Simultaneous transmission on multiple frequency segments

Abstract

To enable simultaneous use of different channel segments more frequently as compared to a communication system that always requires that the different channel segments are idle at a same time.SOLUTION: In a wireless communication network, a communication device determines whether simultaneous transmissions in a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment are to be synchronized in time (404). In response to determining that simultaneous transmissions are to be synchronized in time, the communication device transmits a first packet in the first frequency segment beginning at a first time, and transmits a second packet in the second frequency segment beginning at the first time (408). In response to determining that simultaneous transmissions are to be unsynchronized in time, the communication device transmits a third packet in the first frequency segment beginning at a second time, and transmits a fourth packet in the second frequency segment beginning at a third time that is different than the second time (412).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 832,757, filed April 11, 2019, entitled “Extra High Throughput (EHT) Aggregated PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU),” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to transmitting and receiving data over multiple communication channels. [Background technology]

[0003] Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved rapidly over the past two decades with the development of WLAN standards such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards that have increased single-user peak data rates. One way to increase data rates is to increase the frequency bandwidth of the communications channel used by the WLAN. For example, the IEEE 802.11n standard allows the aggregation of two 20 MHz subchannels to form a 40 MHz aggregate communications channel, whereas the more recent IEEE 802.11ax standard allows the aggregation of up to eight 20 MHz subchannels to form an aggregate communications channel of up to 160 MHz. Work is currently beginning on a new iteration of the IEEE 802.11 standard, called the IEEE 802.11be standard or Very High Throughput (EHT) WLAN. The IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of up to 16 20 MHz subchannels (or possibly more) to form an aggregated communication channel of up to 320 MHz (or possibly even wider). Additionally, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of 20 MHz subchannels in different frequency segments (e.g., separated by a frequency gap) to form a single aggregated channel. Furthermore, the IEEE 802.11be standard may allow aggregation of 20 MHz subchannels in different radio frequency (RF) bands to form a single aggregated channel.

[0004] The current draft of the IEEE 802.11ax standard (referred to herein for simplicity as the "IEEE 802.11ax standard") defines an "80+80" transmission mode in which a communication device simultaneously transmits in two 80 MHz channel segments within a single radio frequency (RF) band. The two 80 MHz channel segments may be frequency separated within the single RF band. The transmissions in the two 80 MHz channel segments are synchronized; that is, the transmissions begin at the same start time and end at the same end time. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one embodiment, a method for simultaneously transmitting on multiple frequency segments comprises: determining, in a communication device, whether the simultaneous transmissions on a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; in response to the communication device determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time, transmitting a first packet on the first frequency segment starting at a first time and transmitting a second packet on the second frequency segment starting at the first time; and in response to the communication device determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time, transmitting a third packet on the first frequency segment starting at a second time and transmitting a fourth packet on the second frequency segment starting at a third time different from the second time.

[0006] In another embodiment, a communications device comprises a wireless network interface device having one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) radios, including at least a first RF radio and a second RF radio, the plurality of RF radios being at least partially implemented on the one or more IC devices. The one or more IC devices are configured to determine whether simultaneous transmissions in a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment should be synchronized, and in response to the communications device determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized, control the first RF radio to transmit a first packet in the first frequency segment starting at a first time and control the second RF radio to transmit a second packet in the second frequency segment starting at the first time. The one or more IC devices are further configured, in response to the communications device determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous, to control the first RF radio to transmit a third packet in the first frequency segment starting at a second time and to control the second RF radio to transmit a fourth packet in the second frequency segment starting at a third time, different from the second time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless local area network (WLAN) in which respective RF signals are transmitted simultaneously on respective frequency segments.

[0008] [Figure 2A] 1 is a diagram of an exemplary synchronous transmission on different channel segments according to one embodiment.

[0009] [Figure 2B] 1 is a diagram of an exemplary asynchronous transmission on different channel segments according to one embodiment.

[0010] [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary synchronous downlink multi-user (MU) orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission on different channel segments according to one embodiment.

[0011] [Figure 3B] 1 is a diagram of an exemplary asynchronous MU OFDMA transmission on different channel segments according to one embodiment.

[0012] [Figure 4] 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for transmitting over multiple frequency segments in a wireless communication network, according to one embodiment.

[0013] [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary network interface device configured for multi-channel segment operation according to one embodiment.

[0014] [Figure 6A] 4A-4D are diagrams of exemplary packets transmitted on respective frequency segments according to one embodiment.

[0015] [Figure 6B] 6B is a diagram of an example non-legacy preamble included in the example packet of FIG. 6A according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Next generation wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., the IEEE 802.11be standard, sometimes referred to as the Extremely High Throughput (EHT) WLAN standard) may allow for simultaneous transmissions on different channel segments. The different channel segments may be in a single radio frequency (RF) band or in different RF bands. The different channel segments may have the same bandwidth or different bandwidths.

[0017] The IEEE 802.11ax standard allows for synchronous transmission (i.e., the transmissions begin at the same start time and end at the same end time) on two 80 MHz channel segments (referred to as "80+80" transmission) and requires that the two 80 MHz channel segments be idle at the same time in order for the synchronous transmission to continue. Finding a time when both 80 MHz channel segments are idle, however, is often difficult in many WiFi deployments, thus limiting the usefulness of the 80+80 transmission mode.

[0018] In some embodiments described below, a communications device is configured to transmit synchronously on different channel segments in some scenarios (e.g., transmissions begin at the same start time) and to transmit asynchronously on different channel segments in other scenarios (e.g., transmissions do not have to begin at the same start time). In at least some embodiments, transmitting asynchronously on different channel segments does not require the different channel segments to be idle at the same time, and thus, in at least some embodiments and / or situations, allows for more frequent simultaneous use of different channel segments compared to communications systems that always require transmissions on different channel segments to be synchronous (e.g., transmissions begin at the same start time) and idle at the same time.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless local area network (WLAN) 110 according to one embodiment. The WLAN 110 includes an access point (AP) 114 with a host processor 118 coupled to a network interface device 122. The network interface device 122 includes one or more media access control (MAC) processors 126 (which may be referred to herein as “MAC processors 126” for brevity) and one or more physical layer (PHY) processors 130 (which may be referred to herein as “PHY processors 130” for brevity). The PHY processors 130 include multiple transceivers 134, which are coupled to multiple antennas 138. Although three transceivers 134 and three antennas 138 are shown in FIG. 1, the AP 114 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 134 and antennas 138 in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the AP 114 includes a greater number of antennas 138 than the transceivers 134, and antenna switching techniques are utilized.

[0020] The network interface device 122 is implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs) configured to operate as described below. For example, the MAC processor 126 may be implemented at least partially on a first IC and the PHY processor 130 may be implemented at least partially on a second IC. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130 may be implemented on a single IC. For example, the network interface device 122 may be implemented using a system on a chip (SoC), where the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 126 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 130.

[0021] In one embodiment, the host processor 118 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, the host processor 118 may be implemented, at least in part, on a first IC and the network device 122 may be implemented, at least in part, on a second IC. As another example, the host processor 118 and at least a portion of the network interface device 122 may be implemented on a single IC.

[0022] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 126 and / or the PHY processor 130 of the AP 114 are configured to generate data units conforming to a WLAN communication protocol, such as a communication protocol conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or another suitable wireless communication protocol, and process received data units conforming to a WLAN communication protocol, such as a communication protocol conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standard or another suitable wireless communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 126 may be configured to implement MAC layer functions including MAC layer functions of the WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 130 may be configured to implement PHY functions including PHY functions of the WLAN communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 126 may be configured to generate MAC layer data units such as MAC service data units (MSDUs), MAC protocol data units (MPDUs), aggregated MPDUs (A-MPDUs), etc., and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 130. The MPDUs and A-MPDUs exchanged between the MAC processor 126 and the PHY processor 130 may be referred to as Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) (or simply "PHY") Service Data Units (PSDUs).

[0023] PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive MAC layer data units (or PSDUs) from MAC processor 126 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units (or PSDUs) to generate PHY data units, such as PLCP (or “PHY”) Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) for transmission via antenna 138. Similarly, PHY processor 130 may be configured to receive PHY data units received via antenna 138 and extract the MAC layer data units encapsulated within the PHY data units. PHY processor 130 may provide the extracted MAC layer data units to MAC processor 126, which processes the MAC layer data units.

[0024] A PHY data unit may be referred to herein as a "packet," and a MAC layer data unit may be referred to herein as a "frame."

[0025] In one embodiment, in connection with generating one or more radio frequency (RF) signals for transmission, PHY processor 130 is configured to process (which may include modulating, filtering, etc.) data corresponding to the PPDU to generate one or more digital baseband signals and convert the digital baseband signals to one or more analog baseband signals. Additionally, PHY processor 130 is configured to upconvert the one or more analog baseband signals to one or more RF signals for transmission via one or more antennas 138.

[0026] In connection with receiving the one or more RF signals, the PHY processor 130 is configured to downconvert the one or more RF signals to one or more analog baseband signals and convert the one or more analog baseband signals to one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 130 is further configured to process (which may include demodulating, filtering, etc.) the one or more digital baseband signals to generate a PPDU.

[0027] The PHY processor 130 may include an amplifier (e.g., a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier, etc.), a radio frequency (RF) downconverter, an RF upconverter, multiple filters, one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs), one or more discrete Fourier transform (DFT) calculators (e.g., a fast Fourier transform (FFT) calculator), one or more inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) calculators (e.g., an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) calculator), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, etc.

[0028] The PHY processor 130 is configured to generate one or more RF signals that are provided to one or more antennas 138. The PHY processor 130 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 138.

[0029] In some embodiments, MAC processor 126 is configured to control PHY processor 130 to generate one or more RF signals, for example, by providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to PHY processor 130 and optionally providing one or more control signals to PHY processor 130. In one embodiment, MAC processor 126 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a RAM, read ROM, flash memory, etc. In another embodiment, MAC processor 126 includes a hardware state machine.

[0030] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 126 includes or implements a multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 configured to determine when transmissions on different channel segments are transmitted synchronously (e.g., the transmissions begin at the same start time) and when transmissions on different channel segments can be transmitted asynchronously (e.g., the transmissions do not have to begin at the same start time). In some embodiments, when transmissions on different channel segments are transmitted synchronously, the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 prompts the PHY processor 130 to begin transmissions on the different channel segments simultaneously. In some embodiments, when transmissions on different channel segments are transmitted asynchronously, the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 prompts the PHY processor 130 to begin transmissions on the different channel segments at different times.

[0031] In one embodiment, the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 is implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory that cause the processor to perform operations described in more detail below. In another embodiment, the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 additionally or alternatively comprises hardware circuitry configured to perform operations described in more detail below. In some embodiments, the hardware circuitry comprises one or more hardware state machines configured to perform operations described in more detail below.

[0032] The WLAN 110 includes multiple client stations 154. Although three client stations 154 are shown in FIG. 1, in various embodiments, the WLAN 110 includes other suitable numbers of client stations 154 (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, etc.). The client station 154-1 includes a host processor 158 coupled to a network interface device 162. The network interface device 162 includes one or more MAC processors 166 (which may be referred to herein for brevity as “MAC processor 166”) and one or more PHY processors 170 (which may be referred to herein for brevity as “PHY processor 170”). The PHY processor 170 includes multiple transceivers 174, which are coupled to multiple antennas 178. Although three transceivers 174 and three antennas 178 are shown in FIG. 1, in other embodiments, the client station 154-1 includes other suitable numbers of transceivers 174 and antennas 178 (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.). In some embodiments, the client station 154-1 includes a greater number of antennas 178 than the transceiver 174 and antenna switching techniques are utilized.

[0033] The network interface device 162 is implemented using one or more ICs configured to operate as described below. For example, the MAC processor 166 may be implemented on at least a first IC and the PHY processor 170 may be implemented on at least a second IC. As another example, at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170 may be implemented on a single IC. For example, the network interface device 162 may be implemented using a SoC, where the SoC includes at least a portion of the MAC processor 166 and at least a portion of the PHY processor 170.

[0034] In one embodiment, host processor 158 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, host processor 158 may be implemented, at least in part, on a first IC and network device 162 may be implemented, at least in part, on a second IC. As another example, host processor 158 and at least a portion of network interface device 162 may be implemented on a single IC.

[0035] In various embodiments, the MAC processor 166 and the PHY processor 170 of the client device 154-1 are configured to generate data units conforming to a WLAN communication protocol or another suitable communication protocol and to process received data units conforming to a WLAN communication protocol or another suitable communication protocol. For example, the MAC processor 166 may be configured to implement MAC layer functions including MAC layer functions of a WLAN communication protocol, and the PHY processor 170 may be configured to implement PHY functions including PHY functions of a WLAN communication protocol. The MAC processor 166 may be configured to generate MAC layer data units, such as MSDUs, MPDUs, and the like, and provide the MAC layer data units to the PHY processor 170. The PHY processor 170 may be configured to receive the MAC layer data units from the MAC processor 166 and encapsulate the MAC layer data units to generate PHY data units, such as PPDUs, for transmission via the antenna 178. Similarly, the PHY processor 170 may be configured to receive PHY data units received via the antenna 178 and extract the MAC layer data units encapsulated within the PHY data units. The PHY processor 170 may provide the extracted MAC layer data units to the MAC processor 166, which processes the MAC layer data units.

[0036] In one embodiment, the PHY processor 170 is configured to downconvert one or more RF signals received via one or more antennas 178 to one or more baseband analog signals and convert the analog baseband signals to one or more digital baseband signals. The PHY processor 170 is further configured to process the one or more digital baseband signals to demodulate the one or more digital baseband signals and generate a PPDU. The PHY processor 170 includes an amplifier (e.g., an LNA, a power amplifier, etc.), an RF downconverter, an RF upconverter, a number of filters, one or more ADCs, one or more DACs, one or more DFT calculators (e.g., an FFT calculator), one or more IDFT calculators (e.g., an IFFT calculator), one or more modulators, one or more demodulators, etc.

[0037] The PHY processor 170 is configured to generate one or more RF signals that are provided to one or more antennas 178. The PHY processor 170 is also configured to receive one or more RF signals from the one or more antennas 178.

[0038] In some embodiments, MAC processor 166 is configured to control PHY processor 170 to generate one or more RF signals, for example, by providing one or more MAC layer data units (e.g., MPDUs) to PHY processor 170 and optionally providing one or more control signals to PHY processor 170. In one embodiment, MAC processor 166 includes a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions stored in a memory device (not shown), such as a RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc. In one embodiment, MAC processor 166 includes a hardware state machine.

[0039] In some embodiments, the MAC processor 166 includes a multi-channel segment transmission controller (not shown) that is the same as or similar to the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 of the AP 114. For example, in some embodiments, the client station 154-1 is configured to transmit synchronously (e.g., the transmissions begin at the same start time) on different channel segments in some scenarios and to transmit asynchronously (e.g., the transmissions do not have to begin at the same start time) on different channel segments in other scenarios.

[0040] In one embodiment, each of the client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or a similar structure as the client station 154-1. Each of the client stations 154-2 and 154-3 has the same or a different number of transceivers and antennas. For example, in one embodiment, the client station 154-2 and / or the client station 154-3 each have only two transceivers and two antennas (not shown).

[0041] In one embodiment, multiple different frequency bands in the RF spectrum are used for signal transmission in the WLAN 110. In one embodiment, different communication devices (i.e., the AP 114 and the client stations 154) may be configured to operate in different frequency bands. In one embodiment, at least some communication devices in the WLAN 110 (e.g., the AP 114 and the client stations 154) may be configured to operate simultaneously on multiple different frequency bands. Exemplary frequency bands include a first frequency band corresponding to a frequency range of approximately 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz (the "2 GHz band") and a second frequency band corresponding to a frequency range of approximately 5 GHz to 5.9 GHz (the "5 GHz band") of the RF spectrum. In one embodiment, one or more communication devices in the WLAN may also be configured to operate in a third frequency band in the range of 6 GHz to 7 GHz (the "6 GHz band"). As noted above, each of the frequency bands comprises multiple component channels that may be combined within the respective frequency band to generate a channel of a wider bandwidth. In an embodiment supporting multi-channel segment operation across the first and second channel segments, the first and second channel segments may be in separate frequency bands or may be in the same frequency band. In some embodiments, at least one communication device (e.g., at least AP 114) in WLAN 110 is configured to operate simultaneously in any two of the 2 GHz, 5 GHz, and 7 GHz bands. In some embodiments, at least one communication device (e.g., at least AP 114) in WLAN 110 is configured to operate simultaneously in all three of the 2 GHz, 5 GHz, and 7 GHz bands.

[0042] 2A is a diagram of an exemplary synchronous transmission 200 on different channel segments, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the transmission 200 is generated by the network interface device 122 (FIG. 1) and transmitted to one or more client stations 154 (e.g., client station 154-1). In another embodiment, the transmission 200 is generated by the network interface device 162 (FIG. 1) and transmitted to the AP 114.

[0043] In one embodiment, transmission 200 corresponds to a single-user (SU) transmission generated and transmitted to a single communication device. In another embodiment, transmission 200 corresponds to a multi-user (MU) transmission including data for multiple communication devices (e.g., multiple ones of client stations 154). For example, in one embodiment, MU transmission 200 is an OFDMA transmission. In another embodiment, MU transmission 200 is a MU-MIMO transmission.

[0044] The transmission 200 comprises a first RF signal 204 in a first channel segment 208 and a second RF signal 212 in a second channel segment 216 . In one embodiment, the first RF signal 204 corresponds to a first PPDU and the second RF signal 212 corresponds to a second PPDU. The first signal comprises a PHY preamble 220 and a PHY data portion 224. The second signal 212 is comprised of a PHY preamble 228, a data portion 232, and optional padding 236. The transmission 200 is synchronized such that the transmission of the first signal 204 and the second signal 212 begins at the same time t1. In some embodiments, the first signal 204 and the second signal 212 also end at the same time t2.

[0045] In some embodiments, PHY preamble 220 and PHY preamble 228 do not have to have the same duration and / or end at the same time, while in other embodiments, PHY preamble 220 and PHY preamble 228 do have to have the same duration and / or end at the same time.

[0046] In one embodiment where second RF signal 212 otherwise has a shorter duration than first RF signal 204, a packet extension field 236 is appended to PHY data portion 232 such that transmission of signal 212 ends at t2. In one embodiment, packet extension field 236 includes any data that is ignored by the receiver.

[0047] In another embodiment in which the second RF signal 212 has a shorter duration than the first RF signal 204, the time length information in a MAC header (not shown) in the PHY data portion 232 is set to indicate that the transmission of the signal 212 ends at t2, which causes another communication device to set a network allocation vector (NAV) timer of the other communication device to a value indicating that the transmission of the signal 212 ends at t2.

[0048] In another embodiment in which second RF signal 212 otherwise has a shorter duration than first RF signal 204, padding information is included within PHY data portion 232 such that transmission of signal 212 ends at t2.

[0049] Exemplary formats of PHY preamble 220 and PHY preamble 228 are described in more detail below. In one embodiment, at least a portion of PHY preamble 220 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 228 include different information. In another embodiment, at least a portion of PHY preamble 220 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 228 have the same structure and / or include the same information. In some embodiments, at least a portion of PHY preamble 220 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 228 are identical.

[0050] In one embodiment in which the first channel segment 208 comprises multiple component channels (e.g., 20 MHz sub-channels), at least a portion (e.g., legacy portion) of the PHY preamble 220 is generated by generating a field corresponding to one component channel and replicating the field across one or more other component channels corresponding to the first channel segment 208. In one embodiment in which the second channel segment 216 comprises multiple component channels (e.g., 20 MHz sub-channels), at least a portion (e.g., legacy portion) of the PHY preamble 228 is generated by generating a field corresponding to one component channel and replicating the field across one or more other component channels corresponding to the second channel segment 216.

[0051] In various embodiments, the first channel segment 208 and the second channel segment 216 are in different RF bands or are co-located in the same RF band. In one embodiment, the RF bands correspond to the 2 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, as described above. The first channel segment 208 and the second channel segment 216 may each be composed of one or more component channels. In one embodiment, the frequency bandwidth of the first channel segment 208 (i.e., the frequency bandwidth of the first signal 204) is different from the frequency bandwidth of the second channel segment 216 (i.e., the frequency bandwidth of the second signal 212). In another embodiment, the frequency bandwidth of the first channel segment 208 is the same as the frequency bandwidth of the second channel segment 216.

[0052] In one embodiment, the first channel segment 208 and the second channel segment 216 are frequency separated. For example, a frequency gap exists between the first channel segment 208 and the second channel segment 216. In various embodiments, the gap is at least 500 kHz, at least 1 MHz, at least 5 MHz, at least 20 MHz, etc.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first signal 204 is transmitted over a first number of spatial or time-space streams (hereinafter referred to as "spatial streams" for brevity) and the second signal 212 is transmitted over a second number of spatial streams that is different from the first number of spatial streams. In one such embodiment, the PHY preamble 220 includes a first number of LTFs corresponding to the first number of spatial streams and the PHY preamble 228 includes a second number of LTFs (different from the first number of LTFs) corresponding to the second number of spatial streams. In another such embodiment, the PHY preamble 220 and the PHY preamble 228 comprise the same number of LTFs even when the first signal 204 is transmitted over the first number of spatial streams and the second signal 212 is transmitted over a second number of spatial streams that is different from the first number of spatial streams. In one embodiment, the same number of LTFs corresponds to one of the second signal 212 and the first signal 204 having a greater number of spatial streams. In other embodiments, the first signal 204 and the second signal 212 are transmitted over the same number of spatial streams.

[0054] In one embodiment, at least PHY data portion 224 and at least PHY data portion 232 use different encoding and / or modulation schemes. As an example, in one embodiment, PHY data portion 224 is generated using a first MCS and PHY data portion 432 is generated using a second, different MCS. In other embodiments, PHY data portion 224 and PHY data portion 232 are generated using the same MCS.

[0055] In one embodiment, the transmission 200 corresponds to a single PPDU, with a first frequency portion of the single PPDU transmitted over a first channel 208 and a second frequency portion of the single PPDU transmitted over a second channel 216. In another embodiment, the first signal 204 corresponds to a first PPDU and the second signal 212 corresponds to a second PPDU. In one embodiment, each of the PHY data portions 224 and 232 and the PHY preambles 220 and 228 are comprised of one or more OFDM symbols.

[0056] 2B is a diagram of an exemplary asynchronous transmission 250 on different channel segments according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the transmission 250 is generated by the network interface device 122 (FIG. 1) and transmitted to one or more client stations 154 (e.g., client station 154-1). In another embodiment, the transmission 250 is generated by the network interface device 162 (FIG. 1) and transmitted to the AP 114.

[0057] Asynchronous transmission 250 is similar to synchronous transmission 200 of Figure 2A, and like-numbered elements will not be described in detail for brevity. Unlike synchronous transmission 200 of Figure 2A, the transmission of signal 204 and the transmission of signal 212 begin at different times. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the transmission of signal 204 and the transmission of signal 212 end at different times. Furthermore, in some embodiments, signal 212 does not include packet extension field 236 of Figure 2A.

[0058] 1 and 2A-B, a communication device (e.g., AP 114, client station 154-1, etc.) is configured to generate and transmit synchronous transmissions at times (and / or in some scenarios), such as transmission 200 (FIG. 2A), and in some embodiments generate and transmit asynchronous transmissions at other times (and / or in other scenarios), such as transmission 250 (FIG. 2B). For example, in at least some embodiments, transmitting asynchronous transmissions on different channel segments does not require the different channel segments to be idle at the same time, thus enabling simultaneous use of different channel segments when synchronous transmissions may not be possible (e.g., when synchronous transmissions require the different channel segments to be idle at the same time), at least in some embodiments and / or situations. On the other hand, in at least some embodiments and / or situations, asynchronous transmissions on different channel segments may not be possible in some scenarios, such as when the different channel segments are relatively close in frequency.

[0059] 3A is a diagram of an exemplary synchronous downlink MU OFDMA transmission 300 on different channel segments, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the transmission 300 is generated by the network interface device 122 (FIG. 1) and transmitted to multiple client stations 154.

[0060] The OFDMA transmission 300 comprises a first RF signal 304 in a first channel segment 308 and a second RF signal 312 in a second channel segment 316. In various embodiments, the first channel segment 308 and the second channel segment 316 are similar to the first channel segment 208 and the second channel segment 216, respectively, as described above with reference to FIG. 2A. The transmission 300 is synchronized such that the first RF signal 304 and the second RF signal 312 begin at the same time, t1. In some embodiments, the first RF signal 304 and the second RF signal 312 end at the same time, t2.

[0061] The first signal 304 comprises a PHY preamble 320 and a PHY data portion 324. The second signal 312 is comprised of a PHY preamble 328 and a data portion 332. In some embodiments, the PHY preamble 320 and the PHY preamble 328 do not need to have the same duration and / or end at the same time. In other embodiments, the PHY preamble 320 and the PHY preamble 328 do need to have the same duration and / or end at the same time.

[0062] In one embodiment where the second RF signal 312 otherwise has a shorter duration than the first RF signal 304, a packet extension field 336 is appended to the PHY data portion 332 such that the transmission of the signal 312 ends at t2. In one embodiment, the packet extension field 336 includes any data that is ignored by the receiver.

[0063] In another embodiment in which the second RF signal 312 has a shorter duration than the first RF signal 304, the time length information in a MAC header (not shown) in the PHY data portion 332 is set to indicate that transmission of the signal 312 ends at t2, which causes another communication device to set a NAV timer of the other communication device to a value indicating that transmission of the signal 212 ends at t2.

[0064] In another embodiment in which the second RF signal 312 otherwise has a shorter duration than the first RF signal 304, padding information is included within the PHY data portion 332 such that transmission of the signal 312 ends at t2.

[0065] In one embodiment, PHY preamble 320 and PHY preamble 328 are formatted in a manner similar to PHY preamble 204. Exemplary formats of PHY preamble 320 and PHY preamble 328 are described in more detail below. In one embodiment, at least a portion of PHY preamble 320 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 328 include different information. In another embodiment, at least a portion of PHY preamble 320 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 328 have the same structure and / or include the same information. In some embodiments, at least a portion of PHY preamble 320 and at least a portion of PHY preamble 328 are the same.

[0066] In one embodiment in which the first channel segment 308 comprises multiple component channels (e.g., 20 MHz subchannels), at least a portion (e.g., legacy portion) of the PHY preamble 320 is generated by generating a field corresponding to one component channel and replicating the field across one or more other component channels corresponding to the first channel segment 308. In one embodiment in which the second channel segment 316 comprises multiple component channels, at least a portion (e.g., legacy portion) of the PHY preamble 328 is generated by generating a field corresponding to one component channel and replicating the field across one or more other component channels corresponding to the second channel segment 316.

[0067] In various embodiments, the first channel segment 308 and the second channel segment 316 are in different RF bands or are co-located in the same RF band. In one embodiment, the RF bands correspond to the 2 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, as described above. The first channel segment 308 and the second channel segment 316 may each be composed of one or more component channels. In one embodiment, the frequency bandwidth of the first channel segment 308 (i.e., the frequency bandwidth of the first signal 304) is different from the frequency bandwidth of the second channel segment 316 (i.e., the frequency bandwidth of the second signal 212). In another embodiment, the frequency bandwidth of the first channel segment 308 is the same as the frequency bandwidth of the second channel segment 316.

[0068] In one embodiment, the first communication channel 308 and the second communication channel 316 are frequency separated. For example, a frequency gap exists between the first communication channel 308 and the second communication channel 316. In various embodiments, the gap is at least 500 kHz, at least 1 MHz, at least 5 MHz, at least 20 MHz, etc.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first signal 304 is transmitted over a first number of spatial streams and the second signal 312 is transmitted over a second number of spatial streams that is different from the first number of spatial streams. In one such embodiment, the PHY preamble 320 includes a first number of LTFs corresponding to the first number of spatial streams and the PHY preamble 328 includes a second number of LTFs (different from the first number of LTFs) corresponding to the second number of spatial streams. In another such embodiment, the PHY preamble 320 and the PHY preamble 328 comprise the same number of LTFs even when the first signal 304 is transmitted over a first number of spatial streams and the second signal 312 is transmitted over a second number of spatial streams that is different from the first number of spatial streams. In one embodiment, the same number of LTFs corresponds to one of the first signal 304 and the second signal 312 having more spatial streams. In other embodiments, the first signal 304 and the second signal 312 are transmitted over the same number of spatial streams.

[0070] In one embodiment, at least PHY data portion 324 and at least PHY data portion 332 use different encoding and / or modulation schemes.

[0071] In one embodiment, the transmission 300 corresponds to a single PPDU, with a first frequency portion of the single PPDU transmitted over a first channel 308 and a second frequency portion of the single PPDU transmitted over a second channel 316. In another embodiment, the first signal 304 corresponds to a first PPDU and the second signal 312 corresponds to a second PPDU. In one embodiment, each of the PHY data portions 324 and 332 and the PHY preambles 320 and 328 are comprised of one or more OFDM symbols.

[0072] The PHY data portion 324 and the PHY data portion 332 include respective frequency multiplexed data for respective client stations 154. Each piece of data in the data portion 324 is transmitted to a corresponding client station 154 in a corresponding assigned frequency resource unit (RU) 340. Each piece of data in the data portion 332 is transmitted to a corresponding client station 154 in a corresponding assigned RU 344. In various embodiments, the transmission signals corresponding to some or all of the RUs 340 / 344 use different coding and / or modulation schemes. As an example, the transmission signals corresponding to the RUs 340-1 and 344-1 are generated using different MCS and / or different numbers of spatial / space-time streams, etc. In one embodiment where the duration of the data in the RU 344 is shorter than the duration of the PHY data portion 324, padding is added to the data in the RU 344 to ensure that the duration of the PHY data portions in both communication channels is the same.

[0073] In at least some embodiments, at least some of the client stations 154 are configured to operate only in one RF band. In such embodiments, RUs are assigned to the client stations 154 only in the RF bands in which the client stations 154 are configured to operate. As an example embodiment, STA2 and STA3 are configured to operate only in a first RF band. Thus, data corresponding to STA2 and STA3 is transmitted on RUs in a first channel segment 308, which in one embodiment is in the first RF band. Similarly, STA4 is configured to operate only in a second RF band. Thus, data corresponding to STA4 is transmitted on RUs in a second channel segment 316, which in one embodiment is in the second RF band. On the other hand, STA1 is configured to operate in both the first RF band and the second RF band. Thus, data corresponding to STA1 may be transmitted on RUs located in either or both of the first channel segment 308 and the second channel segment 316.

[0074] 3B is a diagram of an exemplary asynchronous MU OFDMA transmission 350 on different channel segments according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the transmission 350 is generated and transmitted by the network interface device 122 (FIG. 1) to one or more client stations 154 (e.g., client station 154-1). In another embodiment, the transmission 350 is generated and transmitted by the network interface device 162 (FIG. 1).

[0075] Asynchronous transmission 350 is similar to synchronous transmission 300 of Figure 2A, and like-numbered elements will not be described in detail for brevity. Unlike synchronous transmission 300 of Figure 3A, the transmission of signal 304 and the transmission of signal 312 begin at different times. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the transmission of signal 304 and the transmission of signal 312 end at different times. Furthermore, in some embodiments, signal 312 does not include packet extension field 336 of Figure 3A.

[0076] 1 and 3A-B, a communications device (e.g., AP 114, client station 154-1, etc.) may be configured to generate and transmit synchronous transmissions at times (and / or in some scenarios), such as transmission 300 (FIG. 3A), and in some embodiments to generate and transmit asynchronous transmissions at other times (and / or in other scenarios), such as transmission 350 (FIG. 3B).

[0077] 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 400 for transmitting over multiple frequency segments in a wireless communication network, according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, the AP 114 of FIG. 1 is configured to perform the method 400. In other embodiments, the client station 154-1 of FIG. 1 is additionally or alternatively configured to perform the method 400. The method 400 is described in the context of the AP 114 for illustrative purposes only, and in other embodiments, the method 400 is performed by the client station 154-1 or another suitable communications device according to various embodiments.

[0078] At block 404, the communication device determines (e.g., the AP 114 determines, the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 determines, etc.) whether the simultaneous respective transmissions in the multiple frequency segments should be synchronized (e.g., the simultaneous respective transmissions should be started at the same time). In various embodiments, the multiple frequency segments are contiguous in frequency, or one or more adjacent pairs of the frequency segments are separated in frequency by a respective frequency gap. In various embodiments, each frequency segment in the multiple frequency segments spans the same frequency bandwidth, or the frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments span different frequency bandwidths. In various embodiments, two or more frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments are in the same RF band (e.g., 2 GHz band, 5 GHz band, 6 GHz band, etc.), or two or more frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments are in different RF bands.

[0079] In various embodiments, determining whether the simultaneous respective transmissions should be synchronized in block 404 is based on various parameters and / or factors. For example, in one embodiment, determining whether the simultaneous respective transmissions should be synchronized in block 404 is based on a bandwidth of a frequency gap between adjacent frequency segments in the plurality of frequency segments. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, if the frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment is less than a threshold, the communication device determines (e.g., the AP 114 determines, the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized (e.g., the simultaneous respective transmissions should start at the same time) in block 404, whereas if the frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment is greater than a threshold, the communication device determines (e.g., the AP 114 determines, the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment do not need to be synchronized in block 404. In an exemplary embodiment, when the first and second frequency segments are relatively close in frequency (e.g., the frequency gap between the first and second frequency segments is less than a threshold), the amount (or probability) of inter-channel interference is relatively high and therefore requiring synchronous transmission improves performance (e.g., overall throughput), whereas when the first and second frequency segments are relatively far apart in frequency (e.g., the frequency gap between the first and second frequency segments is greater than a threshold), the amount (or probability) of inter-channel interference is relatively low and therefore requiring synchronous transmission is unnecessary.

[0080] As another example, in another embodiment, determining whether the concurrent respective transmissions should be synchronized at block 404 is additionally or alternatively based on the bandwidth capabilities of one or more other communication devices that will receive the concurrent respective transmissions. In an example embodiment, for example, in response to the AP 114 determining (e.g., the network interface 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that one or more other communication devices are not capable of receiving asynchronous transmissions, the AP 114 determines at block 404 that the concurrent respective transmissions in the multiple frequency segments should be synchronized.

[0081] As another example, determining whether the simultaneous respective transmissions should be synchronized in block 404 is based on a total frequency bandwidth of the multiple frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments. In an exemplary embodiment, for example, if the total bandwidth is less than a threshold, then in block 404 the communications device determines (e.g., AP 114 determines, network interface 122 determines, MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized (e.g., the simultaneous respective transmissions should start at the same time), whereas if the total bandwidth is greater than the threshold, then in block 404 the communications device determines (e.g., AP 114 determines, network interface 122 determines, MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment do not need to be synchronized. In an exemplary embodiment, when the total bandwidth is relatively narrow (e.g., the total bandwidth is less than a threshold), the probability of finding a time when all frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments are idle is relatively high and the benefits of synchronous transmission may improve performance (e.g., overall throughput), whereas when the total bandwidth is relatively wide (e.g., the total bandwidth is greater than a threshold), the probability of finding a time when all frequency segments in the multiple frequency segments are idle is relatively low and the benefits of synchronous transmission do not outweigh the performance degradation due to increased failure to find a time when all frequency segments are idle.

[0082] If at block 404 it is determined that the simultaneous respective transmissions on the multiple frequency segments are to be synchronized, flow proceeds to block 408. At block 408, the AP 114 transmits simultaneously in a synchronized manner over the multiple frequency segments (e.g., the network interface device 122 transmits simultaneously, the PHY processor 130 transmits simultaneously, etc.). In one embodiment, transmitting simultaneously at block 408 comprises transmitting a first signal over a first frequency segment at a first time and transmitting a second signal over a second frequency segment at a first time.

[0083] In some embodiments, before transmitting synchronously and simultaneously at block 408, the AP 114 determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) when multiple frequency segments are idle at the same time, and after determining that multiple frequency segments are idle at the same time, begins the simultaneous synchronous transmission at block 408. In some embodiments, before transmitting synchronously and simultaneously at block 408, the AP 114 waits (e.g., the network interface device 122 waits, the MAC processor 126 waits, etc.) until the multiple frequency segments are all determined to be idle at the same time, and then begins the simultaneous synchronous transmission at block 408.

[0084] In some embodiments, the simultaneously transmitting at block 408 comprises transmitting signals as described above with reference to Figure 2A. In other embodiments, the simultaneously transmitting at block 408 comprises transmitting signals as described above with reference to Figure 3A. In other embodiments, the simultaneously transmitting at block 408 comprises transmitting other suitable signals having other suitable formats.

[0085] In some embodiments, transmitting simultaneously in block 408 comprises the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 prompting the PHY processor 130 to initiate a first transmission in a first frequency segment at a first time and a second transmission in a second frequency segment at the first time.

[0086] On the other hand, if at block 404 it is determined that the simultaneous respective transmissions on the multiple frequency segments should be asynchronous, then flow proceeds to block 412. In one embodiment, simultaneously transmitting at block 412 comprises transmitting a third signal over a third frequency segment at a second time and transmitting a fourth signal over a fourth frequency segment at a third time. In some embodiments, in one embodiment, the third frequency segment is the first frequency segment (block 408) and the fourth frequency segment is the second frequency segment (block 408).

[0087] In some embodiments, unlike the synchronous transmission at block 408, the AP 114 does not need to determine when multiple frequency segments are idle at the same time or wait for a time when multiple frequency segments are idle at the same time before starting the transmission at block 412 on one of the frequency segments. In one embodiment, for example, when the AP 114 determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that a first frequency segment of the multiple frequency segments is idle, the AP 114 may start transmitting (at block 412) on the first frequency segment even though the AP 114 determines (e.g., the network interface device 122 determines, the MAC processor 126 determines, etc.) that a second frequency segment of the multiple frequency segments is not also idle at the same time. If the AP 114 subsequently determines that the second frequency segment is also idle, the AP 114 may start transmitting (at block 412) on the second frequency segment simultaneously with the transmission on the first frequency segment (at block 412).

[0088] In some embodiments, simultaneously transmitting at block 412 comprises transmitting signals as described above with reference to Figure 2B. In other embodiments, simultaneously transmitting at block 412 comprises transmitting signals as described above with reference to Figure 3B. In other embodiments, simultaneously transmitting at block 412 comprises transmitting other suitable signals having other suitable formats.

[0089] In some embodiments, transmitting simultaneously in block 412 comprises the multi-channel segment transmission controller 142 prompting the PHY processor 130 to initiate a third transmission in the third frequency segment at the second time and a fourth transmission in the fourth frequency segment at the third time.

[0090] In some embodiments, the first frequency segment is the same as the third frequency segment and the second frequency segment is the same as the fourth frequency segment, in other embodiments, the first frequency segment is different from the third frequency segment and / or the second frequency segment is different from the fourth frequency segment.

[0091] In some embodiments, the first packet is the same as the third packet and the second packet is the same as the fourth packet, in other embodiments, the first packet is different from the third packet and / or the second packet is different from the fourth packet.

[0092] 5 is a diagram of an exemplary network interface device 500 configured for multi-channel segment operation according to one embodiment. For example, in one embodiment, the network interface device 500 is configured for synchronous and / or asynchronous transmission and reception across multiple frequency segments. In one embodiment, the network interface device 500 corresponds to the network interface device 122 of the AP 114 of FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the network interface device 500 corresponds to the network interface device 162 of the client station 154-1 of FIG. 1.

[0093] The network interface device 500 is configured to operate across two frequency segments. The network interface device 500 includes a MAC processor 508 coupled to a PHY processor 516. The MAC processor 508 exchanges frames (or PSDUs) with the PHY processor 516.

[0094] In one embodiment, MAC processor 508 corresponds to MAC processor 126 of Figure 1. In another embodiment, MAC processor 508 corresponds to MAC processor 166 of Figure 1. In one embodiment, PHY processor 516 corresponds to PHY processor 130 of Figure 1. In another embodiment, PHY processor 516 corresponds to PHY processor 170 of Figure 1.

[0095] The PHY processor 516 includes a single baseband signal processor 520. The single baseband signal processor 520 is coupled to a first RF radio (radio-1) 528 and a second RF radio (radio-2) 536. In one embodiment, the RF radio 528 and the RF radio 536 correspond to the transceiver 134 of FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the RF radio 528 and the RF radio 536 correspond to the transceiver 174 of FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the RF radio 528 is configured to operate in a first RF band and the RF radio 536 is configured to operate in a second RF band. In another embodiment, the RF radio 528 and the RF radio 536 are both configured to operate in the same RF band.

[0096] In one embodiment, the MAC processor 508 generates data corresponding to a MAC layer data unit (e.g., a frame) and provides the frame (or PSDU) to the baseband signal processor 520. The baseband signal processor 520 is configured to receive the frame (or PSDU) from the MAC processor 508, encapsulate the frame (or PSDU) into a respective packet, and generate a respective baseband signal corresponding to the respective packet. The baseband signal processor 520 provides the respective baseband signals to radio-1 528 and radio-2 536. The radio-1 528 and radio-2 536 upconvert the respective baseband signals to generate respective RF signals for transmission over a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment, respectively. The radio-1 528 transmits the first RF signal over the first frequency segment, and the radio-2 536 transmits the second RF signal over the second frequency segment.

[0097] In some embodiments, the MAC processor 508 determines whether a frame should be transmitted synchronously or asynchronously and informs the baseband signal processor 520 whether the frame should be transmitted synchronously or asynchronously when providing the frame to the baseband signal processor 520. In some embodiments, the MAC processor 508 determines the frequency segment over which the frame should be transmitted and informs the baseband signal processor 520 of the frequency segment over which the frame should be transmitted when providing the frame to the baseband signal processor 520.

[0098] If the first and second RF signals are synchronized, the baseband signal processor 520 is configured to ensure that the respective transmission signals over the first and second frequency segments are synchronized. For example, the baseband signal processor 520 provides respective baseband signals to radio-1 528 and radio-2 536 that start at the same time.

[0099] Radio-1 528 and radio-2 536 are also configured to receive respective RF signals over the first and second frequency segments, respectively. Radio-1 528 and radio-2 536 generate respective baseband signals corresponding to the respective received signals. The generated respective baseband signals are provided to the baseband signal processor 520. The baseband signal processor 520 generates respective PSDUs corresponding to the respective received signals and provides the PSDUs to the MAC processor 508. The MAC processor 508 processes the PSDUs received from the baseband signal processor 520.

[0100] 6A is a diagram of example PPDUs 604 and 608 transmitted in respective frequency segments according to one embodiment. For example, PPDU 604 is transmitted in a first frequency segment and PPDU 608 is transmitted in a second frequency segment. In some embodiments and / or scenarios, the first frequency segment is frequency separated from the second frequency segment by a frequency gap. In other embodiments and / or scenarios, the first frequency segment is adjacent in frequency to the second frequency segment and the first frequency segment is not frequency separated from the second frequency segment.

[0101] In some embodiments, the PHY processor 130 (FIG. 1) is configured to generate and transmit the PPDUs 604 and 608. In some embodiments, the PHY processor 170 (FIG. 1) is configured to generate and transmit the PPDUs 604 and 608. In some embodiments, the baseband processor 520 (FIG. 5) is configured to generate the PPDUs 604 and 608, and the radios 528, 536 (FIG. 5) are configured to transmit the PPDUs 604 and 608.

[0102] The PPDU 604 includes a legacy PHY preamble 612 (sometimes referred to as a legacy preamble 612), a non-legacy PHY preamble (e.g., an EHT preamble) 616, and a PHY data portion 620. The legacy preamble 612 comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF) 624, a legacy long training field (L-LTF) 628, and a legacy signal field (L-SIG) 632. The L-SIG 632 includes a rate subfield (not shown) and a length subfield (not shown) that together indicate the duration of the PPDU 604. In some embodiments, the EHT preamble 616 includes PHY parameters for the PPDU 604 that are used by a receiving device to properly process the PPDU 604, such as a modulation coding scheme (MCS) subfield that indicates the MCS used for the PHY data portion 620. If the PPDU 604 is a MU PPDU, the EHT preamble 616 includes allocation information indicating frequency resource unit (RU) allocation information, spatial stream allocation information, etc. In some embodiments, the EHT preamble 616 includes one or more long training fields, the number of which varies depending on the number of spatial streams used to carry the PHY data portion 620.

[0103] The PPDU 608 includes a legacy preamble 642, a non-legacy PHY preamble (e.g., EHT preamble) 646, and a PHY data portion 650. The legacy preamble 642 comprises an L-STF 654, an L-LTF 658, and an L-SIG 632. The L-SIG 632 includes a rate subfield (not shown) and a length subfield (not shown) that together indicate the duration of the PPDU 608. In some embodiments, the EHT preamble 646 includes PHY parameters for the PPDU 608 that are used by a receiving device to properly process the PPDU 608, such as an MCS subfield that indicates the MCS used for the PHY data portion 650. If the PPDU 608 is an MU PPDU, the EHT preamble 646 includes allocation information indicating frequency RU allocation information, spatial stream allocation information, etc. In some embodiments, the EHT preamble 646 includes one or more long training fields that vary in number depending on the number of spatial streams used to carry the PHY data portion 650.

[0104] In some embodiments where the transmission of the PPDU 604 and the PPDU 608 is synchronized, the PPDU 608 includes a packet extension field 668 such that the duration of the PPDU 608 is the same as the duration of the PPDU 604. In other embodiments, the PHY data portion 650 additionally or alternatively includes padding, as described above. In other embodiments, signal extension is additionally or alternatively used for the PPDU 608 such that receiving devices set their NAV counters to values ​​indicating a duration corresponding to the duration of the PPDU 604, as described above. In some embodiments where the transmission of the PPDU 604 and the PPDU 608 is asynchronous, the PPDU 608 does not include a packet extension field 668.

[0105] In some embodiments, the duration of the EHT preamble 616 is different (or need not be the same) as the duration of the EHT preamble 646. In other embodiments, the duration of the EHT preamble 616 needs to be the same as the duration of the EHT preamble 646 (e.g., padding bits are added (if necessary) to the EHT preamble 646 such that the duration of the EHT preamble 646 is the same as the duration of the EHT preamble 616).

[0106] In an embodiment in which PPDU 604 has a different duration than PPDU 608, L-SIG 632 includes different information than L-SIG 662. For example, the length subfield of L-SIG 632 indicates a different length than the length subfield of L-SIG 662.

[0107] FIG. 6B is a diagram of an example non-legacy preamble (eg, an EHT preamble) 674 used as the non-legacy preamble 616 or the non-legacy preamble 646 according to some embodiments.

[0108] In some embodiments, the PHY processor 130 (FIG. 1) is configured to generate the non-legacy preamble 674. In some embodiments, the PHY processor 170 (FIG. 1) is configured to generate the non-legacy preamble 674. In some embodiments, the baseband processor 520 (FIG. 5) is configured to generate the non-legacy preamble 674.

[0109] The non-legacy preamble 674 includes a first signal field (EHT-SIGA) 678, a second signal field (EHT-SIGB) 682, a short training field (EHT-STF) 686, and one or more long training fields (EHT-LTF) 690. In one embodiment, if the PHY data portion corresponding to the non-legacy preamble 674 is transmitted over n spatial streams (where n is a suitable positive integer), the non-legacy preamble 674 includes no more than n EHT-LTFs 690. In another embodiment, if the PHY data portion corresponding to the non-legacy preamble 674 is transmitted over n spatial streams, the non-legacy preamble 674 includes at least n EHT-LTFs 690.

[0110] In some embodiments, the EHT-SIGB 682 is included in the MU PPDU and not in the Single User (SU) PPDU.

[0111] In various embodiments, the EHT-SIGA 678 and / or EHT-SIGB 682 indicate the MCS (or multiple MCSs for a MU PPDU) used for the PHY data portion corresponding to the non-legacy preamble 674. Thus, if different MCSs are used for different frequency segments, the content of the EHT-SIGA 678 for different frequency segments will be different.

[0112] Similarly, in at least some embodiments, if different numbers of spatial streams are used for different frequency segments, the number of EHT-LTFs 690 in different frequency segments will be different.

[0113] 6A-6B, in an embodiment in which L-SIG632 and L-SIG662 contain different information, a copy of L-SIG632 is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of a first frequency segment, and a copy of L-SIG662 is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of a second frequency segment. In embodiments in which one or more subchannels in a frequency segment are punctured (eg, not used for transmission), no replica of the L-SIG632 / 662 is transmitted in the punctured subchannels.

[0114] In an embodiment in which the non-legacy signal field 678 contains different information in different frequency segments, a replica of the non-legacy signal field 678 containing information for a first frequency segment is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of the first frequency segment, and a replica of the non-legacy signal field 678 containing information for a second frequency segment is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of the second frequency segment. In an embodiment in which one or more subchannels within a frequency segment are punctured (e.g., not used for transmission), a replica of the non-legacy signal field 678 is not transmitted in the punctured subchannels.

[0115] Similarly, in embodiments in which the non-legacy signal field 682 contains different information in different frequency segments, a replica of the non-legacy signal field 682 containing information for a first frequency segment is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of the first frequency segment, and a replica of the non-legacy signal field 682 containing information for a second frequency segment is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of the second frequency segment. In embodiments in which one or more subchannels within a frequency segment are punctured (e.g., not used for transmission), a replica of the non-legacy signal field 682 is not transmitted in the punctured subchannels.

[0116] In some embodiments (e.g., PPDU 604 is an MU PPDU and PPDU 608 is a SU PPDU), a replica of the non-legacy signal field 682 containing information for the first frequency segment is transmitted in each subchannel (e.g., each 20 MHz subchannel) of the first frequency segment, and the non-legacy signal field 682 is not transmitted in the second frequency segment.

[0117] In some embodiments, the non-legacy signal field 678 includes a bandwidth subfield 694 that indicates the total bandwidth of only the frequency segments in which the PPDU 604 / 608 is transmitted. For example, if the PPDU 604 is transmitted in a first frequency segment having a total bandwidth of 160 MHz and the PPDU 608 is transmitted in a second frequency segment having a total bandwidth of 40 MHz, then the bandwidth subfield 694 of the PPDU 604 indicates a bandwidth of 160 MHz, while the bandwidth subfield 694 of the PPDU 608 indicates a bandwidth of 40 MHz.

[0118] In some embodiments, the non-legacy signal field 678 includes a frequency segment identifier (ID) subfield 698 that indicates the frequency segment in which the PPDU 604 / 608 is transmitted. For example, if the PPDU 604 is transmitted in a first frequency segment and the PPDU 608 is transmitted in a second frequency segment, the frequency segment ID subfield 698 of the PPDU 604 indicates the first frequency segment, while the frequency segment ID subfield 698 of the PPDU 608 indicates the second frequency segment.

[0119] In some embodiments, the non-legacy signal field 678 also includes one or more other subfields (not shown) that indicate one or more of: i) whether simultaneous transmissions are occurring in any other frequency segments, ii) the number of other frequency segments in which simultaneous transmissions are occurring, iii) the total frequency bandwidth of each of the other frequency segments, and iv) the cumulative frequency bandwidth of all frequency segments in which simultaneous transmissions are occurring.

[0120] In some embodiments, legacy and non-legacy preambles having formats as described above with reference to Figures 6A-6B are used in the transmissions described above with reference to Figures 2A-2B and 3A-3B.

[0121] Although a particular order of fields and subfields is shown in Figures 6A-6B, in other embodiments, other suitable orderings of the fields and subfields are utilized. In other embodiments, the PHY preamble includes one or more other suitable fields / subfields in addition to the fields and subfields shown in Figures 6A-6B. Similarly, in some embodiments, one or more of the fields / subfields shown in Figures 6A-6B are omitted.

[0122] Embodiment 1: 1. A method for transmitting simultaneously in multiple frequency segments, comprising: determining, at the communication device, whether simultaneous transmissions on a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; in response to the communications device determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time, transmitting a first packet on the first frequency segment starting at a first time; transmitting a second packet on the second frequency segment starting at the first time; in response to the communications device determining that simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time, transmitting a third packet in the first frequency segment starting at a second time; transmitting a fourth packet on the second frequency segment beginning at a third time different from the second time; A method for providing the above.

[0123] EMBODIMENT 2 Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time includes: determining whether the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a frequency bandwidth of a frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment; 2. The method of embodiment 1 comprising:

[0124] EMBODIMENT 3 Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time includes: comparing, at the communications device, the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap with a threshold; determining, in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is less than the threshold, that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; determining, in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is greater than the threshold, that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time; 3. The method of embodiment 2, comprising:

[0125] EMBODIMENT 4 Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time includes: determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a capability of one or more other communication devices to receive the simultaneous transmissions; 3. The method of embodiment 1 or 2, comprising:

[0126] EMBODIMENT 5 Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time includes: determining whether any of the one or more other communication devices are capable of handling asynchronous transmissions on a plurality of frequency segments; determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time in response to determining that at least one of the one or more other communication devices is incapable of handling asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments; determining, in response to determining that all of the one or more other communications devices are capable of handling asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments, that simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time; 5. The method of embodiment 4, comprising:

[0127]

[0023] Embodiment 6. The step of determining whether the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized comprises: i) a total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment; ii) the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; and iii) a cumulative frequency bandwidth of the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment and the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; determining whether simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized based on one or more of: 5. The method of embodiment 1, 2 or 4, comprising:

[0128] EMBODIMENT 7 generating the first packet to have a first physical layer (PHY) preamble having a first duration; generating the second packet to have a second PHY preamble having a second duration different from the first duration; 7. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, further comprising:

[0129] EMBODIMENT 8 generating the first PHY preamble to include different information than the second PHY preamble; 8. The method of embodiment 7, further comprising:

[0130] EMBODIMENT 9 The step of generating the second packet includes: generating the second packet to include a packet extension field such that transmission of the second packet terminates when transmission of the first packet terminates; 9. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, comprising:

[0131] In a tenth embodiment, when the first packet and the second packet are transmitted, generating a first media access control (MAC) layer data unit at the communication device; generating the first packet to include the first MAC layer data unit; generating a second MAC layer data unit at the communication device; generating the second packet to include the second MAC layer data unit; When the third packet and the fourth packet are transmitted, generating, at the communication device, a third MAC layer data unit; generating the third packet to include the third MAC layer data unit; generating a fourth MAC layer data unit at the communication device; generating the fourth packet to include the fourth MAC layer data unit; The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9.

[0132] EMBODIMENT 11 When the first packet and the second packet are transmitted, Transmitting the first packet over a first number of spatial streams; transmitting the second packet over a second number of spatial streams different from the first number of spatial streams; When the third packet and the fourth packet are transmitted, Transmitting the third packet over a third number of spatial streams; transmitting the fourth packet via a fourth number of spatial streams different from the third number of spatial streams. The method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 10.

[0133] EMBODIMENT 12 one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) radios, the plurality of RF radios including at least a first RF radio and a second RF radio, the plurality of RF radios being at least partially implemented on the one or more IC devices; A wireless network interface device having Equipped with The one or more IC devices are communication devices configured to execute the method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11.

[0134] EMBODIMENT 13 The communications device comprises a wireless network interface device having one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) radios, including at least a first RF radio and a second RF radio, the plurality of RF radios being at least partially implemented on the one or more IC devices. The one or more IC devices are configured to determine whether simultaneous transmissions in a first frequency segment and a second frequency segment should be synchronized, and in response to the communications device determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized, control the first RF radio to transmit a first packet in the first frequency segment starting at a first time and control the second RF radio to transmit a second packet in the second frequency segment starting at the first time. The one or more IC devices are further configured, in response to the communications device determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous, to control the first RF radio to transmit a third packet in the first frequency segment starting at a second time and to control the second RF radio to transmit a fourth packet in the second frequency segment starting at a third time, different from the second time.

[0135] EMBODIMENT 14 The one or more IC devices further include: determining whether the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized based on a frequency bandwidth of a frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment; 14. The communication device of embodiment 13, configured to:

[0136] EMBODIMENT 15 The one or more IC devices further include: comparing the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap to a threshold; in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is less than the threshold, determining that concurrent transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized; in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is greater than the threshold, determining that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous. 15. The communication device of embodiment 14, configured to:

[0137] EMBODIMENT 16 The one or more IC devices further include: determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized based on a capability of one or more other communication devices to receive the simultaneous transmissions; 16. The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 15, configured so as to

[0138] EMBODIMENT 17 The one or more IC devices further include: i) a total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment; ii) the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; and iii) a cumulative frequency bandwidth of the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment and the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; determining whether simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized based on one or more of: 17. The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 16, configured so as to

[0139] EMBODIMENT 18 The one or more IC devices further include: generating the first packet to have a first physical layer (PHY) preamble having a first duration; generating the second packet to have a second PHY preamble having a second duration different from the first duration; The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 17, which is configured so as to

[0140] EMBODIMENT 19 The one or more IC devices further include: generating the first PHY preamble to include different information than the second PHY preamble; 19. The communication device of embodiment 18, configured to:

[0141] EMBODIMENT 20 The one or more IC devices further include: generating the second packet including a packet extension field such that transmission of the second packet is completed when transmission of the first packet is completed; 20. The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 19, configured so as to

[0142] EMBODIMENT 21 The one or more IC devices further include: When the first packet and the second packet are transmitted, generating a first media access control (MAC) layer data unit; generating the first packet to include the first MAC layer data unit; generating a second MAC layer data unit; generating the second packet to include the second MAC layer data unit; The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 20, which is configured so as to The one or more IC devices further include: When the third packet and the fourth packet are transmitted, generating a third MAC layer data unit; generating the third packet to include the third MAC layer data unit; generating a fourth MAC layer data unit; generating the fourth packet to include the fourth MAC layer data unit; It is configured as follows.

[0143]

[0026] Embodiment 22. The wireless network interface device comprises: a single media access control (MAC) layer processor implemented in said one or more IC devices; a baseband signal processor implemented on the one or more IC devices, the baseband signal processor coupled to the single MAC processor and the multiple RF radios; Equipped with When the first packet and the second packet are transmitted, the single MAC layer processor configured to generate the first MAC layer data unit and the second MAC layer data unit; the baseband processor is configured to generate the first packet and the second packet; When the third packet and the fourth packet are transmitted, the single MAC layer processor configured to generate the third MAC layer data unit and the fourth MAC layer data unit; the baseband processor is configured to generate the third packet and the fourth packet. 22. A communication device as described in embodiment 21.

[0144] EMBODIMENT 23 The one or more IC devices further include: When the first packet and the second packet are transmitted, controlling the first RF radio to transmit the first packet over a first number of spatial streams; controlling the second RF radio to transmit the second packet over a second number of spatial streams different from the first number of spatial streams; When the third packet and the fourth packet are transmitted, controlling the first RF radio to transmit the third packet over a third number of spatial streams; controlling the second RF radio to transmit the fourth packet over a fourth number of spatial streams, the fourth number being different from the third number of spatial streams. The communication device according to any one of embodiments 13 to 22, configured so as to

[0145] At least some of the various blocks, operations, and techniques described above may be implemented using hardware, a processor executing firmware instructions, a processor executing software instructions, or a combination thereof. When implemented using a processor executing software or firmware instructions, the software or firmware instructions may be stored in any computer-readable memory, such as RAM or ROM or flash memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or other storage medium in the processor, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, a tape drive, etc. The software or firmware instructions may include machine-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform various operations.

[0146] When implemented in hardware, the hardware may comprise one or more discrete components, an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), and so on.

[0147] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended as illustrations only and not as limitations of the invention, modifications, additions, and / or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A method for transmitting simultaneously in multiple frequency segments, comprising: generating a first packet for transmission in a first frequency segment at a communications device, the first packet comprising: generating a first physical layer (PHY) preamble of the first packet to include a first field indicating a first overall bandwidth spanned by the first packet; generating, at the communications device, a second packet for transmission in a second frequency segment, the second packet comprising: generating a second PHY preamble to include a second field indicating a second overall bandwidth spanned by the second packet; transmitting, by the communication device, the first packet on the first frequency segment and the second packet on the second frequency segment simultaneously; transmitting the first packet on the first frequency segment beginning at a first time; transmitting the second packet in the second frequency segment beginning at a second time different from the first time; Including, stages and A method for providing the above.

2. generating the first packet includes generating the first PHY preamble of the first packet to further include a third field indicating the first frequency segment over which the first packet is to be transmitted; Generating the second packet includes generating the second PHY preamble of the second packet to further include a fourth field indicating the second frequency segment over which the second packet is to be transmitted. The method of claim 1.

3. generating the first PHY preamble having a first duration; generating the second PHY preamble having a second duration different from the first duration. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

4. The step of generating a first packet includes: generating the first packet to have a first duration; generating the first PHY preamble to include a first legacy signal field indicating the first duration; Including, The step of generating a second packet includes: generating the second packet to have a second duration different from the first duration; generating the second PHY preamble to include a second legacy signal field indicating the second duration; The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

5. The step of simultaneously transmitting the first packet on the first frequency segment and the second packet on the second frequency segment comprises: transmitting the first packet over a first number of spatial streams; transmitting the second packet over a second number of spatial streams different from the first number of spatial streams; The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

6. determining, at the communication device, whether simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; Further equipped with Transmitting the first packet on the first frequency segment starting at the first time and transmitting the second packet on the second frequency segment starting at the second time is responsive to determining that simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time comprises: determining whether simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a frequency bandwidth of a frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment; 7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

8. Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time comprises: comparing, at the communications device, the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap with a threshold; determining, in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is less than the threshold, that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; determining, in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is greater than the threshold, that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time; 8. The method of claim 7, comprising:

9. Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time comprises: determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a capability of one or more other communication devices to receive the simultaneous transmissions.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

10. Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time comprises: determining whether any of the one or more other communication devices are capable of processing asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments; determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time in response to determining that at least one of the one or more other communication devices is incapable of handling asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments; determining that simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time in response to determining that all of the one or more other communication devices are capable of handling asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

11. Determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time comprises: i) the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment; ii) the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; and iii) a cumulative frequency bandwidth of the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment and the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; determining whether simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on one or more of: The method of claim 6 comprising:

12. one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices; a plurality of radio frequency radios (RF radios), the plurality of RF radios including at least a first RF radio and a second RF radio, the plurality of RF radios being at least partially implemented on the one or more IC devices; A wireless network interface device comprising: Equipped with the one or more IC devices generating a first packet for transmission in a first frequency segment, where generating the first packet includes generating a first physical layer (PHY) preamble of the first packet to include a first field indicating a first overall bandwidth spanned by the first packet; generating a second packet for transmission in a second frequency segment, where generating the second packet includes generating a second PHY preamble of the second packet to include a second field indicating a second overall bandwidth spanned by the second packet; and controlling the first RF radio and the second RF radio to simultaneously transmit the first packet on the first frequency segment and the second packet on the second frequency segment, where controlling the first RF radio and the second RF radio comprises: controlling the first RF radio to transmit the first packet on the first frequency segment starting at a first time; controlling the second RF radio to transmit the second packet on the second frequency segment beginning at a second time different from the first time; 23. A wireless communication device configured to:

13. the one or more IC devices generating the first PHY preamble of the first packet to further include a third field indicating the first frequency segment over which the first packet is to be transmitted; generating the second PHY preamble of the second packet to further include a fourth field indicating the second frequency segment over which the second packet is to be transmitted; 13. The wireless communication device of claim 12 configured to:

14. the one or more IC devices generating the first PHY preamble having a first duration; generating the second PHY preamble having a second duration different from the first duration; 14. A wireless communication device according to claim 12 or 13, further configured to:

15. the one or more IC devices generating the first packet to have a first duration; generating the second packet to have a second duration different from the first duration; generating the first PHY preamble to include a first legacy signal field indicating the first duration; generating the second PHY preamble to include a second legacy signal field indicating the second duration; 14. A wireless communication device according to claim 12 or 13, further configured to:

16. the one or more IC devices controlling the first RF radio to transmit the first packet over a first number of spatial streams; Controlling the second RF radio to transmit the second packet over a second number of spatial streams different than the first number of spatial streams.

16. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further configured to:

17. the one or more IC devices determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; transmit the first packet in the first frequency segment starting at the first time and transmit the second packet in the second frequency segment starting at the second time in response to determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time.

17. A wireless communication device according to any one of claims 12 to 16, further configured to:

18. the one or more IC devices determining whether simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a frequency bandwidth of a frequency gap between the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment; 20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further configured to:

19. the one or more IC devices comparing the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap to a threshold; in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is less than the threshold, determining that simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; determining that the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time in response to determining that the frequency bandwidth of the frequency gap is greater than the threshold; 20. The wireless communication device of claim 18, further configured to:

20. the one or more IC devices determining whether the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on a capability of one or more other communication devices to receive the simultaneous transmissions; 20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further configured to:

21. the one or more IC devices determining whether any of the one or more other communications devices are incapable of processing asynchronous transmissions on a plurality of frequency segments; in response to determining that at least one of the one or more other communications devices is incapable of handling asynchronous transmissions on a plurality of frequency segments, determining that the simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time; 21. The wireless communication device of claim 20, further configured to determine, in response to determining that all of the one or more other communication devices are capable of handling asynchronous transmissions on multiple frequency segments, that simultaneous transmissions on the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be asynchronous in time.

22. the one or more IC devices i) the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment; ii) the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; and iii) a cumulative frequency bandwidth of the total frequency bandwidth of the first frequency segment and the total frequency bandwidth of the second frequency segment; determining whether the simultaneous transmissions in the first frequency segment and the second frequency segment should be synchronized in time based on one or more of:

20. The wireless communication device of claim 17, further configured to:

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