Methods, architectures, apparatuses and systems relating to physical layer signaling in wireless local area network systems

Abstract

Programs, methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products relating to physical layer signaling in wireless local area network systems are provided. One of the methods may include any of generating an extremely high throughput (EHT) physical (PHY) layer protocol data unit (PDU) (PPDU) based on a PPDU format defining a preamble comprising (i) a fixed duration universal signaling (U-SIG) field, (ii) an EHT signaling (EHT-SIG) field, and (iii) an EHT short training field (EHT-STF), wherein the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field respectively comprise an additional signaling indicator and an additional signaling for supporting a third feature; and transmitting the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field on a first bandwidth segment, then transmitting the EHT-STF on any one of the first bandwidth segment and a second bandwidth segment, and then transmitting (iii) an EHT data field on any one of the first bandwidth segment and the second bandwidth segment.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application with the application date of March 15, 2021, application number 202180026903.5, and invention name “Methods, architectures, devices and systems involving physical layer signaling in wireless local area network systems”.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. (i) 62 / 989,551 filed on March 13, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. (ii) 62 / 705,635 filed on July 8, 2020, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. (iii) 63 / 068,929 filed on August 21, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. (iv) 63 / 088,361 filed on October 6, 2020; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to the fields of communications, software, and coding. Background Art

[0005] The present disclosure generally relates to the fields of communications, software, and coding, including, for example, methods, architectures, devices, and systems related to physical layer signaling in a wireless local area network ("WLAN") system. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention provides a program, method, architecture, device, system, apparatus and computer program product related to physical layer signaling in a wireless local area network system. One of the methods may include any of the following: generating an extremely high throughput (EHT) physical (PHY) layer protocol data unit (PDU) (PPDU) based on a PPDU format defining a preamble, the preamble including (i) a fixed duration universal signaling (U-SIG) field, (ii) an EHT signaling (EHT-SIG) field, and (iii) an EHT short training field (EHT-STF), wherein the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field respectively include an additional signaling indicator and additional signaling for supporting a third feature; and transmitting the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field on a first bandwidth segment, then transmitting the EHT-STF on either the first bandwidth segment or the second bandwidth segment, and then transmitting (iii) an EHT data field on either the first bandwidth segment or the second bandwidth segment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] A more detailed understanding can be obtained from the following detailed description, which is given by way of example in conjunction with its accompanying drawings. As with the detailed description, the figures in such drawings are examples. Therefore, the drawings and specific embodiments should not be considered limiting, and other equally effective examples are possible and contemplated. In addition, like reference numerals ("ref.") in the drawings indicate similar elements, and wherein:

[0008] Figure 1A is a system diagram illustrating an exemplary communication system;

[0009] Figure 1B It shows that Figure 1A A system diagram of an exemplary wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU) for use within the communication system shown;

[0010] Figure 1C It shows that Figure 1A A system diagram of an exemplary radio access network (RAN) and an exemplary core network (CN) used within the illustrated communication system;

[0011] Figure 1D It shows that Figure 1A A system diagram of an additional exemplary RAN and an additional exemplary CN used within the illustrated communication system;

[0012] Figure 2 An exemplary high-efficiency physical layer protocol data unit (HE PPDU) format is shown;

[0013] Figure 3 An exemplary preamble structure of an extremely high throughput (EHT) PPDU is shown;

[0014] Figure 4 An exemplary multi-user PPDU (MU PPDU) transmission is shown;

[0015] Figure 5 An exemplary multi-segment aggregated PPDU transmission is shown;

[0016] Figure 6 An exemplary cooperative multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission is shown;

[0017] Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary PPDU according to various embodiments;

[0018] Figure 8 illustrates an exemplary PPDU according to various embodiments;

[0019] Fig. 9Exemplary mandatory signaling (SIG) and extra signaling (E-SIG) fields of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission;

[0020] Fig.10 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting cooperative multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission;

[0021] Fig.11 An example of nested signaling is shown;

[0022] Fig.12 An example of nested signaling is shown;

[0023] Fig.13 An exemplary PPDU is shown in which the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting C-MAP transmission;

[0024] Fig.14 An exemplary MU PPDU that may be used to transmit a C-MAP PPDU is shown;

[0025] Fig.15 An exemplary MU PPDU that may be used to transmit a C-MAP DL PPDU is shown;

[0026] Fig.16 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting various features;

[0027] Fig.17 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting various features;

[0028] Fig.18 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting various features;

[0029] Fig.19 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting various features;

[0030] Fig. 20 An exemplary mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field of a PPDU are shown, wherein the E-SIG field carries signaling for supporting various features;

[0031] Fig.21shows an exemplary PPDU in which resources for STAs scheduled in a first bandwidth segment are allocated toward the tail end of an EHT-SIG content channel;

[0032] Fig. 22 An example of preamble alignment in a multi-segment aggregate transmission based on an extended STF field is shown;

[0033] Fig.23 An example of preamble alignment in C-OFDMA transmission based on an extended STF field is shown; and

[0034] Figure 24 to Figure 27 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for performing EHT PPDU transmission. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In the following detailed description, many specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments and / or examples disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that such embodiments and examples can be put into practice without some or all of the specific details set forth herein. In other cases, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits are not described in detail to avoid blurring the following description. In addition, the embodiments and examples not specifically described herein can be put into practice in place of the embodiments and other examples explicitly, implicitly and / or inherently described, disclosed or otherwise provided (collectively referred to as "providing") herein, or put into practice in combination with these embodiments and examples. Although various embodiments are described and / or claimed herein, wherein devices, systems, equipment, etc. and / or any of their elements perform operations, processes, algorithms, functions, etc. and / or any part thereof, it should be understood that any embodiments described herein and / or protected by the claims assume that any device, system, equipment, etc. and / or any of their elements are configured to perform any operations, processes, algorithms, functions, etc. and / or any part thereof.

[0036] Exemplary Communication System

[0037] The methods, devices, and systems provided herein are well suited for communications involving both wired and wireless networks. Wired networks are well known. Figures 1A to 1D An overview of various types of wireless devices and infrastructure is provided, wherein various elements of the network can utilize the methods, apparatuses, and systems provided herein, perform the methods, apparatuses, and systems provided herein, be arranged according to the methods, apparatuses, and systems provided herein, and / or be adapted and / or configured for the methods, apparatuses, and systems provided herein.

[0038] Figure 1A1 is a diagram of an exemplary communication system 100 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The exemplary communication system 100 is provided for illustration purposes only and does not limit the disclosed embodiments. The communication system 100 may be a multiple access system that provides content such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc. to multiple wireless users. The communication system 100 may enable multiple wireless users to access such content through sharing of system resources (including wireless bandwidth). For example, the communication system 100 may employ one or more channel access methods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), zero tail (ZT) unique word (UW) discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (ZT UW DTS-s OFDM), unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), resource block filtered OFDM, filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC), etc.

[0039] like Figure 1A As shown, the communication system 100 may include wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs) 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, a radio access network (RAN) 104 / 113, a core network (CN) 106 / 115, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110 and other networks 112, but it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and / or network elements. Each of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may be any type of device configured to operate and / or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d (any of which may be referred to as a “station” and / or “STA”) may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals and may include (or be) a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a subscription-based unit, a pager, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a laptop, a netbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor, a hotspot or Mi-Fi device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a watch or other wearable device, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, medical devices and applications (e.g., remote surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or automated process chain environment), a consumer electronic device, a device operating on a commercial and / or industrial wireless network, etc. Any of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and 102d may be interchangeably referred to as a WTRU.

[0040] The communication system 100 may also include a base station 114a and / or a base station 114b. Each of the base stations 114a, 114b may be any type of device that is configured to wirelessly interface with at least one of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to, for example, facilitate access to one or more communication networks, such as the CN 106 / 115, the Internet 110, and / or the network 112. By way of example, the base stations 114a, 114b may be any of a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node B (NB), an evolved Node B (eNB), a Home Node B (HNB), a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), a gNode B (gNB), a NR Node B (NR NB), a site controller, an access point (AP), a wireless router, and the like. Although the base stations 114a, 114b are each depicted as a single element, it should be appreciated that the base stations 114a, 114b may include any number of interconnected base stations and / or network elements.

[0041] Base station 114a may be part of RAN 104 / 113, which may also include other base stations and / or network elements (not shown), such as base station controllers (BSC), radio network controllers (RNC), relay nodes, etc. Base station 114a and / or base station 114b may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals on one or more carrier frequencies (which may be referred to as cells (not shown)). These frequencies may be in a licensed spectrum, an unlicensed spectrum, or a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A cell may provide coverage of wireless services to a specific geographic area, which may be relatively fixed or may change over time. A cell may be further divided into cell sectors. For example, a cell associated with base station 114a may be divided into three sectors. Therefore, in an embodiment, base station 114a may include three transceivers, i.e., one transceiver for each sector of the cell. In an embodiment, base station 114a may employ multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology and may utilize multiple transceivers for each or any sector of the cell. For example, beamforming may be used to transmit and / or receive signals in a desired spatial direction.

[0042] The base stations 114a, 114b may communicate with one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d over an air interface 116, which may be any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF), microwave, centimeter wave, micrometer wave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). The air interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio access technology (RAT).

[0043] More specifically, as noted above, the communication system 100 may be a multiple access system and may employ one or more channel access schemes such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, etc. For example, the base station 114a in the RAN 104 / 113 and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), which may use Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) to establish the air interface 115 / 116 / 117. WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA) and / or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and / or High Speed ​​Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

[0044] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface 116 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or Advanced LTE (LTE-A) and / or Advanced LTE Pro (LTE-A Pro).

[0045] In other embodiments, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), GSM Enhanced Data Rates for Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), etc.

[0046] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as NR radio access that may establish the air interface 116 using New Radio (NR).

[0047] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement multiple radio access technologies. For example, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement LTE radio access and NR radio access together, for example using dual connectivity (DC) principles. Thus, the air interface utilized by the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be characterized by multiple types of radio access technologies and / or transmissions sent to / from multiple types of base stations (e.g., eNBs and gNBs).

[0048] In other embodiments, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e., Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), GSM Enhanced Data Rates for Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), etc.

[0049] Figure 1A The base station 114b in may be, for example, a wireless router, a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or an access point, and may utilize any suitable RAT to facilitate wireless connectivity in a local area such as a business location, a home, a vehicle, a campus, an industrial facility, an air corridor (e.g., for use by drones), a road, and the like. In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN). In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR, etc.) to establish any of a microcell, a picocell, or a femtocell. As Figure 1A As shown, the base station 114b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110. Therefore, the base station 114b may not need to access the Internet 110 via the CN 106 / 115.

[0050] The RAN 104 / 113 may be in communication with the CN 106 / 115, which may be any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications and / or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. The data may have different quality of service (QoS) requirements, such as different throughput requirements, delay requirements, error tolerance requirements, reliability requirements, data throughput requirements, mobility requirements, etc. The CN 106 / 115 may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-based services, prepaid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution, etc., and / or perform high-level security functions, such as user authentication. Although not described in detail in the specification, the CN 106 / 115 may be configured to provide voice, data, applications and / or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. Figure 1AAlthough not shown in the figure, it will be appreciated that the RAN 104 / 113 and / or the CN 106 / 115 may be in direct or indirect communication with other RANs that employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 113 or a different RAT. For example, in addition to being connected to the RAN 104 / 113, which may utilize NR radio technology, the CN 106 / 115 may also be in communication with another RAN (not shown) that employs any of GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, WiMAX, E-UTRA, or Wi-Fi radio technologies.

[0051] The CN 106 / 115 may also act as a gateway for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and / or other networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include a circuit-switched telephone network that provides plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet 110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks and devices that use common communication protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and the Internet Protocol (IP) in the TCP / IP Internet protocol suite. The networks 112 may include wired or wireless communication networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. For example, the networks 112 may include another CN connected to one or more RANs, which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 114 or a different RAT.

[0052] Some or all of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d in the communication system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities (e.g., the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may include multiple transceivers for communicating with different wireless networks via different wireless links). Figure 1A The illustrated WTRU 102c may be configured to communicate with the base station 114a, which may employ a cellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114b, which may employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

[0053] Figure 1B 1 is a system diagram of an exemplary WTRU 102. The exemplary WTRU 102 is provided for illustration purposes only and is not intended to limit the disclosed embodiments. Figure 1B As shown, the WTRU 102 may include, among other things, a processor 118, a transceiver 120, a transmit / receive element 122, a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, a display / touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132, a power source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136 and other peripherals 138. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may include any subcombination of the foregoing elements while remaining consistent with an embodiment.

[0054] The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors associated with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuit, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, etc. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, and / or any other functions that enable the WTRU 102 to operate in a wireless environment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120, which may be coupled to the transmit / receive element 122. Although Figure 1B The processor 118 and the transceiver 120 are depicted as separate components, but it is understood that the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 may be integrated together, for example, in an electronic package or chip.

[0055] The transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from a base station (e.g., base station 114a) via an air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmit and / or receive RF signals. In one embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be a transmitter / detector configured to transmit and / or receive, for example, IR, UV, or visible light signals. In an embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and receive both RF signals and optical signals. It should be understood that the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive any combination of wireless signals.

[0056] Furthermore, although the transmit / receive element 122 is Figure 1B 1 as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit / receive elements 122. For example, the WTRU 102 may employ MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two or more transmit / receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface 116.

[0057] The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate signals to be transmitted by the transmit / receive element 122 and to demodulate signals received by the transmit / receive element 122. As noted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. For example, the transceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers to enable the WTRU 102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as NR and IEEE 802.11.

[0058] The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, and / or a display / touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display unit) and may receive user input data therefrom. The processor 118 may also output user data to the speaker / microphone 124, the keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 may access information from and store data in any type of suitable memory, such as a non-removable memory 130 and / or a removable memory 132. The non-removable memory 130 may include a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storage device. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card, and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may access information from and store data in a memory that is not physically located on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (not shown).

[0059] The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and may be configured to distribute and / or control power to other components in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitable device for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 may include one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, etc.

[0060] The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which may be configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude and latitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In addition to or in lieu of the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU 102 may receive location information from a base station (e.g., base stations 114a, 114b) over the air interface 116 and / or determine its location based on the timing of signals received from two or more nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may acquire location information by any suitable location-determination method while remaining consistent with an embodiment.

[0061] The processor 118 may also be coupled to other peripherals 138, which may include one or more software modules / units and / or hardware modules / units that provide additional features, functionality, and / or wired or wireless connectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include an accelerometer, an electronic compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera (e.g., for photos or videos), a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vibration device, a television transceiver, a hands-free headset, module, a frequency modulation (FM) radio unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, a virtual reality and / or augmented reality (VR / AR) device, an activity tracker, etc. The peripheral device 138 may include one or more sensors, which may be one or more of the following: a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a Hall effect sensor, a magnetometer, an orientation sensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a time sensor; a geolocation sensor; an altimeter, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a magnetometer, a barometer, a gesture sensor, a biometric sensor, and / or a humidity sensor.

[0062] The WTRU 102 may include a full-duplex radio for which transmission and reception of some or all signals (e.g., associated with specific subframes for UL (e.g., for transmission) and downlink (e.g., for reception)) may be concurrent and / or simultaneous. The full-duplex radio may include an interference management unit for reducing and / or substantially eliminating self-interference via hardware (e.g., choke) or via signal processing performed by a processor (e.g., a separate processor (not shown) or via the processor 118). In one embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include a half-duplex radio for which transmission and reception of some or all signals (e.g., associated with specific subframes for UL (e.g., for transmission) or downlink (e.g., for reception)) may be concurrent and / or simultaneous.

[0063] Figure 1C 1 is a system diagram of the RAN 104 and the CN 106 according to another embodiment. As described above, the RAN 104 may employ an E-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communication with the CN 106.

[0064] The RAN 104 may include evolved Node-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c, though it will be appreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of evolved Node-Bs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The evolved Node-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment, the evolved Node-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may implement MIMO technology. Thus, the evolved Node-B 160a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to, and receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102a.

[0065] Each of the evolved Node Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, user scheduling in uplink (UL) and / or downlink (DL), etc. Figure 1C As shown, the evolved nodes 160a, 160b, and 160c may communicate with each other via an X2 interface.

[0066] Figure 1C The illustrated core network 106 may include a mobility management gateway (MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network (PDN) gateway 166. While each of the foregoing elements is depicted as being part of the CN 106, it should be understood that any of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than a CN operator.

[0067] The MME 162 may be connected to each of the evolved Node-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a control node. For example, the MME 162 may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, bearer activation / deactivation, selecting a particular serving gateway during an initial attach of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, etc. The MME 162 may also provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM or WCDMA.

[0068] The SGW 164 may be connected to each of the evolved Node-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface. The SGW 164 may generally route and forward user data packets to / from the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. The SGW 164 may also perform other functions, such as anchoring the user plane during inter-evolved Node-B handovers, triggering paging when DL data is available for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, managing and storing the context of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the like.

[0069] The SGW 164 may also be connected to the PDN Gateway 166, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c with access to packet-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices.

[0070] The CN 106 may facilitate communications with other networks. For example, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and traditional land-line communications devices. For example, the CN 106 may include, or may be in communication with, an IP gateway (e.g., an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 106 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to other networks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers.

[0071] Although the WTRU Figures 1A to 1D Although described as a wireless terminal, it is contemplated that in certain representative embodiments, such a terminal may (eg, temporarily or permanently) use a wired communications interface with a communications network.

[0072] In a representative embodiment, the other network 112 may be a WLAN.

[0073] A WLAN in infrastructure basic service set (BSS) mode may have an access point (AP) for a BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated with the AP. The AP may have access or an interface to a distribution system (DS) or another type of wired / wireless network that carries traffic to and / or carries traffic away from the BSS. Traffic originating from outside the BSS and leading to the STA may be reached by the AP and may be delivered to the STA. Traffic originating from the STA and leading to a destination outside the BSS may be sent to the AP to be delivered to the corresponding destination. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be sent by the AP, for example, wherein the source STA may send traffic to the AP, and the AP may deliver traffic to the destination STA. Traffic between STAs within the BSS may be considered and / or referred to as point-to-point traffic. Point-to-point traffic may be sent between the source and destination STAs (e.g., directly between them) using a direct link setup (DLS). In certain representative embodiments, the DLS may use 802.11e DLS or 802.11z tunnel DLS (TDLS). A WLAN using an independent BSS (IBSS) mode may not have an AP, and STAs (eg, all STAs) within or using the IBSS may communicate directly with each other. The IBSS communication mode may sometimes be referred to herein as an "ad-hoc" communication mode.

[0074] When using the 802.11ac infrastructure operation mode or a similar operation mode, the AP may transmit a beacon on a fixed channel (such as a primary channel). The primary channel may be a fixed width (e.g., a 20 MHz wide bandwidth) or a width dynamically set via signaling. The primary channel may be an operating channel of the BSS and may be used by the STA to establish a connection with the AP. In certain representative embodiments, carrier sense multiple access / collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) may be implemented, for example, in an 802.11 system. For CSMA / CA, a STA (e.g., each STA) (including the AP) may sense the primary channel. If the primary channel is sensed / detected and / or determined to be busy by a particular STA, the particular STA may back off. One STA (e.g., only one station) may transmit at any given time in a given BSS.

[0075] High throughput (HT) STAs may communicate using a 40 MHz wide channel, for example, via a combination of a primary 20 MHz channel and adjacent or non-adjacent 20 MHz channels to form a 40 MHz wide channel.

[0076] Very high throughput (VHT) STA can support 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz and / or 160MHz wide channels. 40MHz and / or 80MHz channels can be formed by combining continuous 20MHz channels. A 160MHz channel can be formed by combining 8 continuous 20MHz channels, or by combining two non-continuous 80MHz channels (this can be called 80+80 configuration). For the 80+80 configuration, after channel coding, the data can pass through a segment parser that can divide the data into two streams. Each stream can be processed by inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and time domain processing separately. These streams can be mapped to two 80MHz channels, and data can be transmitted by transmitting STA. At the receiver of the receiving STA, the above-mentioned operation for the 80+80 configuration can be reversed, and the combined data can be sent to the medium access control (MAC).

[0077] 802.11af and 802.11ah support operating modes below 1GHz. Channel operating bandwidths and carriers are reduced in 802.11af and 802.11ah relative to those used in 802.11n and 802.11ac. 802.11af supports 5MHz, 10MHz, and 20MHz bandwidths in the TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum, and 802.11ah supports 1MHz, 2MHz, 4MHz, 8MHz, and 16MHz bandwidths using non-TVWS spectrum. According to a representative embodiment, 802.11ah may support meter type control / machine type communication (MTC), such as MTC devices in macro coverage areas. MTC devices may have certain capabilities, such as limited capabilities, including support for (e.g., only support for) certain bandwidths and / or limited bandwidths. MTC devices may include batteries with battery life above a threshold (e.g., to maintain very long battery life).

[0078] WLAN systems that can support multiple channels and channel bandwidths such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11af, and 802.11ah include channels that can be designated as primary channels. The primary channel may have a bandwidth equal to the maximum common operating bandwidth supported by all STAs in the BSS. The bandwidth of the primary channel may be set and / or limited by a STA (which supports the minimum bandwidth operating mode) from all STAs operating in the BSS. In the example of 802.11ah, for STAs (e.g., MTC-type devices) that support (e.g., only support) 1MHz mode, the primary channel may be 1MHz wide, even if the AP and other STAs in the BSS support 2MHz, 4MHz, 8MHz, 16MHz, and / or other channel bandwidth operating modes. Carrier sensing and / or network allocation vector (NAV) settings may depend on the state of the primary channel. If the primary channel is busy, for example, because a STA (supporting only the 1MHz operating mode) is transmitting to the AP, the entire available frequency band may be considered busy even if most of the frequency bands remain idle and may be available.

[0079] In the United States, the available frequency band for 802.11ah is 902MHz to 928MHz. In South Korea, the available frequency band is 917.5MHz to 923.5MHz. In Japan, the available frequency band is 916.5MHz to 927.5MHz. The total bandwidth available for 802.11ah is 6MHz to 26MHz, depending on the country code.

[0080] Figure 1D1 is a system diagram showing the RAN 113 and the CN 115 in accordance with an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 113 may employ NR radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 113 may also be in communication with the CN 115.

[0081] The RAN 113 may include gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c, though it will be appreciated that the RAN 113 may include any number of gNBs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may each include one or more transceivers to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement MIMO technology. For example, the gNBs 180a, 180b may utilize beamforming to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c. Thus, the gNB 180a may, for example, use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to and / or receive wireless signals from the WTRU 102a. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement carrier aggregation techniques. For example, the gNB 180a may transmit multiple component carriers to the WTRU 102a (not shown). A subset of these component carriers may be on an unlicensed spectrum, while the remaining component carriers may be on a licensed spectrum. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement coordinated multi-point (CoMP) techniques. For example, the WTRU 102a may receive coordinated transmissions from the gNB 180a and the gNB 180b (and / or the gNB 180c).

[0082] The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using transmissions associated with scalable parameter sets. For example, OFDM symbol spacing and / or OFDM subcarrier spacing may vary for different transmissions, different cells, and / or different portions of the wireless transmission spectrum. The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using subframes or Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) of varying or scalable lengths (e.g., containing varying numbers of OFDM symbols and / or varying absolute time lengths over time).

[0083] The gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be configured to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c in a standalone configuration and / or a non-standalone configuration. In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c while also not accessing other RANs (e.g., such as the eNodeBs 160a, 160b, 160c). In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may use one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c as mobility anchor points. In a standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using signals in an unlicensed band. In a non-standalone configuration, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate or connect with the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c while also communicating or connecting with other RANs, such as the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c. For example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement the DC principle to communicate with one or more gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c and one or more eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c substantially simultaneously. In a non-standalone configuration, the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may serve as mobility anchors for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may provide additional coverage and / or throughput for serving the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c.

[0084] Each of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of users in UL and / or DL, support of network slicing, dual connectivity, interworking between NR and E-UTRA, routing of user plane data towards a user plane function (UPF) 184a, 184b, routing of control plane information towards an access and mobility management function (AMF) 182a, 182b, etc. Figure 1D As shown, gNBs 180a, 180b, and 180c may communicate with each other via an Xn interface.

[0085] Figure 1DThe illustrated CN 115 may include at least one AMF 182a, 182b, at least one UPF 184a, 184b, at least one session management function (SMF) 183a, 183b, and possibly at least one data network (DN) 185a, 185b. Although each of the foregoing elements is depicted as part of the CN 115, it should be understood that any of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than a CN operator.

[0086] The AMF 182a, 182b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c via the N2 interface in the RAN 113 and may serve as a control node. For example, the AMF 182a, 182b may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRU 102a, 102b, 102c, support of network slicing (e.g., handling of different packet data unit (PDU) sessions with different requirements), selecting a specific SMF 183a, 183b, management of registration areas, termination of NAS signaling, mobility management, etc. The AMF 182a, 182b may use network slicing to customize CN support for the WTRU 102a, 102b, 102c, for example, based on the type of services used by the WTRU 102a, 102b, 102c. For example, different network slices may be established for different use cases, such as services relying on ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) access, services relying on enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB) access, services for MTC access, etc. The AMF 162 may provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 113 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, and / or non-3GPP access technologies, such as Wi-Fi.

[0087] The SMF 183a, 183b may be connected to the AMF 182a, 182b in the CN 115 via the N11 interface. The SMF 183a, 183b may also be connected to the UPF 184a, 184b in the CN 115 via the N4 interface. The SMF 183a, 183b may select and control the UPF 184a, 184b, and configure traffic routing through the UPF 184a, 184b. The SMF 183a, 183b may perform other functions such as managing and allocating UE IP addresses, managing PDU sessions, controlling policy enforcement and QoS, providing downlink data notification, etc. The PDU session type may be IP-based, non-IP-based, Ethernet-based, etc.

[0088] The UPF 184a, 184b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c in the RAN 113 via the N3 interface, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to packet-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, e.g., to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices. The UPF 184, 184b may perform other functions, such as routing and forwarding packets, enforcing user plane policies, supporting multi-homed PDU sessions, handling user plane QoS, buffering downlink packets, providing mobility anchoring, etc.

[0089] The CN 115 may facilitate communications with other networks. For example, the CN 115 may include or may communicate with an IP gateway (e.g., an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 115 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the CN 115 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to other networks 112, which may include other wired and / or wireless networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. In an embodiment, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be connected to local data networks (DNs) 185a, 185b via the UPF 184a, 184b via an N3 interface to the UPF 184a, 184b and an N6 interface between the UPF 184a, 184b and the DN 185a, 185b.

[0090] Given that Figures 1A to 1D as well as Figures 1A to 1D Corresponding to the description of the present invention, one or more or all of the functions described herein with reference to any of the following may be performed by one or more simulation elements / devices (not shown): WTRU102a-102d, base station 114a-114b, evolved Node B 160a-160c, MME 162, SGW 164, PGW 166, gNB 180a-180c, AMF 182a-182b, UPF 184a-184b, SMF 183a-183b, DN 185a-185b and / or any other element / device described herein. The simulation device may be one or more devices configured to mimic one or more or all of the functions described herein. For example, the simulation device may be used to test other devices and / or simulate network and / or WTRU functions.

[0091] The simulation device may be designed to implement one or more tests of other devices in a laboratory environment and / or an operator network environment. For example, the one or more simulation devices may perform one or more or all functions while being fully or partially implemented and / or deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network in order to test other devices within the communication network. The one or more simulation devices may perform one or more functions or all functions while being temporarily implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. The simulation device may be directly coupled to another device for testing purposes and / or may use over-the-air wireless communications to perform testing.

[0092] The one or more simulation devices may perform one or more (including all) functions without being implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. For example, the simulation device may be used in a test scenario in a test lab and / or a non-deployed (e.g., testing) wired and / or wireless communication network to implement testing of one or more components. The one or more simulation devices may be test equipment. Direct RF coupling and / or wireless communication performed via an RF circuit system (e.g., which may include one or more antennas) may be used by the simulation device to transmit and / or receive data.

[0093] Overview

[0094] A WLAN in infrastructure basic service set (BSS) mode has an access point (AP) for the BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated with the AP. The AP typically has access or an interface to a distribution system (DS) or another type of wired / wireless network that carries traffic to and from the BSS. Traffic originating from outside the BSS and directed to the STA arrives through the AP and is delivered to the STA. Traffic originating from the STA and directed to a destination outside the BSS is sent to the AP to be delivered to the corresponding destination. Traffic between STAs within the BSS can be sent through the AP, where the source STA sends traffic to the AP and the AP delivers the traffic to the destination STA.

[0095] When using the IEEE 802.11ac infrastructure mode of operation, the AP may transmit a beacon on a fixed channel (usually the primary channel). This channel may be 20 MHz wide (a "20 MHz channel") and may be the operating channel of the BSS. The 20 MHz channel may be used by STAs to establish a connection with the AP.

[0096] In the IEEE 802.11 complaint system, the channel access mechanism is carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA). According to CSMA / CA, each STA (including the AP) will sense the primary channel. If the primary channel is detected to be busy, the STA backs off. Therefore, only one STA can transmit at any given time in a given BSS.

[0097] In IEEE 802.11n, high throughput (HT) STAs may communicate using a 40 MHz wide channel ("40 MHz channel"). A 40 MHz channel has a continuous 40 MHz bandwidth (BW) resulting from a combination of a primary 20 MHz channel and an adjacent 20 MHz channel.

[0098] In IEEE 802.11ac, very high throughput (VHT) STA can support 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz and 160MHz wide channels. 40MHz channel and 80MHz channel are respectively a combination of two and four continuous 20MHz channels. 160MHz channel is a combination of 8 continuous 20MHz channels or a combination of two non-continuous 80MHz channels. The latter may be referred to as 80+80 configuration. For 80+80 configuration, after channel coding, data is passed through a segment parser that divides the data into two streams. IFFT and time domain processing are performed separately for each stream. The stream is mapped onto two non-continuous 80MHz channels and data is transmitted. At the receiver, this process is reversed and the combined data is sent to the MAC entity / layer.

[0099] To improve spectral efficiency and other reasons, IEEE 802.11ac introduces a scheme for downlink multi-user (MU) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) (MU-MIMO) transmissions to multiple STAs in the same symbol time frame, for example, during a downlink OFDM symbol. The possibility of using downlink MU-MIMO is currently also being considered for IEEE 802.11ah. It is important to note that since downlink MU-MIMO uses the same symbol timing for multiple STAs when it is used in IEEE 802.11ac, interference with waveform transmissions to multiple STAs is not a problem. However, all STAs involved in the MU-MIMO transmission of the relevant AP must use the same channel or frequency band. This limits the operating bandwidth to the minimum channel bandwidth supported by the STAs included in the MU-MIMO transmission of the relevant AP.

[0100] IEEE 802.11ax defines physical layer specifications and medium access control layer specifications that enable high-efficiency (HE) operation of IEEE 802.11 devices. IEEE 802.11ax is considered to be the next generation of major Wi-Fi after IEEE 802.11ac. IEEE 802.11ax defines (e.g., new) parameter sets (such as 11a / n / ac) with smaller subcarrier spacing compared to traditional 802.11 systems. DL / UL OFDMA is introduced in IEEE 802.11ax, for example, to achieve better spectrum efficiency.

[0101] In IEEE 802.11ax, four HE physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) formats are supported, namely, HE single user (SU) PPDU ("HE SU PPDU") format, HE MU PPDU format, HE extended range (ER) SU PPDU ("HE ER SUPPDU") format, and HE trigger-based (TB) PPDU ("HE TB PPDU") format; examples of which are respectively described in Figure 2 A)-D) are shown.

[0102] Each of the HE PPDU formats includes a preamble, a header, and a data field. The preamble includes a legacy (non-HE) field followed by a HE preamble. The legacy (non-HE) field is included for backward compatibility and coexistence with legacy (non-HE) devices. The legacy field defines the legacy (non-HE) preamble. The legacy (non-HE) preamble includes a legacy (i.e., non-HT) short training field (L-STF) field, a legacy long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy signal (L-SIG) field. A repeated legacy (non-HT) signal (RL-SIG) field is appended to the legacy (non-HE) preamble.

[0103] The HE preamble can be decoded by 802.11ax compatible devices. The HE preamble includes a HE-STF pattern and a HE-LTF pattern.

[0104] The HE header includes a HE SIG-A field. The HE SIG-A field may carry information about: one or more packets to be followed in downlink and uplink, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (e.g., modulation, modulation coding rate, etc.), BSS color, BW, spatial stream, remaining time in a transmission opportunity (TXOP), etc. The HE header may include a HE SIG-B field in a format that supports multi-user packets.

[0105] The HE Data field carries one or more PHY Service Data Units (PSDUs). A maximum packet extension (PE) mode of 8 microseconds ("μs") or 16 μs duration is used at the end of an 802.11ax frame.

[0106] Figure 2 FIG. 8A shows an exemplary HE SU PPDU format 200A. The HE SU PPDU format 200A may be used for single user transmission. Figure 2 FIG. 2B shows an exemplary HE MU PPDU format 200B. If the PPDU is not a response to a trigger frame, the HE MU PPDU format is used for transmission to one or more users. In addition to the HE-SIG-A field 203, the HE MU PPDU format 200B also includes a HE-SIG-B field 201.

[0107] Figure 2 FIG. 2 shows an exemplary HE ER SU PPDU format 200C. The HE ER PPDU format 200C is used for SU transmission with extended range. In the HE ER SU PPDU format 200C, the HE-SIG-A field 203 is twice the HE-SIG-A field in other HE PPDU formats in length (duration / symbol).

[0108] Figure 2 FIG. 2 shows an exemplary HE TB PPDU format 200D. The HE TB PPDU format 200D is used for transmission as a response to a trigger frame or a frame carrying a trigger response scheduling (TRS) control subfield from an AP. The HE TB PPDU format 200D defines a HE-STF field 205 with a duration of 8 μs, which is twice the duration of other HE PPDU formats.

[0109] The L-SIG field, HE-SIG-A field, and HE-SIG-B field of the PPDU carry the PHY layer control information of the PPDU. The L-SIG field is transmitted using a legacy (non-HE) parameter set and format so that non-HE and HE compatible STAs understand (e.g., are able to decode) the L-SIG field. The HE-SIG-A field and the HE-SIG-B field are understood (e.g., decodable) by HE STAs. Table 1 below lists the subfields of the L-SIG field and the length (in bits) of each (sub) field. Table 2 below lists the subfields of the HE-SIG-A field and the length (in bits) of each (sub) field of each of the HE PPDU formats 200A-200D.

[0110] Table 1: L-SIG fields

[0111] Fields Bit rate 4 length 12 CRC 1 Tail 6

[0112] Table 2: HE-SIG-A fields with different PPDUs

[0113]

[0114]

[0115] Figure 3 An exemplary preamble structure is shown for an extremely high throughput (EHT) PPDU ("EHT-PPDU preamble structure") 300. The EHT-PPDU preamble structure 300 may be in accordance with one or more preamble structures contemplated for IEEE 802.11be.

[0116] The EHT-PPDU preamble structure 300 may include a universal signal (U-SIG) field 302 and an EHT-SIG (EHT-SIG) field 320. The U-SIG field 302 may include a version-independent field 304 and a version-dependent field 316. The version-independent field 316 has a static position and bit definition across different (e.g., future) generations / PHY versions. The version-independent field 304 may include a PHY version identifier, UL / DL marking, BSS color, TXOP duration, bandwidth information, etc. (e.g., bits indicating the above items). The version-dependent field 304 may include a PPDU type (e.g., bits indicating it). The EHT-SIG field 320 may include a common field 322 and a user-specific field 324. The common field 322 of the EHT-SIG field 320 may include version-dependent information. For example, the version-dependent information may include information that may be associated with the version-dependent field 316 of the U-SIG field 302. The common field 322 of the EHT-SIG field 320 may include and / or indicate a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), the number of space-time streams, a guard interval (GI) + EHT-LTF side, coding, etc. The user-specific field 324 may be used in a MU configuration. IEEE 802.11be may specify a single PPDU format for both SU and MU.

[0117] As one skilled in the art will appreciate based on the teachings herein, encompassed within the embodiments described herein but not limited to, are procedures, methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products for physical layer signaling in a WLAN system. A method is in the program, method, architecture, apparatus, system, device, and computer program product, which can be implemented in an AP and may include the following (for example, any of the following): generating an EHT PPDU based on a PPDU format defining a preamble, the preamble including (i) a fixed duration U-SIG field, (ii) an EHT-SIG field, and (iii) an EHT short training field (EHT-STF), wherein the PPDU is generated at least in part by: inserting first signaling for supporting a first set of features and information indicating the presence of additional signaling in the EHT PPDU into the U-SIG field; and inserting second signaling for supporting a second set of features and additional signaling for supporting a third feature into the EHT-SIG field; and transmitting (i) at least the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field on resources of a first bandwidth segment, and then transmitting (ii) the EHT-STF on any one of the resources of the first bandwidth segment and the resources of the second bandwidth segment, and then transmitting (iii) the EHT data field on any one of the resources of the first bandwidth segment and the resources of the second bandwidth segment.

[0118] In various embodiments, the method may include determining that the third feature is not supported by the first signaling and the second signaling. In various embodiments, the additional signaling may include user-specific information and / or public information. In various embodiments, the additional signaling (E-SIG) may be carried in an additional signaling (E-SIG) field inserted into the EHT-SIG field. In various embodiments, the third feature may be any one of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission, a cooperative multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission, and a midamble transmission. In various embodiments, the third feature may be an optional feature and any one of the features supported by the phase twice release of IEEE 802.11be and not supported by the phase once release of IEEE 802.11be. In various embodiments, the third feature may be non-preamble physical layer signaling. In various embodiments, the non-preamble physical layer signaling may include one or more reference signals. In various embodiments, the reference signal may be a midamble, may include a midamble, may be part of a midamble, or may form a midamble.

[0119] In various implementations, a method may include transmitting an EHT PPDU such that the EHT PPDU and another PPDU transmitted simultaneously with the EHT PPDU are aligned at a boundary of the EHT-STF and an STF of the other PPDU.

[0120] In various embodiments, the method may include transmitting another PPDU simultaneously with the EHT PPDU, wherein at least one preamble of the other PPDU is transmitted on a subsegment of the first bandwidth segment, and wherein the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU are aligned at a first boundary and a second boundary of the STF of the EHT-STF and the other PPDU, respectively.

[0121] In various embodiments, the method may include determining a first duration and a second duration of the EHT-SIG field and a signaling field of the other PPDU; and adjusting at least one of the first duration and the second duration to align the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU at a first boundary and a second boundary of the STF of the EHT-STF and the other PPDU, respectively. In various embodiments, at least one of the first duration and the second duration is adjusted to append an additional training signal to the corresponding at least one of the EHT-STF and the STF of the other PPDU. In various embodiments, the first boundary and the second boundary may occur on an OFDM symbol boundary.

[0122] In various embodiments, generating the EHT PPDU may include generating information for zeroing at least one subsegment of the first bandwidth segment during transmission of at least the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field, and the method may include applying the information to zero at least one subsegment before and / or during transmission of the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field on resources of the first bandwidth segment.

[0123] In various embodiments, generating the EHT PPDU may include generating a copy of at least one of the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field, and the method may include transmitting the copy on resources of at least one sub-segment of the first bandwidth segment during transmission of the corresponding at least one of the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field.

[0124] In various embodiments, generating the EHT PPDU may include generating a first user block field indicating a first resource unit (RU) of a first bandwidth segment allocated to a first STA; generating a second user block field indicating a second RU of a second bandwidth segment allocated to a second STA; and transmitting the EHT-SIG field includes transmitting the second user block field and then transmitting the first user block field.

[0125] In various implementations, transmission of the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field uses a first set of parameters, wherein transmission of the EHT-Data field uses a second set of parameters, and wherein the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters are different.

[0126] C-MAP transmission may refer to simultaneous transmission between multiple APs and multiple STAs. Multiple APs may coordinate and share time / frequency resources with one or more TXOPs. To simplify the explanation herein, the term "AP performing sharing" may refer to an AP that may acquire a TXOP and start using the TXOP, and the term "shared AP" may refer to the rest of the multiple APs. C-MAP transmission may include one or more of the following types of transmissions: collaborative OFDMA transmissions, collaborative subchannel transmissions, collaborative TDMA transmissions, and collaborative beamforming and nulling.

[0127] For cooperative OFDMA transmission, a sharing AP may acquire the medium and share it with other (shared) APs in OFDMA mode for C-MAP transmission. For example, a sharing AP may acquire an 80 MHz channel and the AP may transmit a C-MAP transmission using an 80 MHz parameter set.

[0128] For cooperative sub-channel transmission, the sharing AP can acquire the medium and share it with other (shared) APs in sub-channel transmission mode. For example, the sharing AP can acquire an 80MHz channel, and for C-MAP transmission, each of the APs can transmit using a 20MHz parameter set.

[0129] For cooperative TDMA transmission, a sharing AP may acquire the medium and share it with other (shared) APs in TDMA mode. For example, a sharing AP may acquire an 80 MHz channel, and for C-MAP transmission, each of the APs may use the entire 80 MHz channel but transmit in different time slots.

[0130] For collaborative beamforming and nulling transmissions, a sharing AP may acquire the medium and share it with other (shared) APs in the spatial domain. For example, a sharing AP may acquire an 80 MHz channel, and for C-MAP transmissions, each of the APs may use the entire 80 MHz channel but transmit in different directions / spaces.

[0131] In 802.11be and future 802.11 revisions, many new features may be added, such as HARQ, multi-link, multi-AP, multi-resource unit (RU), etc. Those features may be used for certain purposes or use cases at certain times, such as extremely high throughput, extremely low latency, many users or very dense deployments, etc. However, not all such features are required, used, etc. at the same time. In addition, from a standardization and certification perspective, some features may be mandatory and some features may be optional. If traditional signaling methods are used, many signaling / configuration bits in the SIG field for optional and / or features that will not be configured may become unnecessary overhead. According to the methods and techniques of this article, a flexible and robust way is provided for signaling and / or configuring features that may be optional or dynamically used (e.g., without a surge in PPDU formats and / or while minimizing or optimizing the number of PPDU formats).

[0132] Figure 4 A MU PPDU 400 that occupies a bandwidth greater than 80 MHz is shown. Although the EHT-SIG field 420 within the primary 40 MHz band may contain complete information for MU resource allocation, puncturing of one or more of the secondary 20 MHz bands may occur. When the BSS bandwidth is greater than 80 MHz, in order to be able to obtain the complete EHT-SIG with puncturing, the STA may be required to receive at least the primary 80 MHz band from the beginning of the MU PPDU 400.

[0133] The STA may not know whether it is one of the intended receivers of the MU PPDU 400. After decoding of the U-SIG and / or when receiving the EHT-SIG, the STA may determine that the bandwidth of the MU PPDU 400 is greater than 80 MHz. The STA may then adjust its receiver to receive the wider bandwidth of the EHT-STF for automatic gain control (AGC). Adjusting to a wider bandwidth may result in greater energy consumption and may interrupt reception of the EHT-SIG. For a STA that is allocated one or more resource units (RUs) that span both (or in) the primary 80 MHz band and the secondary 80 MHz band, adjusting to a wider bandwidth for reception may be necessary. Alternatively, for a STA that is allocated a primary band, a secondary band, or an RU having one of the other bandwidth segments that is similar in size to (or smaller than) the bandwidth of the primary band, adjusting to a wider bandwidth for reception may not be necessary. For example, for scheduled STAs A, B and unscheduled STA C, adjusting to a wider bandwidth may be unnecessary. Scheduled STA A, B and unscheduled STA C may perform AGC and subsequent reception for a bandwidth less than or equal to the primary 80 MHz band. As an example, STA B may switch its reception bandwidth to a bandwidth in the secondary 80 MHz band before receiving EHT-STF, and STA A, C may complete reception of EHT-SIG in the primary 80 MHz band and perform AGC without changing its reception bandwidth. This and similar types of behavior, including improved EHT-SIG, may be enabled according to the methods and techniques herein.

[0134] Figure 5 and Figure 6 An example of an asynchronous multi-segment aggregated PPDU transmission 500 and an example of an asynchronous cooperative OFDMA (C-OFDMA) transmission 600 are respectively shown. As shown, simultaneous transmission via a shared TXOP can be performed on multiple subchannels and / or segments and can be performed in (i) such as Figure 5 A single AP and multiple groups of STAs (e.g., different / distinct subchannels / segments for each group of STAs) or (ii) as Figure 6 ts (e.g., different / distinct subchannels / segments per AP). As also shown, not all simultaneous transmissions have the same packet format (e.g., the same parameter set, PPDU format, PPDU fields, etc.). The term "segment" and the term "bandwidth segment" may be used interchangeably herein. The term "sub-segment" may refer to a collection of resources of a bandwidth segment.

[0135] refer to Figure 5, for example, the AP may acquire a channel and may assign different groups of STAs to different and / or distinct sets of one or more sub-channels and / or segments thereof based on the grouping formats supported by the STAs and / or other parameters (e.g., channel conditions, efficient use of bandwidth, etc.). The channel may be a wideband channel, such as a channel having a channel bandwidth of 160 MHz, 240 MHz, 320 MHz, etc.

[0136] refer to Figure 6 , an AP may acquire a channel and share a TXOP with multiple APs, such that the APs use different and / or distinct sets of one or more subchannels and / or segments thereof for communication with STAs associated therewith. The channel may be a wideband channel, such as a channel having a channel bandwidth of 160 MHz, 240 MHz, 320 MHz, etc.

[0137] Also like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in both, simultaneous transmissions carried on one different set of one or more subchannels and / or segments are misaligned with simultaneous transmissions carried on one or more other different sets of one or more subchannels and / or segments. The result of such misalignment is Figure 5 The asynchronous multi-segment aggregate PPDU transmission and Figure 6 Asynchronous C-OFDMA transmission. Figure 5 , for example, the AP may obtain a wideband channel (e.g., a 320MHz channel). The wideband channel may include four subchannels / bandwidth segments, as shown. The AP may use one subchannel to communicate with a STA supporting a first packet format (e.g., according to a format of IEEE 802.11ax), and use the rest of the subchannel to communicate with a STA supporting a second packet format (e.g., according to a format of IEEE802.11be). Since the same parameter set and the same size of each field are used throughout, simultaneous transmission across all subchannels / bandwidth segments remains aligned with the end of the USIG and HE-SIG-A fields. The EHT-SIG fields 520a, 520b, 520c (collectively referred to as "520") and the HE SIG B field 501 may have variable sizes. Starting with the EHT-STF 560 and the HE STF 505, a new parameter set is utilized, and if the EHT-SIG field 520 and / or the HE SIG B field 505 are not synchronized, the OFDM symbol boundaries between the subchannels / bandwidth segments may not be aligned.

[0138] Through the above scheme, each PPDU can carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations. For example, according to the packet format of IEEE 802.11be, the front EHT preamble part can use one parameter set and the rear EHT preamble part and the data field can use another parameter set. Alternatively and / or additionally, the size of the front EHT preamble part can be variable (for example, assuming that the size of the EHT-SIG field in the front EHT preamble part is variable). Synchronization of the PPDU (especially OFDM symbol boundaries) may be required to avoid inter-symbol interference. Various solutions for synchronizing simultaneous transmissions of a shared TXOP are provided according to the methods and techniques of this article. At least some of the various solutions include a mode / scheme in which not all simultaneous transmissions have the same packet format (for example, the same parameter set, PPDU format, PPDU field, etc.). Such a mode / scheme allows the efficient use of wide bandwidth for a shared TXOP.

[0139] In various embodiments, the MU PPDU format may include a mandatory SIG field and one or more additional SIG (E-SIG) fields. The mandatory SIG field may be used for most transmissions and may be present in all PPDUs. The mandatory SIG field may include, for example, a U-SIG field and an EHT-SIG field. The E-SIG field need not be present in all PPDUs and may optionally be present in some PPDUs. In various embodiments, the E-SIG field of a single PPDU may have different types / formats / subfields / sizes (or number of bits), for example, to support different transmission modes, different features and / or transmission orders (e.g., initial transmission versus retransmission).

[0140] In various embodiments, the mandatory SIG field may include a subfield for indicating whether an E-SIG field is present. In various embodiments, the E-SIG field may include a subfield for indicating a type of the E-SIG field ("E-SIG field type"). In various embodiments, the mandatory SIG field may include a subfield for indicating the presence of an E-SIG field type (e.g., a specific E-SIG field type).

[0141] Figure 7 An exemplary PPDU 700 according to various embodiments is shown. The PPDU 700 may occupy a bandwidth of 80 MHz and may include a mandatory SIG field 701 (e.g., U-SIG field 702 and EHT-SIG field 720) and an E-SIG field 740 transmitted (e.g., sequentially) using a legacy 802.11 parameter set, followed by an EHT-STF 760 and an EHT-LTF field 780 transmitted (e.g., sequentially) using a new (e.g., EHT) parameter set.

[0142] Figure 8 An exemplary PPDU 800 according to various embodiments is shown. The PPDU 800 may occupy a bandwidth of 80 MHz and may include a mandatory SIG field 801 (e.g., U-SIG field 802 and EHT-SIG field 820) transmitted using a legacy 802.11 parameter set, followed by an EHT-STF 860, an EHT-LTF field 880, and an E-SIG field 840 transmitted (e.g., sequentially) using a new (e.g., EHT) parameter set.

[0143] although Figure 7 and Figure 8 The PPDU is shown and described as having an 80 MHz channel bandwidth, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the structure of the PPDU can be extended to bandwidths other than (eg, greater than and / or less than) 80 MHz.

[0144] A PPDU format with additional signaling (e.g., an E-SIG field) for supporting HARQ transmissions may be provided. In various embodiments, the E-SIG field may include any of a common information portion and a type dependent portion. For example, in MU communications, the type dependent portion may be different for different users. In various embodiments, the common information portion may include an E-SIG type subfield, and the type dependent portion and / or its format may depend on the E-SIG type carried in the E-SIG type subfield.

[0145] Fig. 9 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 901 and E-SIG field 940 of the PPDU 900 are shown, wherein the mandatory SIG field 901 and the E-SIG field 940 carry signaling for / in order to support HARQ transmission. As shown, a subfield 903 of any of the mandatory SIG fields 901 (e.g., any of the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG) may indicate that the E-SIG field 940 may be present (or whether). To simplify the explanation herein, such subfields may be referred to herein as "E-SIG present" (sub)fields. The mandatory SIG field 901 may include other subfields (not shown).

[0146] The E-SIG field 940 may include various subfields (e.g., in its common information, type-dependent portion, and / or other portion) for supporting HARQ transmissions. The various subfields may include any of an E-SIG type subfield 942, a BSS color extension subfield 944, a STA ID extension subfield 946, a TXOP duration extension subfield 948, a new transmission indication subfield 950, a HARQ ID subfield 952, a HARQ unit length subfield 954, a scrambler seed subfield 956, and a retransmission number subfield 958. The E-SIG field 940 may include other subfields (not shown).

[0147] The E-SIG type subfield 942 may indicate (e.g., set to "HARQ" to indicate) that the type of the E-SIG is a type configured to support HARQ transmission and / or support HARQ signaling. The BSS color extension subfield 944 may indicate an extended BSS color and / or BSSID. As an example, an N1-bit BSS color and / or BSSID may be used in a mandatory SIG field, and an N2-bit BSS color and / or BSSID extension may be used in an extended SIG field. A STA receiving such a field may combine, aggregate, concatenate, etc. the N1 bit and the N2 bit (or a portion thereof); the result may be a BSS color and / or BSSID that can more accurately (e.g., uniquely) identify a BSS (e.g., uniquely identify a globally unique BSS color and / or BSSID or one of the BSSs within the detectable range). The E-SIG field 940 may not include the BSS color extension subfield 944, or the BSS color extension subfield 944 may have a zero value, depending on the density of the BSSs within the detectable range. For example, if the density of BSSs within the detectable range is such that the mandatory SIG field 901 can (e.g., has enough bits to) indicate a BSS color and / or BSSID that sufficiently (e.g., uniquely) identifies the BSS, then the BSS color extension subfield 944 may have a zero value or not be transmitted.

[0148] The STA ID extension subfield 946 may carry an extended STA ID. As an example, an N1-bit STA ID may be used in the mandatory SIG field 901, and an N2-bit STA ID extension may be used in the extended SIG field. A STA receiving such a field may combine and / or aggregate the two IDs together to better identify the STA.

[0149] The TXOP duration extension subfield 948 may indicate an extended TXOP duration. The TXOP duration extension subfield 948 may be used in conjunction with the TXOP duration indicated by the mandatory SIG field 901. As an example, the mandatory SIG field 901 and the TXOP duration extension subfield 948 may carry N1 bits defining a TXOP duration T1 and N2 bits defining an extended TXOP duration T2, respectively. A STA receiving such fields may calculate a TXOP duration T=F(T1, T2) so that T may be a TXOP duration with a higher resolution. F(.) may be a function that depends on (is based on) the detailed definition of T1 and T2.

[0150] The new transmission indication subfield 950 may indicate whether the HARQ transmission is a new transmission, a retransmission, or a mixed transmission. A mixed transmission may carry a PSDU having an A-MPDU format, where some MPDUs may be new transmissions and some MPDUs may be retransmissions. Alternatively, a mixed transmission may carry a PPDU having N codewords. Some codewords may be new transmissions and some codewords may be retransmissions. In various embodiments, the new transmission subfield may define a bitmap corresponding to the N HARQ units in the PPDU. Assuming that the bitmap is N bits, for example, an absolute value or a toggle value on bit n may indicate that the nth HARQ unit may be one of a new transmission and a retransmission. In various embodiments, the bitmap may include more or less than N bits.

[0151] The HARQ ID subfield 952 may indicate one or more HARQ process IDs. The HARQ process ID may be used to identify a HARQ transmission between a transmitter and a receiver. Each HARQ process ID may be associated with a HARQ unit.

[0152] The HARQ unit length subfield 952 may indicate the length of the HARQ unit. The length may be expressed as bytes, bits, or OFDM symbols. In various embodiments, the HARQ unit may be one or more MPDUs. In various embodiments, the HARQ unit may be one or more codewords.

[0153] The scrambler seed subfield 954 may carry one or more scrambler seeds. In various embodiments, the scrambler seeds may be those that were once carried in the (e.g., legacy) service field. In various embodiments, the scrambler seed may be used for the PPDU. In various embodiments, the scrambler seed may be used for one or more HARQ units (e.g., where the HARQ units may have corresponding scrambler seeds).

[0154] The number of retransmission subfield 956 may indicate the number of retransmissions of the frame. For example, "0" may indicate an initial (new) transmission, "1" may indicate the first retransmission, and so on.

[0155] A PPDU format with additional signaling (e.g., in the E-SIG field) for supporting C-MAP transmissions may be provided. For example, a DL PPDU (e.g., C-MAP transmission) transmitted by multiple APs may use a PPDU format with a mandatory SIG field and an E-SIG field, such as Figure 7 and / or Figure 8 Those shown.

[0156] Fig.10 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 1001 and E-SIG field 1040 (such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 ), where the mandatory SIG field 1001 and the E-SIG field 1040 may carry signaling for supporting C-MAP transmission. The mandatory SIG field 1001 (e.g., any of the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG) may include an E-SIG presence (sub) field 1003, a BSS color subfield 1005, a STA ID subfield 1007, a bandwidth / puncture pattern subfield 1009, and an RU allocation subfield 1011. The mandatory SIG field 1001 may include other subfields (not shown).

[0157] The E-SIG presence (sub)field 1003 may indicate that the PPDU 900 includes (or does not include) the E-SIG field 1040. The BSS color subfield 1005 may indicate a BSS color and / or ID, such as a BSS color and / or ID for a sharing AP. The STA ID subfield 1007 may indicate one or more STA IDs, such as the STA IDs of the intended receivers of the C-MAP transmission from the sharing AP. The BW / puncture pattern subfield 1009 may indicate the total bandwidth acquired by the sharing AP for C-MAP (e.g., OFDMA) transmissions. The total bandwidth indicated in the BW / puncture pattern subfield 1009 may include BW shared with other (shared) APs. The RU allocation subfield 1011 may indicate RU allocations for the sharing AP.

[0158] The E-SIG field 1040 may include various subfields (e.g., in its common information, type-dependent portion, and / or other portion) for supporting C-MAP transmission. The various subfields may include any of an E-SIG type subfield 1042, a BSS color subfield 1044, a STA ID subfield 1046, a BW / puncture pattern subfield 1048, a TXOP duration extension subfield 1050, and a RU allocation subfield 1052. The E-SIG field 1040 may include other subfields (not shown).

[0159] The E-SIG type subfield 1042 may indicate (e.g., set to "C-MAP" to indicate) that the type of the E-SIG is a type configured to support C-MAP transmissions and / or support C-MAP signaling. For example, the BSS color subfield 1044 may indicate one or more BSS colors and / or IDs. The BSS color and / or BSSID for the shared AP and / or individual AP not involved in the C-MAP transmission. The STA ID subfield 1046 may indicate (i) for DL ​​transmissions (transmissions from multiple APs to one or more STAs ("intended receivers")), one or more STA IDs that may represent the intended receivers of the DL transmissions from the shared AP and / or individual AP not involved in the C-MAP transmission; and / or (ii) for UL transmissions (transmissions from one or more STAs to one or more APs), one or more STA IDs that may represent the transmitters of the UL transmissions from one or more STAs. The BW / puncture pattern subfield 1048 may indicate one or more bandwidths associated with the shared AP and / or individual AP not involved in the C-MAP transmission. For example, the BW / puncture pattern subfield 1048 may indicate, for each AP involved in the transmission, a corresponding bandwidth on which to transmit.

[0160] The TXOP duration extension subfield 1050 may indicate an extended TXOP duration. The TXOP duration extension subfield 1050 may be used in conjunction with the TXOP duration indicated by the mandatory SIG field 1001. As an example, the mandatory SIG field 1001 and the TXOP duration extension subfield 1050 may carry N1 bits defining a TXOP duration T1 and N2 bits defining an extended TXOP duration T2, respectively. A STA receiving such fields may calculate a TXOP duration T=F(T1, T2) so that T may be a TXOP duration with a higher resolution. F(.) may be a function depending on (based on) the detailed definition of T1 and T2.

[0161] The RU allocation subfield 1052 may indicate one or more RU allocations for the shared AP.

[0162] In various embodiments, a multi-AP group may jointly transmit a PPDU on the acquired bandwidth, wherein each subchannel of the acquired bandwidth or each subchannel / subsegment of the bandwidth segment of the acquired bandwidth carries the same content in all fields up to and including the mandatory SIG field. Each AP in a multi-AP group may transmit its contribution to the PPDU on all subchannels / subsegments or on the subchannels / subsegments allocated to it. Unexpected STAs may be able to decode the U-SIG field and / or the EHT-SIG field and may set the corresponding network allocation vector (NAV) accordingly. Repeated transmission of the U-SIG field and / or the EHT-SIG field may improve the transmission range. APs of multiple AP groups may transmit the E-SIG field on the allocated RU and / or subchannel / subsegment, and the E-SIG field may carry AP-specific information. A STA receiving a PPDU may check the corresponding RU / subchannel / subsegment subfield of the BSS color and E-SIG field to determine the RU / subchannel / subsegment allocated to the corresponding AP.

[0163] Combination Fig. 9 and Fig.10 The PPDU disclosed signaling method shown is a special case of nested signaling. Fig.11 An example of nested signaling is shown. Nested signaling can be used to make the system more scalable and support forward compatibility.

[0164] As shown, PPDU 1100 may include n consecutively transmitted SIG fields. Any SIG field up to SIG field n-1 may include an indicator 1103 to indicate the presence of the following SIG field and / or one or more additional features signaled in the following SIG field. Indicator 1103 may be as small as a single bit and may be referred to as an "additional feature / SIG field indicator". A PPDU including nested signals may prevent the proliferation of PPDU formats that would otherwise occur when additional features and capabilities are added (e.g., in future generations of Wi-Fi).

[0165] Fig.12 An example of nested signaling is shown. Fig.12 The nested signaling is similar to Fig.11 The difference is that if some of the features are exclusively usable, additional feature / SIG field indicators 1203 can be used to indicate them for one SIG field.

[0166] Fig.13 Exemplary PPDUs 1300a, 1300b are shown, where the mandatory SIG field 1301a / b and the E-SIG field 1340a / b carry signaling for supporting C-MAP transmission. Fig.13As shown, the PPDU 1300a (1300b) may be transmitted over the acquired bandwidth, wherein each of its four subchannel / bandwidth subsegments 1370a-d carries the same content in all fields up to and including the mandatory SIG field 1301a (1300b). The second subchannel / subsegment 1370b may be allocated to one of the multiple APs ("AP 2") for C-MAP transmission. AP 2 may be a shared AP and may be associated with one of the multiple STAs ("STA2"). AP 2 may transmit a U-SIG field 1302 and / or an EHT-SIG field 1320 over the entire acquired bandwidth in each of the four subchannel / bandwidth subsegments 1370a-d. AP 2 may transmit an E-SIG field 1340 over the allocated subchannel / bandwidth subsegment (e.g., the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b). STA 2 may decode the BSS color associated with AP 2 from the BSS color subfield carried in the E-SIG field 1340 transmitted on the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b. STA 2 may determine that AP 2 may use the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b based on the BSS color.

[0167] like Fig.13 As shown, the exemplary PPDU 1300a may be transmitted using an 80MHz parameter set. L-STF to EHT-SIG may be transmitted using a traditional parameter set and repeated on each 20MHz channel / bandwidth subsegment, i.e., 20MHz repeated transmission. Starting from the EHT-STF, the transmission may use a parameter set defined for an 80MHz channel / bandwidth segment. The second subchannel / subsegment 1370b may be assigned to one of a plurality of APs ("AP 2"). AP 2 may apply zeros to subcarriers other than those of the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b (return to zero). The contribution from AP 2 may result in the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG, and the following data portion (not shown) being transmitted on the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b with an 80MHz parameter set. Similarly, each of the remaining APs assigned one or more of the other subchannels / bandwidth subsegments 1370a, 1370c, 1370c may apply zeros to subcarriers other than those corresponding to such subchannels (return to zero). Contributions from the remaining APs may result in EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG, and the following data portion (not shown) being transmitted on a 20 MHz sub-channel / bandwidth sub-segment with an 80 MHz parameter set.

[0168] like Fig.13As shown, PPDU 1300b can be transmitted via a 20MHz parameter set. L-STF to E-SIG can be transmitted using a traditional parameter set. L-STF to EHT-SIG can be replicated and transmitted on each 20MHz channel / bandwidth subsegment (i.e., 20MHz repeated transmission). The E-SIG field can be transmitted on an allocated 20MHz channel, for example, as shown in the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b. Starting from EHT-STF, the transmission can use a parameter set defined for an 80MHz channel. The second subchannel / subsegment 1370b can be assigned to one of a plurality of APs ("AP 2"). AP2 can apply zeros to subcarriers other than those of the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b (zeroing). The contribution from AP 2 can cause EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and the following data portion (not shown) to be transmitted on the second subchannel / subsegment 1370b with an 80MHz parameter set. Similarly, each of the remaining APs assigned one or more of the other subchannels / bandwidth subsegments 1370a, 1370c, 1370c may apply zeros to subcarriers other than those corresponding to such subchannels / bandwidth subsegments (zeroing). The contribution from the remaining APs may result in the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and the following data portion (not shown) being transmitted on a 20 MHz subchannel / bandwidth subsegment with an 80 MHz parameter set.

[0169] Fig.10 The STA receiving the PPDU shown may check all SIG fields (including U-SIG, EHT-SIG, and E-SIG) for BSS color and resource allocation. If the STA's associated BSS color may not be any BSS color carried in the SIG field or its STA ID is not carried in any SIG field, the STA may enter sleep mode.

[0170] A PPDU format with additional signaling (e.g., in the E-SIG field) for supporting subchannel-based signaling for C-MAP transmission may be provided. For example, C-MAP transmission signaling may be carried in the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field.

[0171] Fig.14An exemplary MU PPDU 1400 that may be used to transmit a C-MAP DL PPDU is shown. The L-STF field to the U-SIG2 field are transmitted using 20 MHz repetition transmission. For example, the field may be modulated to a 20 MHz subchannel 1470b and replicated with or without rotation in the remainder of the 20 MHz subchannel / bandwidth subsegment 1470a, 1470c, 1470c. The EHT-SIG field 1420 may be modulated using a 20 MHz parameter set and transmitted on the 20 MHz subchannel / subsegment 1470b allocated to the BSS. The EHT-STF / LTF fields 1460, 1480 and the data field 1490 may be transmitted using an 80 MHz parameter set. The AP may transmit these fields on the allocated subchannel / bandwidth subsegment (e.g., 20 MHz) with zeros applied to the remainder of the subcarriers.

[0172] Fig.15 An exemplary MU PPDU 1500 that may be used to transmit a C-MAP DL PPDU is shown. Transmission of all fields may be on the allocated 20 MHz subchannel / bandwidth subsegments 1570a-d. L-STF to EHT-SIG may be modulated using a 20 MHz legacy parameter set, and the remaining fields may be modulated using an 80 MHz parameter set with zeros applied to subcarriers on other subchannel / bandwidth subsegments 1570 (zeroed). STAs associated with an AP may know which of the subchannel / bandwidth subsegments 1570a-d is allocated to the AP before PPDU transmission.

[0173] The U-SIG field may be used to carry common information about C-MAP transmissions. The U-SIG field may include one or more subfields (e.g., a combination of two or more subfields) that may indicate that the transmission is a C-MAP transmission. The U-SIG field may include a BSS color subfield and a BW / puncture pattern subfield. The BSS color subfield may indicate the BSS color of the shared AP. Alternatively, the BSS color subfield may indicate a virtual BSS color. The shared AP and the sharing AP may negotiate a virtual BSS color for C-MAP transmissions. In another alternative, the BSS color subfield may indicate a BSS color value reserved specifically to indicate C-MAP transmissions. The BW / puncture pattern subfield may indicate the total bandwidth acquired by the sharing AP for C-MAP (e.g., OFDMA) transmissions. The total bandwidth indicated in the BW / puncture pattern subfield may include bandwidth shared with other (shared) APs.

[0174] The EHT-SIG field may carry AP or BSS specific information, such as RU allocation for that BSS.

[0175] As disclosed above, the PPDU may include a mandatory SIG field (e.g., any one of the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG) and an E-SIG field, and any one of the mandatory SIG fields (e.g., any one of the U-SIG and the EHT-SIG) may include one or more E-SIG presence (sub) fields. Although referred to as a "(sub) field", the E-SIG presence (sub) field does not need to be a separate (sub) field of the PPDU. Each E-SIG presence sub (field) may be any information (bit) of the PPDU that may indicate that the PPDU or some (sub) fields thereof (or whether) include an E-SIG (e.g., one or more E-SIG fields).

[0176] In various embodiments, one or more E-SIG fields may be included in one or more of the mandatory SIG fields. For example, the E-SIG field may be included as a subfield of the mandatory SIG field. As disclosed above, in various embodiments, the E-SIG field may have different types / formats / subfields / sizes (or number of bits), for example, to support different transmission modes, transmission orders, and / or different features. Examples of such different features may include optional features, such as one or more features of the phase double release of IEEE802.11be.

[0177] In various embodiments, the E-SIG field may include various user-specific E-SIG information and / or public E-SIG information. User-specific E-SIG information may be used for, used by, and / or associated with one or more specific STA / users. A specific STA / user may be, for example, a single STA / user or one or more specific groups of one or more STA / users. Public E-SIG information may be used for, used by, and / or not only for, a specific STA / user and / or one or more specific groups of one or more STA / users.

[0178] The E-SIG field may include separate fields and / or subfields for various user-specific E-SIG information and public E-SIG information. For example, the E-SIG field may include user-specific fields and / or subfields (collectively referred to as "user-specific E-SIG (sub) fields") and public fields and / or subfields (collectively referred to as "public E-SIG (sub) fields"). The user-specific E-SIG (sub)field may include (e.g., filled with, carrying, etc.) user-specific E-SIG information. The public E-SIG (sub)field may include (e.g., filled with, carrying, etc.) public E-SIG information. The public and / or user-specific E-SIG fields may be separately encoded and protected by their own CRC, and therefore may carry CRC bits and tail bits. In various embodiments, some or all of the various user-specific E-SIG information and public E-SIG information may be multiplexed, attached, or otherwise combined and / or not carried in separate E-SIG fields and / or subfields.

[0179] Fig.16 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 1601 and E-SIG field 1640 of PPDU 1600 are shown, where the mandatory SIG field 1601 and E-SIG field 1640 carry signaling for supporting various features. As shown, the mandatory SIG field 1601 may include a U-SIG field 1602 and an EHT-SIG field 1620.

[0180] The U-SIG field 1602 (or the EHT-SIG field 1620) may include an E-SIG presence (sub) field 1603. The E-SIG presence (sub) field 1603 may indicate that the EHT-SIG field 1620 includes an E-SIG (e.g., an E-SIG (sub) field 1640). For example, the E-SIG presence (sub) field 1603 may be any one of a reserved bit, a version indication, and a PPDU type subfield. Alternatively, the E-SIG presence (sub) field 1603 may be one or more bits in one or more fields (e.g., a common field) of the EHT-SIG 1620. In various embodiments, one or more bits in the U-SIG field and / or the EHT-SIG field 1602, 1620 may be used to indicate which or those features may be included in the E-SIG field 1640. The bits in the U-SIG field 1602 and / or the EHT-SIG field 1620 may be, for example, a bitmap. The individual bits of the bitmap may be configured and / or used to identify that one or more features may be included in the E-SIG field 1640. For example, bit 1 of the bitmap may be used to identify (indicate) MAP transmission, bit 2 of the bitmap may be used to identify (indicate) HARQ, etc. Each bit in the bitmap may be set to a specific value (e.g., to "1") to indicate that the corresponding E-SIG field 1640 may carry information of the corresponding feature. The number of bits in the bitmap that are set to a specific value (e.g., the number of bits set to "1") may be used to indicate the number of E-SIG fields 1640 carried in the EHT-SIG field 1620.

[0181] The EHT-SIG field 1620 may include one or more EHT-SIG content channels. Each content channel may carry the remainder from the U-SIG field 1602, a common information field, zero or more user block fields (also referred to as user-specific fields), and zero or more E-SIG fields 1640. Each E-SIG field 1640 may carry information of one (or more) features, for example, any one of the optional features, a feature of a phase-once release of IEEE 802.11be, and a feature of a phase-twice release of IEEE 802.11be. For example, the E-SIG may carry extended information such as color extension, TXOP duration extension, HARQ-related information, MAP-related information, etc. In various embodiments, the same E-SIG information may be repeatedly carried in each content channel. In various embodiments, the E-SIG information may be divided into different content channels. For example, if two content channels are carried in the EHT-SIG, the first part of the E-SIG information (field) may be carried in content channel 1, and the second part of the E-SIG information (field) may be carried in content channel 2.

[0182] In various implementations, the E-SIG field may be carried (transmitted / received) after the User Block field.

[0183] The receiving STA may use various information to determine the location of the E-SIG field. For example, the STA may determine the location of the E-SIG field based on information in one or more U-SIG fields. The U-SIG field may indicate the number of symbols occupied by the EHT-SIG field and the MCS used to transmit the EHT-SIG field. The STA may determine the starting point and / or the ending point of the EHT-SIG field based on the number of symbols occupied by the EHT-SIG field and the MCS used to transmit the EHT-SIG field. The STA may use the starting point and / or the ending point of the EHT-SIG field (which includes the E-SIG field) and the information and / or one or more rules for locating the E-SIG field within the EHT-SIG field and / or for separating / obtaining the E-SIG field from the EHT-SIG field.

[0184] The STA may check all EHT-SIG content channels that it decodes. For each EHT-SIG content channel, the STA may check the common information field in the EHT-SIG, which may indicate (e.g., explicitly or implicitly) the number of user block fields carried in the EHT-SIG content channel. Each user block field may have a fixed size. The STA may determine the end of the last user block field based on the number of user block fields carried in the EHT-SIG content channel and the size of the user block field. The STA may process the bits after the last user block field as bits of the E-SIG field. The STA that detects the presence of the E-SIG field may continue to decode the field from the end of the user block field to the end of the EHT-SIG field.

[0185] Fig.17 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 1701 and an E-SIG field 1740 of the PPDU 1700 are shown, wherein the mandatory SIG field 1701 and the E-SIG field 1740 carry signaling for supporting various features. As shown, the mandatory SIG field 1701 may include a U-SIG field 1702 and an EHT-SIG field 1720. The E-SIG presence (sub) field 1703 of the U-SIG / EHT-SIG may be as small as one bit. For example, the U-SIG field 1702 may include a version independent (VI) field 1704 and a version dependent (VD) field 1716, and the VD field 1716 (or the VI field 1704) may include (e.g., one bit) the E-SIG presence (sub) field 1703. Alternatively and / or additionally, the common field 1722 of the EHT-SIG field 1720 may include (e.g., one bit) the E-SIG presence (sub) field 1703.

[0186] The E-SIG field with a given E-SIG type may have a fixed size. The STA may determine the end of the E-SIG field based on the E-SIG type and its fixed size. In various embodiments, the first k bits (or k bits in a fixed position) in each E-SIG field may indicate the E-SIG type. The STA may check the first k bits (or k bits in a fixed position) in the E-SIG field and may determine the E-SIG type. Based on the E-SIG type, the STA may determine the format and size of the E-SIG. If necessary, the STA may continue to check the remaining bits to locate more E-SIG fields. In various embodiments (e.g., Fig.17 ), an additional signal format field 1755 may be added before the E-SIG. The additional signal format field 1755 may indicate the type of the following (eg, sequential) E-SIG.

[0187] Fig.18 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 1801 and E-SIG field 1840 of the PPDU 1800 are shown, wherein the mandatory SIG field 1801 and the E-SIG field 1840 carry signaling for supporting various features. As shown, the mandatory SIG field 1801 may include a U-SIG field 1802 and an EHT-SIG field 1820. The E-SIG presence (sub) field 1803 of the U-SIG / EHT-SIG may be a bitmap. The number and order of the E-SIG fields 1840 carried in the EHT-SIG may be the same as the number and order of the bits in the bitmap (e.g., as shown). The STA may determine the number of E-SIG fields 1840 carried in the EHT-SIG based on the bitmap.

[0188] Each E-SIG field 1840 of a given E-SIG type may have a fixed size. The STA may locate the start of each E-SIG field 1840 based on (e.g., using the E-SIG field size corresponding to the E-SIG type). The STA may also use other information to locate the start of each E-SIG field 1840. For example, the STA may use the number of user block fields carried in the EHT-SIG content channel and the size of the user block field.

[0189] In various implementations, a known bit sequence may be inserted at the beginning of each E-SIG field. The STA may detect the known sequence and determine the beginning of each E-SIG field.

[0190] Fig.19An exemplary mandatory SIG field 1901 and E-SIG field 1940 of the PPDU 1900 are shown, wherein the mandatory SIG field 1901 and the E-SIG field 1940 carry signaling for supporting various features. As shown, the mandatory SIG field 1901 may include a U-SIG field 1902 and an EHT-SIG field 1920, and the E-SIG field 1940 is set in a common (sub) field 1922 of the EHT-SIG field 1920. The E-SIG presence (sub) field 1903 in the U-SIG field 1902 may be 1 bit or x bits, and may indicate the presence of the E-SIG field 1940 and / or a specific E-SIG field 1940. In various embodiments, the common field in the E-SIG may have a variable size, for example, depending on the type of the E-SIG field.

[0191] Fig. 20 An exemplary mandatory SIG field 2001 and E-SIG field 2040 of the PPDU 2000 are shown, wherein the mandatory SIG field 2001 and the E-SIG field 2040 carry signaling for supporting various features. As shown, the mandatory SIG field 2001 may include an EHT-SIG field 2020. The EHT-SIG field 2020 may carry the remaining fields from the U-SIG (not shown), a common information field 2077, zero or more user block fields 2079, and zero or more E-SIG fields 2040. Each user block field 2079 may carry information for k users, where k>1. Each user block field 2079 may include an E-SIG presence (sub) field 2003. The E-SIG presence (sub) field 2003 of any user block field includes one or more bits and may be used to indicate the presence of user-specific E-SIG information / field 2040. The user-specific E-SIG information / field 2040 may be after the corresponding user block field and / or after all user block fields 2079 (e.g., as Fig. 20 If (transmit / receive) is appended after all user block fields 2079, the order of the E-SIG field 2040 may be the same as the order of the user block field 2079.

[0192] The STA may decode all user block fields 2079 until it can find its STA ID in the user block field. The STA may then locate its corresponding E-SIG field 2040 based on the STA ID.

[0193] In various embodiments, one or more E-SIG fields may be added (transmitted / received) after (e.g., immediately following) the U-SIG field. Such E-SIG fields may be referred to as U-SIG extension fields and may carry information of one (or more) features, such as any of the optional features, the phase-once release feature of IEEE 802.11be, and the phase-twice release feature of IEEE802.11be.

[0194] In various embodiments, the U-SIG field may include an E-SIG presence (sub) field. The E-SIG presence (sub) field included in the U-SIG field may be as small as one bit and may be used to indicate the presence of U-SIG extension information / field. The U-SIG extension field may have a fixed size, for example, one or two OFDM symbols. Alternatively, the U-SIG extension field may have a variable size. A field in a fixed position of the U-SIG extension field may be used to indicate the size of the U-SIG extension field.

[0195] In various implementations, one or more bits in the U-SIG field may explicitly or implicitly indicate the size of the U-SIG extension field. A value of 0 may indicate that the U-SIG extension field may not be present.

[0196] In various implementations, the U-SIG field may carry any of a release number, a sub-generation number, and a sub-version number. Any of the release number, sub-generation number, and sub-version number may indicate the release of each version, such as release II of IEEE 802.11be.

[0197] As disclosed above and below, a PPDU may include an E-SIG (e.g., one or more E-SIG fields), whether in a subfield of a mandatory SIG field or independent of a mandatory SIG field, to support different transmission modes, transmission orders, and / or different features (e.g., without requiring a dedicated PPDU format thereof). In accordance with such disclosure, in various embodiments, an E-SIG may be used for transmissions having physical layer signaling that follows (in time) and / or is otherwise not part of a preamble ("non-preamble physical layer signaling"). For example, a PPDU may include an E-SIG for any of one or more midambles, one or more post-preamble additional reference signals, and other non-preamble physical layer signaling. The E-SIG may include information corresponding to the non-preamble physical layer signaling, e.g., information for supporting (identifying, using together, etc.) the non-preamble physical layer signaling. A single or combination of E-SIG fields may indicate that the PPDU or some (sub)fields thereof (or whether) include non-preamble physical layer signaling. For example, if the E-SIG Type Indication Doppler E-SIG field and / or the midamble presence field are set, such combination of E-SIG fields may indicate that the PPDU or some (sub)fields thereof (or whether) includes non-preamble physical layer signaling.

[0198] As an example, a PPDU may include (e.g., adapted by a PHY layer to include) an E-SIG (e.g., one or more E-SIG fields) of one or more midambles and / or other non-preamble additional reference signals in conjunction with Doppler conditions (such as high Doppler conditions, for example, in conjunction with transmissions being exchanged while moving at a high rate (e.g., in a vehicle)). The E-SIG may include one or more bits (e.g., in one or more E-SIG type fields and / or in one or more E-SIG fields) that may indicate the type of E-SIG carried in the PPDU. If one or more of the E-SIG type fields indicate that the Doppler E-SIG field and / or the midamble present field is set, the corresponding E-SIG field may provide information corresponding to non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., information for supporting (identifying, using together, etc.) non-preamble physical layer signaling). The E-SIG for the Doppler E-SIG type may include information such as Doppler parameters, whether a midamble is present, midamble periodicity, etc. The E-SIG type may indicate other types, such as MAP E-SIG, HARQ E-SIG. For MAP E-SIG type, the E-SIG may include information according to the disclosure herein above and below.For HARQ E-SIG type, the E-SIG may include information according to the disclosure herein above and below.

[0199] According to the disclosure herein above and below, the E-SIG may be carried in various bits of the PPDU. For example, information corresponding to non-preamble physical layer signaling may be transmitted in one or more E-SIG fields, wherein one or more of the E-SIG fields and / or E-SIG subfields may be part of the preamble (transmitted during the preamble). As another example, information corresponding to the first of multiple non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., the first midamble) may be at least partially transmitted in one or more E-SIG fields and / or one or more E-SIG subfields of the preamble; and information corresponding to the second of multiple non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., the second or subsequent midamble) may be at least partially transmitted in one or more E-SIG fields and / or one or more E-SIG subfields of the first non-preamble physical layer signaling, and so on (for one or more of the other non-preamble physical layer signaling). Alternatively, information corresponding to the second non-preamble physical layer signaling and one or more of the other non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., the second and one or more subsequent intermediate codes) may be at least partially transmitted in one or more E-SIG fields and / or one or more E-SIG subfields of the first (or other) non-preamble physical layer signaling.

[0200] IEEE 802.11be defines a unified preamble format to be used for PPDU (except for PPDU based on trigger events), which can be used for any of SU transmission, OFDMA transmission and MU-MIMO transmission. Some transmission schemes may not be applicable to all types of transmissions. For example, a transmission scheme that can use any of midambles, space-time block coding (STBC), frequency hopping, massive MIMO, etc. can be applied to SU transmissions, but not to OFDMA transmissions and / or MU-MIMO transmissions. When a unified preamble format is used, a transmission scheme that is not applicable to all types of transmissions can be considered an optional feature. Any of the optional transmission schemes can be applied to the PPDU using the E-SIG according to the disclosure herein above and below, for example, as an E-SIG for non-preamble physical layer signaling. For example, the PPDU may include non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., an optional transmission scheme) and an E-SIG (e.g., in one or more E-SIG type fields and / or one or more E-SIG (sub) fields), which (i) may indicate that the PPDU (or whether) includes a specific type of E-SIG, and / or (ii) may provide information corresponding to the non-preamble physical layer signaling (e.g., information for supporting (identifying, using together, etc.) the non-preamble physical layer signaling). The information corresponding to the non-preamble physical layer signaling may indicate the E-SIG type, the transmission type, etc. The transmission type may be, for example, SU transmission, OFDMA transmission, MU transmission, etc.

[0201] The transmitter may perform sorting of the various user block fields in the EHT-SIG content channel based on the RU allocations indicated by the various user block fields. For example, the transmitter may sort the various user block fields based on the channel, subchannel, and / or segment in which the frequency resources are allocated. The user block fields may be interchangeably referred to as user fields.

[0202] Fig.21 An exemplary PPDU 2100 with multiple user block fields is shown. The user block field may include one or more primary user block fields and one or more secondary user block fields. The primary user block field may include one or more RUs of primary segments and / or subchannels allocated to one or more STAs. The secondary user block field may include one or more RUs of secondary segments and / or subchannels allocated to one or more STAs.

[0203] The primary user block field may be generated and transmitted toward the tail end of the EHT-SIG content channel and / or after some or all secondary user block fields. For example, some or all secondary user block fields that may include and / or indicate RU allocations that are not within (outside) the primary bandwidth (e.g., the primary X MHz bandwidth, where X may be 160, 80, or 40) may be positioned (generated and / or transmitted) before some or all primary user block fields that may include and / or indicate one or more RU allocations within the primary bandwidth and / or toward the tail end of the EHT-SIG content channel. The motivation for ordering the primary user block field and the secondary user block field is that STAs scheduled outside the primary bandwidth, primary bandwidth segment, primary sub-channel, etc. may have to switch / extend their receiver bandwidth for AGC, unlike STAs scheduled within the primary bandwidth, primary bandwidth segment, primary sub-channel, etc. and / or STAs not scheduled by PPDU. The ordered primary user block field and the secondary user block field and / or the duration of the primary user block field may enable STAs scheduled in one or more of the secondary bandwidth, secondary bandwidth segment and / or secondary subchannel, etc. to adjust their receiving bandwidth for performing AGC, while STAs (and unscheduled STAs) scheduled in the primary bandwidth, primary bandwidth segment, primary subchannel, etc. may continue to receive on the current receiving bandwidth for the remainder of the EHT-SIG field and / or for the EHT-STF.

[0204] For example, in Fig.21In the present invention, a first STA ("STA A") may be allocated resources within a primary 80 MHz bandwidth (e.g., a primary bandwidth segment), and a second STA ("STA B") may be allocated resources in a bandwidth outside the primary 80 MHz bandwidth / segment (e.g., a secondary bandwidth segment). The transmitter may arrange the EHT-SIG content channel so that a primary user block field including and / or indicating an RU allocation for STA A may appear (be generated and / or transmitted) after a secondary user block field including and / or indicating an RU allocation for STA B and / or all other secondary user block fields. STA B may adjust its receiver to include the bandwidth allocated for receiving the EHT-STF. For example, STA B may adjust its receiver during a time period after decoding the corresponding secondary user block field.

[0205] In various embodiments, either the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field may include information indicating when (during transmission of the EHT-SIG field) any STA scheduled outside the primary bandwidth segment is to be cut off. The information may indicate a time of day or other specific time. Alternatively, the information may indicate an amount of time ("time period" T) used to determine the cut off. The cut off may be determined by applying the time period T as an offset from the start of transmission of the EHT-SIG field. Alternatively, the cut off may be determined by applying the time period T as an offset from the time when the information is received, decoded, etc. As another alternative, the cut off may be determined by applying the time period T as an offset from the start of transmission of the U-SIG field or other earlier transmission field.

[0206] In various embodiments, if the STA has not been scheduled outside the primary bandwidth segment by cutoff, the STA may assume that it will not receive a user block field including and / or indicating a RU that schedules the STA outside the primary bandwidth segment thereafter.

[0207] The above embodiments may be applied to bandwidth regions / segments other than the primary bandwidth segment. STAs may be allocated to receive on bandwidth regions / segments (e.g., only on bandwidth regions / segments). For example, a bandwidth region / segment may be a sub-80 MHz bandwidth region / segment, and an EHT STA supporting only 80 MHz may be allocated to monitor / receive on a sub-80 MHz bandwidth region / segment (e.g., only on a sub-80 MHz bandwidth region / segment). A user block field including and / or indicating RU allocation for a STA may be located (generated and / or transmitted) after all other user block fields in the EHT-SIG content channel (or after all user block fields including and / or indicating RU allocation for STAs scheduled outside a bandwidth region / segment).

[0208] In various embodiments, STAs may be allocated to receive scheduling information on bandwidth regions / segments and (at least partially) receive data outside bandwidth regions / segments. For example, bandwidth regions / segments may be sub-80MHz bandwidth regions / segments, and EHT STAs supporting only 80MHz may be allocated to monitor and / or receive scheduling information only on sub-80MHz bandwidth regions / segments. In the case where STAs are scheduled outside sub-80MHz bandwidth regions / segments, user block fields including and / or indicating RU allocations for STAs may be positioned (generated and / or transmitted) before all other user block fields (or before all user block fields including and / or indicating RU allocations for STAs scheduled within bandwidth regions / segments). STAs do not need to adjust their receiving bandwidth between receiving scheduling information and receiving allocated RUs. Alternatively, for such STAs, corresponding user block fields may be generated and / or transmitted before the cutoff (e.g., during the time period T starting from the start of the EHT-SIG). As described above, STAs may assume that they will not receive user block fields including and / or indicating that STAs will be scheduled to RUs outside bandwidth regions / segments after the cutoff.

[0209] In various embodiments, a STA that receives a user block field (which may be a user block field of another receiving STA) in any EHT-SIG content channel that allocates RUs within its bandwidth region / segment for monitoring scheduling information may assume that it will not receive a user field for RUs outside of its allocated bandwidth region / segment.

[0210] In various embodiments, the indicator may be included in the user block field. The indicator may signal a STA that receives a user block field including the indicator (which may be a user block field of another receiving STA) in any EHT-SIG content channel that it may assume that it will not be allocated RUs for monitoring scheduling information outside the bandwidth region / segment (e.g., not receiving a user block field indicating allocation for RUs for monitoring scheduling information outside the bandwidth region / segment).

[0211] In various embodiments, a padding field may be included in the EHT-SIG content channel to allow STAs that may be allocated one or more RUs outside of a bandwidth region / segment to have sufficient time to adjust their reception frequency / bandwidth in order to monitor scheduling information.

[0212] Various solutions are provided for synchronizing simultaneous transmissions of a shared TXOP. At least some of the various solutions include performing preamble alignment. For simplicity of explanation of the disclosure that follows, the packet formats for simultaneous transmissions within a shared TXOP are assumed to be those disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other packet formats may also be used for simultaneous transmissions within a shared TXOP.

[0213] In various embodiments, simultaneous transmissions of a shared TXOP may be performed on multiple subchannels / segments and may be between (i) a single AP and multiple groups of STAs (e.g., different / different subchannels / segments for each group of STAs) or (ii) multiple APs and multiple STAs (e.g., different / different subchannels / segments for each AP). The simultaneous transmission of each of the multiple APs may be between the AP and one or more STAs. Alternatively, the simultaneous transmission of each of the multiple APs may be between the AP and multiple groups of STAs (e.g., different / different subchannels / segments for each AP of each group of STAs). All simultaneous transmissions do not need to have the same packet format (e.g., the same parameter set, PPDU format, PPDU field, etc.). For example, simultaneous transmissions performed on two or more (or each) different / different subchannels / segments may have different packet formats. As an example, an EHT PPDU and a HE PPDU may be simultaneously transmitted on different / different sets of one or more subchannels / segments during a TXOP. As another example, two EHT PPDUs with different durations may be simultaneously transmitted on different / different sets of one or more subchannels / segments during a TXOP.

[0214] To achieve synchronization, preamble alignment may be performed using any of its fields with a variable size. For example, the EHT-SIG field and / or the E-SIG field may be used.

[0215] In various embodiments, the PPDU may have an EHT-SIG field with a fixed length, which is the same length as a conventional PPDU with an E-SIG field with a variable size. Examples of E-SIG fields and PPDUs with E-SIG fields are disclosed above. Various details of the U-SIG field, the EHT-SIG field, and the E-SIG field (which may be redundant and / or in addition to those detailed above) are as follows:

[0216] The U-SIG field may carry any of the following: the PPDU type field, the EHT-SIG MCS field, and the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field. The PPDU type may be used to indicate the presence of the E-SIG field. Alternatively, a new field may be used to indicate the presence of the E-SIG field. In various embodiments, the EHT-SIG MCS may be used to indicate the MCS of both the EHT-SIG and the E-SIG. For example, the EHT-SIG and the E-SIG may use the same MCS. In various embodiments, the EHT-SIG may have a fixed MCS in some PPDU types. The EHT-SIG MCS field may be used to carry the MCS of the E-SIG field. For example, when the PPDU type indicates the presence of the E-SIG field and the PPDU may be a shared PPDU between multiple APs and / or STAs, the EHT-SIG field may be modulated by a predetermined MCS, and the EHT-SIG MCS field may be interpreted as the E-SIG MCS field. In various embodiments, the EHT-SIG may have a fixed size / length in some PPDU types. The number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field may be used to carry the number of symbols of the E-SIG field. For example, when the PPDU type indicates the presence of the E-SIG field and the PPDU may be a shared PPDU between multiple APs and / or STAs, the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field may have a predefined / predetermined size, and the number of symbols of the EHT-SIG field may be interpreted as the number of symbols of the E-SIG field.

[0217] In a PPDU type that can support E-SIG and C-OFDMA transmissions, the EHT-SIG field carried by one AP may be different from the EHT-SIG field carried by another AP. For example, if a first AP ("AP1") uses subchannels / bandwidth (sub)segments 1 and 2 and a second AP ("AP2") uses subchannels / bandwidth (sub)segments 3 and 4, the EHT-SIG of AP1 may be different from the EHT-SIG of AP2. In this example, each of subchannels / bandwidth (sub)segments 1-4 may have a granularity of 20MHz. If an AP is assigned a subchannel / (sub)segment / (sub)segment with a bandwidth equal to or greater than 80MHz, duplication of content channels may be allowed. Content channels may include common fields and user-specific fields.

[0218] The E-SIG size and / or padding related information and MCS may be signaled in the EHT-SIG. The padding related information may include a number of padding bits before or after encoding, the E-SIG information bit length, the number of OFDM symbols of the E-SIG, etc.

[0219] The EHT-SIG may include one or more RU allocation fields and user-specific information fields. The number of RU allocation fields and user-specific information fields may be limited by the size of the EHT-SIG field. One or more RU allocation fields and user-specific information fields may be carried in the E-SIG field. The E-SIG may carry the remainder from the EHT-SIG.

[0220] In various embodiments, the EHT-SIG field of any EHT PPDU may be filled to align the EHT PPDU with other simultaneously transmitted PPDUs, for example, at the start boundary of the EHT-STF of the EHT PPDU and the short training field of the other PPDUs. The filling may be pre-coded filling or post-coded filling. Filling related information such as the EHT-SIG information bit length, the number of filling bits, and / or the EHT-SIG length may be signaled. The U-SIG field may be used to transmit filling related information. Alternatively, one or more frames exchanged between the AP and / or the AP and the STA may be used to transmit filling related information before the transmission of the PPDU. As another alternative, at least a portion of the filling related information may be transmitted in the U-SIG field, and at least a portion of the filling related information may be transmitted using one or more frames exchanged between the AP or the AP and the STA before the transmission of the PPDU. The frames exchanged between the AP and / or the AP and the STA may include those used to set up the transmission.

[0221] In various implementations, circular padding can be used for pre-coding padding or post-coding padding. Assume that the bits before padding are c1, c2, ..., c M , where M is the length of the bits before padding. N extra bits can be padded into the sequence so that the total number of bits is M+N. If N≤M, then the sequence after circular padding can be c1,c2,…,c M ,c1,c2,…,c N If N>M, the sequence after circular filling can be c1,c2,…,c M ,c1,c2,…,c M ,…,c1,c2,…,c mod(N,M) .

[0222] In various embodiments, when multi-segment aggregate transmission is utilized, the AP may transmit more than one type of PPDU simultaneously in the frequency domain. A legacy PPDU (e.g., HE PPDU) may be transmitted together with an EHT PPDU and / or a PPDU having other packet formats. Preamble padding is not applied to legacy PPDUs because legacy devices may not understand the meaning of the padding bits and / or be able to determine the padding duration. For each legacy PPDU, the AP may first calculate its variable-sized fields (e.g., the duration of the HE-SIG-B field of the HE PPDU) and then plan the scheduling of the EHT PPDU. The AP may limit the number of scheduled STAs for the EHT PPDU and / or PPDUs having other packet formats so that the EHT-SIG field and / or SIG field of the PPDU having other packet formats may not be larger than the HE-SIG-B field. In this way, padding may be applied to the EHT-SIG field. Padding may be applied in addition to or in place of other preamble alignment methods disclosed herein.

[0223] In various embodiments, a combination of using the E-SIG field and filling the bits of the EHT-SIG field may be used. For example, if the transmission of an 802.11ax PPDU and an 802.11be PPDU is performed simultaneously using different subchannels, the 802.11ax PPDU may carry the HE-SIG-B field.

[0224] In various embodiments, when the EHT-SIG field is not synchronized and / or the EHT-SIG field and the HE SIG B field are not synchronized, an extended STF sequence (field) may be added before (e.g., immediately before) the EHT-STF or HE STF so that the corresponding PPDUs are synchronized and / or aligned, starting from the beginning (or end) of the EHT STF field and / or the EHT-SIG field and the HE SIG B field. The duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer or fractional OFDM symbol with a new (different) parameter set (e.g., half or one quarter of the duration of the traditional symbol). The parameter sets of different EHT-STFs (or the remainder of the PPDU including the EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, and data fields) used in different BSSs corresponding to multiple APs, and / or the duration of the extended EHT-STF may be negotiated between multiple APs (assuming that the preamble alignment transmission is from multiple APs). The duration of the extended EHT field may be different from one PPDU to another. The duration of the extended EHT-STF may be signaled in the USIG field or the EHT field. In one example, explicit signaling of the duration (or presence) of the extended EHT-STF may not be required. A receiving STA may perform auto-correlation or other types of detection techniques to detect the end of the EHT-STF. Since the end of the EHT-STF is synchronized between PPDUs, the OFDM symbol boundaries are aligned from one PPDU to another.

[0225] The purpose of EHT-STF and extended EHT-STF may be to improve automatic gain control estimation in MIMO transmission and synchronization or alignment between multiple PPDUs transmitted simultaneously in different channels / links from one or more STAs and / or APs. EHT-STF may have a fixed duration (e.g., an amount of time that does not change from one PPDU to another PPDU). Extended EHT-STF may be a variable duration (e.g., an amount of time that may vary from one PPDU to another PPDU). The value may be based on PPDU alignment negotiation (e.g., before or during the transmission of the PPDU). Although EHT-STF and extended EHT-STF are described herein as separate fields, EHT-STF and extended EHT-STF may be a single field.

[0226] Fig. 22 An example of preamble alignment in multi-segment aggregate transmission based on the extended STF field is shown. Fig. 22In the example shown, four subchannels / bandwidth (sub) segments 2270a-d are aggregated for transmission from multiple segments of the AP. The AP may use the first subchannel / (sub) segment / (sub) segment 2270a to transmit the first PPDU 2271a to a group of EHT STAs. The AP may use the second subchannel / (sub) segment / (sub) segment 2270b to transmit the second PPDU 2271b to a group of HE STAs. The AP may use the third and fourth subchannels / bandwidth (sub) segments 2270c-d to transmit the third PPDU 2271c to a group of EHT STAs. The corresponding EHT-SIG fields 2220a, 2220b, 2220c and HE SIG B field 2213 may have variable sizes. In this example, the HE SIG B field 2213 in the second PPDU 2271b may have the longest transmission duration. The normal HE STF 2205 may be behind the HE SIG B field 2213. The AP may determine that the EHT-SIG field 2220a in the first PPDU 2271a may be shorter in duration than the HE SIG B field 2213 in the second PPDU 2271b by X nanoseconds ("ns") (where X>0). The AP may insert one or more extended EHT-STFs, which total Xns in the time domain after the EHT-SIG field 2220a and before the EHT-STF 2260a. The AP may determine that the EHT-SIG field 2220b, 2220c in the third PPDU 2271c may be shorter in duration than the HE SIG B field 2213 in the second PPDU 2271b by Yns (where Y>0). The AP may insert one or more extended EHT-STFs, which total Yns in the time domain after the EHT-SIG field 2220b, 2220c and before the EHT-STF 2260b (or 2260b / c, depending on the parameter set).

[0227] Fig.23 An example of preamble alignment in C-OFDMA transmission based on the extended STF field is shown. Fig.23In the example shown, four subchannels / bandwidth (sub) segments 2370a-d are used for C-OFDMA transmission. A first AP ("AP1") may use a first subchannel / (sub) segment 2370a to transmit a first PPDU 2371a to a group of EHT STAs. A second AP ("AP2") may use a second subchannel / (sub) segment 2370b to transmit a second PPDU 2371b to a group of EHT STAs. A third AP ("AP3") may use a third subchannel / (sub) segment 2370c to transmit a third PPDU 2371c to a group of EHT STAs. A fourth AP ("AP4") may use a fourth subchannel / (sub) segment 2370d to transmit a fourth PPDU 2371d to a group of EHT STAs. The four APs may negotiate the corresponding EHT-SIG field durations before transmission, and thus know that (i) the EHT-SIG with the longest duration is the EHT-SIG of the second PPDU 2371b and (ii) the exact size of the EHT-SIG 2371b. AP1, AP3, and AP4 may calculate the corresponding durations of the extended EHT-STFs of their PPDUs based on the size of the EHT-SIG 2371b, and may insert the extended EHT-STF between the EHT-SIG fields 2320a, 2320c, 2320d and the EHT-STFs 2360a, 2360c, 2226d.

[0228] The EHT-STF sequence may generate a periodic signal in the time domain. The periodicity of the signal may be a portion of the OFDM symbol duration. In various embodiments, the duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple of the EHT-STF period or other functions of the EHT-STF period. For example, the extended EHT-STF may include M periodicities of the EHT-STF sequence in the time domain. In various embodiments, the duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple of fixed short periods (e.g., a predefined fixed short period) or other functions of a fixed short period (e.g., a predefined fixed short period). For example, the extended EHT-STF may include M short periods of the EHT-STF sequence in the time domain. The extended EHT-STF may be repeated cyclically and appended to the beginning of the EHT-STF.

[0229] The PPDU alignment negotiation may include, for example, any of the following operations. The sharing AP may acquire the medium and may determine to share the medium with other (shared) APs for C-OFDMA transmissions. The sharing AP may transmit an indication ("Collaborative TXOP Indication (CTI) frame") to one or more other APs to check whether the other APs are to participate in the upcoming C-OFDMA transmission. In various embodiments, the sharing AP may include its frequency resource allocation and the EHT-SIG field size for C-OFDMA transmissions in the CTI frame.

[0230] One or more of the other APs may transmit a corresponding response (e.g., a "cooperative TXOP indication (CTR) frame") to the sharing AP. The CTR frame of the responding AP may indicate whether such AP is to participate in C-OFDMA transmission. In various embodiments, the responding AP may include the desired frequency resources and the EHT-SIG field size in the CTR frame.

[0231] After receiving the CTR frame, the sharing AP may transmit a proposed schedule ("Collaborative TXOP AP Schedule (CTAS) frame"). In various implementations, the CTAS frame may include frequency resource allocations for the APs and the EHT-SIG field size.

[0232] In various embodiments, the CTAS may include a maximum EHT-SIG field duration for alignment purposes. The maximum EHT-SIG field duration may be determined (negotiated) using a single or multiple CTI / CTR frame exchanges. Alternatively, the sharing AP may set it for the rest of the APs.

[0233] The APs participating in the C-OFDMA transmission may transmit a response ("Cooperative TXOP Local Scheduling (CTLS) frame"). In various embodiments, the responding (shared) AP may include the EHT-SIG field size for its transmission in the CTLS frame. The EHT-SIG field size of the responding AP may be based on the frequency resources allocated to the AP in the CTAS frame.

[0234] The shared AP may transmit a multi-AP trigger frame to trigger simultaneous C-OFDMA transmissions. In various embodiments, the shared AP may include a maximum EHT-SIG field duration in the multi-AP trigger frame for alignment purposes (e.g., the inclusion of the maximum EHT-SIG field duration may be in addition to or in lieu of including it in the CTAS frame). The maximum EHT-SIG field duration may be used by the shared AP for alignment purposes. As disclosed above, the maximum EHT-SIG field duration may be determined (negotiated) by using a single or multiple CTI / CTR frame exchange and / or may be set by the shared AP.

[0235] The sharing AP and the shared AP may transmit C-OFDMA transmissions using the allocated frequency resources. In various implementations, the EHT-SIG field may be limited by a maximum EHT-SIG field duration. If the AP may have a shorter EHT-SIG duration, the AP may use any of the disclosed methods and techniques to perform preamble alignment.

[0236] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the preamble alignment procedure for C-OFDMA transmissions, including PPDU alignment negotiation and any of its other operations, may be used to synchronize PPDUs transmitted from one AP, multiple APs, over one link, or multiple links.

[0237] Fig.24 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process 2400 for performing EHT PPDU transmission. According to various embodiments disclosed herein above, the process 2400 may be suitable for performing EHT PPDU transmission.

[0238] like Fig.24As shown, the AP may generate an EHT PPDU having (i) a U-SIG field including first signaling for supporting a first set of features and information indicating that the E-SIG is present in the EHT PPDU ("E-SIG presence information"), and (ii) an EHT PPDU field including second signaling for supporting a second set of features and an E-SIG for supporting a third feature (2402). The AP may generate the EHT-PPDU based on a PPDU format defining a preamble, the preamble including (i) a fixed duration U-SIG field, (ii) an EHT-SIG field, and (iii) an EHT short training field (EHT-STF). For example, the AP may generate the EHT-PPDU at least in part by the following steps: (i) inserting the first signaling for supporting the first set of features and the information indicating that the E-SIG is present in the EHT PPDU into the U-SIG field, and (ii) inserting the second signaling for supporting the second set of features and the E-SIG for supporting one or more third features into the EHT-SIG field.

[0239] In various embodiments, the E-SIG presence information may be as small as a single bit and may be an E-SIG presence (sub) field. In various embodiments, the E-SIG may be carried in an E-SIG field inserted into the EHT-SIG field. In various embodiments, the third feature may include any of the optional features and the features supported by the phase twice release of IEEE 802.11be and not supported by the phase once release of IEEE802.11be. In various embodiments, the third feature may be any of HARQ transmission, cooperative multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission, and midamble transmission. In various embodiments, the third feature may include non-preamble physical layer signaling. In various embodiments, the non-preamble physical layer signaling may include one or more reference signals. In various embodiments, the one or more reference signals may include a midamble.

[0240] The AP may transmit an EHT PPDU (2404). For example, the AP may transmit (a) at least a U-SIG field and an EHT-SIG field on resources of a first bandwidth segment, then transmit (b) an EHT-STF on at least one of (i) resources of the first bandwidth segment and (ii) resources of a second bandwidth segment, and then transmit (c) an EHT data field on either one of (i) resources of the first bandwidth segment and (ii) resources of the second bandwidth segment.

[0241] In various embodiments, the AP may selectively include any of the E-SIG presence information and the E-SIG on a PPDU to PPDU basis. For example, the AP may determine whether to selectively include any of the E-SIG presence information and the E-SIG based on whether any of the third features is applicable to the current PPDU or other upcoming transmissions. For example, if the E-SIG for any of the third features is required for the current PPDU transmission and / or the upcoming transmission (e.g., an upcoming transmission where the E-SIG will not be provided between the current PPDU and such transmission), the AP may include the E-SIG presence information and the E-SIG. Alternatively, if the E-SIG for any of the third features is required for the current PPDU transmission and / or the upcoming transmission (e.g., an upcoming transmission where the E-SIG will be provided between the current PPDU and such transmission), the AP may not include the E-SIG presence information and / or the E-SIG.

[0242] In various embodiments, the AP may generate information for zeroing a second subchannel of the plurality of subchannels during transmission of the E-SIG, and / or may transmit the information on the second subchannel when transmitting the E-SIG. In various embodiments, the AP may generate a copy of at least one of the U-SIG field and the EHT-SIG field for each of the plurality of subchannels except the first subchannel, and / or may transmit the copy on the corresponding subchannel.

[0243] Fig.25 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process 2500 for performing EHT PPDU transmission. According to various embodiments disclosed herein above, the process 2500 may be suitable for performing EHT PPDU transmission. Fig.25 The process 2500 is similar to Fig.24 Process 2400, and accompanied by Fig.24 The disclosure of process 2400 is applicable to Figure 5 The process is 2500. Fig.25 The process 2500 can be considered as a combination of the above Fig.242400 of the disclosed embodiment. The special case considers that the AP transmits an EHT PPDU simultaneously with (e.g., caused by) another PPDU, wherein the AP may perform any of various procedures (as disclosed herein) to cause the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU to be aligned at the boundary of the EHT-STF and the STF of the other PPDU (2504). As an example, the AP may determine the first duration and the second duration of the EHT-SIG field and the signaling field of the other PPDU, and / or may adjust one or more of the first duration and the second duration to align the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU at the first boundary and the second boundary of the STG of the EHT-STF and the other PPDU, respectively. In various embodiments, the AP may adjust the first (second) duration at least in part by appending an additional training signal to the EHT-STF (the STF of the other PPDU). In various embodiments, the first boundary and the second boundary may occur on an OFDM symbol boundary.

[0244] The other PPDU may be an EHT-PPDU (with or without E-SIG presence information and E-SIG) or another type of PPDU. In various embodiments, the AP may transmit at least a preamble of the other PPDU on a subsegment of the first bandwidth segment. In various embodiments, the AP may transmit the STF of the other PPDU on at least one of (i) resources of the first bandwidth segment and (ii) resources of the second bandwidth segment. In various embodiments, the AP may transmit the EHT PPDU simultaneously with more than one other PPDU, and the AP may perform any of various procedures (as disclosed herein) to cause the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU to be aligned at the boundary of the EHT-STF and the corresponding STF of the other PPDU.

[0245] Fig.26 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process 2600 for performing EHT PPDU transmission. According to various embodiments disclosed herein above, the process 2600 may be suitable for performing EHT PPDU transmission. Fig.26 The process 2600 is similar to Fig.24 Process 2400, and accompanied by Fig.24 The disclosure of process 2400 is applicable to Fig.26 Process 2600. Fig.26 The process 2600 can be considered as a combination of the above Fig.242400 of the disclosed embodiment. The special case considers that the AP generates an EHT PPDU (2602) that also has an ordered user block field, and / or transmits an EHT PPDU (2604) with an ordered user block field (e.g., caused by it). The ordered user block field may include a first and a second (e.g., primary and secondary) user block field, and the AP may perform sorting of the first user block field and the second user block field according to any of the various procedures disclosed herein. For example, the AP may generate a first user block field indicating a first RU of a first (e.g., primary) bandwidth segment that can be allocated to a first STA, and a second user block field indicating a second RU of a second (e.g., secondary) bandwidth segment allocated to a second STA. The AP may then transmit the second user block field and then the first user block field (e.g., to allow the STA to have sufficient time to switch / adjust its receive bandwidth before receiving the EHT-STF).

[0246] Fig. 27 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process 2700 for performing EHT PPDU transmission. According to various embodiments disclosed herein above, the process 2600 may be suitable for performing EHT PPDU transmission. Fig. 27 The process 2700 is similar to Fig.25 and Fig.26 Processes 2500, 2600, and the disclosures accompanying processes 2500, 2600 are applicable to Fig. 27 Process 2700. Fig. 27 The process 2700 of can be considered as a special case of the embodiments disclosed above in conjunction with the processes 2500 and 2600. The special case considers that the AP generates an EHT PPDU with an ordered user block field (2702) and / or transmits an EHT PPDU with an ordered user block field simultaneously with another PPDU (e.g., caused by it), wherein the AP can perform any of various procedures (as disclosed herein) to cause the EHT PPDU and the other PPDU to be aligned at the boundary of the EHT-STF and the STF of the other PPDU (2704).

[0247] Incorporated herein by reference is :

[0248] IEEE Std 802.11 TM -2016: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications

[0249] “IEEE P802.11ax TM / D3.0, Amendment 6: Enhancements for Efficient WLANs", 2018.

[0250] IEEE 802.11-16 / 1045r9 “PAR Recommendation for Wake-up Radio”, July 2016

[0251] 11-18-0861NGV Project Authorization Request (PAR)

[0252] 11-18-0862NGV Standards for Standards Development (CSD)

[0253] 11-19-0497TGbd Specification Framework Document (SFD)

[0254] IEEE 802.11-18 / 1231r4, "802.11EHT Recommendation PAR"

[0255] IEEE 802.11-18 / 1233r4, "IEEE 802.11EHT Draft Recommendation CSD"

[0256] IEEE 802.11-19 / 1021r1, "Preamble Design Harmonization"

[0257] IEEE 802.11-19 / 1023, "HARQ Complexity Revisited"

[0258] in conclusion

[0259] Although features and elements are provided above in specific combinations, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that each feature or element may be used alone or in any combination with other features and elements. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described in this patent application, which are intended to be examples of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the essence and scope of the present invention, as they will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Unless explicitly provided as such, any element, action or description used in the present application specification should not be understood as being essential or necessary to the present invention. According to the foregoing description, in addition to those listed herein, functionally equivalent methods and devices within the scope of the present disclosure will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is limited only to the terms of the appended claims and the full range of equivalent forms of such entitled claims. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific method or system.

[0260] For simplicity, the foregoing embodiments are discussed with respect to terminology and structure of infrared capable devices (i.e., infrared transmitters and receivers). However, the embodiments discussed are not limited to these systems, but may be applied to other systems using other forms of electromagnetic waves or non-electromagnetic waves (such as sound waves).

[0261] It should also be understood that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term "video" or the term "image" may mean any of a snapshot, a single image, and / or a plurality of images displayed on a temporal basis. As another example, when referred to herein, the term "user equipment" and its abbreviation "UE", the term "remote" and / or the term "head mounted display" or its abbreviation "HMD" may mean or include (i) a wireless transmit and / or receive unit (WTRU); (ii) any of a plurality of embodiments of a WTRU; (iii) a device having wireless functionality and / or having wired functionality (e.g., tetherable) configured with (in particular) some or all of the structure and functionality of a WTRU; (iii) a wireless capable and / or wired capable device configured with less than all of the structure and functionality of a WTRU; or (iv), etc. The following descriptions with respect to the attached Figures 1A-1D As another example, various disclosed embodiments herein are described above and below as utilizing a head mounted display. Those skilled in the art will recognize that devices other than head mounted displays may be utilized, and some or all of the present disclosure and various disclosed embodiments may be modified accordingly without undue experimentation. Examples of such other devices may include drones or other devices configured to stream information to provide an adapted reality experience.

[0262] In addition, the methods provided herein may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware incorporated into a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronic signals (transmitted via a wired or wireless connection) and computer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), registers, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media (such as built-in hard disks and removable disks), magneto-optical media, and optical media (such as CD-ROM disks and digital versatile disks (DVDs)). A processor associated with the software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

[0263] Variations of the methods, devices, and systems provided above are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. In view of the various embodiments that may be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are merely examples and should not be considered to limit the scope of the following claims. For example, the embodiments provided herein include handheld devices that may include or be used with any suitable voltage source (such as a battery, etc.) that provides any suitable voltage.

[0264] In addition, in the embodiments provided above, processing platforms, computing systems, controllers and other devices comprising processors are indicated. These devices may include at least one central processing unit ("CPU") and memory. According to the practice of those skilled in the art of computer programming, references to the symbolic representations of actions and operations or instructions may be performed by various CPUs and memories. Such actions and operations or instructions may be considered to be "executed", "computer executed" or "CPU executed".

[0265] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the actions and symbolic representations of operations or instructions include manipulation of electrical signals by the CPU. The electrical system represents data bits, which may result in the ultimate transformation of electrical signals or reduction of electrical signals and the retention of data bits at memory locations in the memory system, thereby reconfiguring or otherwise changing the operation of the CPU and performing other processing of signals. The memory location that holds the data bits is a physical location that has specific electrical, magnetic, optical, or organic properties that correspond to or represent the data bits. It should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned platforms or CPUs, and other platforms and CPUs may also support the provided methods.

[0266] The data bits may also be maintained on computer-readable media, including magnetic disks, optical disks, and any other volatile (e.g., random access memory ("RAM")) or non-volatile (e.g., read-only memory ("ROM")) mass storage system readable by the CPU. The computer-readable media may include cooperating or interconnected computer-readable media that reside solely on the processing system or distributed across multiple interconnected processing systems that may be local or remote relative to the processing system. It should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned memories, and other platforms and memories may also support the provided methods.

[0267] In an exemplary embodiment, any of the operations, processes, etc. described herein may be implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may be executed by a processor of a mobile unit, a network element, and / or any other computing device.

[0268] There is little difference between hardware implementation and software implementation of various aspects of the system. The use of hardware or software is usually (but not always, because in some contexts, the choice between hardware and software may become important) a design choice that represents a trade-off between cost and efficiency. There may be various media (e.g., hardware, software, and / or firmware) that can implement the processes and / or systems and / or other technologies described herein, and the preferred media may vary with the context of the deployment process and / or system and / or other technologies. For example, if the implementer determines that speed and accuracy are most important, the implementer may choose a media that is primarily hardware and / or firmware. If flexibility is most important, the implementer may choose a specific implementation that is primarily software. Alternatively, the implementer may choose some combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0269] The above detailed description has listed various embodiments of the device and / or process by using block diagrams, flow charts and / or examples. In the case where such block diagrams, flow charts and / or examples include one or more functions and / or operations, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, flow charts or examples can be implemented individually and / or collectively by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware or almost any combination thereof. In an embodiment, several parts of the subject matter described herein can be implemented via application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs) and / or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits as a whole or in part as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), firmware or almost any combination thereof, and according to the present disclosure, designing circuits and / or writing software and / or firmware codes will be completely within the technical scope of those skilled in the art. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein can be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the exemplary embodiments of the subject matter described herein apply regardless of the specific type of signal-bearing medium used to actually perform the distribution. Examples of signal-bearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordable type media (such as floppy disks, hard drives, CDs, DVDs, digital tapes, computer memory, etc.); and transmission type media (such as digital and / or analog communication media (e.g., fiber optic cables, waveguides, wired communication links, wireless communication links, etc.)).

[0270] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common in the art to describe devices and / or processes in the manner set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such described devices and / or processes into a data processing system. That is, at least a portion of the devices and / or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a typical data processing system generally may include one or more of the following: a system unit housing; a video display device; a memory, such as a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory; a processor, such as a microprocessor and a digital signal processor; a computing entity, such as an operating system, a driver, a graphical user interface, and an application; one or more interactive devices, such as a touch pad or a screen; and / or a control system, including a feedback loop and a control motor (e.g., feedback for sensing position and / or velocity, a control motor for moving and / or adjusting components and / or quantities). A typical data processing system may be implemented using any suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing / communication and / or network computing / communication systems.

[0271] The subject matter described herein sometimes shows different parts that are contained in different other parts or connected with different other parts.It should be understood that such depicted architectures are only examples, and in fact many other architectures that achieve the same function can be realized.In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of parts that achieve the same function is effectively "associated" so that the desired function can be achieved.Therefore, any two parts that are combined to achieve a specific function in this article can be regarded as "associated" with each other so that the desired function can be achieved, regardless of the architecture or intermediate parts.Similarly, any two parts that are so associated can also be regarded as "operably connected" or "operably coupled" to each other to achieve the desired function, and any two parts that can be so associated can also be regarded as "operably coupleable" to each other to achieve the desired function.Specific examples of operable coupling include but are not limited to parts that can physically cooperate and / or physically interact and / or parts that can wirelessly interact and / or wirelessly interact and / or parts that can logically interact and / or parts that can logically interact.

[0272] With respect to substantially any plural and / or singular terms used herein, those skilled in the art may translate from the plural to the singular and / or from the singular to the plural as appropriate, as appropriate to the context and / or application. For clarity, various singular / plural arrangements may be explicitly listed herein.

[0273] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general, the terms used herein, especially in the appended claims (e.g., the bodies of the appended claims), are generally intended to be "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least", the term "comprising" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to", etc.). It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation object is intended, such intent will be explicitly stated in the claim, and in the absence of such a recitation object, there is no such intent. For example, where only one item is intended, the term "single" or similar language may be used. To aid understanding, the following appended claims and / or the description herein may contain the use of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitation objects. However, the use of such phrases should not be understood to imply that any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation object is limited to an embodiment containing only one such recitation object by the indefinite article "a" or "an" to introduce the claim recitation object. This is true even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and an indefinite article such as "a" or "a kind" (e.g., "a" and / or "a kind" should be interpreted as meaning "at least one" or "one or more"). The same applies to the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of introduced claim recitations is explicitly recited, one skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted as meaning at least the stated number (e.g., a bare recitation of "two recitations" without other modifiers means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). In addition, in those instances where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, generally speaking, the meaning of such construction is that one skilled in the art will understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" will include, but is not limited to, a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B simultaneously, A and C simultaneously, B and C simultaneously, and / or A, B, and C simultaneously, etc.). In those instances where a convention similar to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, generally speaking, the meaning of such construction is that one skilled in the art will understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" will include, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). One skilled in the art will also understand that, in fact, any discrete words and / or phrases presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibility of including one of the terms, any of the terms, or both of the terms.For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B." Additionally, as used herein, the term "any of" followed by a listing of multiple items and / or multiple categories of items is intended to include "any of," "any combination," "any multiples," and / or "any combination of multiples" of the items and / or categories of items, either alone or in combination with other items and / or other categories of items. Additionally, as used herein, the term "set" is intended to include any number of items, including zero. Additionally, as used herein, the term "quantity" is intended to include any number, including zero. And, as used herein, the term "plurality" is intended to be synonymous with "multiple."

[0274] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0275] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, for any and all purposes (such as for providing a written description), all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of their subranges. Any listed range can be easily identified as fully describing and enabling the same range to be divided into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be easily divided into a lower third, a middle third, and an upper third, etc. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, all languages ​​such as "up to", "at least", "greater than", "less than", etc. include the cited numbers and refer to ranges that can subsequently be divided into subranges as described above. Finally, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, ranges include each individual number. Thus, for example, a group having 1 to 3 units refers to a group having 1, 2, or 3 units. Similarly, a group having 1 to 5 units refers to a group having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 units, etc.

[0276] Furthermore, the claims should not be read as limited to the order or elements presented unless otherwise stated. Additionally, the use of the term "means for..." in any claim is intended to invoke 25 U.S.C. § 112, 6 or means-plus-function claim format, and any claim without the term "means for..." is not intended to be so.

Claims

1. A method implemented in an access point (AP) device, the method comprising: generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a signaling (SIG) field, the SIG field including an additional signaling (E-SIG) indication field, the E-SIG indication field including an indication that the PPDU includes an E-SIG field, the E-SIG field including one or more E-SIG subfields, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include: an E-SIG type indicating support for a coordinated multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission within a MAP group associated with a C-MAP transmission, the MAP group including the AP device; a resource unit (RU) allocation indicating one or more RU allocations for other AP devices within the MAP group; and The PPDU is transmitted to a station (STA) associated with an AP device within the MAP group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a transmit opportunity (TXOP) duration extension subfield.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a basic service set (BSS) color subfield to indicate a BSS color of each of the other AP devices within the MAP group.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a station identifier (STA ID) subfield to indicate a STA ID corresponding to a STA that is an intended receiver of downlink (DL) transmissions from the MAP group.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a station identifier (STA ID) subfield to indicate a STA ID corresponding to a STA intended to transmit an uplink (UL) transmission to the MAP group.

6. An access point (AP) device, comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a signaling (SIG) field, the SIG field including an additional signaling (E-SIG) indication field, the E-SIG indication field including an indication that the PPDU includes an E-SIG field, the E-SIG field including one or more E-SIG subfields, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include: an E-SIG type indicating support for a coordinated multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission within a MAP group associated with a C-MAP transmission, the MAP group including the AP device; a resource unit (RU) allocation indicating one or more RU allocations for other AP devices within the MAP group; as well as The PPDU is transmitted to a station (STA) associated with an AP device within the MAP group.

7. The access point device of claim 6, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a transmit opportunity (TXOP) duration extension subfield.

8. The access point device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a basic service set (BSS) color subfield to indicate a BSS color of each of the other AP devices within the MAP group.

9. The access point device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a station identifier (STA ID) subfield to indicate a STA ID corresponding to a STA that is an intended receiver of downlink (DL) transmissions from the MAP group.

10. The access point device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a station identifier (STA ID) subfield to indicate a STA ID corresponding to a STA intended to transmit an uplink (UL) transmission to the MAP group.

11. A method implemented by a station (STA) device, the method comprising: Receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a signaling (SIG) field from an access point (AP) within a multi-AP (MAP) group for collaborative MAP (C-MAP) transmission, the SIG field including an extra signaling (E-SIG) indication field, the E-SIG indication field including an indication that the PPDU includes an E-SIG field, the E-SIG field including one or more E-SIG subfields, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include: An E-SIG type indicating support for coordinated multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission within the MAP group; a resource unit (RU) allocation indicating one or more RU allocations for allocation to the AP within the multi-AP (MAP) group; The one or more RU allocations are used for communicating with the AP.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a transmit opportunity (TXOP) duration extension subfield indicating an extended TXOP duration, and the TXOP duration extension subfield is used in conjunction with a TXOP duration indicated in the SIG field to determine a TXOP duration with a higher resolution than the TXOP duration indicated in the SIG field alone.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a BSS color extension subfield indicating an extended basic service set (BSS) color, and the BSS color extension subfield is used in conjunction with the BSS color indicated in the SIG field to identify the BSS.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein one or more E-SIG subfields include an extended station identifier (STA ID) subfield, and the extended STA ID subfield is used in conjunction with the STA ID indicated in the SIG field to identify the station device.

15. A station (STA) device, comprising: Transceiver; as well as a processor coupled to the transceiver, wherein the processor and transceiver are configured to: Receiving a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a signaling (SIG) field from an access point (AP) within a multi-AP (MAP) group for collaborative MAP (C-MAP) transmission, the SIG field including an extra signaling (E-SIG) indication field, the E-SIG indication field including an indication that the PPDU includes an E-SIG field, the E-SIG field including one or more E-SIG subfields, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include: An E-SIG type indicating support for coordinated multi-AP (C-MAP) transmission within the MAP group; a resource unit (RU) allocation indicating one or more RU allocations for allocation to the AP within the multi-AP (MAP) group; The one or more RU allocations are used for communicating with the AP.

16. The station device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a transmit opportunity (TXOP) duration extension subfield indicating an extended TXOP duration, and wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to use the TXOP duration extension subfield in conjunction with the TXOP duration indicated in the SIG field to determine a TXOP duration with a higher resolution than the TXOP duration indicated in the SIG field alone.

17. The station device according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the one or more E-SIG subfields include a BSS color extension subfield indicating an extended basic service set (BSS) color, and wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to use the BSS color extension subfield in combination with the BSS color indicated in the SIG field to identify the BSS.

18. The station device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein one or more E-SIG subfields include an extended station identifier (STA ID) subfield, and wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to use the extended STA ID subfield in combination with the STA ID indicated in the SIG field to identify the station device.

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