Ad-hoc directional communication in contention access period

• US 8,971,256 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bracha, Vered Bar
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOPATA, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/555,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/431, 370/445, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for efficient ad-hoc peer to peer communication in a contention access period, while antenna directions of communicating peers can point to each other. Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for improved association of a device in a wireless network with a controller of the network.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

monitoring, by an apparatus, a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus, obtaining the medium by transmitting, from the apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP;

transmitting, from the apparatus, at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium; and

performing training with the other apparatus to identify one or more preferred antenna patterns to use for transmissions over the wireless channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one data frame in the CAP comprises transmitting the at least one data frame using a preferred transmit antenna pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the training comprises:

transmitting one or more training sequences from the apparatus to the other apparatus using a plurality of transmit antenna patterns; and

receiving feedback information from the other apparatus regarding a preferred transmit antenna pattern selected from the plurality of transmit antenna patterns.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting one or more training sequences to the other apparatus comprises transmitting one or more training sequences using the plurality of transmit antenna patterns, wherein the transmit antenna pattern selected for transmitting each training sequence is selected in a round robin manner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the training comprises:

receiving, at the apparatus, one or more training sequences transmitted from the other apparatus;

determining a preferred receive antenna pattern and at least one preferred transmit antenna pattern of the other apparatus based on the received one or more training sequences; and

sending feedback information to the other apparatus about the preferred transmit antenna pattern.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing the preferred receive antenna pattern at the apparatus; and

transmitting, from the apparatus using the stored preferred receive antenna pattern, another CMS frame and at least one data packet in the CAP over the wireless channel of the medium next time when the medium is available for data transmission.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving from the other apparatus at least one data frame using the preferred receive antenna pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferred antenna pattern comprises either a sector direction or a beam direction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the CMS frame consists of a long preamble, a physical layer (PHY) header, a media access control (MAC) header, or a header check sum (HCS) field, or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a beam tracking bit of the PHY header indicates whether or not at least one training sequence follows the CMS frame.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the MAC header comprises information usable by another apparatus to determine whether to receive the transmitted data frame and at least one optional training sequence, or to switch to a listening mode.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a fragmentation control field of the MAC header comprises information indicating for how long the medium will be in use.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sweeping over a set of receive antenna patterns until a preamble of a CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is detected;

determining, as a preferred receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns, a receive antenna pattern used to detect the CMS frame; and

using the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the received CMS frame.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the preamble of the CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is considered as being detected if an energy level of the preamble is equal to or greater than a defined value.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a long preamble of a CMS frame transmitted from the other apparatus; and

refraining from transmitting, if the long preamble is detected during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

deciding, based on information in a media access control (MAC) header of the long preamble, either to receive a data packet and at least one optional training sequence or to switch to a listening mode.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

decoding, at the apparatus, at least one training sequence and a physical layer (PHY) header of a data packet following the long preamble; and

switching to a sleep mode for at least a remaining duration of the data packet.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration information element from a body of the transmitted CMS frame comprises information indicating to the other apparatus for how long the medium will be in use.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one data frame comprises transmitting the at least one data frame during an allocated transmit opportunity period.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is associated with a Symmetric Antenna System (SAS), and the method further comprising:

determining a preferred receive antenna pattern of the apparatus based on training sequences received using multiple receive antenna patterns; and

determining a preferred transmit antenna pattern of the apparatus that is same as the preferred receive antenna pattern.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

transmitting from the apparatus associated with the SAS at least one data frame in the CAP using the preferred transmit antenna pattern.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, at the apparatus, a transmission duration of at least one data frame transmitted from another apparatus by decoding a duration indication of a received CMS frame, wherein the duration indication is included in a media access control (MAC) header of the received CMS frame or in a duration information element of a frame body of the received CMS frame.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, at the apparatus, a transmission duration of at least one data frame transmitted from another apparatus by decoding a value of a physical layer (PHY) header length field of a received data frame.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the CMS frame comprises transmitting a vanguard CMS frame in a transmit opportunity period.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

transmitting at least one training sequence from the apparatus during the transmit opportunity period.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the CMS frame comprises transmitting a vanguard CMS frame in a transmit opportunity period; and

the method further comprising receiving at least one training sequence during the transmit opportunity period.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the CMS frame comprises transmitting in a transmit opportunity period; and

wherein the data transmission over the medium in the CAP comprises transmission of multiple data frames within the transmit opportunity period.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a training sequence from the apparatus during the transmit opportunity period.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein:

transmitting the CMS frame comprises transmitting in a transmit opportunity period; and

wherein the data transmission over the medium in the CAP comprises transmission in both directions between the apparatus and the another apparatus within the transmit opportunity period.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

transmitting a training sequence from the apparatus during the transmit opportunity period.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP using a single carrier (SC) scheme comprises a CMS long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one data frame following the CMS long preamble and the duration field is transmitted over the wireless channel of the medium using a preferred transmit antenna direction of the apparatus.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing High Speed Interface (OFDM HSI) scheme comprises a HSI Modulation Coding Scheme 0 (HSI MCS0) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Audio/Video (OFDM AV) scheme comprises an AV Low-Rate Physical Layer (AV LRP) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

9. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

monitoring, by an apparatus, a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus, obtaining the medium by transmitting, from the apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP; and

transmitting, from the apparatus, at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium,

wherein transmitting the CMS frame comprises;

transmitting an omni-directional CMS frame, if the apparatus is capable of omni-directional transmission; and

otherwise, transmitting a directional CMS frame.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting one or more training sequences from the apparatus following the directional CMS frame.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the directional CMS frame comprises:

transmitting the directional CMS frame using a transmit antenna pattern that is different than a transmit antenna pattern used to transmit a directional CMS frame when the apparatus previously obtained access to the medium, if a preferred transmit antenna pattern of the apparatus is unknown.

38. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

a transmitter configured to obtain the medium by transmitting a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus, and wherein

the transmitter is also configured to transmit at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium; and

a circuit configured to perform training with the other apparatus to identify one or more preferred antenna patterns to use for transmissions over the wireless channel.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the CMS frame consists of a long preamble, a physical layer (PHY) header, a media access control (MAC) header, or a header check sum (HCS) field, or any combination thereof.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

a sweeping circuit configured to sweep over a set of receive antenna patterns until a preamble of a CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is detected;

a processor configured to determine, as a preferred receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns, a receive antenna pattern used to detect the CMS frame; and

a detector configured to use the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the received CMS frame.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the apparatus is associated with a Symmetric Antenna System (SAS), and the apparatus further comprising:

a processor configured to determine a preferred receive antenna pattern of the apparatus based on training sequences received using multiple receive antenna patterns, and wherein

the processor is also configured to determine a preferred transmit antenna pattern of the apparatus that is same as the preferred receive antenna pattern.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

the transmitter is also configured to transmit a vanguard CMS frame in a transmit opportunity period; and

the apparatus further comprising a receiver configured to receive at least one training sequence during the transmit opportunity period.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP using a single carrier (SC) scheme comprises a CMS long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing High Speed Interface (OFDM HSI) scheme comprises a HSI Modulation Coding Scheme 0 (HSI MCS0) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Audio/Video (OFDM AV) scheme comprises an AV Low-Rate Physical Layer (AV LRP) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

39. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus; and

a transmitter configured to obtain the medium by transmitting a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus, and wherein the transmitter is also configured to;

transmit at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium;

transmit an omni-directional CMS frame, if the apparatus is capable of omni-directional transmission; and

otherwise, transmit a directional CMS frame.

47. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for monitoring a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

means for obtaining the medium by transmitting, from the apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus;

means for transmitting at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium; and

means for performing training with the other apparatus to identify one or more preferred antenna patterns to use for transmissions over the wireless channel.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the CMS frame consists of a long preamble, a physical layer (PHY) header, a media access control (MAC) header, or a header check sum (HCS) field, or any combination thereof.

50. The apparatus of claim 47, further comprising:

means for sweeping over a set of receive antenna patterns until a preamble of a CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is detected;

means for determining, as a preferred receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns, a receive antenna pattern used to detect the CMS frame; and

means for using the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the received CMS frame.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the apparatus is associated with a Symmetric Antenna System (SAS), and the apparatus further comprising:

means for determining a preferred receive antenna pattern of the apparatus based on training sequences received using multiple receive antenna patterns; and

means for determining a preferred transmit antenna pattern of the apparatus that is same as the preferred receive antenna pattern.

52. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein:

the means for transmitting the CMS frame comprises means for transmitting a vanguard CMS frame in a transmit opportunity period; and

the apparatus further comprising means for receiving at least one training sequence during the transmit opportunity period.

53. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP using a single carrier (SC) scheme comprises a CMS long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

54. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing High Speed Interface (OFDM HSI) scheme comprises a HSI Modulation Coding Scheme 0 (HSI MCS0) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

55. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the CMS frame transmitted over the CAP according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Audio/Video (OFDM AV) scheme comprises an AV Low-Rate Physical Layer (AV LRP) long preamble sequence and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

48. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for monitoring a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

means for obtaining the medium by transmitting, from the apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus; and

means for transmitting at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium,

wherein the means for transmitting the CMS frame comprises;

means for transmitting an omni-directional CMS frame, if the apparatus is capable of omni-directional transmission; and

otherwise, means for transmitting a directional CMS frame.

56. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable to:

monitor, by an apparatus, a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the apparatus;

obtain the medium by transmitting, from the apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the apparatus;

transmit, from the apparatus, at least one data frame to another apparatus in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium; and

perform training with the other apparatus to identify one or more preferred antenna patterns to use for transmissions over the wireless channel.

57. A wireless node, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a monitoring circuit configured to monitor a medium in a contention access period (CAP) for availability of the medium for data transmission by the wireless node;

a transmitter configured to obtain the medium by transmitting via the at least one antenna a common mode signaling (CMS) frame in the CAP, after determining the medium is available for data transmission by the wireless node, and wherein

the transmitter is also configured to transmit via the at least one antenna at least one data frame to another wireless node in the CAP over a wireless channel of the medium after obtaining the medium; and

a circuit configured to perform training with the other wireless node to identify one or more preferred antenna patterns to use for transmissions over the wireless channel.

58. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP);

receiving, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

transmitting, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein receiving the at least one data frame comprises receiving the at least one data frame using a preferred receive antenna pattern.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is an omni-directional CMS frame.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the preferred receive antenna pattern is determined by performing training with the other apparatus.

62. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

detecting, at the apparatus, a long preamble of another CMS frame; and

refraining from transmitting if the long preamble is detected during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

receiving, at the apparatus, a media access control (MAC) header of the other CMS frame; and

deciding, based on information in the MAC header, whether to receive a data packet and at least one optional training sequence or to switch to a listening mode.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

decoding, at the apparatus, at least one training sequence and a physical layer (PHY) header of a data packet following the long preamble; and

switching to a sleep mode for at least a remaining duration of the data packet.

65. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

enabling an ad-hoc directional communication over the medium in the CAP.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the ad-hoc directional communication is enabled without any communication with a network coordinator.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

storing the preferred receive antenna pattern at the apparatus; and

receiving, at the apparatus using the stored preferred receive antenna pattern, another CMS frame and at least one data packet transmitted from the other apparatus over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP.

68. The method of claim 58, wherein the received CMS frame comprises a long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the long preamble comprises at least one of:

a CMS sequence, a High Speed Interface Modulation Coding Scheme 0 (HSI MCS0) sequence or an Audio-Video Low-Rate Physical Layer (AV LRP) sequence.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein receiving the CMS frame comprises:

receiving at least a start of the long preamble, and

wherein the medium is in use if an energy level of the received start of the long preamble is equal to or greater than a defined value.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

reporting that the medium is in use by utilizing the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) function of the apparatus.

72. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting if the start of the long preamble is received during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

staying in a receive mode to obtain information about remaining duration of the CMS frame based on a value of the duration field; and

switching to a sleep mode for the remaining duration of the CMS frame.

61. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP);

receiving, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

transmitting, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the received CMS frame is a vanguard CMS frame, and the method further comprising;

sweeping over a set of receive antenna patterns for multiple defined periods of time until a long preamble of the vanguard CMS frame is detected;

determining, as a preferred receive antenna pattern, a receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns used to detect the long preamble; and

using the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the vanguard CMS frame.

74. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP), wherein

the receiver is also configured to receive, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the receiver is also configured to receive the at least one data frame using a preferred receive antenna pattern.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is an omni-directional CMS frame.

76. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the preferred receive antenna pattern is determined by performing training with the other apparatus.

78. The apparatus of claim 74, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect a long preamble of another CMS frame; and

a circuit configured to refrain from transmitting if the long preamble is detected during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

79. The apparatus of claim 74, further comprising:

a circuit configured to enable an ad-hoc directional communication over the medium in the CAP.

80. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the received CMS frame comprises a long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the receiver is also configured to receive at least a start of the long preamble, and

wherein the medium is in use if an energy level of the received start of the long preamble is equal to or greater than a defined value.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, further comprising:

a circuit configured to refrain from transmitting if the start of the long preamble is received during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

77. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP), wherein

the receiver is also configured to receive, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the received CMS frame is a vanguard CMS frame, and the apparatus further comprising;

a sweeping circuit configured to sweep over a set of receive antenna patterns for multiple defined periods of time until a long preamble of the vanguard CMS frame is detected;

a processor configured to determine, as a preferred receive antenna pattern, a receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns used to detect the long preamble; and

a detector configured to use the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the vanguard CMS frame.

83. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP);

means for receiving, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

means for transmitting, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the means for receiving the at least one data frame comprises means for receiving the at least one data frame using a preferred receive antenna pattern.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the CMS frame transmitted by the other apparatus is an omni-directional CMS frame.

85. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the preferred receive antenna pattern is determined by performing training with the other apparatus.

87. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising:

means for detecting a long preamble of another CMS frame; and

means for refraining from transmitting if the long preamble is detected during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

88. The apparatus of claim 83, further comprising:

means for enabling an ad-hoc directional communication over the medium in the CAP.

89. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the received CMS frame comprises a long preamble and a duration field indicating duration of the CMS frame.

90. The apparatus of claim 89, wherein the means for receiving the CMS frame comprises:

means for receiving at least a start of the long preamble, and

wherein the medium is in use if an energy level of the received start of the long preamble is equal to or greater than a defined value.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, further comprising:

means for refraining from transmitting if the start of the long preamble is received during a listen-before-talk period of the apparatus.

86. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP);

means for receiving, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

means for transmitting, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the received CMS frame is a vanguard CMS frame, and the apparatus further comprising;

means for sweeping over a set of receive antenna patterns for multiple defined periods of time until a long preamble of the vanguard CMS frame is detected;

means for determining, as a preferred receive antenna pattern, a receive antenna pattern from the set of receive antenna patterns used to detect the long preamble; and

means for using the preferred receive antenna pattern to detect a physical layer (PHY) header of the vanguard CMS frame.

92. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable to:

receive, by an apparatus, a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another apparatus indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other apparatus in a contention access period (CAP);

receive, from the other apparatus once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the apparatus, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

transmit, to the other apparatus, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein receiving the at least one data frame comprises receiving the at least one data frame using a preferred receive antenna pattern.

93. A wireless node, comprising:

at least one antenna;

a receiver configured to receive via the at least one antenna a common mode signaling (CMS) frame transmitted by another wireless node indicating access to a medium for data communication by the other wireless node in a contention access period (CAP), wherein

the receiver is also configured to receive via the at least one antenna, from the other wireless node once the access to the medium for data communication is indicated at the wireless node, at least one data frame over a wireless channel of the medium in the CAP; and

a transmitter configured to transmit via the at least one antenna, to the other wireless node, an acknowledgement that the at least one data frame is successfully received over the wireless channel of the medium in the CAP,

wherein the receiver is also configured to receive the at least one data frame using a preferred receive antenna pattern.