Abstract: A method includes receiving a data unit that includes a signal (SIG) field and a data field. The SIG field provides information for interpreting the data field. The method also includes detecting a first symbol constellation rotation of at least a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in the SIG field of the data unit, determining, based at least in part on the detected first symbol constellation rotation, a number of information bits per OFDM symbol in the SIG field of the data unit, processing the SIG field of the data unit according to the determined number of information bits per OFDM symbol in the SIG field, and processing the data field of the data unit according to the information for interpreting the data field as provided in the SIG field of the data unit.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data units each having a preamble with first and second preamble portions, detecting symbol constellation rotations of OFDM symbols in the first preamble portions, and determining, based on the detected rotations, whether the preambles conform to a first format. The method also includes, when it is determined that a preamble conforms to the first format, processing the second preamble portion according to the first format, and, when it is determined that a preamble does not conform to the first format, (i) determining whether information bits in the first preamble portion indicate a single- or multi-user data unit, (ii) when it is determined that the information bits indicate a single-user data unit, processing the second preamble portion according to a second format, and (iii) when it is determined that the information bits indicate a multi-user data unit, processing the second preamble portion according to a third format.

Abstract: The present specification describes techniques and apparatuses that enable power conservation in a wireless network. In some cases these techniques and apparatuses enable power conservation during a discover phase and for a wireless network subject to a government mandate requiring a device of the network to passively search for radar transmission prior to establishing communication with another device of the network.

Abstract: In a method for generating a preamble of a data unit for transmission via a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication channel, a first field of the preamble is generated. The first field provides a plurality of indicators to a plurality of receivers. Each one of the plurality of indicators indicates a set of a plurality of training sequences that corresponds to transmission of the data unit to a corresponding one of the plurality of receivers. The plurality of training sequences is included in a second field of the preamble. The preamble is formatted such that the first field of the preamble will be transmitted prior to the second field of the preamble being transmitted.

Abstract: A first device including a controller and a transmitter. The controller generates a communication schedule based on a profile. The communication schedule specifies a first duration to transfer data between the first device and a second device using a wireless protocol. The profile indicates (i) a start time, (ii) a duration, and (iii) a periodicity of communication between the first device and the second device using the wireless protocol. The transmitter transmits the communication schedule via a message from the first device to the second device using the wireless protocol. The message is a pre-defined message specified by the wireless protocol. The pre-defined message is dedicated to communicate information about interference present in an operating environment of the first device and the second device.

Abstract: In a method for generating a physical layer (PHY) data unit for transmission via a communication channel, information bits to be included in the PHY data unit are encoded using a forward error correction (FEC) encoder. Also, the information bits are encoded according to a block coding scheme, where m copies of each bit are included in the information bits, and one or more bits in the m copies of each bit are flipped. The information bits are mapped to a plurality of constellation symbols, and a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are generated to include the plurality of constellation symbols. The PHY data unit is generated to include the plurality of OFDM symbols.

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: A network device including a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is configured to, in accordance with a first wireless protocol, receive first data during a first time period and transmit second data during a second time period. The second communication module configured to, in accordance with a second wireless protocol, receive a plurality of packets during the first time period; not transmit an acknowledgement during the first time period for each packet of the plurality of packets in response to receiving each packet of the plurality of packets; and subsequent to receiving all of the plurality of packets, transmit a single acknowledgement during the second time period to indicate receipt of all of the plurality of packets.

Abstract: A method includes generating a preamble of a first data unit according to a first format. Generating the preamble of the first data unit according to the first format includes generating a first preamble portion of the first data unit and generating a second preamble portion of the first data unit. The first preamble portion of the first data unit includes information indicating to a receiving device that the first data unit is a single-user data unit, and the second preamble portion of the first data unit follows the first preamble portion of the first data unit. The method also includes applying a beamforming steering matrix to the second preamble portion of the first data unit but not to the first preamble portion of the first data unit.

Abstract: In a method implemented in a communication device an available bandwidth for transmitting one or more data frames is determined, wherein the available bandwidth corresponds to a first composite communication channel comprising a plurality of communication channels. A control frame to indicate a request to transmit via the first composite communication channel is generated, wherein the control frame includes a header, and wherein a portion of the header includes information indicating the bandwidth of the first composite channel. The control frame is transmitted via the first composite communication channel, wherein at least the portion of the header is duplicated in a plurality of bandwidth portions of the first composite communication channel.

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: Channel data for a plurality of OFDM tones for one or more spatial or space-time streams are determined. A plurality of angle values associated with the one or more spatial or space-time streams and the one or more OFDM tones of the plurality of OFDM tones are determined. For each of the one or more spatial or space time streams, a per-tone signal to noise ratio (PT-SNR) associated with one or more OFDM tone of the plurality of OFDM tones is determined, and an average signal to noise ratio (avg-SNR) is determined by averaging signal to noise ratio (SNR) values corresponding to one or more OFDM tones of the plurality of OFDM tones. A feedback report is generated to include at least i) the plurality of angle values, ii) the PT-SNRs, and iii) the avg-SNR.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a wireless receiver configured to scan for a beacon in one or more of a first plurality of predetermined wireless channels, wherein each of the first plurality of predetermined wireless channels has the same carrier frequency in a plurality of different geographical regions; and a controller configured to identify, based on a beacon scanned by the wireless receiver in one or more of the first plurality of predetermined wireless channels, a first geographical region of the plurality of different geographical regions, wherein the controller is further configured to select a second plurality of wireless channels associated with the first geographical region, wherein the wireless receiver is further configured to scan for a beacon in one or more of the second plurality of wireless channels selected by the controller.

Abstract: In a method for generating a data unit conforming to a first communication protocol, a first field and a second field to be included in a preamble of the data unit are generated. The first field includes a first set of one or more information bits that indicate a duration of the data unit and is formatted such that the first field allows a receiver device that conforms to a second communication protocol to determine the duration of the data unit. The second field includes a second set of one or more information bits that indicate to a receiver device that conforms to the first communication protocol that the data unit conforms to the first communication protocol. The first field and the second field are modulated using a modulation scheme specified for a field corresponding to the first field and the second field, respectively, by the second communication protocol.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to managing acknowledgments for multicast data in a wireless network. According to certain aspects, embodiments of the invention allow for adopting appropriate acknowledgement mechanisms to address the particular need of different applications, for example in terms of throughput, latency and delay. According to certain other aspects, embodiments of the invention can, depending on link conditions, vary the frequency of the acknowledgements to sinks, vary the application packet size and/or remove sink devices from the multicast group and reach them instead via unicast transmission or via an access point.

Abstract: A first legacy portion of a physical layer (PHY) preamble is generated, wherein the first legacy portion of the PHY preamble is generated to include a signal field having PHY parameters arranged in subfields according to a first legacy communication protocol. A second portion of the PHY preamble is generated according to a second communication protocol, wherein the second portion of the PHY preamble is generated to include a repetition of the signal field. A PHY data unit that includes the PHY preamble is generated, the PHY data unit being for transmission via a wireless communication channel.

Abstract: A first communication device listens, during advertise states of the first communication device, for probe requests from one or more second communication devices on a first channel included in a plurality of channels. At least some respective lengths of the advertise states of the first communication device are different. When one or more first probe requests are received from the one or more second communication devices during the advertise states of the first communication device, the first communication device transmits one or more first probe responses responsive to the one or more first probe requests. The first communication device transmits second probe requests on respective second channels during respective search states of the first communication device, and listens, during the search states, for one or more second probe responses on the second channels.

Abstract: A network interface of an access point device is configured to transmit to one or more first client stations in a first basic service set (BSS) a first value of a first parameter that indicates a time duration during which the access point device will not dissociate a client station due to not receiving at least one frame from the client station, and transmit to one or more second client stations in a second BSS a second value of the first parameter. The first value of the first parameter is at least an order of magnitude larger than the second value of the first parameter.

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: A system including a controller and a transmitter. The controller is configured to generate a communication schedule based on a profile. The profile indicates (i) a start time, (ii) a duration, and (iii) a periodicity of communication between a first device and a second device. Consistent with (i) the start time, (ii) the duration, and (iii) the periodicity indicated in the profile, the communication schedule specifies (i) a first duration to transfer data between the first device and the second device, and (ii) a second duration in which not to transfer data between the first device and the second device. The transmitter is configured to transmit the communication schedule in a message from the first device to the second device. The message includes information about interference present in an operating environment of the first device and the second device.