Explicit multiuser beamforming training in a wireless local area network
First Claim
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1. A method for beamforming training in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
- transmitting, from a first communication device to multiple second communication devices, an announcement data unit that includes respective resource allocation indications indicating respective resources allocated for transmission by the multiple second communication devices, the respective resource allocation indications indicating one or both of a) respective frequency portions for transmission of respective null data packets (NDPs) by respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, and b) respective one or more spatial streams allocated for transmission of the respective NDPs by the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices;
receiving, at the first communication device from the multiple second communication devices, respective NDPs simultaneously transmitted by the multiple second communication devices, wherein the respective NDPs i) include respective sets of one or more training signals that allow the first communication device to estimate a communication channel from the corresponding second communication device to the first communication device, ii) were transmitted by the respective second communication devices using the one or both of a) respective frequency portions and b) respective one or more spatial streams indicated by the respective resource allocation indications in the announcement data unit that was transmitted to the multiple second communication devices, and iii) omit respective data portions;
generating, at the first communication device based on the respective sets of one or more training signals included in the respective NDPs received from the multiple second communication devices, respective beamforming feedback data units to be transmitted to respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, including generating an aggregate media access control protocol data unit (A-MPDU) to include a plurality of fragments of beamforming training information for a particular second communication device; and
transmitting, from the first communication device, the respective feedback data units to the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, comprising transmitting the respective feedback data units including the A-MPDU in a single physical layer (PHY) data unit.
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Abstract
A first communication device receives respective beamforming training data units simultaneously transmitted to the first communication device by multiple second communication devices. The first communication device generates, based on the respective beamforming training data units received from the multiple second communication devices, respective beamforming feedback data units to be transmitted to respective ones of the multiple second communication devices. The first communication device transmits the respective feedback data units to the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for beamforming training in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
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transmitting, from a first communication device to multiple second communication devices, an announcement data unit that includes respective resource allocation indications indicating respective resources allocated for transmission by the multiple second communication devices, the respective resource allocation indications indicating one or both of a) respective frequency portions for transmission of respective null data packets (NDPs) by respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, and b) respective one or more spatial streams allocated for transmission of the respective NDPs by the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices; receiving, at the first communication device from the multiple second communication devices, respective NDPs simultaneously transmitted by the multiple second communication devices, wherein the respective NDPs i) include respective sets of one or more training signals that allow the first communication device to estimate a communication channel from the corresponding second communication device to the first communication device, ii) were transmitted by the respective second communication devices using the one or both of a) respective frequency portions and b) respective one or more spatial streams indicated by the respective resource allocation indications in the announcement data unit that was transmitted to the multiple second communication devices, and iii) omit respective data portions; generating, at the first communication device based on the respective sets of one or more training signals included in the respective NDPs received from the multiple second communication devices, respective beamforming feedback data units to be transmitted to respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, including generating an aggregate media access control protocol data unit (A-MPDU) to include a plurality of fragments of beamforming training information for a particular second communication device; and transmitting, from the first communication device, the respective feedback data units to the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, comprising transmitting the respective feedback data units including the A-MPDU in a single physical layer (PHY) data unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
a network interface device having one or more integrated circuits configured to transmit an announcement data unit to multiple communication devices, the announcement data unit including respective resource allocation indications indicating respective resources allocated for transmission by the multiple communication devices, the respective resource allocation indications indicating one or both of a) respective frequency portions for transmission of respective null data packets (NDPs) by respective ones of the multiple second communication devices, and b) respective one or more spatial streams allocated for transmission of the respective NDPs by the respective ones of the multiple second communication devices; receive respective NDPs simultaneously transmitted by the multiple communication devices, wherein the respective NDPs i) include respective sets of one or more training signals that allow the network interface device to estimate a communication channel from the corresponding one of the multiple communication devices to the network interface device, ii) were transmitted by the respective ones of the multiple communication devices using the one or both of a) respective frequency portions and b) respective one or more spatial streams indicated by the respective resource allocation indications in the announcement data unit that was transmitted to the multiple communication devices, and iii) omit respective data portions; generate, based on the respective sets of one or more training signals included in the respective beamforming training data units received from the multiple communication devices, respective beamforming feedback data units to be transmitted to respective ones of the multiple communication devices, including generating an aggregate media access control protocol data unit (A-MPDU) to include a plurality of fragments of beamforming training information for a particular second communication device; and transmit the respective beamforming feedback data units to the respective ones of the multiple communication devices, comprising transmitting the respective feedback data units including the A-MPDU in a single physical layer (PHY) data unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification