Frequency selective transmission within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
View Patent ↗Frequency selective transmission within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Adaptation among different respective sub-channels and/or channels is effectuated within a wireless communication system. Such a wireless communication system may include an access point (AP) and one or more wireless stations (STAs). The respective channelization employed for various communications between the devices within such a wireless communication system may be adapted based upon any of a number of considerations. For example, a receiver communication device may indicate to a transmitter communication device one or more preferred sub-channels and/or channels on which subsequent communications are to be performed. Alternatively, a transmitter communication device may employ such information provided from one or more receiver communication devices as one of multiple respective considerations regarding which one or more sub-channels and/or channels on which subsequent communications are to be performed.
1. An access point (AP) comprising:
a communication interface configured to:
transmit at least one first signal including a plurality of sounding symbols to a plurality of wireless stations (STAs), wherein the plurality of sounding symbols indicate a subset of sub-channels within at least one channel being sounded; and
receive at least one second signal from at least one of the plurality of STAs via one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels;
a processor configured to:
generate the plurality of sounding symbols;
adaptively determine at least one sub-channel from the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels within the at least one channel for use in at least one subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of STAs, wherein receipt of the at least one second signal via the at least one second signal indirectly or implicitly indicates the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels within the at least one channel being preferred by the at least one of the plurality of STAs over another one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels within the at least one channel not used for receipt of the at least one second signal.
2. The AP of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second signal also indicating a plurality of preference levels such that each of the plurality of preference levels corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of sub-channels or a respective one subset of the plurality of sub-channels.
3. The AP of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sub-channel within at least one channel including a first sub-channel within a first channel and a second sub-channel within the first channel or within a second channel.
4. The AP of claim 1 further comprising:
the communication interface configured to:
transmit at least a third signal to the at least one of the plurality of STAs via the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel at or during a first time; and
receive at least one fourth signal from the at least one of the plurality of STAs;
transmit at least a fifth signal to the at least one of the plurality of STAs via at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or within the at least one additional channel at or during a second time; and
the processor configured adaptively configured to determine the at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or at least one additional channel for use in at least one additional subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of STAs.
5. An apparatus comprising:
a communication interface configured to:
transmit at least one first signal including the plurality of sounding symbols to a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the plurality of sounding symbols indicate a subset of sub-channels within at least one channel being sounded; and
receive at least one second signal from at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels; and
a processor configured to:
generate the plurality of sounding symbols; and
select at least one sub-channel from the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels for use in at least one subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on receipt of the at least one second signal via the one or more sub-channels that indicates the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels being preferred by the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the subset of sub-channels.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one second signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices indirectly or implicitly indicating the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel for use in the at least one subsequent communication.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein: the at least one second signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices indirectly or implicitly indicating a plurality of sub-channels within the at least one channel, including the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel, and also indicating a plurality of preference levels such that each of the plurality of preference levels corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of sub-channels or a respective one subset of the plurality of sub-channels.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one channel is one of a plurality of channels; and
each of the plurality of channels has a common or uniform bandwidth.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
the at least one channel is one of a plurality of channels;
a first of the plurality of channels has a first bandwidth; and
a second of the plurality of channels has a second bandwidth that is different than the first bandwidth.
10. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one sub-channel within at least one channel including a first sub-channel within a first channel and a second sub-channel within the first channel or within a second channel.
11. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
the communication interface configured to receive at least one third signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices; and
based on the at least one third signal, the processor adaptively configured to determine at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or at least one additional channel for use in the at least one subsequent communication or at least one additional subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.
12. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
the communication interface configured to:
transmit at least a third signal to the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel at or during a first time; and
receive at least one fourth signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
transmit at least a fifth signal to the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via the at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or within the at least one additional channel at or during a second time; and
the processor configured adaptively configured to determine the at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or at least one additional channel for use in at least one additional subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.
13. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:
an access point (AP), wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices include a plurality of wireless stations (STAs).
14. A method for execution by a first communication device, the method comprising:
generating a plurality of sounding symbols for transmission to a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein the plurality of sounding symbols indicate a subset of sub-channels within at least one channel being sounded; and
via a communication interface of the communication device:
transmitting at least one first signal including the plurality of sounding symbols to the plurality of wireless communication devices; and
receiving at least one second signal from at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels; and
selecting at least one sub-channel from the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels for use in at least one subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on receipt of the at least one second signal via the one or more sub-channels that indicates the one or more sub-channels of the subset of sub-channels being preferred by the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices within the subset of sub-channels.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one second signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices indirectly or implicitly indicating a plurality of sub-channels within the at least one channel, including the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel, and also indicating a plurality of preference levels such that each of the plurality of preference levels corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of sub-channels or a respective one subset of the plurality of sub-channels.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the at least one channel is one of a plurality of channels; and
each of the plurality of channels has a common or uniform bandwidth.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the at least one channel is one of a plurality of channels;
a first of the plurality of channels has a first bandwidth; and
a second of the plurality of channels has a second bandwidth that is different than the first bandwidth.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sub-channel within at least one channel including a first sub-channel within a first channel and a second sub-channel within the first channel or within a second channel.
19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
via the communication interface of the communication device:
transmitting at least a third signal to the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via the at least one sub-channel within the at least one channel at or during a first time; and
receiving at least one fourth signal from the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
based on the at least one fourth signal, adaptively determining at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or at least one additional channel for use in at least one additional subsequent communication with the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices; and
via the communication interface of the communication device, transmitting at least a fifth signal to the at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices via the at least one additional sub-channel within the at least one channel or within the at least one additional channel at or during a second time.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the communication device is an access point (AP), and the at least one additional communication device is a wireless station (STA).