AUTO-DETECTION OF A PHYSICAL LAYER PROTOCOL DATA UNIT (PPDU) FORMAT FOR NEXT GENERATION WIRELESS NETWORKS

1 . A method performed by a wireless device operating in a wireless network to transmit a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) having a PPDU format that can be auto-detected, the method comprising:

generating the PPDU to include a legacy signal field, a repeated legacy signal field, a non-legacy signal field, and a repeated non-legacy signal field; and

wirelessly transmitting the PPDU, wherein non-legacy wireless devices are able to determine that the PPDU has a particular non-legacy PPDU format based on detecting repetitions of the legacy signal field and the non-legacy signal field in the PPDU.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the PPDU is generated to further include a legacy short training field, a repeated legacy short training field, a legacy long training field, and a repeated long training field.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the legacy signal field indicates a length of the PPDU, wherein the non-legacy wireless devices are able to determine that the PPDU has the particular non-legacy PPDU format further based on the length of the PPDU indicated in the legacy signal field being a multiple of three.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the PPDU is transmitted in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) band.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular non-legacy PPDU format is provided by a particular version of a wireless networking standard.

6 . A method performed by a wireless device operating in a wireless network to auto-detect a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) format of a PPDU, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving the PPDU;

determining that the PPDU has a particular non-legacy PPDU format based on detecting a legacy signal field, a repeated legacy signal field, a non-legacy signal field, and a repeated non-legacy signal field in the PPDU; and

interpreting the PPDU as having the particular non-legacy PPDU format in response to determining that the PPDU has the particular non-legacy PPDU format.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the PPDU further includes a legacy short training field, a repeated legacy short training field, a legacy long training field, and a repeated long training field that precede the legacy signal field, the repeated legacy signal field, the non-legacy signal field, and the repeated non-legacy signal field.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the PPDU is determined to have the particular non-legacy PPDU format further based on a determination that a length of the PPDU indicated in the legacy signal field is a multiple of three.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the PPDU is received in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) band.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the particular non-legacy PPDU format is provided by a particular version of a wireless networking standard.

11 . A wireless device comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver;

a memory device storing a set of instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the set of instructions when executed by the processor causes the wireless device to:

generate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) that includes a legacy signal field, a repeated legacy signal field, a non-legacy signal field, and a repeated non-legacy signal field and

wirelessly transmit the PPDU via the radio frequency transceiver, wherein non-legacy wireless devices are able to determine that the PPDU has a particular non-legacy PPDU format based on detecting repetitions of the legacy signal field and the non-legacy signal field in the PPDU.

12 . The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the PPDU is generated to further include a legacy short training field, a repeated legacy short training field, a legacy long training field, and a repeated long training field.

13 . The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the legacy signal field indicates a length of the PPDU, wherein the non-legacy wireless devices are able to determine that the PPDU has the particular non-legacy PPDU format further based on the length of the PPDU indicated in the legacy signal field being a multiple of three.

14 . The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the PPDU is transmitted in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) band.

15 . The wireless device of claim 11 , wherein the particular non-legacy PPDU format is provided by a particular version of a wireless networking standard.

16 . A wireless device comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver;

a memory device storing a set of instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the set of instructions when executed by the processor causes the wireless device to:

wirelessly receive a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU),

determining that the PPDU has a particular non-legacy PPDU format based on detecting a legacy signal field, a repeated legacy signal field, a non-legacy signal field, and a repeated non-legacy signal field in the PPDU, and

interpreting the PPDU as having the particular non-legacy PPDU format in response to determining that the PPDU has the particular non-legacy PPDU format.

17 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein the PPDU further includes a legacy short training field, a repeated legacy short training field, a legacy long training field, and a repeated long training field that precede the legacy signal field, the repeated legacy signal field, the non-legacy signal field, and the repeated non-legacy signal field.

18 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein the PPDU is determined to have the particular non-legacy PPDU format further based on a determination that a length of the PPDU indicated in the legacy signal field is a multiple of three.

19 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein the PPDU is received in a 6 Gigahertz (GHz) band.

20 . The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein the particular non-legacy PPDU format is provided by a particular version of a wireless networking standard.