device.
  • a second or third range indicated in the message includes the executing device
  • the executing device's allocation will be included in the second or third set of long training fields respectively.
  • an ordinal position of a range in a plurality of ranges in which the executing device is identified defines an ordinal position in a plurality of sets of long training fields in which the allocation for the executing device is provided.
  • a station is configured to transmit data on the determined tone allocation.
  • the station is the executing device.
  • the station is configured to transmit on the tones determined to be allocated to the executing device in block 1530,
  • block 1540 includes generating a sounding message or generating a message indicating whether the executing device has data buffered for transmission. Which message is generated in block 1540 may be based on a trigger type indication decoded from the message in block 151.0. For example, if the trigger type indication (e.g. 1 132 or 1182) has a first predetermined value, it may indicate a request for sounding data. If the trigger type indication (e.g. 1 132 or 182) has a second predetermined value, it may indicate a request for buffer status. The station may then be configured to transmit the generated message.
  • the trigger type indication e.g. 1 132 or 1182
  • the trigger type indication e.g. 1 132 or 182
  • the station may then be configured to transmit the generated message.
  • block 1540 includes the application processor 111 communicating the message to baseband processing circuitry 108.
  • a pointer to a start of the memory discussed above may be passed to the baseband processing circuitry 108, along with a command indication to send the message.
  • each byte or word of the memory defining the message may be individually written by the application processor 1 11 to the baseband processing circuitry.
  • a DMA (direct memory access) mechanism may be used.
  • both the application processor 1 1 1 and the baseband processing circuitry 108 may have access to a shared memory, and communication of the contents of the memory may occur via the shared memory.
  • the command to transmit the message may also pass from the application processor 1 1 1 to the baseband processing circuity 108 via the shared memory.
  • an interrupt triggered by the application processor 1 1 1 for the baseband processing circuitry 108 may provide a signal for the baseband processing circuitry to read the shared memory.
  • Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms.
  • Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner.
  • circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to external entities such as other circuits) in a specified manner as a module.
  • the whole or part of one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or more hardware processors may be configured by firmware or software (e.g., instructions, an application portion, or an application) as a module that operates to perform specified operations.
  • the software may- reside on a machine readable medium.
  • the software when executed by the underlying hardware of the module, causes the hardware to perform the specified operations.
  • Example 1 is an apparatus of a high efficiency (HE) access point
  • HE AP comprising memory; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuitry configured to: encode a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate a numerical range, the numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs), the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that first HE ST As having an AID in the numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a NDP feedback report as a response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating tone allocations for each of the first HE ST As feedback report responses to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame, and configure the HE AP to transmit the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame; and decode NDP feedback reports from the first HE ST As according to the indicated tone allocations.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 2 the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes wherein the processing circuity is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tone indexes allocated to the first HE ST As.
  • Example 3 the subject matter of Example 2 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tones allocated to each of the first HE ST As.
  • Example 4 the subject matter of Example 3 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating whether each tone index is multiplexed to encode data for multiple HE ST As with each tone index.
  • Example 5 the subject matter of Example 4 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of p matrix codes encoding data for each tone index.
  • Example 6 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples
  • processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to further indicate a second numerical range including a second plurality of AIDs, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that second HE ST As having an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a feedback report in response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • Example 7 the subject matter of Example 6 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the NDP feedback report responses from second HE STAs are transmitted after NDP feedback report responses from first HE STAs,
  • Example 8 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples
  • processing circuitry is further configured to encode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to include a first field identifying the first numerical range by including a starting AID for the first range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame and a second field identifying the second numerical range by including a starting AID for the second numerical range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • Example 9 the subject matter of any one or more of Examples
  • processing circuitr' is further configured to decode a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header to identify a first set of long training fields (LTFs); decode the first set of LTFs to determine a NDP feedback report response from a first HE STA in the first HE STAs and a second NDP feedback report response from a second HE STA in the first HE STAs; determine transmission parameters for the first HE STA, and second HE STA based on the first and second NDP feedback report responses respectively; and configure the HE AP to transmit PLCP protocol data units (PPDUs) to the first and second HE STAs based on their respective transmission parameters.
  • PLCP physical layer convergence protocol
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Example 10 the subject matter of Example 9 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: decode the
  • PLCP header to identify a second set of LTFs; decode the second set of LTFs to determine a third NDP feedback report response from a third HE STA in the first HE STAs: determine transmission parameters for the third HE STA based on the third NDP feedback report response; and configure the HE AP to transmit a PPDU to the third HE STA based on the determined transmission parameters for the third HE ST A.
  • Example 1 1 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 1-10 optionally include wherein the memory stores the encoded trigger frame.
  • Example 12 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 1-11 optionally include wherein the processing circuitry comprises a baseband processor.
  • Example 13 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 1-12 optionally include transceiver circuitry coupled to a plurality of antennas, wherein the HE AP is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame over the plurality of antennas.
  • Example 14 is a method for a high efficiency (HE) access point
  • HE AP comprising: encoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate a numerical range, the numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs), the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that first HE STAs having an AID in the numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a NDP feedback report as a response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating tone allocations for each of the first HE STAs feedback report responses to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame; configuring the HE AP to transmit the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame, and decoding NDP feedback reports from the first HE STAs according to the indicated tone allocations.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 15 the subject matter of Example 14 optionally includes encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tone indexes allocated to the first HE STAs.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 16 the subject matter of Example 15 optionally includes encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tones allocated to each of the first HE STAs.
  • Example 17 the subject matter of Example 16 optionally includes encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating whether each tone index is multiplexed to encode data for multiple HE STAs with each tone index.
  • Example 18 the subject matter of Example 17 optionally includes encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of p matrix codes encoding data for each tone index.
  • Example 19 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 14-18 optionally include encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to further indicate a second numerical range including a second plurality of AID s, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that second HE STAs having an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a feedback report in response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 20 the subject matter of Example 19 optionally includes encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the NDP feedback report responses from second HE STAs are transmitted after NDP feedback report responses from first HE STAs.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 21 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 19-20 optionally include encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to include a first field identifying the first numerical range by including a starting AID for the first range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame and a second field identifying the second numerical range by including a starting AID for the second numerical range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 22 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 14-21 optionally include decoding a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header to identify a first set of long training fields (LTFs); decoding the first set of LTFs to determine a NDP feedback report response from a first HE STA in the first HE STAs and a second NDP feedback report response from a second HE STA in the first HE STAs; determining transmission parameters for the first HE STA, and second HE STA based on the first and second NDP feedback report responses respectively; and configuring the HE AP to transmit PLCP protocol data units (PPDUs) to the first and second HE STAs based on their respective transmission parameters.
  • PLCP physical layer convergence protocol
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Example 23 the subject matter of Example 22 optionally includes decoding the PLCP header to identify a second set of LTFs; decoding the second set of LTFs to determine a third NDP feedback report response from a third HE STA in the first HE STAs; determining transmission parameters for the third HE STA based on the third NDP feedback report response; and configuring the HE AP to transmit a PPDU to the third HE STA based on the determined transmission parameters for the third HE STA.
  • Example 24 is a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause one or more hardware processors to perform operations for a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) (HE AP), the operations comprising: encoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate a numerical range, the numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs), the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that first HE STAs having an AID in the numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a NDP feedback report as a response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating tone allocations for each of the first HE STAs feedback report responses to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame;
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 25 the subject matter of Example 24 optionally includes the operations further comprising encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tone indexes allocated to the first HE STAs.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 26 the subject matter of Example 25 optionally includes the operations further comprising encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tones allocated to each of the first HE STAs.
  • Example 27 the subject matter of Example 26 optionally includes the operations further comprising encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating whether each tone index is multiplexed to encode data for multiple HE STAs with each tone index.
  • Example 28 the subject matter of Example 27 optionally includes encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of p matrix codes encoding data for each tone index.
  • Example 29 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 24-28 optionally include the operations further comprising encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to further indicate a second numerical range including a second plurality of AIDs, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that second HE STAs having an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a feedback report in response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 30 the subject matter of Example 29 optionally includes the operations further comprising encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the NDP feedback report responses from second HE STAs are transmitted after NDP feedback report responses from first HE STAs,
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 31 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 29-30 optionally include the operations further comprising encoding the null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to include a first field identifying the first numerical range by including a starting AID for the first range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame and a second field identifying the second numerical range by including a starting AID for the second numerical range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • NDP null data packet
  • Example 32 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 24-31 optionally include the operations further comprising: decoding a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header to identify a first set of long training fields (LTFs); decoding the first set of LTFs to determine a NDP feedback report response from a first HE STA in the first HE ST As and a second NDP feedback report response from a second HE STA in the first HE STAs; determining transmission parameters for the first HE STA, and second HE STA based on the first and second NDP feedback report responses respectively; and configuring the HE AP to transmit PLCP protocol data units (PPDUs) to the first and second HE STAs based on their respective transmission parameters,
  • PLCP physical layer convergence protocol
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Example 33 the subject matter of Example 32 optionally includes decoding the PLCP header to identify a second set of LTFs, decoding the second set of LTFs to determine a third NDP feedback report response from a third HE STA in the first HE STAs; determining transmission parameters for the third HE STA based on the third NDP feedback report response; and configuring the HE AP to transmit a PPDU to the third HE STA based on the determined transmission parameters for the third HE STA.
  • Example 34 is an apparatus of a high efficiency (HE) access point
  • HE AP comprising memory, and processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuity configured to: means for encoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate a numerical range, the numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs), the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that first HE ST As having an AID in the numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a NDP feedback report as a response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating tone allocations for each of the first HE STAs feedback report responses to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame; and means for configuring the HE AP to transmit the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 35 the subject matter of Example 34 optionally includes means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tone indexes allocated to the first HE STAs.
  • Example 36 the subject matter of Example 35 optionally includes the operations further comprising means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of tones allocated to each of the first HE STAs.
  • Example 37 the subject matter of Example 36 optionally includes the operations further comprising means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating whether each tone index is multiplexed to encode data for multiple HE STAs with each tone index.
  • Example 38 the subject matter of Example 37 optionally includes means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the allocation by, in part, indicating a number of p matrix codes encoding data for each tone index.
  • Example 39 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 34-38 optionally include means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to further indicate a second numerical range including a second plurality of AIDs, the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame further indicating that second HE STAs having an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs are to transmit a feedback report in response to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • Example 40 the subject matter of Example 39 optionally includes means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to indicate the NDP feedback report responses from second HE STAs are transmitted after NDP feedback report responses from first HE STAs.
  • Example 41 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 39-40 optionally include means for encoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to include a first field identifying the first numerical range by including a starting AID for the first range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame and a second field identifying the second numerical range by including a starting AID for the second numerical range of AIDs that are scheduled to respond to the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame.
  • Example 42 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 34-41 optionally include means for decoding a physical layer convergence protocol (PLCP) header to identify a first set of long training fields (LTFs); means for decoding the first set of LTFs to determine a NDP feedback report response from a first HE STA in the first HE STAs and a second NDP feedback report response from a second HE STA in the first HE STAs, means for determining transmission parameters for the first HE STA, and second HE STA based on the first and second NDP feedback report responses respectively; and means for configuring the HE AP to transmit PLCP protocol data units (PPDUs) to the first and second HE STAs based on their respective transmission parameters.
  • PLCP physical layer convergence protocol
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Example 43 the subject matter of Example 42 optionally includes means for decoding the PLCP header to identify a second set of LTFs; means for decoding the second set of LTFs to determine a third NDP feedback report response from a third HE STA in the first HE STAs; means for determining transmission parameters for the third HE STA based on the third NDP feedback report response; and means for configuring the HE AP to transmit a PPDU to the third HE STA based on the determined transmission parameters for the third HE STA.
  • Example 44 is an apparatus of a high efficiency (HE) station (STA) (HE STA) comprising memory; and processing circuitry coupled to the memory, the processing circuity configured to: decode a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame from a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) (HE AP) to determine a numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs); determine a tone allocation for the HE STA based on the HE STA association identifier's relative position within the numerical range; and configure the HE STA to transmit a NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 45 the subject matter of Example 44 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range, wherein the
  • determining of the tone allocation and the configuration of the HE STA to transmit the NDP feedback report is in response to the determination.
  • Example 46 the subject matter of Example 45 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range by: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes allocated to the HE STAs identified by the numerical range; decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether allocations for the HE STAs in the numerical range are multiplexed; and determining a number of HE STAs in the numerical range based on the number of tone indexes and whether the allocations are multiplexed, wherein the determining of whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range of AIDs is based on the determined number of HE STAs in the numerical range.
  • Example 47 the subject matter of Example 46 optionally includes processing circuitry configured to decode a field in the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a starting AID for the numerical range of AIDs, wherein the determining of whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range of AIDs comprises determining whether an AID of the HE STA is between the starting AID and ending AID inclusive, wherein the ending AID is the starting AID incremented by the number of HE STAs in the numerical range - I
  • Example 48 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 44-47 optionally include wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to; decode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a second numerical range of AIDs; determine whether the HE STA has an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs; and determine a tone allocation for the HE STA based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range, wherein the HE STA is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 49 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 47-48 optionally include wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine the tone allocation based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range by allocating the tones in a first set of long training fields (LTFs) in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the first numerical range and allocating the tones in a second set of LTFs in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the second numerical range.
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Examples 44-49 optionally include wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: decode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes in the NDP feedback report; and determine a tone allocation based on the number of tone indexes, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 51 the subject matter of Example 50 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: decode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tones allocated to each HE ST A within the numerical range of AIDs; and determine the tone allocation based on the number of tones allocated to each HE STA.
  • Example 52 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 50-51 optionally include wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: decode the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether the tone indexes are multiplexed so as to each encode data for multiple stations: and determine the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed.
  • Example 53 the subject matter of Example 52 optionally includes wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine a p matrix code to use for the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined p matrix code.
  • Example 54 is an apparatus of a high efficiency (HE) station (STA) (HE STA) comprising: means for decoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame from a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) (HE AP) to determine a numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs); means for determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on the HE STA association identifier's relative position within the numerical range; and means for configuring the HE STA to transmit a NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 55 the subject matter of Example 54 optionally includes means for determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range, wherein the means for determining of the tone allocation and the means for configuring of the HE STA operate in response to the
  • Example 56 the subject matter of Examples 54-55 optionally includes means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes allocated to the HE ST As identified by the numerical range, means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether allocations for the HE ST As in the numerical range are multiplexed and means for determining a number of HE ST As in the numerical range based on the number of tone indexes and whether the allocations are multiplexed, wherein the means for determining whether the HE STA has an identifier in the numerical range is based on the number of HE ST As in the numerical range,
  • Example 56(2) the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 54-56 optionally includes means for decoding a field in the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a starting AID for the numerical range of AIDs, wherein the determining of whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range of AIDs comprises determining whether an AID of the HE STA is between the starting AID and ending AID inclusive, wherein the ending AID is the starting AID incremented by the number of HE ST As in the numerical range - 1.
  • Example 57 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 54-56(2) optionally include means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a second numerical range of AIDs; means for determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs; and means for determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range, wherein the HE STA is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 58 the subject matter of Example 57 optionally includes means for determining the tone allocation based on whether the HE
  • STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range by allocating the tones in a first set of long training fi elds (LTFs) in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the first numerical range and allocating the tones in a second set of LTFs in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the second numerical range.
  • LTFs long training fi elds
  • Example 59 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 54-58 optionally include means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes in the NDP feedback report; and means for determining a tone allocation based on the number of tone indexes, wherein the station is configured to transmi t the NDP feedback report using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 60 the subject matter of Example 59 optionally includes means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tones allocated to each HE STA within the numerical range of AIDs; and means for determining the tone allocation based on the number of tones allocated to each HE STA.
  • Example 61 the subject matter of Example 60 optionally includes means for decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether the tone indexes are multiplexed so as to each encode data for multiple stations, and means for determining the tone al location based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed.
  • Example 62 the subject matter of Example 61 optionally includes means for determining a p matrix code to use for the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined p matrix code.
  • Example 63 is a method for a high efficiency (HE) station (STA) (HE STA), the method comprising: decoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame from a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) (HE AP) to determine a numeri cal range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs); determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on the HE STA association identifier's relative position within the numerical range; and configuring the HE STA to transmit a NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 64 the subject matter of Example 63 optionally includes determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range, wherein the determining of the tone allocation and configuring of the HE STA are in response to the determination.
  • Example 65 the subject matter of Example 64 optionally includes wherein the determining of whether the HE STAs has an AID in the numerical range comprises: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes allocated to the HE STAs identified by the numerical range; decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether allocations for the HE STAs in the numerical range are multiplexed; and determining a number of HE STAs in the numerical range based on the number of tone indexes and whether the allocations are
  • the determining of whether the HE STA has an identifier in the numerical range of AIDs is based on the determined number of HE ST As in the numerical range.
  • Example 66 the subject matter of Example 65 optionally includes decoding a field in the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a starting AID for the numerical range of AIDs, wherein the determining of whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range of AIDs comprises determining whether an AID of the HE STA is between the starting AID and ending AID inclusive, wherein the ending AID is the starting AID incremented by the number of HE STAs in the numerical range - 1.
  • Example 67 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 63-66 optionally include decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a second numerical range of AIDs; determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs; and determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range, wherein the HE STA is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation,
  • Example 68 the subject matter of Example 67 optionally includes determining the tone allocation based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range by allocating the tones in a first set of long training fi elds (LTFs) in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the first numerical range and allocating the tones in a second set of LTFs in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the second numerical range.
  • LTFs long training fi elds
  • Example 69 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 63-68 optionally include decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes in the NDP feedback report ; and determining a tone allocation based on the number of tone indexes, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 70 the subject matter of Example 69 optionally includes decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tones allocated to each HE STA within the numerical range of AIDs; and determining the tone allocation based on the number of tones allocated to each HE STA.
  • Example 71 the subject matter of Example 70 optionally includes decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether the tone indexes are multiplexed so as to each encode data for multiple stations; and determining the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed.
  • Example 72 the subject matter of Example 71 optionally includes determining a p matrix code to use for the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined p matrix code.
  • Example 73 is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause one or more hardware processors to perform operations for a high efficiency (HE) station (STA) (HE STA), the operations comprising: decoding a null data packet (NDP) feedback report poll trigger frame from a high efficiency (HE) access point (AP) (HE AP) to determine a numerical range including a plurality of association identifiers (AIDs); determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on the HE STA association identifier's relative position within the numerical range; and configuring the HE STA to transmit a NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • NDP null data packet
  • AIDs association identifiers
  • Example 74 the subject matter of Example 73 optionally includes the operations further comprising determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range, wherein the determining of the tone allocation and configuring of the HE STA are in response to the determination.
  • Example 75 the subject matter of Example 74 optionally includes wherein determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range comprises: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes allocated to the HE STAs identified by the numerical range; decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether allocations for the HE STAs in the numerical range are multiplexed; and determining a number of HE STAs in the numerical range based on the number of tone indexes and whether the allocations are
  • determining of whether the HE STA has an identifier in the numerical range of AIDs is based on the determined number of HE STAs in the numerical range.
  • Example 76 the subject matter of Example 75 optionally includes further operations including decoding a field in the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a starting AID for the numerical range of AIDs, wherein the determining of whether the HE STA has an AID in the numerical range of AIDs comprises determining whether an AID of the HE STA is between the starting AID and ending AID inclusive, wherein the ending AID is the starting AID incremented by the number of HE STAs in the numerical range - 1 .
  • Example 77 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 73-76 optionally include the operations further comprising: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a second numerical range of AIDs; determining whether the HE STA has an AID in the second numerical range of AIDs; and determining a tone allocation for the HE STA based on whether the HE STA is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range, wherein the HE STA is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report to the HE AP using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 78 the subject matter of Example 77 optionally includes the operations further comprising determining the tone allocation based on whether the HE ST A is identified in the first numerical range or the second numerical range by allocating the tones in a first set of long training fields (LTFs) in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the first numerical range and allocating the tones in a second set of LTFs in the NDP feedback report in response to the HE STA being identified in the second numerical range.
  • LTFs long training fields
  • Example 79 the subject matter of any one or more of
  • Examples 73-78 optionally include the operations further comprising: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tone indexes in the NDP feedback report; and determining a tone allocation based on the number of tone indexes, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined tone allocation.
  • Example 80 the subject matter of Example 79 optionally includes the operations further comprising: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine a number of tones allocated to each HE STA within the numerical range of AIDs; and determining the tone allocation based on the number of tones allocated to each HE STA,
  • Example 81 the subject matter of Example 80 optionally includes the operations further comprising: decoding the NDP feedback report poll trigger frame to determine whether the tone indexes are multiplexed so as to each encode data for multiple stations, and determining the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed.
  • Example 82 the subject matter of Example 81 optionally includes the operations further comprising determining a p matrix code to use for the tone allocation based on whether the tone indexes are multiplexed, wherein the station is configured to transmit the NDP feedback report using the determined p matrix code.
  • module is understood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specifically configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily) configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or to perform part or all of any operation described herein.
  • each of the modules need not be instantiated at any one moment in time.
  • the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processor configured using software
  • the general-purpose hardware processor may be configured as respective different modules at different times.
  • Software may accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, to constitute a particular mod ule at one instance of ti me and to constitute a different module at a different instance of time.
  • Various embodiments may be implemented fully or partially in software and/or firmware.
  • This software and/or firmware may take the form of instructions contained in or on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Those instructions may then be read and executed by one or more processors to enable performance of the operations described herein.
  • the instructions may be in any suitable fonn, such as but not limited to source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like.
  • Such a computer-readable medium may include any tangible non- transitory medium for storing information in a form readable by one or more computers, such as but not limited to read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory, etc.

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  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne des procédés, des dispositifs et des supports d'informations lisibles par ordinateur pour des attributions dans un ensemble de grandes zones échantillons pour fournir une capacité pour un grand nombre de stations de fournir une réponse courte à un point d'accès d'une manière hautement efficace. Un aspect se rapporte à un appareil à point d'accès (AP) à efficacité élevée (HE) (AP HE) comprenant une mémoire ; et un ensemble de circuits de traitement couplés à la mémoire, l'ensemble de circuits de traitement étant configurés pour coder une trame de déclenchement pour indiquer une plage comprenant une pluralité d'identificateurs de stations (STA) à efficacité élevée (HE) (STA HE), la trame de déclenchement indiquant en outre que les premières STA HE ayant un identificateur de STA HE dans la plage d'identifiants de STA HE doivent transmettre une réponse à la trame de déclenchement ; et configurer l'AP HE pour qu'il transmette la trame de déclenchement.
PCT/US2017/068589 2017-01-13 2017-12-27 Attribution de tonalités dans une plage d'identificateurs de dispositifs WO2018132261A1 (fr)

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GB2582022A (en) * 2019-03-08 2020-09-09 Canon Kk Communication methods, communication device station and access point
US20220046654A1 (en) * 2014-10-28 2022-02-10 Sony Group Corporation Communication apparatus and communication method
WO2022272052A1 (fr) * 2021-06-25 2022-12-29 Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc. Activation de transmission sélective de sous-canaux améliorée dans des systèmes wlan

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US20220046654A1 (en) * 2014-10-28 2022-02-10 Sony Group Corporation Communication apparatus and communication method
US11671957B2 (en) * 2014-10-28 2023-06-06 Sony Group Corporation Communication apparatus and communication method
GB2582022A (en) * 2019-03-08 2020-09-09 Canon Kk Communication methods, communication device station and access point
WO2022272052A1 (fr) * 2021-06-25 2022-12-29 Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc. Activation de transmission sélective de sous-canaux améliorée dans des systèmes wlan

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