LONG RANGE WLAN DATA UNIT FORMAT

• US 20130044687A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell World Trade Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Liu, Yong, Ramamurthy, Harish, Zhang, Hongyuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2613 Structure of the reference signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26136 Pilot sequence conveying additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0091 Signaling for the administration of the divided path
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

In a method for transmitting a data unit in a wireless communication network, a physical layer (PHY) preamble and a media access control layer (MAC) header are generated. In generating the MAC header, a first address field to include a first address and a second address field to include a second address are generated. The first, not globally unique, address indicates a communication device for which the data unit is intended or a communication device that is transmitting the data unit. The second address field indicates the other one of a communication device for which the data unit is intended or a communication device that is transmitting the data unit. The first address field and the second address field are included in the MAC header. The MAC header omits a globally unique address corresponding to the first address of the first address field.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a data unit in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

generating a physical layer (PHY) preamble;

generating a media access control layer (MAC) header, including

generating a first address field to include a first address that is not globally unique, wherein the first address field indicates one of (i) a communication device for which the data unit is intended, or (ii) a communication device that is transmitting the data unit,

generating a second address field to include a second address, wherein the second address field indicates the other one of (i) a communication device for which the data unit is intended, or (ii) a communication device that is transmitting the data unit,

including the first address field and the second address field in the MAC header;

generating the data unit to include the PHY preamble and the MAC header; and

causing the data unit to be transmitted, wherein the MAC header of the data unit omits a globally unique address corresponding to the first address of the first address field.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first address is unique within the wireless network but is not unique within other wireless networks.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second address is not globally unique; and

wherein the MAC header of the data unit, when transmitted, omits a globally unique address corresponding to the second address of the second address field.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second address is a globally unique MAC address.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second address is a network identifier (ID).

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the network ID is globally unique.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second address is a shortened network ID generated using a full length network identifier ID.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a payload of the data unit to include a third address that (i) is globally unique and (ii) corresponds to the first address;

wherein the data unit is generated to include the payload.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a frame check sequence field using (i) the MAC header (ii) and a third address that (i) is globally unique and (ii) corresponds to the first address;

wherein the data unit is generated (i) to include the frame check sequence field and (ii) to omit the third address.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the MAC header further comprises

generating a third address field to include a network address associated with the wireless network;

and

including the third address field in the MAC header.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the third address is not globally unique.

12. A communication device, comprising:

a network interface configured to;

generate a physical layer (PHY) preamble of a data unit;

generate a media access control layer (MAC) header at least by

generating a first address field to include a first address that is not globally unique, wherein the first address field indicates one of (i) a communication device for which the data unit is intended, or (ii) a communication device that is transmitting the data unit,

generating a second address field to include a second address, wherein the second address field indicates the other one of (i) a communication device for which the data unit is intended, or (ii) a communication device that is transmitting the data unit,

including the first address field and the second address field in the MAC header;

generate the data unit to include the PHY preamble and the MAC header; and

transmit the data unit, wherein the MAC header of the data unit omits a globally unique address corresponding to the first address of the first address field.

13. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein the first address is unique within the wireless network but is not unique within other wireless networks.

14. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein:

the second address is not globally unique; and

wherein the MAC header of the data unit, when transmitted, omits a globally unique address corresponding to the second address of the second address field.

15. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein the second address is a globally unique MAC address.

16. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein the second address is a network identifier (ID).

17. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein the network ID is globally unique.

18. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein the second address is a shortened network ID generated using a full length network identifier ID.

19. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein:

the network interface is configured to generate a payload of the data unit to include a third address that (i) is globally unique and (ii) corresponds to the first address; and

the data unit is generated to include the payload.

20. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein:

the network interface is configured to generate a frame check sequence field using (i) the MAC header (ii) and a third address that (i) is globally unique and (ii) corresponds to the first address;

wherein the data unit is generated (i) to include the frame check sequence field and (ii) to omit the third address.

21. A communication device according to claim 12, wherein the network interface is configured to

generate a third address field to include a network address associated with the wireless network;

and

include the third address field in the MAC header.

22. A communication device according to claim 21, wherein the third address is not globally unique.