Systems and methods for wireless communication of packets having a plurality of formats

• US 9,385,911 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Vermani, Sameer, Abraham, Santosh P., Taghavi Nasrabadi, Mohammad Hossein, Jones, Vincent K., Sampath, Hemanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahgozar, Omeed D
• Application Number:
  US13/466,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20130121243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0029 Reduction of the amount of signalling, e.g. retention of useful signalling or differential signalling power control H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0039 other detection of signalling, e.g. detection of TFCI explicit signalling H04L1/0046, H04L27/0012 and H04L25/0262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating packets having a plurality of formats are described herein. In some aspects, a signal (SIG) field in the preamble of a packet may indicate whether an extension field, such as an extension SIG field or SIG-B field, is included in the packet. In another aspect, one or more detectors may be used to auto-detect packets formatted as one of at least two different formats based on a short training field (STF) of a received packet. In some aspects, along training field (LTF) in the preamble of a packet may indicate whether the payload is repetition coded.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a wireless communication comprising a physical layer preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the preamble includes an extension field, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, wherein the first field further includes a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication; and

a processor configured to;

process the payload based on modulation coding parameters included in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field;

process the payload based on coding parameters included in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field;

interpret the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

interpret the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to decode the payload for single user data when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field, and to decode the payload for multi-user data when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension field comprises an indication of one or more modulation coding schemes, an indication of one or more spatial streams, a group identifier, a cyclic redundancy check, a reserved sub-field, and a tail sub-field.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication comprises a first type, wherein the first field comprises a training field having a sequence, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive wireless communications having a second type, the wireless communications of the second type comprising a training field having the sequence, wherein the sequence is repeated a greater number of times in the training field of the second type than in the training field of the first type.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension field comprises a training field.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the training field is precoded.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extension field comprises a signal field.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein one signal field is included for each user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the extension field is included and that the wireless communication comprises a multi-user multiple input multiple output or transmit beamforming communication when a modulation of the first field is rotated, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the wireless communication comprises the multi-user multiple input multiple output communication or the transmit beamforming communication based on an indicator in the extension field.

10. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a wireless communication comprising a physical layer preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the preamble includes an extension field, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, wherein the first field further includes a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication;

processing the payload based on modulation coding parameters included in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field;

processing the payload based on coding parameters included in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field;

interpreting the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

interpreting the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the processing comprises decoding the payload for single user data when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field, and wherein the processing comprises decoding the payload for multi-user data when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the extension field comprises an indication of one or more modulation coding schemes, an indication of one or more spatial streams, a group identifier, a cyclic redundancy check, a reserved sub-field, and a tail sub-field.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless communication comprises a first type, wherein the first field comprises a training field having a sequence, wherein the method further comprises receiving a wireless communication having a second type, the wireless communication of the second type comprising a training field having the sequence, wherein the sequence is repeated a greater number of times in the training field of the second type than in the training field of the first type.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the extension field comprises a training field.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the training field is precoded.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the extension field comprises a signal field.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein one signal field is included for each user.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining that the extension field is included and that the wireless communication comprises a multi-user multiple input multiple output or transmit beamforming communication based on a modulation of the first field is rotated, and determining whether the wireless communication comprises the multi-user multiple input multiple output communication or the transmit beamforming communication based on an indicator in the extension field.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless communication comprising a physical layer preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the preamble includes an extension field, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, wherein the first field further includes a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication;

means for processing the payload based on modulation coding parameters included in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field;

means for processing the payload based on coding parameters included in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field;

means for interpreting the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

means for interpreting the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to:

receive a wireless communication comprising a physical layer preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the preamble includes an extension field, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator the extension field is included in the communication wherein the first field further includes a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication;

process the payload based on modulation coding parameters included in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble does not include the extension field;

process the payload based on coding parameters included in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the preamble includes the extension field;

interpret the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

interpret the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor configured to;

generate a communication comprising a physical layer preamble and a payload and to determine whether to include an extension field in the preamble, wherein the preamble includes a first field indicating whether the extension field is included, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, the first field further including a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication;

include modulation coding parameters for the payload in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is not included in the communication;

include coding parameters for the payload in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is included in the communication;

process the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

process the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the generated communication.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine to include the extension field when using multi-user multiple input multiple output.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the extension field comprises an indication of one or more modulation coding schemes, an indication of one or more spatial streams, a group identifier, a cyclic redundancy check, a reserved sub-field, and a tail sub-field.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to determine to transmit the communication as one of at least two types, wherein the first field of each of the types comprises a training field having a sequence, and wherein the sequence is repeated a greater number of times in the training field of the second type of the at least two types than in the training field of the first type of the at least two types.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the extension field comprises a training field.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the training field is precoded.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the extension field comprises a signal field.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein one signal field is included for each user.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to indicate that the extension field is included and that the communication comprises a multi-user multiple input multiple output or transmit beamforming communication using a rotated modulation of the first field, and wherein the processor is further configured to signify whether the communication comprises the multi-user multiple input multiple output communication or the transmit beamforming communication using an indicator in the extension field.

30. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining whether to include an extension field in a physical layer preamble of a communication;

generating the communication, wherein the communication comprises the preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the extension field is included, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, the first field further including a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication, the generating comprising;

including modulation coding parameters for the payload in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is not included in the communication;

including coding parameters for the payload in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is included in the communication;

processing the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

processing the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

wirelessly transmitting the generated communication.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the determining comprises determining to include the extension field when using multi-user multiple input multiple output.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the extension field comprises an indication of one or more modulation coding schemes, an indication of one or more spatial streams, a group identifier, a cyclic redundancy check, a reserved sub-field, and a tail sub-field.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining to transmit the communication as one of at least two types, wherein the first field of each of the types comprises a training field having a sequence, and wherein the sequence is repeated a greater number of times in the training field of the second type of the at least two types than in the training field of the first type of the at least two types.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the extension field comprises a training field.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the training field is precoded.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the extension field comprises a signal field.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein one signal field is included for each user.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein transmitting comprises indicate that the extension field is included and that the wireless communication comprises a multi-user multiple input multiple output or transmit beamforming communication by using a rotated modulation of the first field, and generating comprises signifying whether the wireless communication comprises the multi-user multiple input multiple output communication or the transmit beamforming communication using an indicator in the extension field.

39. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining whether to include an extension field in a physical layer preamble of a communication;

means for generating the communication, wherein the communication comprises the preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the extension field is included, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, the first field further including a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication, the means for generating comprising;

means for including modulation coding parameters for the payload in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is not included in the communication;

means for including coding parameters for the payload in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is included in the communication;

means for processing the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

means for processing the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

means for wirelessly transmitting the generated communication.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to:

determine whether to include an extension field in a physical layer preamble of a communication;

generate the communication, wherein the communication comprises the preamble and a payload, the preamble including a first field indicating whether the extension field is included, the first field comprising a signal field, and a rotation of a modulation of the signal field being an indicator that the extension field is included in the communication, the first field further including a sub-field including a length indicator of the wireless communication;

include modulation coding parameters for the payload in the first field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is not included in the communication;

include coding parameters for the payload in the extension field when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the extension field is included in the communication;

process the sub-field as an indicator of a number of bytes when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field indicates that the communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

process the sub-field as an indicator of a number of symbols when the rotation of the modulation of the signal field does not indicate that the wireless communication is for a single user non-aggregated media access control protocol data unit; and

wirelessly transmit the generated communication.