Abstract: Management frame map directed operational parameters within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A management frame map may be generated within and transmitted from a first wireless communication device to a number of other wireless communication devices. Thereafter, certain subsequently transmitted packets may be analyzed and processed by the receiving wireless communication devices based on that earlier received management frame map. One or more operational parameters are determined for a subsequently transmitted packet based on the previously received management frame map; such operational parameters then govern the manner in which at least a portion of the subsequently transmitted packet is processed.

Abstract: Group identification and definition within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A group identification definition field may be transmitted to a number of receiving devices for use in interpreting current or subsequently received packets that include a group identification field (group ID). The group ID can serve a number of functions such as indicating those receiving devices for which the packet is intended, the identification of fields within the packet corresponding to the various devices, certain parameters (e.g., code type, code rate, modulation type, etc.) associated with such fields within the packet, etc. The group identification definition field may be updated or modified to allow for modification of the manner in which subsequent packets, including respective group IDs, are processed. One of a variety of events may direct the group identification definition field may be updated or modified.

Abstract: Management frame directed cluster assignment within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. From a first wireless communication device, a management frame may be transmitted to a number of other wireless communication devices to assign respective clusters (i.e., cluster being one or more channels within one or more bands) for use in communications by those other wireless communication devices. The first wireless communication device may be an access point (AP), and the others may be wireless stations (STAs); alternatively, all of the wireless communication devices in the communication system (e.g., including the first wireless communication device) may be STAs. The cluster assignment may be modified for any of a number of various reasons (e.g., periodically, after a certain number of packets being transmitted and/or received, communication system operating condition change, change in number, type, capabilities, etc.

Abstract: Mixed mode operations within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Certain communication systems can include wireless communication devices of various capabilities therein (e.g., IEEE Task Group ac (TGac VHT), IEEE 802.11 amendment TGn, IEEE 802.11 amendment TGa, and/or other capabilities, etc.). In one manner of classification, wireless communication devices having legacy and newer/updated capabilities may inter-operate with one another, operate within a common region, and/or communicate via a common access point (AP). Coordination of such wireless communication devices (e.g., legacy and newer/updated) provides for their respective operation on a same set of clusters in accordance with various operational modes including: (1) time dividing medium access between the wireless communication devices of various capabilities, (2) assigning primary cluster(s) for a first capability set and assigning non-primary cluster(s) for a second capability set, etc.

Abstract: Transmission coordination within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within wireless communication systems, there can be various wireless communication devices therein that are not all compliant with a common capability set, communication protocol, communication standard, recommended practice, etc. For example, some communication systems may have some wireless communication devices characterized as ‘legacy’ wireless communication devices, and other wireless communication devices therein may be newer and compliant with newer capability sets, communication protocols, communication standards, recommended practices, etc. In such instances, coordination of transmissions among the various wireless communication devices may be made, when performing simultaneous transmissions, by ensuring that transmissions of devices on different channels is made when aligned on a common boundary of an OFDM symbol.

Abstract: Cluster parsing for signaling within multi-user wireless communication systems. Cluster assignment allows for complete flexibility across a variety of operational parameters in accordance with communications provided from a transmitting wireless communication device to a number of receiving wireless communication devices. For example, an access point (AP) may communicate to a number of wireless stations (STAs) in accordance with multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and/or MU-MIMO/OFDMA. The selectivity may involve employing different antenna for communicating with each of the respective, receiving wireless communication devices. Also, the formation of a cluster employed in such communications may involve using as few as one channel within one band, different channels within a single band, different channels within different bands, or other combinations.

Abstract: Adaptive and selective frame formats within multiple user, multiple access, and/or multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communications. A reconfigurable channel circuitry, that may be implemented to communicate with one, a subset, or all of various blocks within a communication device provides for adaptive and selective frame formatting of communications between the communication device and other communication devices. In a wireless communication device context, and also in the context of multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO communications (e.g., multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) and/or orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), etc.), frame formatting may be adapted in accordance with a number of parameters including: the one or more users with which communications are to be made, the clusters (e.g., channel, band, frequency, etc.) employed for such communications, the one or more antennae (e.g.

Abstract: Transmission acknowledgement within multi-user wireless communication systems. Within multi-access wireless communication systems such as those operating in accordance with multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and/or MU-MIMO/OFDMA, acknowledgement of receipt (e.g., using ACKs) is provided back to the sending or transmitting wireless communication device from each (or a subset) of the intended recipient wireless communication devices. Appropriate coordination of these ACKs from the respective, receiving wireless communication devices may be performed using instructions embedded within a multi-user packet that is provided to the receiving wireless communication devices.

Abstract: Scheduled clear to send (CTS) for multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Before sending transmissions, a request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) exchange takes place between a transmitting wireless communication device and multiple receiving wireless communication devices may take place therein. The transmitting wireless communication device (e.g., an AP) may generate and transmit a multi-user request to send (mRTS) frame to a number of receiving wireless communication devices (e.g., STAs). The mRTS frame can include information and instructions therein to direct the manner by which all or a subset of the receiving wireless communication devices are to provide CTS responses back to the transmitting wireless communication device. The mRTS frame may be an OFDMA frame, a MU-MIMO frame, or a combination thereof. The CTS responses may be received in accordance with any one or combination of OFDM signaling, OFDMA signaling, and MU-MIMO signaling.

Abstract: Medium accessing mechanisms within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A multi-user super-frame (MU-SF), as controlled by a MU-SF owner, is used to govern the manner by which various wireless communication devices have access to the communication medium. When various wireless communication devices operate within a wireless communication system, communication medium access can be handled differently for wireless communication devices having different capabilities. Per the MU-SF, those having a first capability may get medium access in accordance with a first operational mode (e.g., carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA)), while those having a second capability may get medium access in accordance with a second operational mode (e.g., scheduled access).

Abstract: Carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) for multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. In wireless communication systems that operate in supporting communications via one or more clusters, appropriate determination of when to begin making such transmissions on one or more clusters is made in accordance with intelligent carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) that may be performed in a number of different ways. In accordance with this, a cluster may be any combination composed of one or more channels among one or more bands. In supporting multi-cluster access, CSMA may be performed in selecting a primary cluster and performing backoff (e.g., countdown) thereon. After backoff is finished for the primary cluster, and the availability of one or more others clusters is checked, transmissions may be made using the available clusters. Alternatively, backoff may be made for each or multiple (a subset of) clusters or even individually for each respective cluster.

Abstract: Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within such communication systems, there can be a number of devices (e.g., STAs) that communicate with a single device (e.g., AP). A multi-cast sounding frame may be transmitted from a transmitting device to a number of receiving devices. Appropriate scheduling or ordering of feedback signals from some or all of the receiving devices may be performed explicitly (e.g., sounding frame sent from the transmitting device to a receiving device) or implicitly (e.g., control information sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device, sounding frame sent to the transmitting device from the receiving device). Such characterization and training is with respect to a channel or path in which data will subsequently follow. Such characterization and training can be performed in accordance with group membership (e.g., with respect to only some of the receiving devices).

Abstract: Classifier for communication device. A communication device includes a classifier and a number of PHY (physical layer) receivers communicatively coupled thereto that enable the communication device to process various received signal types. Each of the PHY receivers is operable to perform pre-processing of a received frame (or packet) of data and to calculate a confidence level indicating whether the received frame is intended for that particular PHY receiver; this pre-processing does not involve processing (e.g., demodulation and/or decoding) of the received frame. Those PHY receivers having sufficiently high confidence levels assert claims to the classifier for the received frame. The classifier is operable to arbitrate between competing claims by 2 or more PHY receivers and to ensure that the received frame is provided to the PHY receiver for which it is intended.

Abstract: Algebraic method to construct LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes with parity check matrix having CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices. A novel approach is presented by which identity sub-matrices undergo cyclic shifting, thereby generating CSI sub-matrices that are arranged forming a parity check matrix of an LDPC code. The parity check matrix of the LDPC code may correspond to a regular LDPC code, or the parity check matrix of the LDPC code may undergo further modification to transform it to that of an irregular LDPC code. The parity check matrix of the LDPC code may be partitioned into 2 sub-matrices such that one of these 2 sub-matrices is transformed to be a block dual diagonal matrix; the other of these 2 sub-matrices may be modified using a variety of means, including the density evolution approach, to ensure the desired bit and check degrees of the irregular LDPC code.

Abstract: Classifier for communication device. A communication device includes a classifier and a number of PHY (physical layer) receivers communicatively coupled thereto that enable the communication device to process various received signal types. Each of the PHY receivers is operable to perform pre-processing of a received frame (or packet) of data and to calculate a confidence level indicating whether the received frame is intended for that particular PHY receiver; this pre-processing does not involve processing (e.g., demodulation and/or decoding) of the received frame. Those PHY receivers having sufficiently high confidence levels assert claims to the classifier for the received frame. The classifier is operable to arbitrate between competing claims by 2 or more PHY receivers and to ensure that the received frame is provided to the PHY receiver for which it is intended.

Abstract: Algebraic method to construct LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes with parity check matrix having CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices. A novel approach is presented by which identity sub-matrices undergo cyclic shifting, thereby generating CSI sub-matrices that are arranged forming a parity check matrix of an LDPC code. The parity check matrix of the LDPC code may correspond to a regular LDPC code, or the parity check matrix of the LDPC code may undergo further modification to transform it to that of an irregular LDPC code. The parity check matrix of the LDPC code may be partitioned into 2 sub-matrices such that one of these 2 sub-matrices is transformed to be a block dual diagonal matrix; the other of these 2 sub-matrices may be modified using a variety of means, including the density evolution approach, to ensure the desired bit and check degrees of the irregular LDPC code.

Abstract: LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) coding and interleaving implemented in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. As described herein, a wide variety of irregular LDPC codes may be generated using GRS or RS codes. A variety of communication device types are also presented that may employ the error correcting coding (ECC) using a GRS-based irregular LDPC code, along with appropriately selected interleaving, to provide for communications using ECC. These communication devices may be implemented to in wireless communication systems including those that comply with the recommendation practices and standards being developed by the IEEE 802.11n Task Group (i.e., the Task Group that is working to develop a standard for 802.11 TGn (High Throughput)).

Abstract: A method of transmitting data packets over a non-dedicated local area network channel susceptible to random burst and/or white gaussian noise channel errors. Each data packet is encoded to form an error correctable encoded data packet, which is then interleaved, modulated and transmitted over the channel. The channel can be a telephone line. The encoding includes performing Reed Solomon encoding on each data packet to form Reed Solomon error correctable encoded data packets. Each data packet is cyclic redundancy check encoded prior to performing Reed Solomon encoding. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of receiving data packets over a non-dedicated local area network channel, and a corresponding system for transmitting and receiving data packets over a non-dedicated local area network channel.

Abstract: Maximum likelihood detection of signals in a MIMO receiver. A system transformation is obtained by selecting a weighting matrix that when linearly transforming a channel utilized for wireless communication, results in a particular transformed triangular matrix. The weighting matrix is then used to provide a transformed vector for a received signal that allows a search in one constellation. In searching the constellation recursion values are used to calculate the Euclidean distances between set points of the constellation and the location on the constellation corresponding to the received signal for both bit values 0 and 1. Minimum Euclidean distances are determined for bit values 0 and 1 and the difference of the minimum Euclidean distances is used to compute the maximum likelihood value for bits contained in the received signal.

Abstract: LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) coding and interleaving implemented in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. As described herein, a wide variety of irregular LDPC codes may be generated using GRS or RS codes. A variety of communication device types are also presented that may employ the error correcting coding (ECC) using a GRS-based irregular LDPC code, along with appropriately selected interleaving, to provide for communications using ECC. These communication devices may be implemented to in wireless communication systems including those that comply with the recommendation practices and standards being developed by the IEEE 802.11n Task Group (i.e., the Task Group that is working to develop a standard for 802.11 TGn (High Throughput)).