Wireless messaging preambles allowing for beamforming and legacy device coexistence

• US 20060193340A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airgo Networks, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Vincent K., van Nee, D.J. Richard, van Zelst, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/041 using special codes as synchronising signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• 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 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A modified preamble is used by extended devices that operate in mixed mode environments and green field environments, to accommodate beamforming of transmissions. In one process, an extended wireless device processes data for transmission of that data as a packet, wherein the extended wireless device is a device configured to communicate using a standard protocol understood by each node device and an extended protocol not understood by legacy node devices. If the packet is to be directed at an extended device, the extended wireless device sends a preamble of that packet that is usable in an extended mode at extended devices and usable at a receiving legacy device to determine that the receiving legacy device is not the destination of data to follow the preamble. Once the receiving legacy device is expected to be deferring the network, the extended wireless device can beamform its signal or otherwise vary from the legacy protocol in communications with extended devices.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting signals in a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is supported by a wireless device, the method comprising:

processing data at an extended wireless device for transmission of that data as a packet, wherein the extended wireless device is a device configured to communicate using a standard protocol understood by each node device and an extended protocol not understood by legacy node devices;

determining if the packet is to be directed at an extended device or a legacy device;

if the packet is to be directed at an extended device, sending a preamble of that packet that is usable in an extended mode at extended devices and usable at a receiving legacy device to determine that the receiving legacy device is not the destination of data to follow the preamble; and

if the packet is to be directed at an extended device, waiting until a time period when the receiving legacy device is expected to be deferring the network, and then beamforming other portions of the packet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the standard protocol is an 802.11a, 802.11b and/or 802.11g protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preamble comprises a modified long training pattern distinct from a conventional 802.11a long training pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the preamble is transmitted using more than one of the plurality of transmit antennas such that it is receivable and processable by one or more receivers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the preamble comprises one or more cyclically shifted short training sequence, long training sequence and/or signal field.

4. (canceled)