Method of Communication Encoding with Space Time Block Codes

1 . Method of communication comprising, at transmitting side, encoding, with one or more space time block codes chosen among a predetermined group of space time block codes, one or more series of several consecutive symbols in a header of a packet of data of a same data format, said space time block code or said succession of space time block codes being chosen so as to be representative of said data format.

2 . Method of communication comprising, at receiving side:

identifying a space time block code or a succession of space time block codes by analyzing one or more series of several consecutive symbols in a header of a packet of data of a same data format, previously encoded with one or more space time block codes chosen among a predetermined group of space time block codes in such a way that said space time block code or said succession of space time block codes is representative of said data format,

associating said data format to said identified space time block code or said identified succession of space time block codes, and

adapting at least one of the data receiving parameters to said associated data format.

3 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein all space time block codes belonging to said predetermined group of space time block codes are orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal space time block codes, and preferably are orthogonal space time block codes.

4 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein the only difference between all orthogonal space time block codes of said predetermined group is the sense of their orthogonality.

5 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein said consecutive symbols (x 1 , x 2 ) themselves vehicle an information different from said data format ( 11 to 44 ).

6 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein said data format contains two pieces of information, one piece of information related to the data frame format and one piece of information related to the channel bandwidth.

7 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein communication between transmitting side and receiving side is performed via a multichannel connection, one or part of or all of the different channels of the multichannel connection being usable.

8 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein said data packet presents a predetermined segmented structure.

9 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein all said space time block codes are each represented by a 2 by 2 matrix, wherein all said space time block codes are preferably Alamouti codes, and wherein said predetermined group preferably comprises 4 different space time block codes.

10 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein said communication is wireless, and is preferably according to WIFI protocol.

11 . Method of communication according to claim 10 , wherein said communication is performed according to standard IEEE 802.11, preferably IEEE 802.11 ac, and wherein said encoded consecutive symbols are located in SIG type segments of said header.

12 . Method of communication according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises, at transmitting side, encoding, with one or more space time block codes chosen among a predetermined group of space time block codes, one or more series of several other consecutive symbols in said header of said packet, said space time block code or said succession of space time block codes being chosen so as to be representative of a time synchronization parameter of said packet, all space time block codes being preferably orthogonal space time block codes.

13 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a data-processing unit and adapted to cause execution of the method according to claim 1 when the computer program is run by the data-processing unit.

14 . A transmitter comprising:

at least two transmitting antennas,

one encoder adapted to encode, with one or more space time block codes chosen among a predetermined group of space time block codes, one or more series of several consecutive symbols in a header of a packet of data of a same data format, said space time block code or said succession of space time block codes being chosen so as to be representative of said data format.

15 . A receiver comprising:

at least a receiving antenna,

a decoder adapted to:

identify a space time block code or a succession of space time block codes by analyzing one or more series of several consecutive symbols in a header of a packet of data of a same data format, previously encoded with one or more space time block codes chosen among a predetermined group of space time block codes, in such a way that said space time block code or said succession of space time block codes is representative of said data format,

associate said data format to said identified space time block code or said identified succession of space time block codes, and

adapt at least one of its data receiving parameters to said associated data format.