Short feedback responses in wireless communication with multiple users (MU)

Abstract

Wireless communication device (310) comprising the following: a communication interface (320); and a processing circuit arrangement (330) coupled to the communication interface (320), wherein at least one of the communication interface (320) or the processing circuit arrangement (330) is configured for the following: Performing a frame exchange with a plurality of other wireless communication devices (390, 391) to determine parameters agreed between the wireless communication device (310) and the plurality of other wireless communication devices (390, 391); Assigning different subcarrier sets to be used for the multitude of other wireless communication devices (390, 391); Generating a trigger frame that requests feedback responses from the multitude of other wireless communication devices (390, 391); Transmitting the trigger frame to the multitude of other wireless communication devices (390, 391); Receiving, in response to the trigger frame and on the basis of the parameters agreed between the wireless communication device (310) and the plurality of other wireless communication devices (390, 391), an OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) frame; wherein the multitude of other wireless communication devices (390, 391) provide their feedback responses to the trigger frame by each energizing the assigned subcarrier sets based on the agreed parameters.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems; and more particularly to communication to and from wireless communication devices within single-user, multi-user, multiple-access, and / or multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication.

[0002] Communication systems support wireless and wired communication between wireless and / or wired communication devices. The systems can range from national and / or international cellular systems to the Internet to point-to-point wireless home networks and can operate according to one or more communication standards. For example, wireless communication systems can operate according to one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11x (where x can represent various extensions such as a, b, n, g, etc.), Bluetooth, AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Services), digital AMPS, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), etc., and / or variants thereof.

[0003] In some cases, wireless communication occurs between a transmitter (TX) and a receiver (RX) using SISO (single-input-single-output) communication. Another type of wireless communication is SIMO (single-input-multiple-output), in which a single TX processes data into radio frequency (RF) signals that are transmitted to an RX, which has one or more antennas and two or more RX paths.

[0004] Yet another type of wireless communication is MISO (Multiple-Input-Single-Output), in which a TX has two or more transmission paths, each converting a corresponding portion of the baseband signals into radio-frequency signals that are transmitted to an RX via corresponding antennas. Another type of wireless communication is MIMO (Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output), in which a TX and an RX each have multiple paths, such that a TX processes data in parallel using a spatial and temporal encoding function to generate two or more data streams, and an RX receives the multiple radio-frequency signals over multiple RX paths, which re-capture the data streams using a spatial and temporal decoding function.

[0005] Different communications in wireless communications are performed for different purposes. Regardless of the reason for such communications, such communications consume available bandwidth and occupy the communication medium. The current state of the art does not provide sufficiently effective means by which the communication medium can be used in the most effective manner while maximizing access to all wireless communication devices within such wireless communication systems.

[0006] US 2010 / 0 329 195 A1 describes a process for wireless communication that includes specifying transmission parameters for multiple wireless nodes in a single frame and transmitting the single frame.

[0007] US 2016 / 0 044 533 A1 describes a PPDU format (Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit) as well as a transmission and reception method and a device that use the PPDU format in a wireless local area network (WLAN).

[0008] US 2015 / 0 124 690 A1 describes a wireless communication device comprising a processing system configured to determine that multiple devices have a first capability and generate a multi-user (MU) packet requesting an immediate response from multiple devices, and an interface configured to output the MU packet for transmission.

[0009] US 2010 / 0 220 678 A1 describes a method for aggregating certain frame types in uplink and / or downlink transmission options.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication device which solves the above-mentioned problems encountered in the prior art.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention by a wireless communication device having the features of claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous further training results from the dependent subclaims.

[0013] Conveniently, the processing circuitry is further configured for the following: Receiving an OFDMA frame comprising the first feedback response from the first further wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second feedback response from the second further wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU or the second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0014] Conveniently, the processing circuitry is further configured for the following: Determining that the first feedback response comprises a first feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response comprises energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and comprises substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU; and Determining that the first feedback response comprises a second feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response has substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and has substantially energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU.

[0015] Conveniently, the processing circuitry is further configured for the following: performing, after simultaneously receiving the feedback responses, a frame exchange with the plurality of further wireless communication devices to determine further parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices; generating another trigger frame requesting further feedback responses from the plurality of other wireless communication devices; Transmitting the further trigger frame to the plurality of further wireless communication devices; and simultaneously receiving, in response to the further trigger frame and based on the further parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices, a third feedback response from the first further wireless communication device within a third OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters, and a fourth feedback response from the second further wireless communication device or a third further wireless communication device within the third OFDMA RU or a fourth OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters.

[0016] Conveniently: the first feedback response from the first further wireless communication device comprises a first number of bits; the second feedback response from the second further wireless communication device comprises the first number of bits; the third feedback response from the first further wireless communication device comprises a second number of bits that is different from the first number of bits; and the fourth feedback response from the second further wireless communication device or from the third further wireless communication device comprises the second number of bits.

[0017] Conveniently, the processing circuitry is further configured for the following: Performing, prior to transmitting the trigger frame to the plurality of further wireless communication devices, a frame exchange with the plurality of further wireless communication devices to determine the parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices, wherein the agreed parameters comprise at least one of the following elements: a number of wireless communication devices within the plurality of further wireless communication devices; RU allocations to be used by the plurality of further wireless communication devices, including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the second further wireless communication device; a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a first feedback response value, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a second feedback response value; at least one P-matrix to be used by at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; at least a number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device.

[0018] Conveniently, the wireless communication device further comprises: the communication interface configured to support communication within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.

[0019] Conveniently, the wireless communication device further comprises: an access point (AP), wherein the plurality of further wireless communication devices comprises a wireless station (STA).

[0020] Conveniently, the processing circuitry is further configured for the following: Determining that the first feedback response comprises a first feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response comprises energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU; and Determining that the first feedback response comprises a second feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response has substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and has substantially energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU.

[0021] Conveniently, the agreed parameters include at least one of the following elements: a number of wireless communication devices within the plurality of further wireless communication devices; RU allocations to be used by the plurality of further wireless communication devices, including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the second further wireless communication device; a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a first feedback response value, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a second feedback response value; at least one P-matrix to be used by at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; at least a number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device.

[0022] Conveniently, the wireless communication device further comprises: the communication interface configured to support communication within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.

[0023] Conveniently, the wireless communication device further comprises: an access point (AP), wherein the plurality of further wireless communication devices comprises a wireless station (STA).

[0024] Conveniently, the method further comprises the following: Receiving, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, an OFDMA frame comprising the first feedback response from the first further wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second feedback response from the second further wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU or the second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0025] Conveniently, the method further comprises the following: Determining that the first feedback response comprises a first feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response comprises energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU; and Determining that the first feedback response comprises a second feedback response value from the first wireless communication device when the first feedback response has substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and has substantially energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU.

[0026] Conveniently, the method further comprises the following: performing, after simultaneously receiving the feedback responses, a frame exchange with the plurality of further wireless communication devices to determine further parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices; generating another trigger frame requesting further feedback responses from the plurality of other wireless communication devices; Transmitting the further trigger frame via the communication interface of the wireless communication device to the plurality of further wireless communication devices; and simultaneously receiving, in response to the further trigger frame and based on the further parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, a third feedback response from the first further wireless communication device within a third OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters, and a fourth feedback response from the second further wireless communication device or a third further wireless communication device within the third OFDMA RU or a fourth OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters.

[0027] Conveniently, the method further comprises the following: Performing, prior to transmitting the trigger frame to the plurality of further wireless communication devices, a frame exchange with the plurality of further wireless communication devices to determine the parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices, wherein the agreed parameters comprise at least one of the following elements: a number of wireless communication devices within the plurality of further wireless communication devices; RU allocations to be used by the plurality of further wireless communication devices, including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the second further wireless communication device; a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a first feedback response value, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a second feedback response value; at least one P-matrix to be used by at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; at least a number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device; or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device.

[0028] Conveniently, the method further comprises the following: Operating the communication interface of the wireless communication device to support communication within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber optic communication system, or a mobile communication system.

[0029] Conveniently, the wireless communication device comprises an access point (AP), and the plurality of further wireless communication devices comprises a wireless station (STA). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MULTIPLE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system. Fig. 2A is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a dense deployment of wireless communication devices. Fig. Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of communication between wireless communication devices. Fig. Figure 2C is a diagram illustrating another example of communication between wireless communication devices. Fig. Figure 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and / or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access). Fig. Figure 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and / or OFDMA. Fig. Figure 3C is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and / or OFDMA. Fig. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDM and / or OFDMA. Fig. Figure 3E is a diagram illustrating an example of single carrier signaling (SC). Fig. Figure 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating another example of a second type of OFDM / A packet. Fig. 4C is a diagram illustrating an example of at least a portion of an OFDM / A packet of another type. Fig. Figure 4D is a diagram illustrating another example of a third type of OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 4E is a diagram illustrating another example of a fourth type of OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 4F is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 5A is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 5C is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 5D is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. Figure 5E is a diagram illustrating another example of an OFDM / A packet. Fig. 5F is a diagram illustrating an example of selecting among different OFDM / A frame structures for use in communication between wireless communication devices, particularly showing OFDM / A frame structures corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs). Fig. 5G is a diagram illustrating an example of different types of different resource units (RUs). Fig. Figure 6A is a diagram illustrating another example of different types of different RUs. Fig. Figure 6B is a diagram illustrating another example of different types of different RUs. Fig. Figure 6C is a diagram illustrating an example of various types of FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) sizes specified via a communication protocol at the physical layer (PHY). Fig. Figure 6D is a diagram illustrating an example of different channel bandwidths and the relationship between them. Fig. Figure 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of an OFDMA / TDMA feedback signal. Fig. Figure 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of a simulation of a farm. Fig. Figure 7C is a diagram illustrating another example of OFDMA / TDMA feedback. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an OFDMA feedback or spatial stream (SS) feedback. Fig. 9A is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for implementation using one or more wireless communication devices. Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for implementation using one or more wireless communication devices. Fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for implementation using one or more wireless communication devices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 includes base stations and / or access points 112 to 116, wireless communication devices 118 to 132 (e.g., wireless stations (STAs)), and a network hardware component 134. The wireless communication devices 118 to 132 may be laptop computers or tablets 118 and 126, PDAs 120 and 130, PCs 124 and 132, and / or mobile phones 122 and 128. Other examples of such wireless communication devices 118 to 132 could also or alternatively include other types of devices having wireless communication capability. The details of one embodiment of such wireless communication devices are described with reference to Fig. 2B and other diagrams are described in more detail.

[0031] Some examples of possible devices that can be implemented to operate according to any of the various examples, embodiments, options and / or their equivalents, etc. described in the present document may include appliances in homes, businesses, etc., such as refrigerators, microwave ovens, heaters, heating systems, air conditioners, air control systems, lighting control systems and / or any other types of appliances, etc.; metering devices, such as for the supply of natural gas, electricity, water, the Internet, cable and / or satellite television and / or for any other types of metering purposes, etc.; by a user orDevices wearable by a person, including watches, monitoring devices such as those that monitor activity levels, bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration, physical activity, physical movement or lack thereof, etc.; medical devices, including devices that monitor and / or control intravenous (IV) drug delivery (e.g., glucose monitoring devices) and / or any other type of medical device, etc.; Premises monitoring devices, such as motion detection / monitoring devices, closed / open door detection / monitoring devices, security / alarm monitoring devices, and / or any other types of premise monitoring devices; Multimedia devices, including televisions, computers, audio playback devices, video playback devices, and / or any other types of multimedia devices, etc.; and / or generally any other type(s) of device(s) that have the capability, functionality, circuitry, etc. for wireless communication. In general, any device implemented to support wireless communication may be implemented according to any of the various examples, embodiments, options, and / or their equivalents, etc. described in the present document.can be operated.

[0032] The base stations (BSs) or access points (APs) 112 through 116 are operatively connected to the network hardware 134 via links 136, 138, and 140 of a local area network. The network hardware 134, which may be a router, a switch, a bridge, a modem, a system controller, etc., provides a WAN connection 142 for the communication system 100. Each of the base stations or access points 112 through 116 has an antenna or antenna array connected thereto for communicating with the wireless communication devices in its area. Typically, the wireless communication devices register with a particular base station or access point 112 through 116 to receive services from the communication system 100. In direct connections (i.e. point-to-point communication), wireless communication devices communicate directly over a dedicated channel.

[0033] Any of the various wireless communication devices (WDEVs) 118-132 and the BSs or APs 112-116 may include processing circuitry and / or a communication interface for supporting communication with any other wireless communication devices 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116. In one example of operation, processing circuitry and / or a communication interface implemented within one of the devices (e.g., one of the wireless WDEVs 118-132 and the BSs or APs 112-116) is configured to process at least one signal received from one of the other devices (e.g., any other one of the wireless communication devices 118-132 and BSs or APs 112-116) and / or generate at least one signal to be transmitted to another of the devices.

[0034] It should be noted that in the present document, when the term “device” is used, alternatively, it generally refers to a communication device, such as a wireless communication device (for example, the WDEVs) 118 to 132 and BSs or APS 112 to 116 in Fig. 1, or any other communication devices and / or wireless communication devices may be referred to (for example, with regard to Fig. 2A below, “device 210” when referring to the “wireless communication device 210” or “WDEV 210”, or “devices 210 to 234” when referring to the “wireless communication devices 210 to 234”; or it may, with reference to Fig. 2B, alternatively, the term "device 310" may be used when referring to the "wireless communication device 310" or the term "devices 390 and 391" (or 390 to 391) when referring to the wireless communication devices 390 and 391 or the WDEVs 390 and 391, respectively. In general, such general references or device designations may be used interchangeably.

[0035] The processing circuitry and / or communication interface of any of the various devices, WDEVs 118 through 132, and BSs or APs 112 through 116 may be configured to support communication with any other of the various devices, WDEVs 118 through 132, and BSs or APs 112 through 116. Such communication between devices may be unidirectional or bidirectional. Furthermore, such communication may be unidirectional between devices at one time and bidirectional between those devices at another time.

[0036] In one example, a device (e.g., any of the WDEVs 118-132 and the BSs or APs 112-116) includes a communication interface and / or processing circuitry (and possibly other possible circuitry, components, elements, etc.) to support communication with one or more other devices and to generate and process signals for such communication. The communication interface and / or processing circuitry are operable to perform various operations and functions to accomplish such communication (e.g., the communication interface and processing circuitry may be configured to perform one or more particular operations cooperatively in conjunction with one another, dependently, etc., and one or more operations separately, independently, etc.).perform). In some examples, such processing circuitry includes any capability, functionality, and / or circuitry, etc., to perform such operations as described in the present document. In some further examples, such communication interface includes any capability, functionality, and / or circuitry, etc., to perform such operations as described in the present document. In still further examples, such processing circuitry and a communication interface include any capability, functionality, and / or circuitry, etc., to perform such operations as described in the present document, at least in part cooperatively with one another.

[0037] In one example implementation and operation, a wireless communication device (e.g., any of the WDEVs 118 to 132 and the BSs or APs 112 to 116) includes processing circuitry to support communication with one or more of the other wireless communication devices (e.g., any of the WDEVs 118 to 132 and the BSs or APs 112 to 116). For example, such processing circuitry is configured to perform both processing operations and communication interface-related functionality. Such processing circuitry may be implemented as a single integrated circuit, a system on a chip, etc.

[0038] In another example of implementation and operation, a wireless communication device (e.g., any of the WDEVs 118 to 132 and the BSs or APs 112 to 116) includes processing circuitry and a communication interface configured to support communication with one or more of the other wireless communication devices (e.g., any of the WDEVs 118 to 132 and the BSs or APs 112 to 116).

[0039] In one example of operation and implementation, the BS or AP 116 supports communication with the WDEVs 130, 132. The BS or AP 116 is configured to generate a trigger frame requesting feedback responses from the WDEVs 130, 132. The BS or AP 116 is then configured to transmit the trigger frame to the WDEVs 130, 132. Then, in response to the trigger frame and based on parameters agreed between the BS or AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132, the BS or AP 116 is configured to concurrently receive feedback responses comprising a first feedback response from the WDEV 130 and a second feedback response from the WDEV 132.For example, the first feedback response from the WDEV 130 may be included within a first OFDMA RU (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access Resource Unit) as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second feedback response from the WDEV 132 may be included within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0040] In some examples, the agreed parameters and nature of communication between the BS or AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132 allow the WDEVs 130, 132 to provide acknowledgment responses in a very short format, even using signals that exclude any preamble. Such acknowledgment responses may, for example, be considered very short messages, and they are significantly shorter than typical messages transmitted according to various communication standards, protocols, and / or recommended practices, such as IEEE 801.11 and / or various amendments thereof. In one specific example, such an acknowledgment response comprises a message without any preamble.

[0041] Generally, and from certain perspectives, such operations are performed to accomplish the response process for a question. For example, the BS or AP 116 considers asking the WDEVs 130, 132 a question. The WDEVs 130, 132 provide their respective responses by energizing specific subcarriers / tones (e.g., based on the agreed-upon parameters). Such question(s) / answer(s) (F(s) / A(s)) between the BS or AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132 are based on predefined F(s) / A(s). In one example, the BS or AP 116 transmits an NDP (Null Data Packet) to the WDEVs 130, 132 and / or then transmits a trigger frame to the WDEVs 130, 132, and those WDEVs 130, 132 send feedback responses based on the trigger frame. Based on the agreed parameters, both the BS and AP 116 know thethe AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132 details such as how many bits are included in each acknowledgment response, etc. It should also be noted that in some examples the F(s) / A(s) have a relatively low complexity (for example, in a situation where the BS or AP 116 requests yes / no answers from the WDEVs 130, 132). It should be noted that, due to this type of very efficient signaling, etc., the BS or AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132 do not need to perform acknowledgment responses that include preambles, and there is no need to perform additional operations such as channel estimation (CH-EST). The agreed parameters ensure that both the BS orBoth the AP 116 and the WDEVs 130, 132 know the F(s) and the possible A(s) to these F(s), so that communication can be accomplished very efficiently and effectively include some examples using feedback responses that exclude any preamble contained therein.

[0042] In some examples, the BS or AP 116 is configured to receive an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame that includes the first acknowledgment response from the WDEV 130 within the first OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second acknowledgment response from the WDEV 132 within the first OFDMA RU or the second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0043] Additionally, in still further examples, the BS or AP 116 is configured to determine that the first feedback response includes a first feedback response value (e.g., a Yes value) from the WDEV 130 when the first feedback response includes energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU, and to determine that the first feedback response includes a second feedback response value (e.g., a No value) from the WDEV 130 when the first feedback response includes substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU.

[0044] Fig. 2A is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 201 for a dense deployment of wireless communication devices (shown as WDEVs in the diagram). Any of the various WDEVs 210-234 may be access points (APs) or wireless stations (STAs). For example, WDEV 210 may be an AP or a STA operating as an AP that communicates with WDEVs 212, 214, 216, and 218, which are STAs. WDEV 220 may be an AP or a STA operating as an AP that communicates with WDEVs 222, 224, 226, and 228, which are STAs. In some cases, at least one additional AP or STA operating as an AP may be provided, such as WDEV 230 communicating with WDEVs 232 and 234, which are STAs.The STAs may be any type of one or more wireless communication device types, including the wireless communication devices 118 through 132, and the APs, or STAs operating as APs, may be any type of one or more wireless communication devices, including the BSs or APs 112 through 116. Different groups of the WDEVs 210 through 234 may be divided into different basic service sets (BSSs). In some cases, at least one of the WDEVs 210 through 234 is included within at least one overlapping basic service set (OBSS) covering two or more BSSs. As described above with the association of WDEVs in an AP-STA relationship, one of the WDEVs may operate as an AP, and certain of the WDEVs may be implemented within the same basic service set (BSS).

[0045] This disclosure presents novel architectures, methods, approaches, etc., that enable improved spatial reuse for next-generation Wi-Fi or wireless local area network (WLAN) systems. Next-generation Wi-Fi systems are expected to improve performance in dense deployments where many clients and APs are tightly packed within a given area (which may be, for example, an area (indoor and / or outdoor) with a high density of devices, such as a train station, airport, stadium, building, shopping mall, arenas, convention centers, colleges, urban centers, etc., to name a few examples). With large numbers of devices operating within a given area, the use of prior art technologies may be problematic, if not impossible.

[0046] In one example of operation and implementation, the WDEV 210 supports communication with the WDEVs 214, 218. The WDEV 210 is configured to generate a trigger frame requesting feedback responses from the WDEVs 214, 218. The WDEV 210 is then configured to transmit the trigger frame to the WDEVs 214, 218. Then, in response to the trigger frame and based on parameters agreed upon between the WDEV 210 and the WDEVs 214, 218, the WDEV 210 is configured to simultaneously receive feedback responses comprising a first feedback response from the WDEV 214 and a second feedback response from the WDEV 218.For example, the first feedback response from the WDEV 214 may be included within a first OFDMA RU (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access Resource Unit) as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second feedback response from the WDEV 218 may be included within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0047] Fig. Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example 202 of communication between wireless communication devices. A wireless communication device 310 (which may be, for example, as described with reference to Fig. 1, which may be any of the devices 118 through 132) is in communicative connection with another wireless communication device 390 (and / or any number of other wireless communication devices up to another wireless communication device 391) via a transmission medium. The wireless communication device 310 includes a communication interface 320 for performing the transmission and reception of at least one signal, symbol, packet, frame, etc. (e.g., using a transmitter 322 and a receiver 324) (it should be noted that for general reference, the terms "packet" or "frame" may be used interchangeably).

[0048] Generally speaking, the communication interface 320 is implemented to perform any such operations of an analog front-end (AFE) transmitter, receiver, and / or transceiver and / or a physical layer (PHY) transmitter, receiver, and / or transceiver. Examples of such operations may include any one or more of various operations, including conversions between the frequency domain and the analog or continuous time domain (such as those performed by a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and / or an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)), gain adjustment, including scaling, filtering (e.g., in either the analog or digital domains), frequency translation (such as scaling up and / or down frequencies, such as to a baseband frequency,on which one or more of the components of device 310 are operating), equalization, pre-equalization, metric generation, symbol mapping and / or de-mapping, automatic gain control (AGC) operations, and / or any other operations that may be performed by an AFE and / or PHY component within a wireless communication device.

[0049] In some implementations, wireless communication device 310 further includes processing circuitry 330 and associated memory 340 for performing various operations, including interpreting at least one signal, symbol, packet, and / or frame transmitted to and / or received from wireless communication device 390 and / or wireless communication device 391. Wireless communication devices 310 and 390 (and / or 391) may be implemented using at least one integrated circuit according to any desired configuration or combination of components, modules, etc. within at least one integrated circuit.Additionally, the wireless communication devices 310, 390, and / or 391 may each include one or more antennas for transmitting and / or receiving at least one packet or frame (e.g., the WDEV 390 may include m antennas, and the WDEV 391 may include n antennas).

[0050] Additionally, it should be noted that in some examples, one or more of the processing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including its TX 322 and / or its RX 324), and / or the memory 340 may be implemented in one or more "processing modules," one or more "processing circuits," one or more "processors," and / or one or more "processing units," or their equivalents. Considering one example, processing circuitry 330a may be implemented to include the processing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320 (including its TX 322 and / or its RX 324), and the memory 340.Considering another example, processing circuitry 330b may be implemented to include processing circuitry 330 and memory 340, but communication interface 320 may be separate circuitry.

[0051] Considering yet another example, two or more processing circuitry may be implemented to include processing circuitry 330, communication interface 320 (including its TX 322 and / or RX 324), and memory 340. In such examples, such "processing circuitry" (or "processor")(s) is / are configured to perform various operations, functions, communications, etc., as described herein. In general, the various elements, components, etc. shown within device 310 may be incorporated into any number of "processing modules," "processing circuits," "processors," and / or "processing units" (e.g., 1, 2, ...)., and generally using N such "processing modules", "processing units", "processors" and / or "processing units", where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1).

[0052] In some examples, device 310 includes both processing circuitry 330 and communication interface 320 configured to perform various operations. In other examples, device 310 includes processing circuitry 330a configured to perform various operations. In still other examples, device 310 includes processing circuitry 330b configured to perform various operations. Generally, such operations include generating, transmitting, etc., signals intended for one or more other devices (e.g., device(s) 390-391) and receiving, processing, etc., further signals received for one or more other devices (e.g., device(s) 390-391).

[0053] It should be noted that in some examples, the communication interface 320 coupled to the processing circuitry 330 is configured to support communication within a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber-optic communication system, and / or a mobile communication system (and / or any other type of communication system implemented using any type of communication medium(s). Any of the signals generated and transmitted and / or received and processed by the device 310 may be communicated via any of these types of communication systems.

[0054] Fig. 2C is a diagram illustrating another example 203 of communication between wireless communication devices. In one example, at a first time or during a first period (e.g., period 1 (ΔT1)), the WDEV 310 transmits one or more signals to the WDEV 390, and / or the WDEV 390 transmits one or more further signals to the WDEV 310. At a second time or during a second period (e.g., period 2 (ΔT2)), the WDEV 310 processes one or more signals received from the WDEV 390, and / or the WDEV 390 processes one or more signals received from the WDEV 310.

[0055] In some examples, the signal(s) communicated between WDEV 310 and WDEVs 390-391 may include one or more frames, one or more trigger frames, one or more responses, and / or other information for use in supporting further OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) / OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) communication between WDEV 310 and WDEVs 390-391.

[0056] In one example implementation and operation, the WDEV 310 generates and transmits a trigger frame to the WDEVs 390 through 391. The respective WDEVs 390 through 391 transmit feedback responses to the trigger frame.

[0057] In a particular example, the WDEV 310 is configured to generate a trigger frame requesting acknowledgment responses from the WDEVs 390, 391 and transmit the trigger frame to the WDEVs 390, 391. Then, in response to the trigger frame and based on parameters agreed between the WDEV 310 and the WDEVs 390, 391, the WDEV 310 is configured to receive (e.g., sometimes simultaneously) the acknowledgment responses comprising a first acknowledgment response from a WDEV 390 within a first OFDMA RU (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access Resource Unit), as indicated by the agreed parameters, and a second acknowledgment response from a WDEV 391 within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0058] In some examples, the WDEV 310 is further configured to receive an OFDMA frame that includes the first feedback response from the WDEV 390 within the first OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters, and the second feedback response from the WDEV 391 within the first OFDMA RU or the second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters. In still further examples, the WDEV 310 is further configured to determine that the first feedback response includes a first feedback response value (e.g., a first predetermined response having any desired value, a specific example being a yes response) from the WDEV 390 when the first feedback response includes energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU, and to determinethat the first feedback response includes a second feedback response value (for example, a second predetermined response having any desired value, a specific example being a no response) from the WDEV 390 if the first feedback response has substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and has substantially energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU.

[0059] Additionally, in further examples, WDEV 310 is further configured to, after simultaneously receiving the feedback responses, conduct a frame exchange with WDEVs 390, 391 to determine additional parameters agreed between WDEV 310 and WDEVs 390, 391. For example, different parameters agreed between WDEV 310 and WDEVs 390, 391 may be defined from time to time based on any desired considerations. WDEV 310 is further configured to generate another trigger frame requesting another feedback response from WDEVs 390, 391 and to transmit the another trigger frame to WDEVs 390, 391.The WDEV 310 is further configured to, in response to the further trigger frame and based on the further parameters agreed between the WDEV 310 and the WDEVs 390, 391, simultaneously execute a third feedback response from the WDEV 390 within a third OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters, and a fourth feedback response from the WDEV 391 or a third further WDEV within the third OFDMA RU or a fourth OFDMA RU, as indicated by the further agreed parameters.

[0060] In some particular examples, the first feedback response from WDEV 390 includes a first number of bits (e.g., X bits, where X is a positive integer), and the second feedback response from WDEV 391 also includes the first number of bits. The third feedback response from WDEV 390 includes a second number of bits different from the first number of bits (e.g., Y bits, where Y is another positive integer different from X), and the fourth feedback response from WDEV 391 or the third further WDEV includes the second number of bits.

[0061] In still further examples, the WDEV 310 is further configured to perform a frame exchange with the WDEVs 390, 391 before transmitting the trigger frame to the WDEVs 390, 391 to determine the parameters agreed upon between the WDEV 310 and the WDEVs 390, 391. It should be noted that the agreed parameters include any one or more of a number of WDEVs within the WDEVs 390, 391 (for example, 2 WDEVs, 3 WDEVs, 4 WDEVs, or more WDEVs), RU allocations to be used by the WDEVs 390, 391, including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 390 and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the WDEV 391, a first OFDMA subcarrier set to be used by the WDEV 390 for providing a first feedback response value within the first OFDMA RU, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set to be used by the WDEV 390 for providing a second feedback response value within the first OFDMA RU, at least one P-matrix,to be used by at least one of the WDEVs 390, 391 when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the WDEV 310, at least one number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the WDEVs 390, 391 when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the WDEV 310, and / or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the WDEVs 390, 391 when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the WDEV 310.

[0062] Referring to an example, this allows the WDEV 310 to decide on the number of bits per response, the robustness (Nx), and the spreading number Nss of spatial data streams (as can be achieved, for example, using a suitably selected P-matrix). For example, the WDEV 310 sends the following three parameters (for example, as agreed parameters) for the short feedback response for the NDP (Null Data Packet) to the WDEV 390, 391: 1. Nb = 1, 2, 3 or 4 (number of bits in the response) 2. Nx = 1, 2, or 4 (number of symbols per 1 bit to be transmitted, controlling robustness) 3. Nss = 1, 2, or 4 (size of the P-matrix and number of OFDMA symbols); where: Nb×Nx<=Nss

[0063] Examples at 20 MHz can be the following: A. 9 STAs with 1-bit response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1, Nx=1, Nss=1 (one OFDMA symbol) B. 9 STAs with 1-bit response, minimum efficiency (more robustness): Nb=1, Nx=4, Nss=1 (four OFDMA symbols) C. 9 STAs with 2-bit response, medium efficiency (moderate robustness): Nb=2, Nx=2, Nss=4 (four OFDMA symbols) D. 18 STAs with 1-bit response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1, Nx=1, Nss=2 (two OFDMA symbols) E. 36 STAs with 1-bit response, maximum efficiency (less robustness): Nb=1, Nx=1, Nss=4 (four OFDMA symbols)

[0064] In the above examples, {D, E} are like a first option #1, which uses a P-matrix for spreading (for example, to add more users while maintaining the same number of bits), and {C} is like an option #2 (where a user is assigned a specific set of subcarriers, and a P-matrix is ​​used to obtain more possible states, such as a 1x1 P-matrix for 1 bit, a 2x2 P-matrix for 2 bits, and a 4x4 P-matrix for 3 or 4 bits, adding more bits per user).

[0065] With this novel scheme, the NDP feedback response from a WDEV (WDEV 390 or WDEV 391) could be set to always be on a common set of 6 tones and within a single RU with 26 tones. The response could be in the range of 1 bit to 4 bits. In this novel scheme, the WDEV 310 decides on the maximum supported Nss. For a specified value for Nss, the implementation at an AP is always the same, regardless of whether the multiple states originate from one or more STAs. The WDEV 310 can strike a balance between robustness and the maximum number of users.

[0066] An example of a P-matrix is ​​an orthogonal matrix (for example, P 2×2= [top row [1 1], bottom row [1 -1]]). Different respective P-matrices with different sizes (e.g., 4x4, 6x6, 8x8, etc.) can be formed. For example, a 4x4 P-matrix can be formed, such as by combining a 2x2 P-matrix and using conjugation techniques. In some examples, a P-matrix can be considered a complex square matrix where each major minor is greater than zero (0). In wireless communications, the use of a P-matrix can provide for the spreading of respective subcarriers to allow for more states over a given set of subcarriers. For example, the use of a P-matrix can be used to perform signal spreading to allow for more bits in the signaling to be used for more users and / or more bits per user.As some examples show, a 1×1 P matrix would not provide any additional bits (for example, yielding only 1 bit), but a 2×2 P matrix would provide additional bits (for example, yielding 2 bits), and a 4×4 P matrix would also provide additional bits (for example, yielding 3 or 4 bits, as may be desired in different examples).

[0067] This disclosure presents, among other things, a novel signaling mechanism, a novel scheme, a novel protocol, a novel approach, a novel recommended practice, etc. for the feedback of multiple users (Mus, Multiple Users) (e.g., multiple users) of such a trigger frame (such as an AP trigger frame from an AP, a STA operating as an AP, such as the WDEV 310).

[0068] In one example, the feedback responses from WDEVs 390-391 may include: positive (YES), negative (NO), or no response.

[0069] This disclosure shows several novel examples of short uplink (UL) feedback that can be used to improve efficiency and reduce latency.

[0070] In one example implementation and operation including request and response, the WDEV 310 generates an AP request downlink (DL) to the WDEV 390 to determine whether the WDEV 390 has any information, data, etc., to be transmitted uplink (UL) to the WDEV 310 (for example, the WDEV 310 asks the WDEV 390 the following: "Is there anything to send?"). The WDEV 390 responds with "YES" or "NO" using appropriate signaling based on the agreed-upon parameters. In some cases, while the WDEV 390 is sending a response to the WDEV 310, such a response may not be successfully received by the WDEV 310.

[0071] Various examples in this document operate using novel signaling for multi-user feedback (e.g., from WDEVs 390 to 391 to WDEV 310) from a trigger frame (e.g., feedback from WDEVs 390-391 to WDEV 310, such as in response to an AP trigger frame from WDEV 310). Examples of feedback responses: positive (YES), negative (NO). Signaling the feedback:

[0072] In an example implementation and operation, a response for a STA occupies a 26-tone RU [RU26] (see for example Fig. 6A to Fig. 7D, which shows examples of resource units (RUs) with different sizes, channel bandwidths, etc.).

[0073] Such feedback signals can be implemented using 3 levels (for example -1, +1 and 0).

[0074] Considering an example where the PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio) is 2.84 dB, 13 tones are modulated at +3 dB using binary phase-shift keying with a Barker sequence, so that 13 tones are zeros. A compensation of +3 dB can be used per RU26 for 13 zero tones. Note that this is not a power gain.

[0075] Non-zeros and zero tones are interleaved in frequency to minimize channel interference.

[0076] Examples of 3 possible answers on a 26-tone RU can be the following: Yes = [+1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, -1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, +1, 0 ]*Root(2); No = [0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, -1, 0, +1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, +1, 0, -1, 0, +1 ]*Root(2); No answer = [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0];

[0077] It should be noted that channel estimation may not be required at a receiver (e.g., RX, STA).

[0078] Receiver (RX) processing can be very low in complexity, so no threshold adjustment is required and there is no susceptibility to interference. In some examples, when circular rotations of the Barker sequence and correlators are used at a receiver (RX), up to 12 additional response types can be added. It should be noted that WDEVs can be assigned different types of RU sizes to use for their feedback responses, and that different patterns of subcarriers from one set of subcarriers, or from multiple respective sets of subcarriers within those RU(s), and different parameters can be used for the respective agreed parameters governing communication between the wireless communication devices, including the feedback response(s) used therein.

[0079] In further examples, two different options for the sequence in the feedback response can be used: (1) Barker-13 sequence and / or (2) HE-LTF-2X sequence.

[0080] In addition, two options can be used to multiplex the MU responses: (1) OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) / TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) and / or (2) OFDMA / spatial stream (encoded using the P-matrix).

[0081] A WDEV (for example, the WDEV 390, a STA) participating in a HE-PPDU (High Efficiency Trigger Based PLCP Protocol Data Unit) transmission may be implemented to exhibit certain characteristics. Such a process may be based on Section 22.3.12.4.6.Examples of such features may include any one or more of the following: timing accuracy of ±400 ns (800 ns p-to-p); the CFO (Carrier Frequency Offset) error with respect to the corresponding trigger frame shall not exceed 350 Hz, measured as the 10% digit of the CCDF (Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function) of CFO errors at an RX power of -60 dBm on a primary 20 MHz channel; absolute TX power requirements and the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) measurement accuracy requirements for the two device classes (for example, Class A: TX power accuracy: + / -3 dB, RSSI measurement accuracy: + / -3 dB and a dynamic range of 6 dB; and Class B: TX power accuracy: + / -9 dB, RSSI accuracy: + / -5 dB and a dynamic range of 14 dB).

[0082] Specific examples of the device feedback response from a receiver device (e.g., from a STA, a WDEV, etc.) are described below. An STA feedback response occupies an RU26 in terms of frequency (e.g., where the RU26, as described, for example, with reference to Fig. 7B, a resource unit (RU) with a total of 26 subcarriers). The symbol time (excluding the cyclic prefix (CP)) is 12.8 microseconds (µs). The sequence consists of 13 tones per RU26, interleaved with 13 null tones (this can, for example, minimize the impairments from the channel response). The power for the sequence is set to +3 dB to compensate for the 13 null tones (for example, note that the total power for the 26-tone RU remains the same). A transmitting device (e.g., an AP, a STA operating as an AP, etc.) can be operated to signal the desired RSSI level to the receiving devices (e.g., STAs, WDEVs, etc.).

[0083] Examples of feedback responses can be: 1. "YES": An STA transmits a 13-tone sequence on RU26 with even tone indices (see Table 1) (note that, for example, the middle RU26 with even tone indices for positive and odd tone indices for negative is an exception). 2. "NO": An STA transmits a 13-tone sequence on RU26 with odd tone indices (see Table 1) (note that, for example, the middle RU26 with odd tone indices for positive and even tone indices for negative is an exception).

[0084] Note that the exception described above occurs because the medium RU26 has 14 even and 12 odd tones. To achieve better or best performance, an equal number of non-zero and zero tones is used. Table 1: Tone indices for sequences at 20 MHz JA NEIN RU26 #1 -120:2:-96 -121:2:-95 RU26 #2 -94:2:-70 -95:2:-71 RU26 #3 -68:2:-44 -67:2:-43 RU26 #4 -42:2:-18 -43:2:-17 RU26 #5 -15:2:-5, 4:2:16 -16:2:-4, 5:2:15 RU26 #6 18:2:42 17:2:41 RU26 #7 44:2:68 43:2:67 RU26 #8 70:2:94 71:2:95 RU26 #9 96:2:120 97:2:121

[0085] Note: The tone indices for 80 MHz follow the 20 MHz rule with one exception for the middle RU26. The tone indices for 40 MHz follow the 20 MHz rule without the middle RU26. Signal properties

[0086] Below, various signal properties are described with respect to the processes described in this document. Channel estimation is not required at the receiver (e.g., RX, where RX refers to a receiver, a STA, a WDEV, etc.). The RX process is trivial, so no threshold adjustment (e.g., comparing the sum of the powers at even and odd tone positions) is performed.

[0087] The signal is not susceptible to interference and channel response. Detection is not affected by the timing offset. It should be noted that outdoor environments can cause a large timing offset. The timing error delta (Δ) for multiple STAs (e.g., 800 nanoseconds (ns)) at a spacing of 120 m outdoors results in a timing offset of 1.6 µs. Note that this includes a 360° phase rotation across 8 contiguous subcarriers based on a linear channel (e.g., linear frequency response).

[0088] A response comprises a "YES" or "NO" statement. Note that "NO response" is not an implicit "NO." Note that a "no response" from an STA could mean that the STA did not receive the request, is out of range, or that the AP did not properly decode the response.

[0089] There may be interference-prone environments where AP requests or STA responses are lost. An AP can identify STAs with "no response" and handle them accordingly. It should also be noted that severe interference does not generate a large number of false "YES" or "NO" responses.

[0090] In another example of implementation and operation, the WDEV 310 includes both processing circuitry for performing many of the operations described above and a communications interface coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to support communications within a satellite communications system, a wireless communications system, a wired communications system, a fiber-optic communications system, and / or a mobile communications system. The processing circuitry is configured to transmit the first OFDMA packet and / or the second OFDMA packet to the WDEV 390 and / or to the WDEV 391 via the communications interface.

[0091] Fig. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example 301 of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) and / or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access). OFDM modulation can be thought of as dividing an available spectrum into a plurality of narrowband subcarriers (e.g., relatively low data rate carriers). The subcarriers are contained within a portion or band of the available frequency spectrum. This available frequency spectrum is divided into the subcarriers or tones used for the OFDM or OFDMA symbols and packets / frames. It should be noted that the terms "subcarrier" and "tone" can be used interchangeably. Typically, the frequency responses of these subcarriers are non-superimposed and are orthogonal.Each subcarrier may be modulated using any of a variety of coding techniques for modulation (for example, as shown by the vertical axis of the modulated data).

[0092] A communication device may be configured to perform the encoding of one or more bits to generate one or more coded bits used to generate the modulated data (or data in general). For example, processing circuitry and the communication interface of a communication device may be configured to execute a forward error correction (FEC) code and / or an error checking and correction (ECC) code on one or more bits to generate one or more coded bits.Examples of FEC code and / or ECC code may include turbo code, convolutional code, TTCM (Turbo Trellis Coded Modulation), LDPC (Low Density Parity Check), RS (Reed-Solomon) code, BCH (Bose and Ray-Chaudhuri and Hocquenghem) code, BCC (Binary Convolutional Code), CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) code, and / or any other type of ECC and / or FEC code and / or a combination of these, etc. It should be noted that multiple types of ECC and / or FEC code may be used in any of various implementations, including concatenation (e.g., first ECC and / or FEC code followed by a second ECC and / or FEC code, etc.), such as based on an inner code / outer code architecture, etc.), parallel architecture (such as the first ECC and / or FEC code acting on first bits while the second ECC and / or FEC code acting on second bits, etc.), and / or any combination thereof. The one or more encoded bits may then be subjected to modulation or symbol mapping to generate modulation symbols. The modulation symbols may include data intended for one or more receiver devices. It should be noted that such modulation symbols may be generated using any of various types of coding techniques for modulation.Examples of such coding techniques for modulation may include BPSK (Binary Phase-Shift Keying), QPSK (Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying), 8-PSK (Phase-Shift Keying), 16-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), 32-APSK (Amplitude and Phase-Shift Keying), etc., uncoded modulation, and / or any other desired types of modulation, including higher-order modulations that may even encompass a larger number of constellation points (e.g., 1024-QAM, etc.).

[0093] Fig. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example 302 of OFDM and / or OFDMA. A transmitting device transmits modulation symbols over the subcarriers. It should be noted that such modulation symbols include modulation symbols for data, symbols for pilot signals for modulation (e.g., for use in channel estimation, characterization, etc.), and / or other types of modulation symbols (e.g., with other types of information included therein). OFDM and / or OFDMA modulation may be performed by simultaneously transmitting a large number of narrowband carriers (or multiple tones).In some applications, a guard interval (GI) or guard time is sometimes used between the different OFDM symbols to try to minimize the effects of intersymbol interference (ISI) caused by the effects of using multiple paths within the communication system, which can be particularly problematic in wireless communication systems.

[0094] In addition, within the guard interval, as shown on the right side of Fig. 3A, a cyclic prefix (CP) and / or a cyclic suffix (CS) (for example, on the right side of Fig. 3A, which may be a copy of the CP) to allow for switching time (such as when hopping to a new communication channel or subchannel) and to maintain the orthogonality of the OFDM and / or OFDMA symbols. In some examples, a certain amount of information (e.g., data bits) at the end of the data portion is copied and placed at the beginning of the data to form the frame / symbol(s). In a specific example, consider that the data includes the data bits x0, x1, ... x N-Ncp , ..., x N-1 include, where the x N-Ncp -th bit is the first bit of the end section of the data section to be copied, then the bits x N-Ncp , ..., x N-1copied and placed at the beginning of the frame / symbol(s). It should be noted that such a final portion of the data portion that is copied and placed at the beginning of the data to form the frame / symbol(s) may also be shifted, cyclically shifted, and / or copied more than once, etc., if desired in certain embodiments. Generally speaking, an OFDM and / or OFDMA system design is based on the expected delay spread within the communication system (e.g., the expected delay spread of the communication channel).

[0095] In a single-user system in which one or more OFDM symbols or OFDM packets / frames are transmitted between a transmitter device and a receiver device, all of the subcarriers or tones are specifically dedicated for use in transmitting modulated data between the transmitter and receiver devices. In a multi-user system in which one or more OFDM symbols or OFDM packets / frames are transmitted between a transmitter device and multiple receivers or receiver devices, the different subcarriers or tones may be mapped to different respective receiver devices, as described below with reference to Fig. 3C is described.

[0096] Fig. 3C is a diagram illustrating another example 303 of OFDM and / or OFDMA. When comparing OFDMA to OFDM, OFDMA is a multi-user version of the popular OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation scheme. Multiple access is achieved in OFDMA by assigning subsets of subcarriers to individual receiver devices or users. For example, one or more first subcarriers / tones may be assigned to user 1, one or more second subcarriers / tones may be assigned to user 2, and so on, up to any desired number of users. Additionally, such assignment of subcarriers / tones may be dynamic between different respective transmissions (e.g., a first assignment for a first packet / frame, a second assignment for a second packet / frame, etc.). An OFDM packet / -Frame may comprise more than one OFDM symbol. Similarly, an OFDMA packet / frame may comprise more than one OFDMA symbol. Additionally, such allocation of subcarriers / tones between different respective symbols within a given packet / frame or parent frame may be dynamic (e.g., a first allocation of a first OFDMA symbol within a packet / frame, a second allocation of a second OFDMA symbol within the packet / frame, etc.). Generally speaking, an OFDMA symbol is a specific type of OFDM symbol, and the general reference to the term "OFDM symbol" in this document includes both OFDM and OFDMA symbols (and the general reference to the term "OFDM packet / frame" in this document includes both OFDM and OFDMA packets / frames, and vice versa). Fig. 3C shows example 303 where the subcarrier assignments to different users are intermixed (e.g., subcarriers assigned to a first user comprise non-adjacent subcarriers, and at least one subcarrier assigned to a second user is located between two subcarriers assigned to the first user). The different groups of subcarriers associated with each user can be considered as respective channels of a plurality of channels that constitute all of the available subcarriers for OFDM signaling.

[0097] Fig. 3D is a diagram illustrating another example 304 of OFDM and / or OFDMA. In this example 304, the subcarrier assignments to different users are located in different groups of adjacent subcarriers (e.g., first subcarriers assigned to a first user comprise a first adjacent subcarrier group, second subcarriers assigned to a second user comprise a second adjacent subcarrier group, etc.). The different adjacent groups of subcarriers associated with each user may be considered to be respective channels of a plurality of channels that constitute all of the available subcarriers for OFDM signaling.

[0098] Fig. Figure 3E is a diagram illustrating an example 305 of SC (single carrier) signaling. Compared to OFDM signaling, SC signaling comprises a single, relatively wide channel over which signals are transmitted. In contrast, in OFDM, multiple narrowband subcarriers or narrowband subchannels extend across the available frequency range, bandwidth, or spectrum, over which signals are transmitted within the narrowband subcarriers or narrowband subchannels.

[0099] In general, a communication device may be configured to include circuitry for processing and the communication interface (or alternatively, circuitry for processing such as that described in Fig. 2B and / or the processing circuitry 330a and / or the processing circuitry 330b) configured to process received OFDM and / or OFDMA symbols and / or frames (and / or SC symbols and / or frames) and to generate such OFDM and / or OFDMA symbols and / or frames (and / or SC symbols and / or frames).

[0100] Fig. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example 401 of an OFDM / A packet. This packet includes at least one preamble symbol followed by at least one data symbol.

[0101] The at least one preamble symbol includes information for use in identifying, classifying and / or categorizing the packet for appropriate processing.

[0102] Fig. 4B is a diagram illustrating another example 402 of a second type of OFDM / A packet. This packet also includes a preamble and data. The preamble is composed of at least one short training field (STF), at least one long training field (LTF), and at least one signal field (SIG). The data consists of at least one data field. In both this example 402 and the previous example 401, the at least one data symbol and / or the at least one data field may generally be referred to as the payload of the packet.STFs and LTFs may be used, among other things, to assist a device in determining that a frame is ready to start, synchronizing timers, selecting an antenna configuration, adjusting the receiver gain, establishing certain modulation parameters for the remainder of the packet, performing channel estimation for uses such as beamforming, and so on. In some examples, one or more STFs are used for gain adjustment (such as AGC (Automatic Gain Control) adjustment), and a particular STF may be repeated one or more times (e.g., repeated once in one example). In some examples, one or more LTFs are used for channel estimation, channel characterization, etc. (such as determining a channel response, a channel transfer function, etc.).), and a particular LTF can be repeated one or more times (for example, repeated up to 8 times in one example).

[0103] The SIGs may include, among other things, various information for describing the OFDM packet, including certain attributes such as, among other possible information, the data transmission rate, the packet length, the number of symbols within the packet, the channel width, the coding for modulation, the coding set for modulation (MCS), the modulation type, whether the packet is a single-user or multi-user frame, the frame length, etc. This disclosure provides, among other things, a means by which at least a second variable-length SIG may be used to include any desired amount of information. Using at least one variable-length SIG, different amounts of information may be specified therein to adapt it to any situation.

[0104] Below are described various examples of possible forms of a preamble for use in wireless communications as described in this document.

[0105] Fig. 4C is a diagram illustrating another example 403 of at least a portion of an OFDM / A packet of another type. A field within the packet may be copied one or more times (for example, where N is the number of times the field is copied, and where N is any positive integer greater than or equal to one). This copy may be a cyclically shifted copy. The copy may be modified in some other way from the original from which the copy was made.

[0106] Fig. 4D is a diagram illustrating another example 404 of a third type of OFDM / A packet. In this example 404, the OFDM / A packet includes one or more fields followed by one of a plurality of first signal fields (SIG(s) 1), followed by one of a plurality of second signal fields (SIG(s) 2), followed by one or more data fields.

[0107] Fig. 4E is a diagram illustrating another example 405 of an OFDM / A packet of a fourth type. In this example 405, the OFDM / A packet includes one or more first fields followed by one or more first signal fields (SIG(s) 1), followed by one or more second fields followed by one or more second signal fields (SIG(s) 2), followed by one or more data fields.

[0108] Fig. Figure 4F is a diagram illustrating another example 406 of an OFDM / A packet. Such a general preamble format may be backward compatible with previous standards, protocols, and / or recommended practices according to IEEE 802.11.

[0109] In this example 406, the OFDM / A packet includes a legacy standard section (e.g., at least one legacy standard short training field (STF) shown as L-STF, one legacy standard signal field (SIG) shown as L-SIG) and a first signal field (SIG) (e.g., VHT-SIG [Very High Throughput] (shown as SIG-A)). Then, the OFDM / A packet includes one or more further VHT sections (e.g., one VHT short training field (STF) shown as VHT-STF, one or more VHT long training fields (LTFs) shown as VHT-LTF), a second SIG (e.g., VHT-SIG (shown as SIG-B)), and one or more data symbols.

[0110] Below are shown various diagrams depicting at least a section (e.g. preamble) of different OFDM / A packet forms.

[0111] Fig. 5A is a diagram illustrating another example 501 of an OFDM / A packet. In this example 501, the OFDM / A packet includes a signal field (SIG) and / or a repetition of that SIG that corresponds to a previous or legacy communication standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown as L-SIG / RL-SIG), followed by at least a first SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A1, where HE corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a second SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc.communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A2, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by a Short Training Field (STF) based on a newer, under development, etc. communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-STF, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by one or more fields.

[0112] Fig. 5B is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of an OFDM / A packet. In this example 502, the OFDM / A packet includes a signal field (SIG) and / or a repetition of that SIG that conforms to a previous or legacy communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown as L-SIG / RL-SIG), followed by at least a first SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc., communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A1, where HE corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a second SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc.communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A2, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a third SIG based on a newer, under development, etc. communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A3, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a fourth SIG based on a newer, under development, etc. communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A4, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by an STF based on a newer, under development, etc.communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-STF, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by one or more fields.

[0113] Fig. 5C is a diagram illustrating another example 502 of an OFDM / A packet. In this example 503, the OFDM / A packet includes a signal field (SIG) and / or a repetition of that SIG that conforms to a previous or legacy communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown as L-SIG / RL-SIG), followed by at least a first SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc., communications standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A1, where HE corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a second SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc.communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A2, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least a third SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc. communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-B, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by an STF based on a newer, under-development, etc. communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-STF, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by one or more fields. This example 503 shows a distributed SIG implementation that includes at least a first SIG-A (for example, HE-SIG-A1 and HE-SIG-A2) and at least a second SIG-B (for example, HE-SIG-B).

[0114] Fig. 5D is a diagram illustrating another example 504 of an OFDM / A packet. This example 504 depicts a type of OFDM / A packet that includes a preamble and data. The preamble is composed of at least one short training field (STF), at least one long training field (LTF), and at least one signal field (SIG).

[0115] In this example 504, the preamble consists of at least one Short Training Field (STF) corresponding to a previous or outdated communication standard, protocol, or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown as L-STF(s)), followed by at least one Long Training Field (LTF) corresponding to a previous or outdated communication standard, protocol, or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or recommended practice (shown as L-LTF(s)), followed by at least one SIG corresponding to a previous or outdated communication standard, protocol, or recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc.communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown as L-SIG(s)), optionally followed by a repetition (or, for example, a cyclically shifted repetition) of the L-SIG(s) (shown as RL-SIG(s)), followed by at least one further SIG based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least one further STF based on a newer, developing, etc. communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-STF(s), where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least one further LTF based on a newer, developing, etc.communication standard, protocol and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-LTF(s), where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by at least one packet extension, followed by one or more fields.

[0116] Fig. 5E is a diagram illustrating another example 505 of an OFDM / A packet. In this example 505, the preamble consists of at least one field followed by at least one SIG corresponding to a previous or legacy communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice relative to a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice (shown as L-SIG(s)), optionally followed by a repetition (or, for example, a cyclically shifted repetition) of the L-SIG(s) (shown as RL-SIG(s)), followed by at least one further SIG based on a newer, under-development, etc., communication standard, protocol, and / or such recommended practice (shown, for example, as HE-SIG-A, where HE again corresponds to high efficiency), followed by one or more fields.

[0117] It should be noted that the information contained in the various fields in the various examples provided in this document may be encoded using different encoders. In some examples, two independent BCC (Binary Convolutional Code) encoders are implemented to encode information corresponding to different respective MCSs (Modulation Coding Sets), which may be selected and / or optimized with regard to, among other things, the respective payload on the respective channel. Examples of different communication channels are described below with reference to Fig. 6D described.

[0118] Additionally, in some examples, a wireless communication device generates content included in the various SIGs (e.g., SIGA and / or SIGB) to signal MCS(s) to one or more wireless communication devices to instruct which MCS(s) to use for that one or more other wireless communication devices with respect to one or more communications. Additionally, in some examples, content included in at least a first SIG (e.g., SIGA) includes information to indicate at least one operating parameter for use in processing at least a second SIG (e.g., SIGB) within the same OFDM / A packet.

[0119] This document presents various OFDM / A frame structures for use in communication between wireless communication devices, particularly showing OFDM / A frame structures corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs). Such OFDM / A frame structures may include one or more RUs. It should be noted that these various examples may include different total numbers of subcarriers, different numbers of subcarriers for data, different numbers of subcarriers for pilot signals, etc. Different RUs may also have different other characteristics (e.g., different spacing between subcarriers, different subcarrier densities, implementation within different frequency bands, etc.).

[0120] Fig. 5F is a diagram illustrating an example 506 for selecting among different OFDM / A frame structures for use in communication between wireless communication devices, particularly showing OFDM / A frame structures 350 corresponding to one or more resource units (RUs). This diagram can be viewed as having some similarities to the allocation of subcarriers to different users, as in Fig. 4D, and also shows how each OFDM / A frame structure is connected to one or more RUs. Note that these different examples may include different total numbers of subcarriers, different numbers of subcarriers for data, different numbers of subcarriers for pilot signals, etc. Different RUs may also have different other characteristics (e.g., different spacing between subcarriers, different subcarrier densities, implementation within different frequency bands, etc.).

[0121] In one example, OFDM / A frame structure 1 351 consists of at least one RU 1 551. In another example, OFDM / A frame structure 1 351 consists of at least one RU 1 551 and at least one RU 2 552. In another example, OFDM / A frame structure 1 351 consists of at least one RU 1 551, at least one RU 2 552, and at least one RU m 553. Similarly, OFDM / A frame structure 2 352 through OFDM / A frame structure n 353 may consist of any combination of the various RUs (e.g., including any one or more RU(s) selected from RU 1 551 through RU m 553).

[0122] Fig. 5G is a diagram illustrating an example 507 of various types of different resource units (RUs). In this example 502, RU 1 551 includes a total of A1 subcarriers, A2 subcarriers for data (D), A3 subcarriers for pilot signals (P), and A4 unused subcarriers. RU 2 552 includes a total of B1 subcarriers, B2 D subcarriers, B3 P subcarriers, and B4 unused subcarriers. RU N 553 includes a total of C1 subcarriers, C2 D subcarriers, C3 P subcarriers, and C4 unused subcarriers.

[0123] Considering the different RUs (for example, from RU 1 551 to RU N 553), the total number of subcarriers across the RUs from RU 1 551 to RU N 553 increases (for example, A1 < B1 < C1). Furthermore, considering the different RUs (for example, from RU 1 551 to RU N 553), the ratio of pilot signal subcarriers to data subcarriers across the RUs from RU 1 551 to RU N 553 decreases (for example, A3 / A2 > B3 / B2 > C3 / C2).

[0124] It should be noted that in some examples, different RUs may include a different number of total subcarriers and a different number of subcarriers for data and yet the same number of subcarriers for pilot signals.

[0125] As can be seen, this disclosure presents various options for mapping subcarriers for data and for pilot signals (and sometimes unused subcarriers that do not include or are free of modulation data) into OFDMA frames or packets (it should be noted that the terms "frame" and "packet" may be used interchangeably in this document) in various communications between communication devices, including both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL), such as with respect to an access point (AP). It should be noted that the term "user" can generally be understood to mean a wireless communication device implemented in a wireless communication system (for example, a wireless station (STA) or an access point (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN / WiFi)).For example, a user may be considered a particular wireless communication device (e.g., a wireless station (STA) or an access point (AP), or an STA operating as an AP within a wireless communication system). In this disclosure, the localized and distributed mapping of such subcarriers or tones with respect to different users has been discussed in an OFDMA context (e.g., as described with reference to [US Pat. No. 5,444,226]. Fig. 4C and Fig. 4D including the allocation of subcarriers for one or more users).

[0126] Some versions of the IEEE 802.11 standard have the following FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) sizes at the physical layer (PHY): 32, 64, 128, 256, 512.

[0127] These PHY FFT ​​sizes are mapped to different bandwidths (BWs) (which can be achieved, for example, using different subclocking ratios or factors applied to a first clock signal to generate different further clock signals, such as a second clock signal, a third clock signal, etc.). In many places, this disclosure refers to FFT sizes instead of bandwidth, since an FFT size determines the specific allocation of subcarriers, RUs, etc., for a user and the overall system bandwidth using one or more mappings of subcarriers, RUs, etc.

[0128] This disclosure presents various ways of mapping the data from N users to the system bandwidth tones (localized or distributed). For example, if the system bandwidth uses a 256 FFT, the individual modulation data for 8 different users may each use a 32 FFT. Alternatively, if the system bandwidth uses a 256 FFT, the individual modulation data for 4 different users may each use a 64 FFT. In yet another alternative, if the system bandwidth uses a 256 FFT, the individual modulation data for 2 different users may each use a 128 FFT. Additionally, any number of other combinations are possible in which unequal bandwidth is allocated for different users, such as a 32 FFT for 2 users, a 64 FFT for one user, and a 128 FFT for the last user.

[0129] A localized mapping (for example, contiguous subcarrier allocations for different users, such as with reference to Fig. 3D) is preferable for certain applications, such as users with low mobility (e.g., who remain stationary or essentially stationary and whose location does not change often), since a subband can be allocated to each user based on at least one characteristic. An example of such a characteristic includes allocation to a subband that maximizes its performance (e.g., highest signal-to-noise ratio or highest capacity in a multi-antenna system). The respective wireless communication devices (users) receive frames or packets (e.g., beacons, NDPs (Null Data Packets), data, etc., and / or other frame or packet types) across the entire band and report back their preferred subband or a list of preferred subbands.Alternatively, a first device (e.g., a transmitter, an AP, or a STA) transmits at least one OFDMA packet to a second communication device, and the second device (e.g., a receiver, a STA, or another STA) may be configured to measure the initial transmission of the first device occupying the entire band and select a best / good or preferred subband. The second device may be configured to transmit the selection information to the first device via feedback, etc.

[0130] In some examples, a device is configured to utilize 32-FFT, 64-FFT, and 128-FFT PHY implementations as OFDMA blocks within a 256-FFT system bandwidth. When doing this, there may be some unused subcarriers (for example, gaps of unused subcarriers within the used, provisioned system bandwidth). This may also be the case with the smaller FFT sizes. In some examples, if the FFT is an integer multiple of another integer, the larger FFT may be a multiple of the smaller FFT (for example, a 512-FFT may be an exact double of two 256-FFT implementations). When a 256-FFT is used for the system bandwidth, in some examples the available number of tones that can be distributed among the different users belonging to the OFDMA frame or packet (DL or UL) is 242.

[0131] In some examples, a PHY implementation may leave subcarrier gaps (e.g., unused subcarriers) between the respective wireless communication devices (users). For example, users 1 and 4 may each use a 32-FFT structure, occupying a total of 26x2=52 subcarriers, user 2 may use a 64-FFT, occupying 56 subcarriers, and user 3 may use a 128-FFT, occupying 106 subcarriers, totaling 214 subcarriers, with 28 subcarriers unused.

[0132] In another example, there are only multiplexed connections for 32 FFT users, allowing up to 9 users with 242 subcarriers - (9 users × 26 RUs) = 8 unused subcarriers between users. In yet another example, there are multiplexed connections for 64 FFT users with 242 subcarriers - (4 users × 56 RUs) = 18 unused subcarriers.

[0133] The unused subcarriers can be used to provide better separation between users, especially on uplinks where user energy runs into each other due to imperfect time / frequency / power synchronization, leading to inter-carrier interference (ICI).

[0134] Fig. 6A is a diagram illustrating another example 601 for various types of different RUs. In this example 601, RU 1 includes a total of X1 subcarriers, X2 subcarriers for data (D), X3 subcarriers for pilot signals (P), and X4 unused subcarriers. RU 2 includes a total of Y1 subcarriers, Y2 D subcarriers, Y3 P subcarriers, and Y4 unused subcarriers. RU q includes a total of Z1 subcarriers, Z2 D subcarriers, Z3 P subcarriers, and Z4 unused subcarriers. It should be noted that in this example 601, different RUs may have different spacing between subcarriers, different densities of subcarriers, may be implemented within different frequency bands, may extend to different areas within at least one frequency band, etc.

[0135] Fig. 6B is a diagram illustrating another example 602 for various types of different RUs. This diagram shows an RU 1 comprising 26 contiguous subcarriers with 24 subcarriers for data and 2 subcarriers for pilot signals; an RU 2 comprising 52 contiguous subcarriers with 48 subcarriers for data and 4 subcarriers for pilot signals; an RU 3 comprising 106 contiguous subcarriers with 102 subcarriers for data and 4 subcarriers for pilot signals; an RU 4 comprising 242 contiguous subcarriers with 234 subcarriers for data and 8 subcarriers for pilot signals; an RU 5 comprising 484 contiguous subcarriers with 468 subcarriers for data and 16 subcarriers for pilot signals; and an RU 6, which comprises 996 contiguous subcarriers with 980 subcarriers for data and 16 subcarriers for pilot signals.

[0136] Note that RU 2 and RU 3 each include a first / equal number of pilot signal subcarriers (e.g., 4 pilot signal subcarriers each), and RU 5 and RU 6 each include a second / equal number of pilot signal subcarriers (e.g., 16 pilot signal subcarriers each). The number of pilot signal subcarriers remains the same or increases across the RUs. Note that some RUs include an integer multiple of other RUs' subcarriers (e.g., RU 2 includes a total of 52 subcarriers, which is 2x the total number of 26 subcarriers of RU 1, and RU 5 includes 242 subcarriers, which is 2x the total number of 242 subcarriers of RU 4).

[0137] Fig. 6C is a diagram illustrating an example 603 of various types of physical layer (PHY) Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) sizes specified via a communication protocol. Device 310 is configured to generate and transmit OFDMA packets based on various PHY FFT ​​sizes as specified within at least one communication protocol. Some examples of PHY FFT ​​sizes, such as those based on IEEE 802.11, include PHY FFT ​​sizes such as 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, and / or other sizes.

[0138] In one example, device 310 is configured to generate and transmit an OFDMA packet based on RU 1, which includes 26 contiguous subcarriers with 24 subcarriers for data and 2 subcarriers for pilot signals, and to transmit this OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT ​​32 (e.g., RU 1 fits within PHY FFT ​​32). In one example, device 310 is configured to generate and transmit an OFDMA packet based on RU 2, which includes 52 contiguous subcarriers with 48 subcarriers for data and 4 subcarriers for pilot signals, and to transmit this OFDMA packet based on a PHY FFT ​​56 (e.g., RU 2 fits within PHY FFT ​​56). The device 310 uses different size RUs for different size PHY FFTs based on at least one communication protocol.

[0139] It should be noted that any combination of RUs may be used. In another example, device 310 is configured to generate and transmit an OFDMA packet based on two RU 1-based RUs and one RU 2-based RU based on a 128-bit PH-FFT (e.g., two RU 1-based RUs and one RU 2-based RU comprise a total of 104 subcarriers). Device 310 is configured to generate and transmit any OFDMA packets based on any combination of RUs that fit within an appropriately selected PHY-FFT size of at least one communication protocol.

[0140] It should also be noted that any particular RU may be divided or partitioned into subsets of subcarriers to provide modulation data for one or more users (for example, as described with reference to Fig. 3C or Fig. 3D).

[0141] Fig. 6D is a diagram illustrating an example 604 of different channel bandwidths and the relationship between them. In one example, a device (e.g., device 310) is configured to generate and transmit any OFDMA packet based on any number of OFDMA frame structures within different communication channels with different channel bandwidths. For example, a 160 MHz channel may be divided into two 80 MHz channels. An 80 MHz channel may be divided into two 40 MHz channels. A 40 MHz channel may be divided into two 20 MHz channels. It should also be noted that such channels may be within the same frequency band, the same frequency subband, or alternatively, distributed across different frequency bands, in different frequency subbands, etc.

[0142] Fig. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example 701 of an OFDMA / TDMA feedback. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) may be used (e.g., such that different symbols may be transmitted at different times, e.g., S#1, S#2, S#3) in combination with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) (e.g., as described with reference to Fig. 3A to Fig. 3E). A response from a WDEV can be a combination of OFMA and TDMA. The feedback from N STAs can be performed using a round-up function, for example, ceil(N / 9) symbols at 20 MHz, ceil(N / 36) symbols at 80 MHz.

[0143] Each STA can be uniquely assigned an RU26 (for example, power is only sent to the assigned RU26). This operation avoids collisions and does not pose any problems regardless of whether the STA is near or far away.

[0144] Fig. Figure 7A shows an example of feedback from 25 users (e.g., 25 wireless stations (STAs), receivers, etc.). The feedback can be implemented using three symbols (e.g., -1, +1, and 0). This example shows receiving the feedback "YES" from STAs with the following IDs: 5, 8, 18, 22, and 25 (hatched) and "NO" from the remaining STA IDs (unhatched / solid color).

[0145] Fig. Figure 7B is a diagram illustrating an example 702 of a simulation of an operation. A detection method, approach, etc., may be implemented as follows: Recognition procedure (3 results): P1 = sum(performance at A locations), P0 = sum(performance at B locations), K=2; % scaling factor for the decision (P1 > K·P0) → JA (P0 > K·P1) → NEIN (not(JA) & not(NEIN)) → Keine Antwort

[0146] In some examples, the signal-to-noise ratio can be calibrated for a 26-tone RU (for example, per 2 MHz channel or subchannel).

[0147] An alternative detection method, an alternative detection approach, etc. can be implemented as follows (for K=1): Recognition procedure (2 results): P1 = sum(performance at A locations), P0 = sum(performance at B locations), K = 1; % scaling factor for decision (P1>K-P0) → JA (P0>K·P1) → NEIN Sequence options: 1 and 2

[0148] Examples of different sequence options are described below. 1. Barker-13 sequence, the PAPR value (peak-to-average power ratio, square of the crest factor) is 2.84 or 3.90 dB (mean RU26): [+1,+1,+1,+1,+1,−1,−1,+1,+1,−1,+1,−1,+1]; 2. HE-LTF-2X sequence (for example, as described in IEEE 802.11ax “11-15-1334-00-00axhe-1tf-sequence-design” below), the PAPR values ​​(Peak-to-Average Power Ratio, square of the crest factor) are between 3.27 and 4.96 dB (mean RU26): "YES": All RU26s except the middle RU26 use the same indices as HE-LTF 2X. For the middle RU26, one tone at -16 is removed and the negative index tones are shifted by -1 (see Table 1 above). "NO": All RU26s except the middle RU26 use odd tone indices by shifting the tone indices of the HE-LTF-2X sequence by +1 or -1. For the middle RU26, removing a tone at +16 and shifting the positive index tones by +1 (see Table 1 above).

[0149] Note that the probability of errors is the same for both sequences. It should also be noted that the Barker sequence has a lower PAPR (peak-to-average power ratio, square of the crest factor), and the cyclic shifting of the sequence (low cross-correlation) could be used to expand the number and type of response.

[0150] Fig. 7C is a diagram illustrating another example 703 of OFDMA / TDMA feedback. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) may be used (e.g., such that different symbols may be transmitted at different times, e.g., S#1, S#2, S#3) in combination with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) (e.g., as described with reference to Fig. 3A to Fig. 3E). It should be noted that MU responses can be based on OFDMA and TDMA.

[0151] A response from a WDEV can be a combination of OFMA and TDMA. The feedback from N STAs can be performed using a round-up function, for example, ceil(N / 9) symbols at 20 MHz, ceil(N / 36) symbols at 80 MHz.

[0152] Each STA can be uniquely assigned a resource block (RB) consisting of one RU26 (e.g., power is only sent to the assigned RU26). This operation avoids collisions and does not pose any problems regardless of whether the STA is near or far away.

[0153] This example 703 for feedback from 25 users works using 3 symbols (for example, 3 symbols with N bits each). A "YES" comes from the following STA IDs: 5, 8, 10, 14, 22, and 25. "NO response" comes from the following STA ID: 18. A "NO" comes from the remaining STA IDs.

[0154] Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example 800 of OFDMA / spatial stream (SS) feedback. This diagram shows a multi-user (MU) option based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (FDI) / spatial stream (SS) feedback. Multi-user (MU) responses are provided using OFDMA and are orthogonal by being encoded in the time direction with the P matrix. Each STA is uniquely assigned to a resource block (RB), which consists of an orthogonal allocation on an RU26. This occurs collision-free.

[0155] This diagram shows an example of a response for up to 36 users. A 4x4 P-matrix is ​​used. The sequence is HE-LTF-2X or Barker-13. A "YES" on RB #21: The sequence is transmitted on subcarriers / tone indices [18:2:42], repeated for 4 symbols, and encoded with P-matrix row 1. A "NO" on RB #11: The sequence is transmitted on subcarriers / tone indices [-67:2:-43], repeated for 4 symbols and encoded with P-matrix row 3.

[0156] Fig. 9A is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 901 for execution using one or more wireless communication devices. The method 901 begins at step 910 by generating a trigger frame requesting feedback responses from a plurality of additional wireless communication devices. The method 901 continues at step 920 by transmitting the trigger frame (e.g., via a communication interface of the wireless communication device) to the plurality of additional wireless communication devices.The method 901 then continues in step 930 by simultaneously receiving (for example, via the communication interface of the wireless communication device, in response to the trigger frame and based on parameters agreed between the wireless communication device and the plurality of further wireless communication devices) the acknowledgment responses comprising a first acknowledgment response from a first further wireless communication device within a first OFDMA RU (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access Resource Unit) as indicated by the agreed parameters, and a second acknowledgment response from a second further wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0157] Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 902 for execution using one or more wireless communication devices. The method 902 begins at step 911 by performing a frame exchange with the plurality of additional wireless communication devices prior to transmitting a trigger frame to a plurality of additional wireless communication devices to determine the agreed-upon parameters between the wireless communication device and the plurality of additional wireless communication devices.

[0158] As described in step 911a, such agreed parameters may include one or more, in any combination, of a number of wireless communication devices within the plurality of further wireless communication devices, RU allocations to be used by the plurality of further wireless communication devices, including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the second further wireless communication device, a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a first feedback response value, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device to provide a second feedback response value,at least one P-matrix to be used by at least one of the plurality of further communication devices when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device, at least one number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device, and / or at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device.

[0159] The method 902 then continues, in some examples, by performing steps 910, 920, and 930 as described with reference to the method 901 of Fig. 9A. For example, a frame exchange between a wireless communication device and a plurality of other wireless communication devices may be performed such that these wireless communication devices mutually know, agree, understand, etc., what the agreed parameters are, to whom the response types and values ​​correspond, which communication parameters are to be used, etc.

[0160] Fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 903 for execution using one or more wireless communication devices. The method 903 begins at step 912 by performing a frame exchange with a plurality of other wireless communication devices to determine parameters agreed upon between the wireless communication device and the plurality of other wireless communication devices. The method 903 continues at step 922 by generating a trigger frame. In some examples, the trigger frame includes information requesting feedback responses from the plurality of other wireless communication devices.The method 903 then continues in step 932 by transmitting the trigger frame (e.g., via a communication interface of the wireless communication device) to the plurality of additional wireless communication devices.

[0161] The method 903 continues at step 942 by receiving an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame in response to the trigger frame and based on the parameters agreed upon between the wireless communication device and the plurality of other wireless communication devices.

[0162] In some embodiments, as shown in step 942a, the feedback responses include a first feedback response from a first further wireless communication device within a first OFDMA resource unit (RU), as indicated by the agreed parameters. Furthermore, in some embodiments, as shown in step 942b, the feedback responses also include a second wireless communication device within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU, as indicated by the agreed parameters.

[0163] This disclosure presents, among other things, various examples where the feedback includes three states: "YES," "NO," or "No Response." In some examples, this is accomplished using 13 even tones and 13 odd tones in a 26-tone RU (or vice versa). Within an RU, different sets of subcarriers may be assigned. For example, one example includes four subcarrier sets, each with six subcarriers.

[0164] This disclosure presents, among other things, various examples where the number of response states is expanded. For example, an expansion from 3 to 6 response states occurs through the use of 4 sets of 6 tones in a 26-tone RU. A short feedback can be used for purposes other than simply providing a "YES" or "NO" response. In some examples, the feedback could be an answer to a question with 2 (or more) corresponding possible answers.

[0165] Examples of such questions may include: (1) Does the wireless communication device have queued traffic for >20 ms, >100 ms? (2) How many bytes are buffered for transmission in the wireless communication device (>1000 bytes, >5000 bytes)? And (3) How many packets are buffered for transmission in the wireless communication device (>5 packets, >15 packets)?

[0166] In some examples, this disclosure further proposes scaling a response / feedback response measurement and comparing it with the other response / feedback response measurements to indicate whether a condition is true or false. This can eliminate any need to track the channel noise measured at a different time to adjust a threshold. This novel scheme is highly robust to changes in channel conditions and interference.

[0167] It should also be noted that an RU26 (e.g., a resource unit (RU) with 26 subcarriers / tones) could be frequency-divided to multiplex multiple wireless stations (STAs). This FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) technique allows for more STAs per symbol in the feedback response.

[0168] In some specific examples, this disclosure presents various examples including four sets of six subcarriers / tones per RU26 (24 of a total of 26 tones). For example, the two sets of six subcarriers / tones are assigned to a first WDEV / STA #1, and the second set is assigned to a second WDEV / STA #2. Using this technique, this disclosure proposes that a wireless communication device can signal a feedback response with an affirmative "YES" and with a negative "NO."

[0169] Another variation presented in this document is the use of a set of tones for measuring background channel noise common to multiple STAs in an RU26. For example, an embodiment may have four sets of six tones in an RU26. One set of six tones could be used as a reference for background channel noise, and the remaining three sets could carry feedback from three STAs. With this technique, one example has an affirmative "YES," and the response "NO" is implied if the AP does not receive a response.

[0170] Another variation is similar to the one just described above, but instead of using a single 26-tone RU, it uses the entire 242-tone RU. This could be done, for example, by dividing the 242-tone RU into twenty-two sets of 11 tones. The 11-tone sequence could be a Barker sequence. This could be done by using one set of 11 tones spread over 20 MHz for the reference background channel noise and using the remaining twenty-one sets of 11 tones to multiplex 21 STAs. Using this technique, this could be done with an affirmative "YES," with the response "NO" implied if the AP does not receive a response. Using this technique, this could be done with up to 21 affirmative states.

[0171] Another variation is similar to the one just described above, but instead uses two states per STA to convey an affirmative "YES" and a "NO." With the twenty-two sets of 11 tones, with one set used as reference noise, this could be achieved by multiplexing up to 10 STAs.

[0172] It should be noted that while certain examples provided in the present document use the example of a particular number of subcarriers within a particular resource unit (RU) and / or a particular subset of subcarriers within an RU on which energy is present to cause a particular response (e.g., a first response, such as a yes response if energy is present on a first subset of subcarriers within the RU(s), or alternatively, a second response, such as a no response if energy is present on a second subset of subcarriers within the RU(s)). In particular, some examples may use a set of 13 subcarriers, others may use a set of 6 subcarriers, etc.In general, the various embodiments, embodiments, and / or examples of the invention as presented in the present document may be applied to and used in specific examples of any desired size.

[0173] In general, a communication channel may comprise any desired communication channel or subchannel, a bandwidth size of a communication channel, a desired number of RUs, or any desired size, and any desired number of subcarriers may be present within that one or more subcarriers.multiple RUs (and different numbers of subcarriers may be included in different RUs), and any desired first subcarrier or subcarriers may be used to cause a first response (for example, a yes), and any desired second subcarrier or subcarriers may be used to cause a second response (for example, a no), and any desired P-matrix of any size and dimension may be used (or not used), any desired sequence of any desired type (such as a Barker sequence or not used), any desired combination of used and unused subcarriers within one or more RUs, any combination of two or more RUs, any desired number of symbols, etc.and / or any further variations of the specific numbers and values ​​of specific parameters as used in this document.

[0174] For example, while a specific example includes 4 sets of 6 subcarriers each within an RU, such as an RU with 26 subcarriers. It should be noted that the respective sets of 6 subcarriers may be spread across a 20 MHz communication channel such that the respective sets of 6 subcarriers do not each or all consist of adjacent or contiguous subcarriers (which, for example, have some similarities to the subcarriers described with reference to Fig. 3C with respect to different sets of subcarriers assigned to different respective users). Furthermore, within a certain example operating on the basis of different respective communication channels and / or sub-communication channels (such as 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, etc.), some examples utilize, with respect to the subcarriers therein, only subcarriers common to the respective different communication channels and / or sub-communication channels. Some further examples utilized adjacent subcarrier sets for different respective responses (e.g., a first subcarrier set for a first response, such as a yes response, and a second first subcarrier set for a second response, such as a no response).Additionally, some examples may operate by not using certain subcarriers (for example, unused subcarriers) located at specific locations (such as subcarrier indices -2 and +2 within each respective 20 MHz bin).

[0175] Another specific example includes two sets of 13 subcarriers each within an RU, such as an RU with 26 subcarriers. In general, any alternative combination of subcarriers may be used within such an RU or 26 subcarriers without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, in any specific example, various combinations or sets of subcarriers within any one or more RUs may include one or more unused subcarriers. As with some further examples considering an RU with 26 subcarriers, there could be 8 sets of 3 subcarriers each, 7 sets of 3 subcarriers each, 6 sets of 4 subcarriers each, 5 sets of 5 subcarriers each, 4 sets of 6 subcarriers, 3 sets of 8 subcarriers, 2 sets of 13 subcarriers each, 2 sets of 12 subcarriers each, etc.In general, any specific number of sets of subcarriers and any desired specific number of subcarriers can be included in each respective set of subcarriers. It should also be noted that such principles can be extended to any differently sized RUs with any additional number of subcarriers.

[0176] It should also be noted that the various operations and functions described in the present document within various methods may be performed within a wireless communication device (such as by means of the processing circuitry 330, the communication interface 320 and the memory 340 and / or the processing circuitry 330a and / or the processing circuitry 330b, such as described with reference to Fig.2B) and / or other components included therein. Generally, a communications interface and processing circuitry (or, alternatively, processing circuitry that includes the functionality, components, circuitry, etc. of a communications interface) can perform such operations in a wireless communications device.

[0177] Examples of such components may include one or more baseband processing modules, one or more MAC (Media Access Control Layer) components, one or more physical layer (PHY) components, and / or other components, etc. For example, such processing circuitry may perform processing operations in baseband and may operate in conjunction with a radio, an analog front end (AFE), etc. The processing circuitry may generate such signals, packets, frames, and / or equivalents, etc., as described in this document, as well as perform various operations described in this document and / or their respective equivalents.

[0178] In some embodiments, such a baseband processing module and / or a processing module (which may be implemented in the same device or in separate devices) may perform such processing to generate signals for transmission to another wireless communication device using any number of radios and antennas. In some embodiments, such processing is performed cooperatively by means of circuitry for processing in a first device and further circuitry for processing within a second device. In other embodiments, such processing is performed entirely by means of circuitry for processing within a device.

[0179] As used in this document, the terms "substantial" and "approximately" provide an industry-accepted tolerance for the corresponding term and / or the relative relationship between objects. Such industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and / or resistive noise. Such relative relationship between objects ranges from a difference of a few percent to orders of magnitude.As further used in this document, the terms "configured," "operatively coupled," "coupled," and / or "coupling" include direct coupling between objects and / or indirect coupling between objects via an intervening object (for example, an object includes, but is not limited to, a component, element, circuit, and / or module), where, as an example of indirect coupling, the intervening object does not change the information of a signal but can adjust its current level, voltage level, and / or power level. As further used in this document, inferred coupling (that is, when one element is coupled to another element by induction) includes direct and indirect coupling between two objects in the same manner as the term "coupled."As may be used further in this document, the terms "configured," "operational," "coupled," or "operationally coupled" indicate that an object has one or more ports, inputs, outputs, etc., to perform one or more of its respective functions when activated, and may further have a derived coupling to one or more other objects. As may be used further in this document, the term "connected to" encompasses the direct and / or indirect coupling of separate objects and / or an object embedded within another object.

[0180] The phrase "is advantageously compared," or an equivalent phrase as may be used in this document, indicates that a comparison between one or more objects, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, if the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison can be achieved if the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or if the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

[0181] Furthermore, as may be used in this document, the terms "processing module," "processing circuit," "processor," and / or "processing device," or their equivalents, may refer to a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processing unit, a microcomputer, a central processing unit, a field-programmable gate array, a programmable logic device, a state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and / or any device that modifies signals (analog and / or digital) based on hard-coding of the circuitry and / or operating instructions.The processing module, module, processing circuit, and / or processing unit may be or further comprise memory and / or an integrated storage element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and / or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and / or processing unit. Such a memory device may be read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and / or any device that stores digital information.It should be noted that in the case that the processing module, the module, the processing circuit and / or the processing unit comprise more than one processing device, the processing devices may be located at a central location (for example, directly coupled together via a wired and / or wireless bus structure) or distributed (for example, cloud computing via an indirect coupling via a local area network and / or a wide area network).It should be further noted that if the processing module, the module, the processing circuit and / or the processing unit implement one or more of their functions via a state machine, an analog circuitry, a digital circuitry and / or a logic circuitry, the memory and / or the storage element in which the corresponding operating instructions are stored may be embedded in the circuitry comprising the state machine, the analog circuitry, the digital circuitry and / or the logic circuitry or may be arranged externally thereto.It should be further noted that the memory element may store hard-coded instructions and / or operating instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and / or functions illustrated in one or more of the figures, and that the processing module, module, processing circuit, and / or processing unit execute them. Such a memory device or memory element may be incorporated into a product.

[0182] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the functional blocks and other illustrative blocks, modules, and components included in this document may be implemented as illustrated or by means of discrete components, application-specific integrated circuits, processing circuitry, processors executing appropriate software, and the like, or any combination thereof.

[0183] Signals to, from, and / or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented in this document may be analog or digital, continuous-time or discrete-time, and single-ended or differential, unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended signal path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential signal path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described in this document, other architectures may be implemented in a similar manner using one or more data buses not explicitly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and / or indirect coupling between other elements, as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0184] The term "module" is used in the description of one or more of the embodiments. A module includes a processing module, a processor, a functional block, processing circuitry, hardware, and / or memory storing operating instructions for performing one or more of the functions described herein. It should be noted that if the module is implemented via hardware, the hardware may operate independently of and / or in conjunction with software and / or firmware. As also used herein, a module may include one or more submodules, each of which may be one or more modules.

Claims

[1] A wireless communication device (310) comprising: a communication interface (320); and a processing circuitry (330) coupled to the communication interface (320), wherein at least one of the communication interface (320) or the processing circuitry (330) is configured to: Performing a frame exchange with a plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) to determine parameters agreed between the wireless communication device (310) and the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391); Assigning different subcarrier sets to be used for the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391); generating a trigger frame requesting feedback responses from the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391); transmitting the trigger frame to the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391); Receiving, in response to the trigger frame and based on the parameters agreed between the wireless communication device (310) and the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391), an OFDMA frame (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access); wherein the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) provide their feedback responses to the trigger frame by respectively energizing the assigned subcarrier sets based on the agreed parameters. [2] The wireless communication device (310) of claim 1, wherein the OFDMA frame comprises the feedback responses comprising a first feedback response from a first further wireless communication device (390) within a first OFDMA RU (OFDMA Resource Unit) as indicated by the agreed parameters, and a second feedback response from a second further wireless communication device (391) within the first OFDMA RU or a second OFDMA RU as indicated by the agreed parameters. [3] The wireless communication device (310) of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry (330) is further configured to: Determining that the first feedback response comprises a first feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device (390) when the first feedback response comprises energy on a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and substantially no energy on a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU. [4] The wireless communication device (310) of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry (330) is further configured to: Determining that the first feedback response comprises a second feedback response value from the first further wireless communication device if the first feedback response has substantially no energy on the first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU and has substantially energy on the second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU. [5] Wireless communication device (310) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing circuitry (330) is further configured to: Determine how many bits are included in each feedback response based on the agreed parameters. [6] Wireless communication device (310) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) generate their feedback responses to the trigger frame by means of suitable signaling based on the agreed parameters. [7] Wireless communication device (310) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the agreed parameters comprise at least one of the following elements: a number of wireless communication devices within the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391); RU allocations to be used by the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) including the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device (390) and the second OFDMA RU to be used by the second further wireless communication device (391); a first OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device (390) to provide a first feedback response value, and a second OFDMA subcarrier set within the first OFDMA RU to be used by the first further wireless communication device (390) to provide a second feedback response value; at least one P-matrix to be used by at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) when transmitting at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device (310); at least a number of OFDMA symbols to be used by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device. [8] Wireless communication device (310) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the agreed parameters comprise: at least one of a number of bits to be included by the at least one of the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) when transmitting the at least one of the feedback responses to the wireless communication device (310). [9] A wireless communication device (310) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication device (310) further comprises: the communication interface configured to support communication within at least one of a satellite communication system, a wireless communication system, a wired communication system, a fiber optic communication system, or a mobile communication system. [10] Wireless communication device (310) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication device (310) further comprises: an access point (AP), wherein the plurality of further wireless communication devices (390, 391) comprises a wireless station (STA).

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