Frame aggregation format
First Claim
1. A receiving device-implemented method of generating an aggregate frame for a plurality of sub-frames, each sub-frame containing user data, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) the receiving device forming an aggregate data unit (ADU) from two or more sub-frames; and
(b) the receiving device generating an aggregate frame comprising;
(1) an aggregate frame descriptor including (i) an aggregate frame header indicating a type of frame, (ii) a value representing the number of sub-frames of the ADU, and (iii) a sub-frame descriptor including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; and
(2) the ADU,wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the ADU are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the ADU comprising the two or more sub-frames.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A frame format for frame aggregation into a physical-layer packet employs an aggregated frame descriptor appended to one or more sub-frames. Each sub-frame comprises a header comprising logical-layer and sub-frame protocol information, optional verification information to verify the sub-frame data, and aggregated user data. The aggregated frame descriptor includes information identifying the packet as conforming to an aggregated frame format, and sub-frame descriptors identifying at least one of a position, a length, and a data rate of a corresponding sub-frame. The aggregated frame is then formed into a physical layer packet for transmission through a medium.
103 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A receiving device-implemented method of generating an aggregate frame for a plurality of sub-frames, each sub-frame containing user data, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) the receiving device forming an aggregate data unit (ADU) from two or more sub-frames; and (b) the receiving device generating an aggregate frame comprising; (1) an aggregate frame descriptor including (i) an aggregate frame header indicating a type of frame, (ii) a value representing the number of sub-frames of the ADU, and (iii) a sub-frame descriptor including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; and (2) the ADU, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the ADU are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the ADU comprising the two or more sub-frames. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. Apparatus for generating an aggregate frame for a plurality of sub-frames, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first circuit adapted to form an aggregate data unit (ADU) from two or more sub-frames; and a second circuit adapted to generate an aggregate frame comprising; (1) an aggregate frame descriptor including (i) an aggregate frame header indicating a type of frame, (ii) a value representing the number of sub-frames of the ADU, and (iii) a sub-frame descriptor including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; and (2) the ADU, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the ADU are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the ADU comprising the two or more sub-frames.
-
-
19. A method of processing a packet by a receiving device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) the receiving device receiving a frame type of the packet; (b) the receiving device receiving, if the frame type is an aggregate frame, one or more descriptors corresponding to two or more sub-frames of the packet, the one or more descriptors including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; (c) the receiving device determining, for each descriptor, whether the corresponding sub-frame is for the receiving device; and (d) the receiving device extracting, for each sub-frame determined to be for the receiving device, a corresponding data frame, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the packet are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the packet comprising the two or more sub-frames. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A receiving device for processing a packet comprising:
-
a first circuit adapted to receive, if a frame type of the packet is an aggregate frame, one or more descriptors corresponding to two or more sub-frames of the packet, the one or more descriptors including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; and a second circuit adapted to i) determine, for each descriptor, whether the corresponding sub-frame is for the receiving device and ii) extract, for each sub-frame determined to be for the receiving device, a corresponding data frame, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the packet are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the packet comprising the two or more sub-frames.
-
-
26. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method for generating an aggregate frame for a plurality of sub-frames, each sub-frame containing user data, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) forming an aggregate data unit (ADU) from two or more sub-frames; and (b) generating an aggregate frame comprising; (1) an aggregate frame descriptor including (i) an aggregate frame header indicating a type of frame, (ii) a value representing the number of sub-frames of the ADU, and (iii) a sub-frame descriptor including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; and (2) the ADU, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the ADU are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the ADU comprising the two or more sub-frames.
-
-
27. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a method for generating an aggregate frame for a plurality of sub-frames, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving a frame type of the packet; (b) receiving, if the frame type is an aggregate frame, one or more descriptors corresponding to two or more sub-frames of the packet, the one or more descriptors including, for each of the two or more sub-frames, an address of a receiving device for the corresponding sub-frame; (c) determining, for each descriptor, whether the corresponding sub-frame is for the receiving device; and (d) extracting, for each sub-frame determined to be for the receiving device, a corresponding data frame, wherein the addresses of receiving devices for the two or more sub-frames in the packet are positioned, in the aggregate frame, before the packet comprising the two or more sub-frames.
-
Specification