Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for embedding one or more bits of 802.11 Very High Throughput (VHT) information in existing IEEE 802.11 preamble fields are provided. As will be described herein, because different combinations of modulation techniques, coding schemes, and transmission lengths result in the same transmit time (e.g., in terms of symbol length), a clever choice of modulation, coding, and length may allow some extra information to be embedded in a legacy field for use by VHT stations. In this manner, the total VHT preamble transmission time may potentially be reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the physical layer (PHY). Moreover, the embedded bits may most likely be invisible to legacy stations, since the transmission time that such stations compute will be independent of these bits by design.

Abstract: Techniques for resolving blinded-node problems are described herein. One aspect operates on the physical (PHY) layer only, which a second layer operates on the medium access control (MAC) layer. Both aspects involve having a node stop processing a data packet that is not destined for it so as to be able to reserve its resources to detect control and other packets. An apparatus for implementing the techniques are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for using at least one of omni-directional and directional antennas for communication are described. A station may be equipped antenna elements selectable for use as an omni-directional antenna or one or more directional antennas. The station may select the omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna for use for communication based on various factors such as, e.g., whether the location or direction of a target station for communication is known, whether control frames or data frames are being exchanged, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing system configured to establish a link with any one of a plurality of access points in a mesh network, each of the access points providing the apparatus with a different data path through the mesh network. The processing system is further configured to compute a metric for each of the data paths and select one of the access points to establish the link with based on the metrics. In a centralized mesh network, an apparatus includes a processing system configured to compute, for each of the access points, a metric for each of a plurality of data paths supportable by that access point, and establish interconnections between the access points based on the metrics.

Abstract: A wireless node having a MAC layer configured to coordinate access to a shared wireless medium using a MAC protocol, a PHY layer configured to provide an interface to the shared wireless medium, and a HARQ layer between the MAC and PHY layers, the HARQ layer being configured to support HARQ using the MAC protocol.

Abstract: Techniques for selecting rates for data transmission on eigenmodes of a MIMO channel are described. An access point transmits an unsteered MIMO pilot via the downlink. A user terminal estimates the downlink channel quality based on the downlink unsteered MIMO pilot and transmits an unsteered MIMO pilot and feedback information via the uplink. The feedback information is indicative of the downlink channel quality. The access point estimates the uplink channel quality and obtains a channel response matrix based on the uplink unsteered MIMO pilot, decomposes the channel response matrix to obtain eigenvectors and channel gains for the eigenmodes of the downlink, and selects rates for the eigenmodes based on the estimated uplink channel quality, the channel gains for the eigenmodes, and the feedback information. The access point processes data based on the selected rates and transmits steered data and a steered MIMO pilot on the eigenmodes with the eigenvectors.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a protocol for calibration of an access point in a wireless network.

Abstract: Different methods of signaling between an access point and user terminals in a multiuser wireless system for performing a minimum mean square error (MMSE) precoding at the access point preceded with eigenmode selection are provided. For one embodiment of the present disclosure, a compact feedback may be utilized between a plurality of user terminals and the access point. For another embodiment of the present disclosure, a hybrid feedback may be utilized between the plurality of user terminals and the access point. For yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a full feedback may be utilized between the plurality of user terminals and the access point.

Abstract: Techniques for using at least one of omni-directional and directional antennas for communication are described. A station may be equipped antenna elements selectable for use as an omni-directional antenna or one or more directional antennas. The station may select the omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna for use for communication based on various factors such as, e.g., whether the location or direction of a target station for communication is known, whether control frames or data frames are being exchanged, etc.

Abstract: Techniques for using at least one of omni-directional and directional antennas for communication are described. A station may be equipped antenna elements selectable for use as an omni-directional antenna or one or more directional antennas. The station may select the omni-directional antenna or a directional antenna for use for communication based on various factors such as, e.g., whether the location or direction of a target station for communication is known, whether control frames or data frames are being exchanged, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for communications by which a data packet is generated for transmission to a node, or by which a data packet is received from a node, the data packet including a header and data, wherein a channel designation for a node to send an acknowledgement to an apparatus or a transmitting node is embedded in the header of the data packet.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for communications by which a physical layer packet is generated for transmission to a node, or by which a physical layer packet is received from a node, the physical layer packet having a plurality of MAC packets, wherein the physical layer packet includes a transmission schedule associated with the plurality of MAC packets in the physical layer packet.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for controlling the transmit power of an uplink (UL) signal from a user terminal in a wireless communications system in an effort to achieve some target characteristic, such as a target carrier-to-interference (C/I) ratio, at an access point (AP) are provided. In this manner, such a user terminal may help avoid or compensate for imbalances in received radio frequency (RF) power between UL signals received from multiple user terminals by the AP. For example, the transmit power at each user terminal may be controlled in an effort to achieve a target post-processing C/I ratio of 28 dB per spatial stream in an effort to reduce large power imbalances and optimize throughput per user terminal. The user terminal and the AP may compose part of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system utilizing spatial-division multiple access (SDMA) techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communications are disclosed. The apparatus may include a processing system configured to send data to a node on a first channel and receive an acknowledgement to the data from the node, the processing system being further configured to determine whether a second channel is available from information contained in the acknowledgement.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for embedding one or more bits of 802.11 Very High Throughput (VHT) information in existing IEEE 802.11 preamble fields are provided. As will be described herein, because different combinations of modulation techniques, coding schemes, and transmission lengths result in the same transmit time (e.g., in terms of symbol length), a clever choice of modulation, coding, and length may allow some extra information to be embedded in a legacy field for use by VHT stations. In this manner, the total VHT preamble transmission time may potentially be reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the physical layer (PHY). Moreover, the embedded bits may most likely be invisible to legacy stations, since the transmission time that such stations compute will be independent of these bits by design.

Abstract: To select a transmission mode to use for a data transmission via a MIMO channel from station A to station B, station A obtains channel information used for spatial processing and determines the age of this information. Station A selects one of multiple transmission modes based on the age of the channel information and possibly other information (e.g., the fading characteristic of the MIMO channel). To select rate(s) to use for the data transmission, station A obtains channel state information (CSI) indicative of the received signal quality for the MIMO channel, e.g., received SNRs or “initial” rates. Station A determines the age of the CSI and selects one or more “final” rates based on the CSI, the age of the CSI, the selected transmission mode, and possibly other information. Station A processes data in accordance with the selected transmission mode and final rate(s) and transmits the processed data to station B.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dynamic interference management for wireless networks are disclosed. A node in a wireless network is configured to determine whether to cease transmissions during a period of time designated for a first node to transmit to a second node based on at least parameter relating to a channel between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: An adaptable decision parameter is used to determine whether to react to resource utilization messages. The decision parameter may comprise a decision threshold that is adapted based on received resource utilization messages. The decision parameter may comprise a probability that is used to determine whether to react to a received resource utilization message. Such a probability may be based on, for example, one or more channel conditions, the number of interferers seen by a node, the number of received resource utilization messages, or some other form of resource utilization message-related information.

Abstract: An adaptable decision parameter is used to determine whether to react to resource utilization messages. The decision parameter may comprise a decision threshold that is adapted based on received resource utilization messages. The decision parameter may comprise a probability that is used to determine whether to react to a received resource utilization message. Such a probability may be based on, for example, one or more channel conditions, the number of interferers seen by a node, the number of received resource utilization messages, or some other form of resource utilization message-related information.

Abstract: A wireless node having a MAC layer configured to coordinate access to a shared wireless medium using a MAC protocol, a PHY layer configured to provide an interface to the shared wireless medium, and a HARQ layer between the MAC and PHY layers, the HARQ layer being configured to support HARQ using the MAC protocol.