High speed media access control with legacy system interoperability

Abstract

Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that is backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect a first signal is transmitted according to a legacy transmission format to reserve a portion of a shared medium, and communication according to a second transmission format transpires during the reserved portion. In another aspect, a communication device may contend for access on a legacy system, and then communicate according to a new class communication protocol with one or more remote communication devices during the access period. In another aspect, a device may request access to a shared medium according to a legacy protocol, and, upon grant of access, the device may communicate with or facilitate communication between one or more remote stations according to a new protocol.

Description

[0001] Claiming priority under 35 U.S.C §119

[0002] This patent application claims priority to the following U.S. provisional patent applications:

[0003] Provisional Application No. 60 / 511,750, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing Interoperability and Backward Compatibility in Wireless Communication Systems," filed October 15, 2003;

[0004] Provisional Application No. 60 / 511,904, entitled "Method, Apparatus, and System for Medium Access Control in a High Performance Wireless LAN Environment," filed October 15, 2003;

[0005] Provisional Application No. 60 / 513,239, entitled "Peer-to-Peer Connections in MIMO WLAN System," filed October 21, 2003;

[0006] Provisional Application No. 60 / 526,347, entitled "Method, Apparatus, and System for Sub-Network Protocol Stack for Very High Speed ​​Wireless LAN," filed December 1, 2003;

[0007] Provisional Application No. 60 / 526,356, entitled "Method, Apparatus, and System for Multiplexing Protocol data Units in a High Performan...

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