Content optimization of a physical layer preamble

1. A method comprising:

forming a packet for transmission on a network that operates under the IEEE 802.11ac standard, wherein the packet includes a payload, a legacy physical layer preamble and a separate physical layer preamble;

configuring said legacy physical layer preamble to be properly received by legacy stations connected to the network;

programming a legacy physical layer length value of the legacy physical layer preamble, wherein said legacy physical layer length value specifies a length of the payload and a length of the separate physical layer preamble combined, and wherein said legacy physical layer length value is configured so that a separate physical layer length value representing the length of the payload can be derived from said legacy physical layer length value, wherein the separate physical layer length value corresponds with a very high throughput-physical layer convergence protocol (VHT-PLCP) length value, and wherein the VHT-PLCP length value is derived from the legacy physical layer length value within a station receiving the packet; and

transmitting the packet to the network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said legacy physical layer length value is expressed in units of bytes.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the legacy physical layer preamble has a set number of bytes per symbol, the method further comprising;

deriving the separate physical layer length value by dividing the legacy physical layer length value by the set number of bytes per symbol and subtracting a deterministic number of symbols in the separate layer physical layer preamble.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the payload is coded using normal guard interval coding, wherein each symbol has a duration of 4 micro-seconds.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising programming the legacy physical layer length value based on a size of the payload, a deterministic number of symbols in the separate layer physical layer preamble, and a set number of bytes per symbol of the legacy physical layer preamble.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the legacy physical layer preamble has a set number of bytes per symbol, and wherein the payload is coded using short guard interval coding.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising padding the payload to eliminate a potential ambiguity in deriving the separate physical layer length value from the legacy physical layer length value.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using a bit in the separate physical layer preamble to indicate which one of two potential separate physical layer length values derived from the legacy physical layer length value is correct.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising performing a modulo 3 operation on the separate physical layer length value to determine which one of two potential separate physical layer length values derived from the legacy physical layer length value is correct.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a packet from a network that operates under the IEEE 802.11ac standard, wherein the packet includes a payload, a legacy physical layer preamble and a separate physical layer preamble; and

deriving a separate physical layer length value representing a length of the payload from a legacy physical layer length value of the legacy physical layer preamble, wherein said legacy physical layer length value specifies a length of the payload and the separate physical layer preamble combined, wherein the separate physical layer length value corresponds with a very high throughput-physical layer convergence protocol (VHT-PLCP) length value, and wherein the VHT-PLCP length value is derived from the legacy physical layer length value of the received packet, and wherein said legacy physical layer preamble is configured such that said legacy physical layer preamble can be properly received by a set of stations on the network, even if a legacy station is in said set of stations.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said legacy physical layer length value is expressed in units of bytes.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the legacy physical layer preamble has a set number of bytes per symbol, the method further comprising:

deriving the separate physical layer length value by dividing the legacy physical layer length value by the set number of bytes per symbol and subtracting a deterministic number of symbols in the separate layer physical layer preamble.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the payload is coded using normal guard interval coding, wherein each symbol has a duration of 4 micro-seconds.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising programming the legacy physical layer length value based on a size of the payload, a deterministic number of symbols in the separate layer physical layer preamble, and a set number of bytes per symbol of the legacy physical layer preamble.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the legacy physical layer preamble has a set number of bytes per symbol, and wherein the payload is coded using short guard interval coding.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the payload is padded to eliminate a potential ambiguity in deriving the separate physical layer length value from the legacy physical layer length value.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a bit in the separate physical layer preamble indicates which one of two potential separate physical layer length values derived from the legacy physical layer length value is correct.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising performing a modulo 3 operation on the separate physical layer length value to determine which one of two potential separate physical layer length values derived from the legacy physical layer length value is correct.