Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a hybrid beamforming architecture are described. According to one embodiment, a first wireless device includes a transmitter and a baseband beamforming processing unit. The baseband beamforming processing unit includes a steering matrix calculation unit and a steering matrix cache. The steering matrix calculation unit is configured to derive a steering matrix from channel related information in a first packet received from a second wireless device. The steering matrix includes weights. The steering matrix cache is configured to (i) store the steering matrix derived from the channel related information, and (ii) provide the weights from the steering matrix to the transmitter. The transmitter is configured to, based on the weights from the steering matrix, perform transmit beamforming on a second packet being transmitted to the second wireless device from the first wireless device.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating a physical frame, the physical frame including (i) spatially steered length fields and (ii) spatially steered frames that respectively include aggregated medium access control data units (A-MPDUs) that encapsulate data, the steered length fields respectively indicating lengths of the A-MPDUs in number of four-octet units. Generating the physical frame can include including after an A-MPDU of the A-MPDUs in a steered frame of the steered frames, (i) a medium access control layer pad and (ii) a physical layer pad. A length of the medium access control layer pad and a length of the physical layer pad can be based on the physical frame.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first processing unit operating according to a first clock, a second processing unit operating according to a second clock running separately from the first clock, and a synchronization controller coupled to the first communication unit and the second communication unit. The synchronization controller is configured to (i) cause the first communication unit to generate a first indication of time at which the first processing unit transmits a signal to the second processing unit, according to the first clock, (ii) cause the second processing unit to generate a second indication of time at which the second processing unit receives the signal, according to the second clock, and (iii) determine an offset between the first clock and the second clock based on the first indication of time and the second indication of time.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with beamforming with steering submatrix selection are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet for transmit beamforming and identifying a first steering matrix. The first steering matrix includes weights, set forth in n rows and c columns, that are applicable to be applied to the packet in transmit beamforming of the packet. The method includes generating a second steering matrix having weights set forth in less than n rows or less than c columns. The weights of the second steering matrix are selected from the weights of the first steering matrix. The method includes providing the weights from the second steering matrix to a transmitter transmitting the packet for transmit beamforming of the packet.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating a physical frame and causing a transmission of the physical frame to the wireless communication device. The physical frame includes (i) one or more medium access control data units that encapsulate data for a wireless communication device, (ii) a medium access control layer pad that includes one or more padding delimiters, and (iii) a physical layer pad, wherein a length of the medium access control layer pad and a length of the physical layer pad are based on the physical frame. The one or more padding delimiters can include an end-of-frame flag to inform the wireless communication device to stop receiving a remaining portion of the physical frame.

Abstract: A first device includes a physical-layer device, an adjusting module, and a power module. The physical-layer device transmits, during each of first windows, a request signal from the first device to discover one or more network devices. The first windows occur during a first period of time. The physical-layer device receives responses to the request signal from network devices. Each of the responses is received during a respective one of the first windows. The adjusting module, based on the responses to the request signal, determines whether to adjust lengths of second windows or a number of the second windows to occur during a second period of time. The second period of time occurs subsequent to and is a same length as the first period of time. The power module, during each of the second windows, transitions the first device between being powered ON and being at least partially powered OFF.

Abstract: The present specification describes techniques for packet exchange arbitration. In some embodiments, a request is maintained to an arbiter at least until a packet exchange has been communicated and/or at least until a time-sensitive packet is communicated. In some other embodiments, a grant of a request is delayed at least until the communication of an isochronous packet.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes obtaining data for transmission to a wireless communication device, the device being configured to process incoming transmissions based on an aggregate data unit format that specifies signaling for aggregating multiple medium access control (MAC) protocol data units (MPDUs); generating, based on the data and the aggregate data unit format, an aggregate MPDU (A-MPDU) that includes a single MPDU having a length greater than zero, the single MPDU residing in a subframe of the A-MPDU; setting a delimiter of the subframe to indicate that the single MPDU is the only MPDU within the A-MPDU that has a length greater than zero, and to cause the device to accept the A-MPDU without a corresponding block acknowledgement agreement; including, in a physical (PHY) frame, the A-MPDU; and transmitting the PHY frame to the device.

Abstract: A system including a physical layer module and a control module. The physical layer module is configured to generate a first clear channel assessment for a first sub-channel of a communication channel and generate a second clear channel assessment for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The first clear channel assessment indicates whether the first sub-channel is free or busy. The second clear channel assessment indicates whether the second sub-channel is free or busy. The control module is configured to, in response to the second sub-channel being busy, extend a duration of the second clear channel assessment by a predetermined period of time, and transmit data via (i) only the first sub-channel or (ii) both the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel based on (a) the first clear channel assessment, (b) the second clear channel assessment, and (c) the extended duration of the first clear channel assessment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a hybrid beamforming architecture are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a beamforming mode detection logic configured to select a beamforming mode based, at least in part, on a packet received from a wireless device. The apparatus also includes a beamformee unit and a beamformer unit. The beamformee unit is configured to derive steering information from channel related information in the packet. The beamformer unit is configured to provide weights from a steering matrix to a transmitter performing transmit beamforming on a subsequent packet being transmitted to the wireless device. The beamforming mode detection logic routes at least part of the packet to one or both of the beamformee unit and the beamformer unit based, at least in part, on the selected beamforming mode.

Abstract: The present specification describes techniques for packet exchange arbitration. In some embodiments, a request is maintained to an arbiter at least until a packet exchange has been communicated and/or at least until a time-sensitive packet is communicated. In some other embodiments, a grant of a request is delayed at least until the communication of an isochronous packet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with beamforming with steering submatrix selection are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a steering matrix cache unit configured to store a steering matrix. The apparatus also includes a read control unit configured to select a steering submatrix from the steering matrix based, at least in part, on packet transmission instructions associated with a packet being processed for transmission. The read control unit is also configured to provide weights from the selected steering submatrix to a transmitter transmitting the packet.

Abstract: A client network device includes a physical-layer device, a parameter module, an adjusting module, and a power management module. The physical-layer device, during each client traffic window that occur within a predetermined period, (i) transmits, over a network, a request signal from the client network device to discover other network devices in the network, and (ii) receives, from one or more of the other network devices, corresponding responses to the request signal. The parameter module monitors a first parameter of the client network device. The adjusting module adjusts a second parameter based on the first parameter. The second parameter indicates a number of the client traffic windows to occur within the predetermined period. The power management module transitions the client network device from an active mode to a sleep mode between consecutive ones of the number of the client traffic windows that occur within the predetermined period.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes obtaining data for a transmission to a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device can be configured to process incoming transmissions based on an aggregate data unit format that specifies signaling for aggregating multiple medium access control (MAC) data units. The technique includes, in a physical (PHY) frame, an aggregate data unit that is based on the data and the aggregate data unit format, the aggregate data unit including a single MAC data unit. The technique includes, in the PHY frame, an indication to signal that the MAC data unit in the aggregate data unit is singular and to cause the wireless communication device to accept the aggregate data unit without a corresponding block acknowledgement agreement.

Abstract: A wireless network device comprises a first wireless communication device that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver that generates a synchronization pulse and that transmits and receives data according to a first period. A second wireless communication device receives a signal indicative of the synchronization pulse and includes a second RF transceiver that transmits and receives data according to a second period. The second period is not equal to the first period and the second wireless communication device adjusts the second period according to the first period and the synchronization pulse.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes generating a physical frame and causing a transmission of the physical frame to the wireless communication device. The physical frame includes (i) one or more medium access control data units that encapsulate data for a wireless communication device, (ii) a medium access control layer pad that includes one or more padding delimiters, and (iii) a physical layer pad, wherein a length of the medium access control layer pad and a length of the physical layer pad are based on the physical frame. The one or more padding delimiters can include an end-of-frame flag to inform the wireless communication device to stop receiving a remaining portion of the physical frame.

Abstract: A system including a physical layer module and a control module. The physical layer module is configured to generate a first clear channel assessment for a first sub-channel of a communication channel and generate a second clear channel assessment for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The first clear channel assessment indicates whether the first sub-channel is free or busy. The second clear channel assessment indicates whether the second sub-channel is free or busy. The control module is configured to, in response to the second sub-channel being busy, extend a duration of the second clear channel assessment by a predetermined period of time, and transmit data via (i) only the first sub-channel or (ii) both the first sub-channel and the second sub-channel based on (a) the first clear channel assessment, (b) the second clear channel assessment, and (c) the extended duration of the first clear channel assessment.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes obtaining data for a transmission to a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device can be configured to process incoming transmissions based on an aggregate data unit format that specifies signaling for aggregating multiple medium access control (MAC) data units. The technique includes, in a physical (PHY) frame, an aggregate data unit that is based on the data and the aggregate data unit format, the aggregate data unit including a single MAC data unit. The technique includes, in the PHY frame, an indication to signal that the MAC data unit in the aggregate data unit is singular and to cause the wireless communication device to accept the aggregate data unit without a corresponding block acknowledgement agreement.

Abstract: The present specification describes techniques for packet exchange arbitration. In some embodiments, a request is maintained to an arbiter at least until a packet exchange has been communicated and/or at least until a time-sensitive packet is communicated. In some other embodiments, a grant of a request is delayed at least until the communication of an isochronous packet.

Abstract: A system includes a signal processing module and a control module. The signal processing module receives a first clear channel assessment (CCA) signal for a first sub-channel of a communication channel, increases a pulse width of the first CCA signal by a predetermined period of time, and generates a second CCA signal. The control module receives the second CCA signal and a third CCA signal for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The control module transmits data via one of the second sub-channel and the communication channel based on the second and third CCA signals.