Method for packet communication using training packets
Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception.
1. A method of packet communication in a multicarrier communications environment comprising:
determining, by a transceiver, a packet, the packet including a first legacy header portion and a second header portion, the second header portion indicating the packet is a training packet,
wherein the first legacy header portion includes a Rate field indicating a legacy data rate value and a Length field indicating a legacy number of data bytes, and
wherein the legacy number of data bytes indicated in the legacy header portion is greater than zero, and
transmitting, by the transceiver, the packet,
wherein the packet is a training packet that does not include a data portion.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet comprises signals that are predefined.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet is used to measure effects of a communications channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet is used to measure channel multipath.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet is used to measure a signal to noise ratio.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet is used to train receiver equalizers.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the training packet is used to determine at least one transmission parameter.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of time.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to set a Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to defer transmission for a period of time.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of the packet.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver supports one or more of 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit and a programmable logic device.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is an access point.
15. A method of packet communication in a multicarrier communications environment comprising:
receiving, by a transceiver, a packet including a first legacy header portion and a second header portion, the second header portion indicating the packet is a training packet,
wherein the first legacy header portion includes a Rate field indicating a legacy data rate value and a Length field indicating a legacy number of data bytes, and wherein the legacy number of data bytes indicated in the legacy header portion is greater than zero, and
decoding, by the transceiver, one or more of the first legacy header portion and the second header portion,
wherein the packet is a training packet that does not include a data portion.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet comprises signals that are predefined.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet is used by a receiver to measure effects of a communications channel.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to measure channel multipath.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to measure a signal to noise ratio.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to train receiver equalizers.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the training packet is used to determine at least one transmission parameter.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of time.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to set a Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to defer transmission for a period of time.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of the packet.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transceiver supports one or more of 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transceiver is one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit and a programmable logic device.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein the transceiver is an access point.
29. A system capable of communicating packets in a multicarrier communications environment comprising:
a transceiver capable of determining a packet, the packet including a first legacy header portion and a second header portion, the second header portion indicating the packet is a training packet,
wherein the first legacy header portion includes a Rate field indicating a legacy data rate value and a Length field indicating a legacy number of data bytes, and
wherein the legacy number of data bytes indicated in the legacy header portion is greater than zero, and
transmitting the packet,
wherein the packet is a training packet that does not include a data portion.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet comprises signals that are predefined.
31. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet is used to measure effects of a communications channel.
32. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet is used to measure channel multipath.
33. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet is used to measure a signal to noise ratio.
34. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet is used to train receiver equalizers.
35. The system of claim 29 , wherein the training packet is used to determine at least one transmission parameter.
36. The system of claim 29 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of time.
37. The system of claim 29 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to set a Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
38. The system of claim 29 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to defer transmission for a period of time.
39. The system of claim 29 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of the packet.
40. The system of claim 29 , wherein the transceiver supports one or more of 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
41. The system of claim 29 , wherein the transceiver is one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit and a programmable logic device.
42. The system of claim 29 , wherein the transceiver is an access point.
43. A system capable of communicating packets in a multicarrier communications environment comprising:
a transceiver capable of receiving a packet including a first legacy header portion and a second header portion, the second header portion indicating the packet is a training packet,
wherein the first legacy header portion includes a Rate field indicating a legacy data rate value and a Length field indicating a legacy number of data bytes, and wherein the legacy number of data bytes indicated in the legacy header portion is greater than zero, and
decoding one or more of the first legacy header portion and the second header portion,
wherein the packet is a training packet that does not include a data portion.
44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet comprises signals that are predefined.
45. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet is used by a receiver to measure effects of a communications channel.
46. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to measure channel multipath.
47. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to measure signal to noise ratio.
48. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet is used by the transceiver to train receiver equalizers.
49. The system of claim 43 , wherein the training packet is used to determine at least one transmission parameter.
50. The system of claim 43 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of time.
51. The system of claim 43 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to set a Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
52. The system of claim 43 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to defer transmission for a period of time.
53. The system of claim 43 , wherein the Rate field and Length field are used to determine a duration of the packet.
54. The system of claim 43 , wherein the transceiver supports one or more of 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.
55. The system of claim 43 , wherein the transceiver is one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor, a microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit and a programmable logic device.
56. The system of claim 43 , wherein the transceiver is an access point.