Multi-user EDMG Aggregated PPDU Structure

Abstract

A PPDU structure, as well as related methods and apparatuses, are provided. In various embodiments, the PPDU structure may be characterized as a multi-user EDMG aggregated PPDU structure. That is, the PPDU is transmitted to a plurality of users or destinations (e.g., STAs), complies with EDMG requirements, and can exhibit the characteristics of an A-PPDU. The PPDU structure can be used for multi-static sensing or potentially for other purposes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of wireless communication, and in particular, to an IEEE802.11 physical layer protocol - data unit (PPDU) structure used, for example, as a multi-user PPDU in data communication and / or a sounding PPDU in multi-static sensing.

Background Art

[0002] The IEEE802.11ay (Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit, EDMG) standard defines an efficient physical layer protocol - data unit (PPDU) transmitter function called an aggregated PPDU (A-PPDU), where multiple PPDUs are sequentially aggregated by sharing a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy CEF (L-CEF), a legacy header field (L-Header), an EDMG-STF, an EDMG channel estimation field (CEF), and a training (TRN) field. The A-PPDU in EDMG is a single-user (SU) PPDU transmitted from one station (STA) to another STA.

[0003] The IEEE802.11bf standard is intended to modify existing wireless local area network (WLAN) standards to enhance sensing capabilities through IEEE802.11-compliant waveforms. Using IEEE802.11bf, a station (STA) can use the received Wi-Fi signal to detect characteristics (such as range, speed, angle, movement, presence or proximity, gesture, etc.) of an intended target (such as an object, a person, an animal, etc.) within an environment (such as a home, an office, a room, a vehicle, an enterprise, etc.).

[0004] The IEEE802.11bf standard includes modifications to the existing IEEE802.11 standard's Media Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) to improve WLAN sensing capabilities in the unlicensed bands between 1GHz and 7.125GHz (sub-7GHz) and the 60GHz band. WLAN sensing can include multi-static sensing where a probe PPDU is transmitted from an initiator device to multiple responder devices. This probe PPDU can be transmitted using a directional beam and received by the responder devices.

[0005] However, existing proposals for the format of MU-PPDU have potential problems regarding backward compatibility and coexistence. Therefore, a MU-PPDU structure is needed to eliminate or mitigate one or more deficiencies of the prior art.

[0006] This background information is provided to clarify information that the applicant believes may be relevant to the present invention. It is not necessarily intended, nor should it be construed, that any of the foregoing information constitutes prior art to the present invention.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a PPDU structure, along with related methods and apparatuses, such that, for example, its terms relate to an IEEE802.11 PPDU. In various embodiments, the PPDU structure can be characterized as a multi-user EDMG aggregated PPDU structure. That is, the PPDU can be transmitted to multiple users or destinations (e.g., STAs), comply with EDMG requirements, and exhibit the characteristics of an A-PPDU. The PPDU structure can be used for multi-static sensing or potentially for other purposes.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first contiguous portion and a second contiguous portion. The first contiguous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first contiguous sub-portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a second contiguous sub-portion that includes a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF), a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), and optionally a first data portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a first synchronization field that is unique to a first station (STA). The second contiguous portion includes a third contiguous sub-portion that includes a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-header-A. The second contiguous portion further includes a fourth contiguous sub-portion that includes a second EDMG-STF, a second EDMG-CEF, and optionally a second data portion. The second contiguous portion further includes a second synchronization field that is unique to a second station (STA).

[0009] It should be understood that a contiguous portion or sub-portion may indicate that multiple fields of that portion or sub-portion are adjacent to each other. Additionally or alternatively, a portion or sub-portion may be contiguous, for example, in that there are no breaks in that portion or sub-portion.

[0010] The method further includes transmitting, by a device, a PPDU, where a first contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards a first STA and a second contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards a second STA. The first contiguous sub-portion and the third contiguous sub-portion are modulated using a legacy pre-EDMG modulation format. The second contiguous sub-portion and the fourth contiguous sub-portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. Additionally, either a first synchronization field is included in the first contiguous sub-portion and a second synchronization field is included in the third contiguous sub-portion, or a first synchronization field is included in the second contiguous sub-portion and a second synchronization field is included in the fourth contiguous sub-portion.

[0011] In some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using an EDMG format and further includes a padding field 542 located after the second contiguous portion, where the padding field is transmitted directionally towards the first STA. In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes a first one or more training sub-fields 546 transmitted directionally towards the first STA and a second one or more training sub-fields 548 transmitted directionally towards the second STA.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first synchronization sub-field includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, where the first sequence is assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization sub-field includes a second sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, where the second sequence is assigned to the second STA, or both. In some embodiments, the first synchronization sub-field further includes another first sequence assigned earlier in time than the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding of the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization sub-field further includes another second sequence assigned earlier in time than the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding of the second EDMG-Header-A.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first continuous portion and a second continuous portion. The first continuous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first continuous lower portion. The first continuous portion further includes a second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) and a first synchronization field unique to a first station (STA). The second continuous portion includes a third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-header-A. The second continuous portion further includes a fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF and a second synchronization field unique to a second station (STA). The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, wherein the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA. The first continuous lower portion and the third continuous lower portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG. The second continuous lower portion and the fourth continuous lower portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. Additionally, either the first synchronization field is included in the first continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the third continuous lower portion, or the first synchronization field is included in the second continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth continuous lower portion.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the second consecutive lower part includes the first padding field, or the fourth consecutive lower part includes the second padding field, or both. According to an embodiment, the PPDU further includes one or more first training subfields directed to the first STA and one or more second training subfields directed to the second STA.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the first synchronization subfield includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, the first sequence being assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization subfield includes a second sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, the second sequence being assigned to the second STA, or both. According to an embodiment, the first synchronization subfield further includes another first sequence allocated temporally before the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate the implementation of the decoding delay of the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization subfield further includes another second sequence allocated temporally before the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate the implementation of the decoding delay of the second EDMG-Header-A, or both.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first continuous portion and a second continuous portion. The first continuous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first continuous lower portion. The first continuous portion further includes a second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) and a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), where the first EDMG-CEF is specific to a first station (STA). The second continuous portion includes a third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A. The second continuous portion further includes a fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF and a second EDMG-CEF different from the first EDMG-CEF, where the second EDMG-CEF is specific to a second station (STA). The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, where the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA. The first continuous lower portion and the third continuous lower portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG. The second continuous lower portion and the fourth continuous lower portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes a padding field located after the second consecutive portion, and the padding field is transmitted directionally towards the first STA. According to an embodiment, the second consecutive lower portion includes the first data portion, or the fourth consecutive lower portion includes the second data portion, or both. In some embodiments, the second consecutive lower portion includes the first padding field, or the fourth consecutive lower portion includes the second padding field, or both.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first EDMG-CEF includes a first orthogonal sequence selected from a set of EDMG-CEFs assigned to the first STA, or the second EDMG-CEF includes a second orthogonal sequence selected from the same set of EDMG-CEFs assigned to the second STA, or both. In some embodiments, the first EDMG-CEF, the second EDMG-CEF, or both are also used to facilitate channel estimation.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a plurality of legacy short training fields (L-STF). The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, and each of the plurality of L-STF is transmitted directionally towards a different respective station (STA). Each of the plurality of L-STF is modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG).

[0020] In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes at least one portion modulated using the EDMG modulation format.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes communicating between two or more devices to determine multi-user (MU), enhanced directionality multi-gigabit (EDMG), and aggregated physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (A-PPDU) capabilities. The method further includes generating a PPDU according to any one of the methods described above according to the determined MU A-PPDU capabilities.

[0022] In some embodiments, the two or more devices include one or more IEEE 802.11 access points (APs), two or more IEEE 802.11 stations (STAs), or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, communicating includes exchanging one or more EDMG capability elements carried in one or more frames. In some embodiments, the one or more frames include one or more of a beacon frame, a probe request frame, and a probe response frame. In some embodiments, the generated PPDU is used for multi-static sensing.

[0023] In some embodiments, the generated PPDU includes at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both, which are specific to the STA to which the at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both are transmitted directionally.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method further includes determining values for each of the at least one synchronization field, the at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both, during communication between the two or more devices or at a subsequent time prior to generating the PPDU, which makes the at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both specific to the STA.

[0025] In some embodiments, one or more of the EDMG - CEFs are also used to facilitate channel estimation. In some embodiments, determining the value for each of the at least one synchronization field is performed during an association or sensing measurement setup phase prior to generating a PPDU for use in multistatic sensing.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU being formatted for use in multistatic sensing. The PPDU includes one or more synchronization (SYNC) fields and a synchronization pad (SYNC Pad) field. When the PPDU includes a data field, in an enhanced directional multi - gigabit (EDMG) header - A, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify the total length of the data field, each of the one or more SYNC fields, and the SYNC pad field. When the PPDU excludes a data field, in an enhanced directional multi - gigabit (EDMG) header - A, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify the total length obtained by adding the SYNC pad field to each of the one or more SYNC fields. The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU such that at least two different portions of the PPDU are transmitted directionally towards different respective stations (STAs).

[0027] In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating, by a recipient of the PPDU, the length of the PSDU data based on the content of the PSDU length field in the EDMG - Header - A.

[0028] In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes a length field and a training length field in the legacy header (L-Header) of the PPDU. The length field is configured to specify the total length of all fields of the PPDU, including the EDMG-Header-A and the SYNC pad field, from the EDMG-Header-A to the SYNC pad field. The length field, together with the training length field, is configured to estimate the entire duration of the PPDU.

[0029] In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating, by a recipient of the PPDU, the length of the PSDU data based on the content of the PSDU length field in the EDMG-Header-A.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the method described above, the PPDU is an aggregated PPDU (A-PPDU). According to an embodiment of the method described above, the PPDU is used for multi-static sensing.

[0031] According to another aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided, which includes instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to execute one or more of the methods described herein.

[0032] In another aspect, a computer program is provided, which includes instructions that, when the program is executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to execute one or more of the methods described herein.

[0033] In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes at least one processor and at least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the apparatus to execute one or more of the methods described herein.

[0034] The embodiments are described in the context of aspects of the invention in which they may be implemented. Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments may be implemented in the context of the aspects in which they are described, but may also be implemented with other embodiments of those aspects. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art if the embodiments are mutually exclusive or otherwise incompatible with each other. Some embodiments may be described with respect to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects. This will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

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[0048] Note that throughout the accompanying drawings, similar features are identified by similar reference numerals.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0049] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the format of an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG as defined in the IEEE802.11ay standard) physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), and related methods and apparatuses. The PPDU can be used, for example, as a multi-user PPDU in data communication and / or a sounding PPDU in a multi-static sensing operation.

[0050] Multi-static sensing is considered in the IEEE802.11bf standard for operation in the 60 GHz band. In multi-static sensing, a sounding PPDU structure is proposed in which a single sounding PPDU is transmitted from an initiator to multiple responders. A training field for sensing purposes is added at the end of the PPDU and shared by multiple receivers. A PPDU structure that is a type of multi-user PPDU is proposed.

[0051] More specifically, in the EDMG channel bonding mode (EDMG PPDU transmission at 4.32 GHz, 6.48 GHz, and 8.64 GHz), the EDMG PPDU is transmitted through two or more 2.16 GHz channels. In the EDMG channel bonding mode, EDMG pre-modulated fields such as L-STF, L-CEF, and L-Header are transmitted using the EDMG pre-duplication format on each 2.16 GHz. Synchronization and detection of the EDMG PPDU are based on the reception of the L-STF, L-CEF, and L-Header fields. However, this proposed EDMG multi-static sensing PPDU requires the EDMG multi-static sensing receiver to directly use the synchronization fields transmitted through two or more 2.16 GHz channels to perform detection and synchronization of the PPDU. This forces the EDMG multi-static sensing receiver to operate by following another new reception procedure in addition to the EDMG reception procedure. For backward compatibility reasons, this requires the EDMG multi-static sensing receiver to be implemented to provide two different receiver procedures, which increases the complexity of the receiver.

[0052] Also, in the EDMG multistatic PPDU format (specified in reference IEEE802.11-22 / 0464r6, PDT EDMG multistatic PPDU structure), there is no PPDU length information transmitted except for the first receiving STA (STA1). For example, different parts of the PPDU may be transmitted to the corresponding STAs that are in different directions compared to STA1. Therefore, a legacy STA not covered by the transmission in the direction addressed to STA1 may not be able to receive the L-STF field, the L-CEF field, and the L-Header field where the length field is located. Thus, the legacy EDMG STA cannot synchronize the transmitted PPDU and does not know how long the EDMG multistatic PPDU will continue. This is another problem for coexistence.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure generalizes a multi-user (MU) PPDU to a MU EDMG A-PPDU to mitigate complexity and coexistence issues. The problem can be solved by transmitting L-STF, L-CEF, L-Header, and EDMG-Header-A for each of the STAs in a multi-user scenario. It will be readily understood that the embodiment can be applied to both efficient EDMG data communication and sensing applications.

[0054] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a PPDU format 100 for an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG or IEEE802.11ay) standard. The EDMG multistatic sounding PPDU may be based on the EDMG PPDU format 100 and may include many of the same fields described in the EDMG standard.

[0055] The EDMG PPDU may be transmitted over the 60 GHz band, and a part of it may also be recognized by a directional multi-gigabit (DMG or IEEE 802.11ad) device. To enable backward compatibility, the first three fields 110, 112, 114 of the EDMG PPDU format 100 are defined to be recognizable by legacy DMG stations. The L-STF (Legacy Short Training Field) 110 and the L-CEF (Legacy Channel Estimation Field) 112 are compatible with the preambles defined in IEEE 802.11ad. The L-STF field 110 allows for the discovery and synchronization of EDMG / DMG packets, and the L-CEF field 112 enables channel estimation for the demodulation of the L-Heaer field 114 and the EDMG-Header-A field 416. The L-Header field 114 contains information about the EDMG / DMG packet.

[0056] The EDMG-Header-A field 116 contains information for the EDMG PPDU. For 4.32 GHz, 6.48 GHz, and 8.64 GHz EDMG PPDU transmissions, each of the first four fields 110, 112, 114, 116 of the EDMG PPDU may be transmitted redundantly over each 2.16 GHz subchannel of the packet since legacy devices may be configured to use only one subchannel. Each of the remaining fields of the EDMG PPDU may be transmitted over the entire bandwidth of the packet, such as over a 4.32 GHz, 6.48 GHz, or 8.64 GHz channel.

[0057] The EDMG-STF field 118 allows synchronization of the EDMG PPDU. The EDMG-CEF field 120 allows channel estimation for demodulation of the EDMG-Header-B field 122 and the data field 124. The EDMG-Header-B field 122 contains information for the EDMG multi-user (MU) PPDU. The data field 124 contains the payload data of the packet and is padded with zeros for packaging if necessary. Finally, the PPDU format 100 includes a training (TRN) sequence field 126, and the training (TRN) sequence field is used for beamforming training and beam tracking as part of the beam refinement protocol (BRP) process to allow the STA to improve its antenna configuration for transmission and / or reception. The TRN field 126 can be composed of multiple TRN subfields as described in the EDMG standard.

[0058] Figure 2 is a diagram of the EDMG A-PPDU format 200 defined by 802.11ay. It should be understood that the EDMG A-PPDU of this format should be transmitted to a single user (e.g., responder STA) according to the current standard specification and should not be transmitted to multiple users. The first PPDU of the EDMG A-PPDU includes an L-STF field 210, an L-CEF field 212, an L-Header field 214, an EDMG-Header-A field 216, an EDMG-STF field 218, an EDMG-CEF field 220, and a data field 222. The A-PPDU is considered an efficient transmission method, and the L-STF field 210, L-CEF field 212, L-Header field 214, EDMG-Header-A field 216, EDMG-STF field 218, and EDMG-CEF field 220 fields can be used by multiple PPDUs. Starting from the second PPDU, each subsequent PPDU includes an EDMG-Header-A field and its respective data field. For example, in Figure 2, after the EDMG-Header-A field 224, the associated data field 226 follows, and then the next EDMG-Header-A field 228 and the associated data field 230 follow. The TRN field 232, if present, is added only once at the end of the EDMG A-PPDU. Note that the advantage of the EDMG A-PPDU is considered to enable efficient transmission where multiple PPDUs share the same preamble and training fields. The disadvantage of the EDMG A-PPDU format in 802.11ay is that it can only be applied to single-user (STA) PPDU transmissions. Note that for the physical layer (PHY) receive state machine for single-user (SU) EDMG PPDU reception (e.g., NUM_STS = 1, no TRN field), the synchronization and detection of the PPDU start at the detection of the L-STF 210.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a multi-static sensing setup 300 having one transmitter and three receivers according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The transmitter and receivers can each be STAs on a wireless communication network. Although the multi-static sensing setup 300 is shown with three receivers, it may be generalized to include more than three receivers.

[0060] In the multi-static sensing setup 300, a sensing initiator 305 (e.g., an access point (AP)) starts a sensing instance and functions as a transmitter, and three sensing responders 311, 312, 313 function as receivers. The sensing instance can be set up by the exchange of requests and responses 331 (handshakes) with the first responder 311, as well as similar exchanges of requests and responses 332 with the second responder 312, and similar exchanges of requests and responses 333 with the third responder 313.

[0061] A sensing instance can generally be directed to detect features of a given target, such as object 308. The sensing instance includes a sensing initiator 305 that transmits a sounding PPDU. A part of the signal 320 from the sensing initiator 305, particularly one or more training (TRN) fields in the sounding PPDU, is transmitted from the sensing initiator 305 and can collide with the object 308. A part 321 of this signal may be reflected from the object 308 and propagate towards the first responder 311, a part 322 of this signal may be reflected from the object 308 and propagate towards the second responder 312, and a part 322 of this signal may be reflected from the object 308 and propagate towards the third responder 313. After the sensing initiator 305 transmits the sounding PPDU, each of the responders 311, 312, 313 can be polled and report feedback 341, 342, 343. The feedback 341, 342, 343 can be related to the parts 321, 322, 323 of the signal received by the responders 311, 312, 313 after being reflected from the object 308. The feedback 341, 342, 343 can be used by the sensing initiator 305 to detect features of the object 308.

[0062] The multistatic sensing setup 300 includes a sensing initiator 305 that also functions as a transmitter during the sounding phase of the sensing instance.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a proposed multistatic sounding PPDU structure 400. The illustrated PPDU structure is considered to have three receivers or responder STAs (as shown in FIG. 3, for example). Here, and elsewhere in this specification, the number of STAs associated with the PPDU can be three, more than three, or less than three (e.g., two). The PPDU structure includes an L-STF field 410, an L-CEF field 412, an L-Header field 414, an EDMG-Header-A field 416, and an EDMG-STF field 418.

[0064] The EDMG multi-static sensing PPDU structure shown in FIG. 4 allows for PPDU transmission from one transmitter to multi-static sensing receivers that share the same training field (TTRN 428). The PTRN sub-fields 430, 432, 434 are transmitted in different directions and can be received by multi-static sensing receivers (e.g., STA1, STA2, and STA3 in this figure). As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, different parts of the PPDU can be transmitted in different directions (i.e., directionally) towards different STAs, for example, by using beamforming or directional antenna switching techniques. Each multi-static sensing STA (receiver) is synchronized with the respective synchronization fields 420, 422, 424 transmitted in the multi-static sensing PPDU, which is an EDMG modulation field. For example, STA1 is associated with Sync1 420, STA2 is associated with Sync 422, and STA3 is associated with Sync3 424. Following the transmission of the first PTRN field to each STA, the MTRN field 436 is transmitted. After this field, re-transmissions of the PTRN fields for each of the respective STAs (438, 440, 442) and repetitions of the MTRN field 444 follow.

[0065] In the EDMG channel bonding mode, i.e., 4.32 GHz, 6.48 GHz, and 8.64 GHz EDMG PPDU transmission, the synchronization field is transmitted using a wideband signal. This transmission form requires the receiver (e.g., STA) to perform synchronization over a wideband, which is different from the EDMG reception procedure currently specified in 802.11ay.

[0066] The multi-static sensing PPDU structure shown in FIG. 4 has potential problems. Based on current or legacy EDMG reception procedures, an EDMG receiver is specified to start detecting a PPDU by receiving the transmitted PHY preamble through the primary 2.16 GHz channel, i.e., by receiving the L-STF field 410, the L-CEF field 412, the L-Header field 414, and the EDMG-Header-A field 416. Since backward compatibility is a requirement for STAs configured according to 802.11bf, this backward compatibility requires EDMG multi-static sensing STAs to implement two different receiver procedures to perform PPDU synchronization on the primary 2.16 GHz band and the wideband, respectively.

[0067] To mitigate the above potential problems, or more generally, to provide alternative approaches to communication and sensing, embodiments of the present disclosure provide various PPDU formats as detailed below. A device such as an AP can generate and transmit such formatted PPDUs. Such PPDUs can be characterized as MU EDMG A-PPDUs that are addressed to multiple receivers and include multiple concatenated parts used by multiple receivers. For sensing (or other) purposes, the training field at the end of the PPDU can include different training fields for use by different receivers. As an example, the PPDUs in FIGS. 5-10 specify fields corresponding to two different receivers (STA1 and STA2), but such PPDUs can be extended to specify similar fields corresponding to additional receivers. The fields corresponding to a particular receiver can be transmitted directionally towards that receiver.

[0068] According to various embodiments, for each intended recipient STA to which a part of the PPDU is directed and transmitted, the PPDU includes a legacy (DMG) header, or a copy of at least some of its fields. Thus, upon receiving these fields, the recipient STA can perform necessary operations such as synchronization without necessarily requiring a separate wideband (e.g., EDMG) procedure.

[0069] For example, according to various embodiments, a method and related apparatus are provided. The device generates a PPDU having a plurality of legacy fields (i.e., fields originally specified for IEEE directional multi-gigabit (DMG)), such as a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), and an L-Header, although not necessarily limited thereto. In some embodiments, the L-CEF can assist in performing fine PPDU synchronization. In some embodiments, the L-Header can include a length field that can be used to estimate the PPDU duration. Each of the plurality of legacy fields corresponds to a different recipient STA. The device then transmits the PPDU such that different parts of the PPDU are directed and transmitted to different ones of the recipient STAs. Each of these different parts includes a different one of the plurality of legacy fields. As will be appreciated, the legacy fields are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG. For example, the legacy fields can be modulated using the DMG modulation format.

[0070] Each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 represents a specific example of the above-described embodiments, and the PPDU includes a plurality of legacy fields L-STF, L-CEF, and L-Header. Further, similarly, each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 includes a plurality of instances of the EDMG-Header-A field, a plurality of instances of the EDMG-STF field, and optionally, a plurality of instances of the EDMG-CEF field. Each of these instances is also transmitted directionally towards a different recipient STA. As described elsewhere in this specification, other fields may be provided as well.

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a PPDU format provided according to some embodiments. FIG. 6 is a diagram of another MU EDMG A-PPDU format having a data field according to an embodiment. The PPDU format includes a first continuous portion including a first legacy short training field (L-STF) 510, 610, a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF) 512, 612, a first legacy header field (L-Header) 514, 614, and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header A field (EDMG-Header-A) 516, 616. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the first continuous lower portion further includes a first synchronization field 618 specific to the first STA. The first continuous portion further includes a second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) 518, 620, a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF) 520, 622, a first data partial field 524, 624, and a first synchronization field 522 specific to the first station (STA), i.e., for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The second continuous portion includes a third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF 526, 626, a second L-CEF 528, 628, a second L-Header 530, 630, and a second EDMG-Header-A 532, 632. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the third continuous lower portion further includes a second synchronization field 634 specific to the second STA. The second continuous portion further includes a fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF 534, 636, a second EDMG-CEF 536, 638, a second data partial field 540, 640, and a second synchronization field 538 specific to the second station (STA), i.e., for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0072] In some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes padding fields 542, 642 located after the second consecutive portion. The padding fields are transmitted directionally towards the first STA. In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes a first one or more training subfields 546, 646 transmitted directionally towards the first STA and a second one or more training subfields 548, 648 transmitted directionally towards the second STA.

[0073] According to further embodiments related to FIG. 5, the L-STF 510, 526, L-CEF 512, 528, L-Header 514, 530, EDMG-Header-A 516, 532 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., pre-EDMG modulated. The EDMG-STF 518, 534, EDMG-CEF 520, 536, data fields 524, 540, and TRN subfields 544, 546, 548, 550 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., EDMG modulated. STA Sync 1, 522, STA Sync 2 538, and padding field 542 are also EDMG modulated.

[0074] According to embodiments, a potential advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is that this MU EDMG A-PPDU format may include efficient transmission multiple PPDUs for multiple STAs, and the synchronization and detection of the PPDUs specified in the EDMG reception procedure can be reused. Also, the additional STA synchronization using the Sync field is for a particular STA to identify the portion of the MU EDMG A-PPDU transmitted to itself. An additional potential benefit relates to coexistence with legacy EDMG STAs.

[0075] According to an embodiment related to FIG. 6 further, L-STF 610, 626, L-CEF 612, 628, L-Header 614, 630, EDMG-Header-A 616, 632 are defined as specified in EDMG, transmitted, that is, pre-modulated by EDMG. STA Sync 1 618, STA Sync 2 634 are also pre-modulated by EDMG. EDMG-STF 620, 636, EDMG-CEF 622, 638, data 624, 640, and TRN sub-fields 644, 646, 648, 650 are defined as specified in EDMG, transmitted, that is, modulated by EDMG. Padding field 642 is also modulated by EDMG. It should be noted that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the STA Sync 1 field 618 and the STA Sync 2 field 634 are moved so as to be respectively close to their respective EDMG-Header-A fields 616, 632.

[0076] According to an embodiment, a potential benefit of the MU EDMG A-PPDU format shown in FIG. 6 is that there is a consideration that the STA synchronization operation can be performed on one 2.16 GHz channel, which can reduce the implementation complexity.

[0077] According to an embodiment, STA Sync i includes an orthogonal sequence specifically assigned for STA i. For example, the set of orthogonal sequences is a sequence having good autocorrelation characteristics and orthogonal pairwise cross-correlation characteristics. In some embodiments, another sequence may be allocated in front of the orthogonal sequence in time for the implementation consideration of the delay of EDMG-Header-A decoding.

[0078] According to an embodiment, each EDMG-Header-A field for a specific STA includes an indication bit for indicating a MU EDMG A-PPDU. In some embodiments, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field defined in the EDMG-Header-A for a specific STA can indicate the length of the STA-Sync+ data field for the corresponding STA in the MU EDMG A-PPDU. In some embodiments, the length field and the training length field can be defined within the L-Header, and the length field, together with the training length field, can be set to estimate the entire PPDU duration.

[0079] According to an embodiment, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first contiguous portion and a second contiguous portion. The first contiguous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first contiguous lower portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a second contiguous lower portion that includes a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF), a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), and optionally a first data portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a first synchronization field specific to a first station (STA). The second contiguous portion includes a third contiguous lower portion that includes a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A. The second contiguous portion further includes a fourth contiguous lower portion that includes a second EDMG-STF, a second EDMG-CEF, and optionally a second data portion. The second contiguous portion further includes a second synchronization field specific to a second station (STA).

[0080] The method further includes transmitting, by a device, a PPDU, where a first contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards a first STA and a second contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards a second STA. The first contiguous sub-portion and the third contiguous sub-portion are modulated using a pre-EDMG legacy modulation format. The second contiguous sub-portion and the fourth contiguous sub-portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. Additionally, either a first synchronization field is included in the first contiguous sub-portion and a second synchronization field is included in the third contiguous sub-portion, or a first synchronization field is included in the second contiguous sub-portion and a second synchronization field is included in the fourth contiguous sub-portion.

[0081] In some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using an EDMG format and further includes a padding field 542 located after the second contiguous portion, and the padding field is transmitted directionally towards the first STA. In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes a first one or more training sub-fields 546 transmitted directionally towards the first STA and a second one or more training sub-fields 548 transmitted directionally towards the second STA.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first synchronization sub-field includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, where the first sequence is assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization sub-field includes a second sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, where the second sequence is assigned to the second STA, or both. In some embodiments, the first synchronization sub-field further includes another first sequence assigned earlier in time than the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization sub-field further includes another second sequence assigned earlier in time than the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the second EDMG-Header-A.

[0083] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a MU EDMG A-PPDU format without a data field according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram of another MU EDMG A-PPDU format without a data field according to an embodiment. The PPDU format includes a first continuous portion including a first legacy short training field (L-STF) 710, 810, a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF) 712, 812, a first legacy header field (L-Header) 714, 814, and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header A field (EDMG-Header-A) 716, 816. Note that this PPDU format does not include an EDMG-CEF field or a data field. The first continuous portion further includes a second continuous sub-portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) 718, 820 and a first synchronization field 720, 818 unique to the first station (STA). The second continuous portion includes a third continuous sub-portion including a second L-STF 724, 824, a second L-CEF 726, 826, a second L-Header 728, 828, and a second EDMG-Header-A 730, 830. The second continuous portion further includes a fourth continuous sub-portion including a second EDMG-STF 732, 834 and a second synchronization field 538, 634 unique to the second station (STA).

[0084] In some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes first padding fields 722, 822 located after the first contiguous portion, and the padding fields are transmitted directionally towards the first STA. In some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes second padding fields 736, 836 located after the second contiguous portion, and the padding fields are transmitted directionally towards the second STA. In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes first one or more training subfields 740, 840 transmitted directionally towards the first STA and second one or more training subfields 742, 842 transmitted directionally towards the second STA.

[0085] According to further embodiments with respect to FIG. 7, the L-STF 710, 724, L-CEF 712, 726, L-Header 714, 728, EDMG-Header-A 716, 730 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., pre-EDMG modulated. The EDMG-STF 718, 732, padding fields 722, 736, and TRN subfields 738, 740, 742, 744 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., EDMG modulated. STA Sync 1 720, STA Sync 2 734 are also EDMG modulated.

[0086] According to an embodiment, a potential advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is that this MU EDMG A-PPDU format does not include an EDMG-CEF and a data field for a more efficient sensing application where the data field generally includes only dummy bits. Since the EDMG-CEF field is used for detection of data within the data field, it can also be removed from the PPDU.

[0087] According to an embodiment regarding FIG. 8, L-STF 810, 824, L-CEF 812, 826, L-Header 814, 828, EDMG-Header-A 816, 830 are defined as specified in EDMG, transmitted, i.e., pre-modulated by EDMG. EDMG-STF 820, 834, and the TRN sub-fields 838, 840, 842, 844 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., modulated by EDMG. STA Sync 1 818, STA Sync 2 832 are pre-modulated by EDMG. Padding fields 822, 836 are modulated by EDMG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, it should be noted that when compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the STA Sync 1 field 818 and the STA Sync 2 field 832 are moved to be closer to their respective EDMG-Header-A fields 816, 830, respectively.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the potential benefits of the MU EDMG A-PPDU format shown in FIG. 8 can be considered to be at least similar to those presented elsewhere in this specification with respect to the PPDU formats discussed with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0089] According to an embodiment, STA Sync i includes an orthogonal sequence specifically assigned for STA i. For example, the set of orthogonal sequences are sequences having good autocorrelation properties and orthogonal pairwise cross-correlation properties. In some embodiments, for implementation considerations of the delay of EDMG-Header-A decoding, another sequence may be allocated before the orthogonal sequence in time.

[0090] According to an embodiment, each EDMG-Header-A field for a specific STA includes an indication bit for indicating an MU EDMG A-PPDU. In some embodiments, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field defined in the EDMG-Header-A for a specific STA can indicate the length of the STA-Sync+ padding field for the corresponding STA in the MU EDMG A-PPDU by taking into account the removal of the EDMG-CEF. In some embodiments, the length field can be defined in the L-Header, the training length field can be defined in the L-Header, and the length field together with the training length field can be set to estimate the entire PPDU duration.

[0091] According to an embodiment, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first contiguous portion and a second contiguous portion. The first contiguous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-header-A) in a first contiguous lower portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a second contiguous lower portion that includes a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) and a first synchronization field unique to a first station (STA). The second contiguous portion includes a third contiguous lower portion that includes a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A. The second contiguous portion further includes a fourth contiguous lower portion that includes a second EDMG-STF and a second synchronization field unique to a second station (STA). The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, where the first contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA. The first contiguous lower portion and the third contiguous lower portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG. The second contiguous lower portion and the fourth contiguous lower portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. Additionally, either the first synchronization field is included in the first contiguous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the third contiguous lower portion, or the first synchronization field is included in the second contiguous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth contiguous lower portion.

[0092] According to an embodiment, the second consecutive lower part includes the first padding field, or the fourth consecutive lower part includes the second padding field, or both. According to an embodiment, the PPDU further includes one or more first training subfields that are directionally transmitted to the first STA and one or more second training subfields that are directionally transmitted to the second STA.

[0093] According to an embodiment, the first synchronization subfield includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, the first sequence being assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization subfield includes a second sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, the second sequence being assigned to the second STA, or both. According to an embodiment, the first synchronization subfield further includes another first sequence allocated temporally before the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate the implementation of the decoding delay of the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization subfield further includes another second sequence allocated temporally before the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate the implementation of the decoding delay of the second EDMG-Header-A, or both.

[0094] FIG. 9 is a diagram of an MU EDMG A-PPDU format having data fields according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram of another MU EDMG A-PPDU format having no data fields according to an embodiment. The PPDU format includes a first continuous portion including a first continuous lower portion including a first legacy short training field (L-STF) 910, 1010, a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF) 912, 1012, a first legacy header field (L-Header) 914, 1014, and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header A field (EDMG-Header-A) 916, 1016. The first continuous portion further includes a second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) 918, 1018 and an EDMG channel estimation field 1 (EDMG-CEF 1) 920, 1020. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the first continuous portion further includes a first data partial field 922. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the first continuous portion further includes a padding field 1022. The second continuous portion includes a third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF 924, 1024, a second L-CEF 926, 1026, a second L-Header 928, 1028, and a second EDMG-Header-A 930, 1030. The second continuous portion further includes a fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF 932, 1032 and an EDMG-CEF 2 934, 1034. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the second continuous portion further includes a second data partial field 936. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the second continuous portion further includes a padding field 1036.

[0095] In some embodiments, the PPDU further includes a first one or more training subfields 940, 942, 1038, 1040 transmitted directionally towards a first STA, and a second one or more training subfields 944, 1042 transmitted directionally towards a second STA. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the second continuous portion further includes a padding field 938 transmitted directionally towards the first STA.

[0096] Further, according to embodiments related to FIGS. 9 and 10, the L-STF 910, 924, 1010, 1024, L-CEF 912, 926, 1012, 1026, L-Header 914, 928, 1014, 1028, EDMGHeader-A 916, 930, 1016, 1030 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., pre-modulated by EDMG. The EDMG-STF 918, 932, 1018, 1032, EDMG-CEF 1 920, 1020, EDMG-CEF 2 934, 1034, and the TRN subfields 940, 942, 944, 946, 1038, 1040, 1042, 1044 are defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., modulated by EDMG. Referring to FIG. 9, the data fields 922, 936 and the padding field 938 are also defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., modulated by EDMG. Referring to FIG. 10, the padding fields 1022, 1036 are also defined and transmitted as specified in EDMG, i.e., modulated by EDMG.

[0097] According to an embodiment, EDMG-CEF i is one of the EDMG-CEFs specified in the EDMG and specifically assigned for STA i. For example, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, EDMG-CEF 1 is associated with STA1, and EDMG-CEF 2 is associated with STA2. It should be noted that EDMG-CEF i and EDMG-CEF j can be selected from the set of EDMG-CEFs specified in the EDMG, where their sequences can retain good autocorrelation characteristics and be orthogonal with respect to their mutual cross-correlation.

[0098] According to an embodiment, each EDMG-Header-A field for a specific STA includes an indication bit for indicating an MU EDMG A-PPDU. In some embodiments, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field defined in the EDMG-Header-A for a specific STA can indicate the length of the data field (in the case of FIG. 9) or the padding field (in the case of FIG. 10) for the same STA in the MU EDMG A-PPDU, taking into account the removal of the EDMG-CEF field. In some embodiments, the length field and the training length field can be defined within the L-Header, and the length field, together with the training length field, can be set to estimate the entire PPDU duration.

[0099] According to an embodiment, a potential advantage of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is to use EDMG-CEF i to replace the synchronization field associated with STA i. The reception process associated with the EDMG-CEF in the EDMG can be reused.

[0100] According to an embodiment, a method is provided that includes generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU). The PPDU includes a first contiguous portion and a second contiguous portion. The first contiguous portion includes a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first contiguous sub-portion. The first contiguous portion further includes a second contiguous sub-portion that includes a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF) and a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), where the first EDMG-CEF is unique to a first station (STA). The second contiguous portion includes a third contiguous sub-portion that includes a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A. The second contiguous portion further includes a fourth contiguous sub-portion that includes a second EDMG-STF and a second EDMG-CEF that is different from the first EDMG-CEF, where the second EDMG-CEF is unique to a second station (STA). The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, where the first contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second contiguous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA. The first contiguous sub-portion and the third contiguous sub-portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG. The second contiguous sub-portion and the fourth contiguous sub-portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes a padding field located after the second consecutive portion, and the padding field is transmitted directionally towards the first STA. According to embodiments, the second consecutive lower portion includes the first data portion, or the fourth consecutive lower portion includes the second data portion, or both. In some embodiments, the second consecutive lower portion includes the first padding field, or the fourth consecutive lower portion includes the second padding field, or both.

[0102] In some embodiments, the first EDMG-CEF includes a first orthogonal sequence selected from a set of EDMG-CEFs assigned to the first STA, or the second EDMG-CEF includes a second orthogonal sequence selected from the same set of EDMG-CEFs assigned to the second STA, or both. In some embodiments, the first EDMG-CEF, the second EDMG-CEF, or both are also used to facilitate channel estimation.

[0103] According to various embodiments, one or more setup operations are performed, for example, prior to the transmission of one of the PPDUs described above. The setup operation can involve discovering or communicating the MU EDMG A-PPDU capabilities of the devices. The setup operation can further involve assigning the content of the Sync or EDMG-CEF fields to the devices (STAs).

[0104] In some such embodiments, device capabilities such as MU EDMG A-PPDU capabilities are exchanged via EDMG capability elements carried in frames such as IEEE802.11 beacon frames, probe request frames, or probe response frames. The exchange can involve one-way, two-way, or multi-way exchange of information between two or more devices.

[0105] Thus, embodiments may relate to communicating between devices (e.g., an AP, an STA, or a combination thereof) to determine multi-user (MU), enhanced directionality multi-gigabit (EDMG), and aggregated physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (A-PPDU) capabilities; and generating a PPDU in accordance with the determined MU A-PPDU capabilities, as described elsewhere herein. The PPDU may be used for multi-static sensing.

[0106] Elsewhere herein, as described, for example, with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8, a PPDU may include one, two, or more synchronization fields (720, 734, 818, 832) that are unique to different STAs. Also, elsewhere herein, as described, for example, with respect to FIGS. 9 and 10, a PPDU may include one, two, or more EDMG-CEF fields (920, 932, 1020, 1032) that are unique to different STAs. These fields may be used for both existing synchronization or channel estimation purposes and additional identification purposes. The identification purposes may relate to identifying that a portion of the PPDU associated with the field is intended for reception by a particular STA. If the field includes a value that is unique to a given STA (via pre-assignment), a given STA (or another device having its information) may conclude that the associated portion of the PPDU is intended for reception by the given STA upon reading that value. In particular, the orthogonality property of the values may be used to facilitate such identification. Embodiments described herein may relate to the necessary pre-assignments for supporting such a function of identification via pre-communication and configuration.

[0107] Therefore, in an embodiment, during an association or sensing measurement setup phase before a sensing measurement phase in which an associated MU EDMG A-PPDU is transmitted, Sync i or EDMG-CEF i values are negotiated between an initiator and a responder STA i and assigned to the responder STA i.

[0108] More specifically, in some embodiments, the PPDU will include at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both. Such fields are specific to the destination STA to which the at least one SYNC field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both are sent directionally. The fields can be used by the receiving STA for identification purposes. In such embodiments, a setup operation can be performed when communicating between devices to exchange device capabilities or at a later time before transmitting the PPDU. In the setup operation, a value is determined for each associated SYNC.

[0109] According to an embodiment, the method further includes that during the communication between two or more devices or at a later time before generating the PPDU, values can be determined for their respective associated SYNC fields, EDMG-CEFs, or both. These values can be determined, for example, during an association or sensing measurement setup phase. When used in the PPDU, these determined values make the SYNC field or EDMG-CEF, or both, specific to the associated STA. Thus, devices such as a potential transmitter (e.g., an AP) and a potential receiver (e.g., a STA) of the PPDU can be preconfigured with one or more specific values that identify a particular STA, and these values can be used in the above-mentioned fields to identify that a portion of the PPDU is intended for a particular STA.

[0110] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to PPDUs such as multi-static sensing sounding PPDUs as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11. In particular, certain fields of such PPDUs are configured to indicate a certain length, as will be described later. Note that the PPDU in FIG. 4 excludes the data field, while the PPDU in FIG. 11 includes the data field. The data field can be excluded in various embodiments, for example, when the PPDU is used for multi-static sensing (sounding) and data is not required. The data field can be included, for example, when the PPDU is used for multi-static sensing or other purposes. The multi-static sensing PPDU without the reconstruction described here is described, for example, in the reference IEEE802.11-22 / 781r2, Changes in EDMG Multistatic PPDU.

[0111] According to such embodiments, the length of the data field (if present) of the PPDU and the length of the synchronization (SYNC) field may be indicated using the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field present in the EDMG-Header-A of the PPDU. The length of the synchronization pad (SYNC Pad) field may also be included in this indication.

[0112] In various such embodiments, the PSDU length field defined in the EDMG-Header-A defined in the IEEE802.11ay standard for a particular STA can indicate the total combined length of the data field, the synchronization field, and the synchronization pad field (in total). The actual PSDU length value of the PSDU data can be calculated from the value specified in the PSDU length field and should be non-negative.

[0113] Thus, referring to FIG. 11, when the PPDU includes the data field 1122, the PSDU field of the EDMG-Header-A 1116 can be set to specify the total length of the data field 1122, each of one or more SYNC fields 1124, 1126, 1128, and the SYNC pad field 1130.

[0114] Similarly, referring to FIG. 4, when the PPDU excludes (does not include) the data field, the PSDU field of the EDMG-Header-A 416 can be set to specify the total length obtained by adding the SYNC pad field 426 to each of one or more SYNC fields 420, 422, 424.

[0115] Note that in the reference IEEE 802.11-22 / 0464r6, "PSDU length" field defined in the EDMG-Header-A for a specific STA can indicate the length of the Sync+Sync Pad field considering the removal of the EDMG-CEF field. In EDMG, there is an EDMG-CEF followed by a data field. The PSDU length indicates the length of the field located after the EDMG-CEF and before the TRN field. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the EDMG-CEF is removed, and thus, in this embodiment, the length of the field (Sync+Sync Pad) is equal to the length EDMG-CEF + PSDU Length.

[0116] In some further embodiments, the length field and the training length field defined in any of the L-Headers (e.g., 414 or 1114) can be configured to indicate the total PPDU duration.

[0117] As explained elsewhere, the PPDU can be transmitted such that at least two different portions are directed towards at least two different respective STAs.

[0118] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 1200 that can perform any or all of the operations of the above-described methods and features explicitly or implicitly described herein according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, a computer with network functions may be configured as the electronic device 1200. In some embodiments, the electronic device 1200 can be a user equipment (UE), an AP, an STA, etc. as understood by those skilled in the art. The AP (or STA) can operate, for example, to support multi-static sensing and transmit or receive PPDUs as described herein.

[0119] As shown, the electronic device 1200 may include a processor 1210 such as a central processing unit (CPU), or a specialized processor such as a graphics processing unit (GPU) or other such processor unit, a memory 1220, a non-transitory mass storage device 1230, an input / output interface 1240, a network interface 1250, and a transceiver 1260, all of which may be communicatively coupled via a bidirectional bus 1270. According to certain embodiments, any or all of the illustrated elements, or only a subset of those elements, may be utilized. Further, the electronic device 1200 may include multiple instances of certain elements, such as multiple processors, memories, or transceivers. Also, the elements of the hardware device may be directly coupled to other elements without a bidirectional bus. In addition to or instead of the processor and memory, other electronic devices such as integrated circuits may be used to perform the required logical operations.

[0120] Memory 1220 may include any type of non - transient memory such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read - only memory (ROM), any combination thereof, etc. Mass storage element 1230 may include any type of non - transient storage device such as a solid - state drive, hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, USB drive, or any computer program product configured to store data and machine - executable program code. According to certain embodiments, memory 1220 or mass storage device 1230 may record statements and instructions executable by processor 1210 to perform any of the method operations described above.

[0121] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented using electronic hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is implemented by one or more computer processors executing program instructions stored in a memory. In some embodiments, the present disclosure is implemented partially or fully in hardware using, for example, one or more field - programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application - specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to execute processing operations quickly.

[0122] Although individual embodiments of the present technology are described herein for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present technology. In particular, it is within the scope of the present technology to provide a computer program product or program element, or a program storage or memory device such as a magnetic or optical wire, tape, or disk, for storing machine - readable signals, for controlling the operation of a computer according to the methods of the present technology, and / or for constructing some or all of its components according to the systems of the present technology.

[0123] The operations associated with the methods described herein can be implemented as coded instructions within a computer program product. In other words, a computer program product is a computer-readable medium having software code recorded thereon for performing a method when the computer program product is loaded into memory and executed on a microprocessor of a wireless communication device.

[0124] Furthermore, each operation of the method can be executed on any computing device, such as a personal computer, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., in accordance with one or more program elements, modules, or objects generated from any programming language, such as C++ or Java (registered trademark), or a portion of one or more program elements, modules, or objects. Additionally, each operation, or a file or object implementing each such operation, etc., may be executed by dedicated hardware or a circuit module designed for that purpose.

[0125] Through the description of the foregoing embodiments, the present disclosure can be implemented by using only hardware or by using software and the necessary general-purpose hardware platform. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product. The software product may be stored in a non-volatile or non-transitory storage medium, which may be a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a USB flash drive, or a removable hard disk. The software product includes instructions that enable a computer device (personal computer, server, or network device) to execute the method provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, such execution may correspond to the simulation of logical operations as described herein. The software product may additionally or alternatively include instructions that enable a computer device to perform operations for configuring or programming a digital logic device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0126] The present invention has been described with reference to its particular features and embodiments, but it is obvious that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the present invention. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be regarded as merely illustrative of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, and it is contemplated to cover any modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A step of generating a Physical Layer (PHY) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) by a device, wherein the PPDU comprises: A first continuous portion, which comprises: A first continuous lower portion including a first Legacy Short Training Field (L-STF), a first Legacy Channel Estimation Field (L-CEF), a first Legacy Header (L-Header), and a first Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) Header-A (EDMG-Header-A); A second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG Short Training Field (EDMG-STF), a first EDMG Channel Estimation Field (EDMG-CEF), and optionally a first data portion; A first synchronization field unique to a first Station (STA); The first continuous portion; and A second continuous portion, which comprises: A third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A; A fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF, a second EDMG-CEF, and optionally a second data portion; A second synchronization field unique to a second Station (STA); The second continuous portion comprising, and A step of transmitting the PPDU by the device, wherein the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA, and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA, The first continuous lower portion and the third continuous lower portion are modulated using a modulation format before legacy EDMG, The second continuous lower portion and the fourth continuous lower portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format, including the step of Either the first synchronization field is included in the first continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the third continuous lower portion, or The first synchronization field is included in the second continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth continuous lower portion, A method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further comprises a padding field located after the second continuous portion, and the padding field is optionally transmitted directionally towards the first STA.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the PPDU further comprises: a first one or more training subfields transmitted directionally towards the first STA, and a second one or more training subfields transmitted directionally towards the second STA.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first synchronization subfield includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, the first sequence being assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization subfield includes a second sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, the second sequence being different from the first sequence and being assigned to the second STA, or both.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first synchronization subfield further includes another first sequence assigned earlier in time than the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization subfield further includes another second sequence assigned earlier in time than the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the second EDMG-Header-A.

6. A step of generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU comprising: A first continuous portion, the first continuous portion comprising: A first continuous lower portion including a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A); A second continuous lower portion including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF); A first continuous portion including a first synchronization field specific to a first station (STA); And a first continuous portion; A second continuous portion, the second continuous portion comprising: A third continuous lower portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A; A fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF; A second continuous portion including a second synchronization field specific to a second station (STA); And a second continuous portion; And including; and The step of transmitting the PPDU by the device, wherein the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA, wherein the first continuous lower portion and the third continuous lower portion are modulated using a legacy pre-EDMG modulation format, wherein the second continuous lower portion and the fourth continuous lower portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format, wherein the first synchronization field is included in the first continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the third continuous lower portion, or either the first synchronization field is included in the second continuous lower portion and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth continuous lower portion; wherein the second continuous lower portion includes a first padding field, or the fourth continuous lower portion includes a second padding field, or both, Method. **Claim 7** The method according to claim 6, wherein the PPDU further includes a first one or more training sub-fields transmitted directionally towards the first STA and a second one or more training sub-fields transmitted directionally towards the second STA. **Claim 8** The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first synchronization sub-field includes a first sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences, the first sequence being assigned to the first STA, or the second synchronization sub-field includes a second orthogonal sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences, the second sequence being different from the first sequence and being assigned to the second STA, or both. **Claim 9** The method according to claim 8, wherein the first synchronization sub-field further includes another first sequence assigned temporally before the first orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the first EDMG-Header-A, or the second synchronization sub-field further includes another second sequence assigned temporally before the second orthogonal sequence to facilitate implementation of a delay in decoding the second EDMG-Header-A, or both. **Claim 10** A step of generating a Physical Layer (PHY) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) by a device, wherein the PPDU comprises: A first continuous portion, which first continuous portion comprises: A first continuous sub-portion including a first Legacy Short Training Field (L-STF), a first Legacy Channel Estimation Field (L-CEF), a first Legacy Header (L-Header), and a first Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) Header-A (EDMG-Header-A); A second continuous sub-portion including a first EDMG Short Training Field (EDMG-STF) and a first EDMG Channel Estimation Field (EDMG-CEF) that is specific to a first Station (STA), the second continuous sub-portion; The first continuous portion; A second continuous portion, which second continuous portion comprises: A third continuous sub-portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A; A fourth continuous sub-portion including a second EDMG-STF and a second EDMG-CEF different from the first EDMG-CEF that is specific to a second Station (STA), the fourth continuous sub-portion; The second continuous portion; Including the step; and A step of transmitting the PPDU by the device, wherein the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA, and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA, The first continuous sub-portion and the third continuous sub-portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG, The second continuous sub-portion and the fourth continuous sub-portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format, including the step. A method.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the PPDU is modulated using the EDMG format and further includes a padding field located after the second continuous portion, and the padding field is optionally transmitted directionally towards the first STA.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second continuous sub-portion includes a first data portion, or the fourth continuous sub-portion includes a second data portion, or both.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second consecutive lower part includes a first padding field, or the fourth consecutive lower part includes a second padding field, or both.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first EDMG-CEF includes a first orthogonal sequence selected from a set of orthogonal sequences assigned to the first STA, or the second EDMG-CEF includes a second orthogonal sequence selected from the set of orthogonal sequences assigned to the second STA, or both.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the first EDMG-CEF, the second EDMG-CEF, or both are also used to facilitate channel estimation.

16. A step of generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU includes a plurality of legacy short training fields (L-STF); A step of transmitting, by the device, the PPDU, wherein each of the plurality of L-STF is directionally transmitted towards a different respective station (STA), Each of the plurality of L-STF is modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG). Method.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the PPDU further includes at least one part modulated using an EDMG modulation format.

18. A step of communicating between two or more devices to determine multi-user (MU), enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG), and aggregated physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (A-PPDU) capabilities; Generating a PPDU according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19 according to the determined MU A-PPDU capabilities. Method.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the two or more devices include one or more IEEE 802.11 access points (APs), two or more IEEE 802.11 stations (STAs), or a combination thereof.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein said communicating comprises exchanging one or more EDMG capability elements carried in one or more frames.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the one or more frames comprise one or more of a beacon frame, a probe request frame, and a probe response frame.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the generated PPDU is used for multi-static sensing.

23. The generated PPDU comprises at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both, which are specific to the destination STA to which the at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both are directionally transmitted. The method further comprises determining, during said communication between said two or more devices or at a subsequent time point prior to said generation of the PPDU, a value for each of the at least one synchronization field, the at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both, which makes the at least one synchronization field, at least one EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), or both specific to the STA. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein one or more of the EDMG-CEFs are also used to facilitate channel estimation.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein determining said value is performed during an association or sensing measurement setup phase prior to generating the PPDU for use in multi-static sensing.

26. Generating, by a device, a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU is formatted for use in multi-static sensing, and the PPDU comprises: Two or more synchronization (SYNC) fields; and A synchronization pad (SYNC Pad) field. When the PPDU includes a data field, in an Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) Header-A, the PHY Service Data Unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify the total length of the data field, each of the one or more SYNC fields, and the SYNC Pad field. When the PPDU excludes the data field, in the Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) Header-A, the PHY Service Data Unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify the total length obtained by adding the SYNC Pad field to each of the two or more SYNC fields. Stages; Transmitting the PPDU by the device such that at least two different parts of the PPDU are directionally transmitted towards respective different Stations (STAs). Method.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising calculating the length of the PSDU data by a recipient of the PPDU based on the content of the PSDU length field in the EDMG-Header-A.

28. The PPDU further includes a length field and a training length field in a legacy header (L-Header) of the PPDU. The length field is set to specify the total length of all fields of the PPDU, including the EDMG-Header-A and the SYNC Pad field, from the EDMG-Header-A to the SYNC Pad field. The length field, together with the training length field, is set to estimate the entire duration of the PPDU. The method according to claim 26 or 27.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising calculating the length of the PSDU data by a recipient of the PPDU based on the content of the PSDU length field in the EDMG-Header-A.

30. The PPDU is an Aggregated Multi-User PPDU (A-PPDU). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

31. The PPDU is used for multi-static sensing. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

32. A computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

33. A computer program including instructions that, when the program is executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 29.

34. At least one processor; At least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions An apparatus having, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: Generating a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU includes: A first continuous portion, wherein the first continuous portion includes: A first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A) in a first continuous lower portion; A first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF), a first EDMG channel estimation field (EDMG-CEF), and a second continuous lower portion optionally including a first data portion; Including a first synchronization field specific to a first station (STA), The first continuous portion; and A second continuous portion, wherein the second continuous portion includes: A second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a third continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-Header-A; A fourth continuous lower portion including a second EDMG-STF, a second EDMG-CEF, and a second data portion; Including a second synchronization field specific to a second station (STA), The second continuous portion; and Including; and Transmitting the PPDU, wherein the first continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second continuous portion is transmitted directionally towards the second STA, The first continuous lower portion and the third continuous lower portion are modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy EDMG, The second consecutive lower part and the fourth consecutive lower part cause steps to be executed that are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. The first synchronization field is included in the first consecutive lower part, and the second synchronization field is included in the third consecutive lower part, or either the first synchronization field is included in the second consecutive lower part and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth consecutive lower part. Device.

35. At least one processor; At least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions A device having, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to: Generate a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), wherein the PPDU: A first consecutive part, wherein the first consecutive part: A first consecutive lower part including a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A (EDMG-Header-A); A second consecutive lower part including a first EDMG short training field (EDMG-STF); Including a first synchronization field unique to the first station (STA) The first consecutive part; A second consecutive part, wherein the second consecutive part: A third consecutive lower part including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A; A fourth consecutive lower part including a second EDMG-STF; Including a second synchronization field unique to the second station (STA) The second consecutive part Including steps; and Transmit the PPDU, wherein the first consecutive part is transmitted directionally towards the first STA and the second consecutive part is transmitted directionally towards the second STA, The first consecutive lower part and the third consecutive lower part are modulated using a legacy EDMG-previous modulation format, The second consecutive lower part and the fourth consecutive lower part cause steps to be executed that are modulated using an EDMG modulation format, The first synchronization field is included in the first consecutive lower part, and the second synchronization field is included in the third consecutive lower part, or the first synchronization field is included in the second consecutive sub-portion and the second synchronization field is included in the fourth consecutive sub-portion; the second contiguous sub-portion includes a first padding field, or the fourth contiguous sub-portion includes a second padding field, or both; Device.

36. at least one processor; at least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions; wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to: generating a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU comprising: A first continuous portion, the first continuous portion comprising: a first contiguous sub-portion including a first legacy short training field (L-STF), a first legacy channel estimation field (L-CEF), a first legacy header (L-Header), and a first Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) Header-A (EDMG-Header-A); a second contiguous sub-portion including a first EDMG Short Training Field (EDMG-STF) and a first EDMG Channel Estimation Field (EDMG-CEF), the first EDMG-CEF being specific to a first station (STA); a first continuous portion; A second continuous portion, the second continuous portion comprising: a third contiguous sub-portion including a second L-STF, a second L-CEF, a second L-Header, and a second EDMG-Header-A; a fourth contiguous sub-portion including a second EDMG-STF and a second EDMG-CEF different from the first EDMG-CEF, the second EDMG-CEF being specific to a second station (STA); the second continuous part and and transmitting the PPDU, wherein the first consecutive portion is transmitted directionally toward the first STA and the second consecutive portion is transmitted directionally toward the second STA; the first contiguous sub-portion and the third contiguous sub-portion are modulated using a legacy pre-EDMG modulation format; the second successive sub-portion and the fourth successive sub-portion are modulated using an EDMG modulation format. Device.

37. at least one processor; at least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: generate a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU including a plurality of legacy short training fields (L-STFs); transmit the PPDU, wherein each of the plurality of L-STFs is transmitted directionally to a respective different station (STA); each of the plurality of L-STFs being modulated using a modulation format prior to legacy enhanced directionality multi-gigabit (EDMG); an apparatus.

38. at least one processor; at least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: communicate between two or more devices to determine multi-user (MU), enhanced directionality multi-gigabit (EDMG), and aggregated physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (A-PPDU) capabilities; and generate a PPDU according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 19 according to the determined MU A-PPDU capabilities. an apparatus.

39. at least one processor; at least one machine-readable medium storing executable instructions wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: generate a physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU), the PPDU being formatted for use in multi-static sensing, the PPDU including: one or more synchronization (SYNC) fields; and a synchronization pad (SYNC Pad) field, wherein when the PPDU includes a data field, in an enhanced directionality multi-gigabit (EDMG) header-A, a PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify a total length of the data field, each of the one or more SYNC fields, and the SYNC Pad field. When the PPDU excludes the data field, in the Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) header-A, the PHY layer service data unit (PSDU) length field is set to specify the total length obtained by adding the SYNC Pad field to each of the one or more SYNC fields. Step; Causing the PPDU to be transmitted such that at least two different parts of the PPDU are directionally transmitted towards respective different stations (STAs). Device.

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