Transmitting control or status information in an MPDU delimiter
A first communication device generates a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) delimiter having i) a feedback indication field and ii) a feedback content field. The feedback indication field is generated to include a first value that indicates the MPDU delimiter includes the feedback content field rather than an MPDU length field corresponding to a second value of the feedback indication field. The feedback content field is generated to include feedback information such as acknowledgement information regarding a communication frame previously transmitted by a second communication device, or control, management, and/or status information regarding the first communication device that was previously requested by the second communication device. The first communication device then transmits a packet that includes the MPDU delimiter to the second communication device.
1. A method in a wireless communication network for providing status information, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first communication device, a request from a second communication device for status information regarding the first communication device;
in response to receiving the request, generating, at the first communication device, a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) delimiter having i) a feedback indication field and ii) a feedback content field, wherein generating the MPDU delimiter includes:
generating the feedback indication field to include a first value that indicates the MPDU delimiter includes the feedback content field rather than an MPDU length field corresponding to a second value of the feedback indication field, and
generating the feedback content field to include requested status information regarding the first communication device; and
in response to receiving the request, transmitting, by the first communication device, a packet that includes the MPDU delimiter.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the MPDU delimiter further comprises:
generating the MPDU delimiter to further include a feedback type field to include an indication of a type of content in the feedback content field, wherein the type of content is selected from a plurality of different types of content.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of different types of content comprises at least two of:
buffer status information;
channel availability information; and
station readiness information.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of different types of content further comprises:
acknowledgment information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the MPDU delimiter further comprises:
generating the MPDU delimiter to further include a delimiter signature field to include a predefined bit pattern for detection, at the second communication device, of the MPDU delimiter.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating an aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) that includes the MPDU delimiter; and
generating the packet to include the A-MPDU.
7. A wireless device, comprising:
a network interface device associated with a first communication device, wherein the network interface device is implemented on one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, and wherein the network interface device is configured to:
receive a request from a second communication device for status information regarding the first communication device, and
in response to receiving the request, generate a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) delimiter having i) a feedback indication field and ii) a feedback content field, wherein generating the MPDU delimiter includes:
generating the feedback indication field to include a first value that indicates the MPDU delimiter includes the feedback content field rather than an MPDU length field corresponding to a second value of the feedback indication field, and
generating the feedback content field to include requested status information regarding the first communication device;
wherein the network interface device is further configured to transmit a packet that includes the MPDU delimiter in response to receiving the request.
8. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the network interface device is further configured to:
generate the MPDU delimiter to further include a feedback type field to include an indication of a type of content in the feedback content field, wherein the type of content is selected from a plurality of different types of content.
9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of different types of content comprises at least two of:
buffer status information;
channel availability information; and
station readiness information.
10. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of different types of content further comprises:
acknowledgment information.
11. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the network interface device is further configured to:
generate the MPDU delimiter to further include a delimiter signature field to include a predefined bit pattern for detection, at the second communication device, of the MPDU delimiter.
12. The wireless device of claim 7 , wherein the network interface device is further configured to:
generate an aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) that includes the MPDU delimiter; and
generate the packet to include the A-MPDU.
13. A method in a wireless communication network for acknowledging a communication frame, the method comprising:
receiving, at a first communication device, the communication frame from a second communication device;
in response to receiving the communication frame, generating, at the first communication device, a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) delimiter having i) a feedback indication field and ii) a feedback content field, wherein generating the MPDU delimiter includes:
generating the feedback indication field to include a first value that indicates the MPDU delimiter includes the feedback content field rather than an MPDU length field corresponding to a second value of the feedback indication field, and
generating the feedback content field to include acknowledgment information regarding the communication frame; and
in response to receiving the communication frame, transmitting, by the first communication device, a packet that includes the MPDU delimiter.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the MPDU delimiter further comprises:
generating the MPDU delimiter to further include a feedback type field to include an indication that the MPDU delimiter include acknowledgment information, wherein the type of content is selected from a plurality of different types of content.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of different types of content comprises acknowledgment information, and at least one of:
buffer status information;
channel availability information; and
station readiness information.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the MPDU delimiter further comprises:
generating the MPDU delimiter to further include a delimiter signature field to include a predefined bit pattern for detection, at the second communication device, of the MPDU delimiter.
17. A wireless device, comprising:
a network interface device associated with a first communication device, wherein the network interface device is implemented on one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, and wherein the network interface device is configured to:
receive a communication frame from a second communication device, and
in response to receiving the communication frame, generate a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) delimiter having i) a feedback indication field and ii) a feedback content field, wherein generating the MPDU delimiter includes:
generating the feedback indication field to include a first value that indicates the MPDU delimiter includes the feedback content field rather than an MPDU length field corresponding to a second value of the feedback indication field, and
generating the feedback content field to include acknowledgment information regarding the communication frame;
wherein the network interface device is further configured to transmit a packet that includes the MPDU delimiter in response to receiving the communication frame.
18. The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the network interface device is further configured to:
generate the MPDU delimiter to further include a feedback type field to include an indication that the MPDU delimiter includes acknowledgment information, wherein the type of content is selected from a plurality of different types of content.
19. The wireless device of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of different types of content comprises acknowledgment information, and at least one of:
buffer status information;
channel availability information; and
station readiness information.
20. The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the network interface device is further configured to:
generate the MPDU delimiter to further include a delimiter signature field to include a predefined bit pattern for detection, at the second communication device, of the MPDU delimiter.