Signaling format for wireless communications
View Patent ↗Methods, devices and systems for wireless communication generate signals by determining whether legacy devices are within a proximal region of the wireless communication. When at least one legacy device is within the proximal region, a frame is formatted to include a preamble field, a signal field, and a data field. Further, the uncoded bits are encoded according to a coding format. The coding format is determined according to bits in the preamble and applicable sub-field lengths.
1. A method for use in a wireless communication device including a radio having a transmit module, the method comprising:
receiving a signal field to be transmitted in a frame of a communication network, the communication network including both legacy and non-legacy wireless communication devices;
configuring the frame to include a legacy preamble;
configuring the signal field to include data informing the legacy wireless communication device of a frame duration;
using the transmit module to transmit, in a legacy channel, a portion of the frame that includes the signal field;
determining a coding format according to the signal field to be transmitted;
arranging at least one bit in the signal field to comply with a channel width; and
generating, using a baseband processing module, a coded signal field according to said coding format and said at least one bit in said signal field.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting a legacy packet header into the frame; and
transmitting, using the transmit module, the legacy packet header within a header spectral portion of the legacy channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, using the transmit module, at least a portion of the frame not including the signal field in a guard band between legacy channels.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a number of reserve bits included in the signal field; and
selecting, using a baseband processing module, the coding format for the signal field based on the number of reserve bits.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring, using a baseband processing module, the signal field to include a rate/mode subfield.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
configuring, using the baseband processing module, the rate/mode subfield to include data indicating the channel width.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring the frame in response to determining that a legacy wireless communication device is within a proximal region of the wireless communication device.
8. A wireless device for use in a communication network including both legacy and non-legacy wireless communication devices, the wireless device comprising:
a processing module configured to:
determine that a legacy wireless communication device is within a proximal region of the wireless communication device;
in response to the determining, configuring a frame of a wireless communication signal to include:
a legacy preamble;
an initial signal field including data configured to allow the legacy wireless communication device to determine a duration of the frame;
at least one additional signal field configured for use by non-legacy wireless communication devices; and
a transceiver configured to transmit the frame.
9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
identify a number of reserve bits in the initial signal field;
determine a coding format according to the number of reserve bits; and
select a coding format for the signal field based on the number of reserve bits.
10. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein:
the processing module is further configured to insert a legacy packet header into the legacy preamble of the frame; and
the transceiver is further configured to transmit the legacy preamble of the frame within a header spectral portion of a legacy channel.
11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to:
transmit a portion of the frame that includes the initial signal field within a legacy channel; and
transmit at least a portion of the frame not including the initial signal field within a guard band between legacy channels.
12. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the processing module is further configured to:
include, in the initial signal field, a rate/mode sub-field, a length sub-field, at least one data unit sub-field, and a reserved sub-field.
13. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one additional signal field is configured to provide non-legacy devices an indication of channel usage.
14. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the at least one additional signal field is configured to include data indicating a number of transmit antennas.
15. A wireless device for use in a network including both legacy and non-legacy wireless communication devices, the wireless device comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit wireless communication signals over multiple different communication channels;
a processing module configured to generate a frame of a wireless communication signal configured to be at least partially processed by the legacy and non-legacy wireless communication devices, the frame including:
a legacy-compatible preamble;
a signal field configured to be processed by at least some of the legacy wireless communication devices, the signal field including:
first data indicating a duration of time during which the at least some of the legacy wireless communication devices are to refrain from attempting to access a communication channel; and
second data indicating channel configuration information usable by non-legacy devices.
16. The wireless device of claim 15 , the processing module further configured to:
determine a coding format according to the signal field;
arrange at least one bit in the signal field to comply with a channel width; and
generate a coded signal field according to the coding format and the at least one bit in said signal field.
17. The wireless device of claim 16 , the processing module further configured to:
identify a number of reserve bits included in the signal field; and
determine the coding format based on the number of reserve bits.
18. The wireless device of claim 15 , the processing module further configured to:
configure the signal field to include a rate/mode subfield.
19. The wireless device of claim 18 , the processing module further configured to:
configuring the rate/mode subfield to include data indicating a channel width.
20. The device of claim 15 , the wireless transceiver configured to:
transmit a portion of the frame that includes the initial signal field within a legacy channel; and
transmit a portion of the frame not including the initial signal field within a guard band between legacy channels.
21. The wireless device of claim 15 , wherein:
the processing module is further configured to insert a legacy packet header into the legacy preamble of the frame; and
the transceiver is further configured to transmit the legacy preamble of the frame within a header spectral portion of a legacy channel.