Abstract: An embodiment method for wireless communication includes grouping a plurality of user equipments (UEs) wirelessly coupled to a cellular base station (BS) into a UE cluster to function as a Wi-Fi virtual station (V-STA), and communicating with an access point (AP) to contend for a Wi-Fi transmission opportunity (TXOP) for the V-STA. In a further embodiment, the cellular BS contends for the TXOP on behalf of the UE cluster using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA) procedure. In an alternative embodiment, one UE in the UE cluster is selected as a leader UE to contend for the TXOP on behalf of the UE cluster using a CSMA-CA procedure.

Abstract: A method for operating a communications device adapted for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless local area network (WLAN) communications includes generating an OFDMA preamble comprising an OFDMA signal (SIG) field including an indication of an allocation of an OFDMA resource to a station, and transmitting the OFDMA preamble in a frame.

Abstract: The disclosed systems, structures, and methods are directed to a wireless local area network (WLAN) transmission architecture and transmitting methodology that combines space-time block code (STBC) encoding techniques with semi-orthogonal multiple access (SOMA) schemes to improve throughput rate performance for lower signal strength data. The transmission architecture and method includes a data processing module that is configured to digitally process and format data produced by two wireless stations. A SOMA constellation quadrature encoding module operates to apply quadrature-based modulation to the processed data and map the data to a modulation constellation based on data signal strength and data bit reliability. An STBC encoding module is configured to block encode the SOMA modulated data with orthogonal codes to produce STBC-based SOMA-symbol data having time and space diversity properties that improve throughput performance at lower signal strength levels.

Abstract: An OFDMA subframe carrying different data fields in different time segments may include a separate short training field (STF), and a separate set of long training fields (LTFs), for each of the data fields to accommodate time-reuse scheduling. Communicating a separate STF for each data field may allow receivers to re-adjust automatic gain control (AGC) when the data fields carry different numbers of space-time-streams. Likewise, communicating separate sets of LTFs for each data field may allow different beamforming parameters to be applied to different data fields.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, methods and systems for data transmissions are disclosed. A station (STA) transmits an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame to an access point (AP). The OFDM frame comprises an OFDM symbol. The OFDM symbol comprises data tones and pilot tones. The total number of the data tones and the pilot tones in the OFDM symbol is divisible by 4. In some embodiments, the OFDM symbol may comprises 232 data tones, 8 pilot tones, 5 direct current (DC) tones, and 11 edge tones. The 232 data tones and 8 pilot tones of the OFDM symbol may be segmented to a set of 15 blocks for channel estimation between the AP and the STA.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and devices for communicating data in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame is communicated between an access point (AP) and a station (STA). The OFDM frame comprises a preamble section and a data payload section. The data payload section includes communication payload data and reference signal (RS) data pertaining to a wireless channel. The RS data comprises one of an orthogonal sequence-based reference signal (OSRS), a quasi-orthogonal sequence-based reference signal (QOSRS), and a tone interleaved long training field (TIL)-based RS.

Abstract: Methods and systems for waking up a wireless receiving stations having wake-up radio (WUR) circuits. A method of providing a wake-up signal in a communications channel for a plurality of receiving stations, including generating at least a first series and a second series of waveform coded symbols, the first series being incorporated into a first wake-up-radio (WUR) frame that is intended for a first receiving station and has a first predefined bandwidth, the second series being incorporated into a second WUR frame that is intended for a second receiving station and has a second predefined bandwidth; combining the first and second WUR frames into a multiband WUR data unit having a bandwidth that is greater than a sum of the predefined bandwidths of the first and second WUR frames; and transmitting a wake-up signal including the multiband WUR data unit in the communications channel.

Abstract: Waveform-coding is applied to map successive on-off-keying (OOK) data bits onto successive multicarrier modulated symbols in time domain, wherein each multicarrier modulated symbol includes a set of sub-carriers in which alternating sub-carriers are set to ones and zeros in frequency domain. The waveform coded multicarrier modulated symbols are up-converted to a carrier frequency to provide a data signal that is transmitted over a wireless channel.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided herein for improving carrier aggregation for wireless networks. A plurality of bandwidth channels are assigned to a basic service set (BSS) for transmissions. Specifically, the bandwidth channels are divided into multiple channel segments corresponding to multiple primary or alternate primary channels. A channel segment possibly further includes one or more additional secondary channels. The locations of the primary or alternate primary channels that correspond to the channel segments of the BSS are then broadcasted in the network. When a station or AP receives this BSS information, it searches for an available primary or alternate primary channel of the BSS to begin transmission. Upon detecting an available primary channel or alternate primary channel that is not used for another transmission, the station or AP transmits data on the channel segment corresponding to the detected primary or alternate primary channel.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for WLAN Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) design of subcarrier groups and corresponding frame format. An embodiment method includes grouping a plurality of subcarriers for OFDMA transmissions into a plurality of subcarrier groups in accordance with a pre-defined grouping structure for subcarriers. The method further includes allocating the subcarrier groups to a plurality of corresponding users, and signaling, to the users, a map of the subcarrier groups to the corresponding users. According to the pre-defined grouping structure, each one of the subcarrier groups includes a plurality of consecutive subcarriers, a plurality of non-consecutive subcarriers, or a combination of consecutive and non-consecutive subcarriers according to a deterministic structure.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, methods and systems for CSI feedback overhead reduction are disclosed. A receiving device (e.g., a STA) receives a channel sounding packet from a transmitting device (e.g., an AP). The channel sounding packet comprises a preamble for channel state information (CSI) estimation. The receiving device transmits a feedback signal to the transmitting device. The feedback signal comprises feedback information. The feedback information comprises estimated CSI or information associated with a channel prediction error based on the channel prediction error and the estimated CSI. After receiving the feedback signal from the receiving device, the transmitting device beamforms a beam to transmit data to the receiving device based on the feedback information.

Abstract: A method for operating a communications device adapted for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless local area network (WLAN) communications includes generating an OFDMA preamble comprising an OFDMA signal (SIG) field including an indication of an allocation of an OFDMA resource to a station, and transmitting the OFDMA preamble in a frame.

Abstract: A method for operating a transmitting device using semi-orthogonal multiple access (SOMA) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes determining a first quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) bit allocation, a first coding rate, and a first SOMA group for a first receiving device and a second QAM bit allocation, a second coding rate, and a second SOMA group for a second receiving device in accordance with channel information associated with the first receiving device and the second receiving device, generating a frame including indicators of the first and second QAM bit allocations, the first and second coding rates, and the first and second SOMA groups, and sending the frame to the first receiving device and the second receiving device.

Abstract: An embodiment method for wireless communication includes grouping a plurality of user equipments (UEs) wirelessly coupled to a cellular base station (BS) into a UE cluster to function as a Wi-Fi virtual station (V-STA), and communicating with an access point (AP) to contend for a Wi-Fi transmission opportunity (TXOP) for the V-STA. In a further embodiment, the cellular BS contends for the TXOP on behalf of the UE cluster using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA) procedure. In an alternative embodiment, one UE in the UE cluster is selected as a leader UE to contend for the TXOP on behalf of the UE cluster using a CSMA-CA procedure.

Abstract: An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame communicated over a 20 MegaHertz (MHz) channel may include eight 26-tone resource units (RUs), one 26-tone bifurcated RU, and a direct current (DC) region. The eight 26-tone RUs may include twenty-six consecutive data and pilot tones, and the bifurcated 26-tone RU may be split into two 13-tone portions each of which include thirteen consecutive data and pilot tones. The DC region may include seven null tones. In one example, the DC region of the 20 MHz MU-OFDMA frame consists of three DC tones and four null-data tones.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for WLAN Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) design of subcarrier groups and corresponding frame format. An embodiment method includes grouping a plurality of subcarriers for OFDMA transmissions into a plurality of subcarrier groups in accordance with a pre-defined grouping structure for subcarriers. The method further includes allocating the subcarrier groups to a plurality of corresponding users, and signaling, to the users, a map of the subcarrier groups to the corresponding users. According to the pre-defined grouping structure, each one of the subcarrier groups includes a plurality of consecutive subcarriers, a plurality of non-consecutive subcarriers, or a combination of consecutive and non-consecutive subcarriers according to a deterministic structure.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame tone allocation includes a 256 tone payload consisting of 228 data and pilot tones and 28 null tones. The 28 null tones consist of guard tones and at least one direct current (DC) tone. In one example, the 256 tone payload consists of 224 data tones, 4 common pilot tones, and 28 null tones. In another example, the 256 tone payload consists of 222 data tones, 6 common pilot tones, and 28 null tones. In yet another example, the 256 tone payload may consist of 220 data tones, 8 common pilot tones, and 28 null tones. The OFDMA frame may be a downlink OFDMA frame or an uplink OFDMA frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems for scheduling successive transmissions in a wireless local area network (WLAN). An Access Point (AP) can generate a control signal that includes an identifier field for indicating that previous resource allocation from a previous transmission is to be repeated, and therefore the control signal itself does not contain resource allocation information. One or more stations (STAs) can receive the control signal and can use the previous resource allocation information stored in their respective memory to perform the transmission. The resource allocation can include three-dimensional (3D) resource allocation, which refers to time, frequency and space-domain multiplexing. Because the control signal has the identifier field, the AP can reduce network load and free resources for payload data or other traffic.

Abstract: Methods and systems that enable payload data to be spread over a number of a plurality of sub-carriers for wireless transmissions between Access Points (AP) and stations (STA) in a WLAN. The AP receives each STA's status information, and controls an amount of spreading of the payload data that can flexibly and variably takes into account the desired amount of peak power consumption, the required data rate, and the channel conditions. Based on these factors, the AP determines a number of sub-carriers for each STA that will be used to carry the spread payload data. Example embodiments can address high power peak consumption, data rate inflexibility and inefficient spectrum communication as found in conventional wireless systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems for waking up a wireless receiving stations having wake-up radio (WUR) circuits. A method of providing a wake-up signal in a communications channel for a plurality of receiving stations, comprising: generating a plurality of series of waveform coded symbols, each series being incorporated into a respective wake-up-radio (WUR) frame that is intended for a respective receiving station and has a respective predefined bandwidth; combining the respective WUR frames into a multiband WUR data unit having a bandwidth that is greater than a sum of the predefined bandwidths of the wake-up radio frames; transmitting a wake-up signal including the multiband WUR data unit in the communications channel.